Graham

And while we're reminiscing anyone ever had bolloc*$!* for felling too high? You got the bottom cut of the face at ground level. I was always told 'a foot at the bottom's a yard at the top:001_smile:

It's impossible to comprehend how much timber was burned after that bug had flown on to its next victim. We did manage to get our biggest elm sold for repairing docks. That one measured 108' from stump to tip and was a straight fell.

This is making me feel old Thirty years climbing now. Went self-employed in 1987 with a Land Rover, Stihl 020, 041, 056, 075. Anyone remember the storm of '87? Went down south working from a caravan for a while. Bought a chipper in '88 which put an end to fires. With the freezing temps at the moment it brings back memories of felling dead elms and huge fires you went back to next day. A quick stir with the fork, throw the brash on from the edge and you're toasting before you start work......better take my rose-tinted specs off now:001_smile:

I once sold a business before starting up again in a smaller way so I'll just tell you how mine was valued. I did work for several LAs, but only on contract to one of them, and domestic work. I sold to a company who wanted to expand into arboriculture as they were solely into timber. They took on my employees as they were obviously known to LA clients and were good lads to boot. The LA side is the only 'goodwill' part of the business as the domestic side is based, I think, on how well you come over to a prospective client when you quote. We came to an agreement on the value of machinery and the goodwill + existing LA work. I had to sign a legal document that I couldn't start up again within a radius of 50 miles or within 3 years if in the same area. Otherwise what is to stop you selling one day and the next contacting all your customers and telling them 'I'm still here, business as usual....just a different co. name. Don't know if any of the above answers the question:confused1:

Old pic of Lydham Manor oak taken in 1988. She has a girth of c41 feet and is a remnant of medieval pollard woodland. Estimated to be 600-800 yrs old. I did some very selective weight reduction the following year to try and ensure those branch unions held out. Let's hope the old girl in your pic can hold out as long.

Very professional I was once interviewed and filmed for local news but it went out same day and I missed my 15 mins of fame. Also did 'a piece'...see how I'm using media jargon now ... and cringed when I listened to the transmission!

Hey...August 1987. My mate Ray, bare chested and lifting whole tree thinnings into that gravity spout. It was a real man's world then...the smell of the sweat....

Nice double. Never seen that in a Fenn trap before. Seen weasels caught in mole traps set for moles.

Too many but I'm new here and it's cold 'n dark outside.

Oooooo.......I had a thing about Ulrika. I'm on it now

What about those guys running Fastracs pulling 20 tonnes on red diesel at 50 mph? Basically running a haulage business on the cheap. Is it legal?

Felling's much better....got a big beech to go where I wanted it today:001_smile: Feeling much better...thanks.

Not what I'd do or even attempt...but: many moons ago a mate's dad who was a timber faller also had a firewood business. He started losing split logs on a regular basis and had his suspects. He said nothing but drilled a few logs, split open some Eleys, packed a little powder in each and sealed them with a piece of shaved dowel. Stopped losing them shortly after.

I like beavers

Here's mine and very tasty too.

Yes....7.5 tonne truck + trailer to train weight of 12 tonnes.

No way...staying old school

After reading some of these posts I thought I'd check my licence...old paper and haven't got round to changing it. I passed normal car and bike tests...er quite a few years ago but licence shows entitlement for 7500k plus trailer to total of 12000k. Oh god...is this known as Grandfather rights!!!!

Had one on hire in 1987...my first year of going it alone. Plenty of power but heavy little b!$*ard. Burnt the clutch out on my Nissan pick-up on rough ground:sad:

First one was being paid not to work by the BBC. They were filming a drama series on location and we were felling some trees hanging out from the edge of a wood. Evidently their time was precious and the saws were being picked up on the sound equipment. Little did they know that when the producer turned up with the cash we'd finished:001_smile: Second one was a phone call asking if I could take a look at a tree in the garden of a large house. I was told there'd been an 'accident' two days prior and they wanted to save this tree. I turned up to find a semi-mature cedar with a large, gouged out hole in its base surrounded by bits of blood and bone. I found out shortly after that the ladys husband had blown his head off with a .357 playing russian roulette with his mates after an all night drinking session....weird. Last one...promise:001_smile: Did some tree work at Epsom Downs in a private garden and a few months later received a phone call asking if I could bury the old ladys golden retriever. I went down, dug a beautiful square sided hole then went to the vet's to pick up the dog. Geez....frozen solid with its legs outstretched! That Epsom chalk's hard digging so poor old Rover had to be modified slightly. Hope none of the family read this:001_smile:

http://www.knollgardens.co.uk/elmtrees.html Think this may be the link to 'new elm' supplier.

Ulmus ? I know of only one English elm (procera) left in the midlands. Beautiful tree which stood while all around they died.

I'm goin' to bed....feel sick now

Throwing some cord about I picked up a piece by one of those little broken snags that dig into the ground. A little soil on the end won't hurt me....except it was slimy. So what do you do? Straight to nose to sniff and then a kneejerk reaction wiping it down front of trousers:scared1: That stuff stinks all day long:puke: I hate cat poo.

We use a Rayco 1625. Been totally reliable over five years and 100s of stumps. Will squeeze through 35" as long as no turning is required.