Stephen Blair
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Everything posted by Stephen Blair
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How many branches go into 1 m3 of wood chips?
Stephen Blair replied to Karin's question in Homeowners Tree Advice Forum
240 branches =1 m3 bag of chippings.( 48 armfulls of 5 branches ) Average branch diameter of 50mm and 3m in length. branches were not in leaf. This was cherry tree branches. -
Probably the only machine I miss every day. Couldn’t of went to a better home! I think Ground control own it now
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This 1 by any chance?
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Buy some houses and have a pension and your savings and your machinery and a big jar full of coins mate. Fingers in pies and all that. I treat my pension as money I don’t miss, I’m not a big risk taker so I’m a number 6 on the pension scale so I don’t get a big return. I started mine when I was 16, trebbled it at 23 when I became self employed and I’ll cash it in at 55 and pay the TAX and enjoy the money hopefully. Maybe a couple of deposits for the boys to buy a house or a Porsche for my good lady.
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Thanks Chris, I’ve learnt more in those 2 posts than in 20 years, probably because I never read and learnt on the tools. I’ve always struggled at retaining information I read but you make it very clear and memorable to me for some reason. Thanks
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Birch as a street tree. Not old ones anyway, I’ll keep an eye out next time I venture into the big smoke!
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Thanks Chris, excellent reply. Most definitely an old school method that up until 2 minutes ago I would of thought was the way. I’ll save your post and read a few times to absorb. Many thanks .
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I avoid working on Birch at the start of the year due to the force of the sap rising, the sap can pour out a wound for weeks And doesn’t do the tree any favours and first/only time it happened to me I was worried about doing a bad job. An old gardener friend told me to go and wrap a big cloth round it to help it calyst over and keep pathogens out. Not sure how much that helped but I do know 21 years later the trees still there. Sounds like you went about it the right way and don’t feel bad for using an extension pole. That’s what they are there for.
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I work for a company now a mate where he lets me away the minute the last bit hits the deck. When all the other lads need away some days, I’ll work on and help him out. Some days he’s paid me double and I’ve loaned him a chipper for 2 weeks no charge. Then other times I’ve had his roof mount and crane fed chipper. If you are making money, pass it on. I don’t take advantage of others when they are in need. Big companies work by the book, tree guys should stick together and help each other where they can I say.
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Subby climbing is great on crash bang stuff, on rigging jobs with lots of obstacles it’s a nightmare if the ground crew haven’t a clue, I would end up ditching the rigging kit and climbing way more to drop everything tiny to make it less complicated for them. Those days were days I’d tell myself, never again. Also following customers spec that I don’t agree with, that’s out the window too as I get older and do less.
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RIP Mark. life really just isn’t fare for some!
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If boss lets you away early for full pay, say thank you. If boss works you later than agreed hours, you should get paid. If boss buys you breakfast, gives you a lift home, lets you borrow machinery and is a sound guy/lady and 1 day the wheels fall off the van and you work 10 minutes later than usually then stick in an hours overtime, that’s not cool. Keeping the scales evenly balanced on goodwill I’d almost impossible, some folk take the piss be it employer or employee and resentment kicks in and rather than bring addressed properly it usually ends up in dummies coming out the pram! Usually mine ?
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Tell your customers cash payments incur a charge as it costs you to bank it. Offer another means of payment like other businesses. Can’t be many folk that don’t use their phone for everything nowadays.
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I strongly disagree with the tax insurance. A good accountancy firm that has done your books for you up until the point of investigation simply have to give them the required figures they ask for and sit in on the investigation which may only last a couple of hours. If you have nothing to hide and it’s simply your turn to be checked it’s a simple and stress free encounter.
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I’ve owned Suzuki, Yamaha and Polaris. never had a problem from any of the above. What I would say is they hold their money at any age so spending more is worthwhile in the long run. My 20 year old Suzuki 500 is still working on my brothers shoot. My 16 year old Yamaha is still working on a mates farm. Great machines.
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Press home button and power buttons at the same time
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Get a bigger hill, I got too 44mph and that was between dabbing brakes before bottling it. Local lads get 60 mph easy coming down the mountain ski rd here.
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Awesome little crawler
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thats Going to be so good for blitzing all the domestic back garden jobs in 1 fell swoop to get them off the list on the last Saturday of every month. You now own a skyhook!
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Smaller digger, bigger cab
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This is how tree work should be done!
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Nice machine, I bought the wee Yanmar and collected today
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How much do you want for your 1.8t machine?
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Aye the escape hatch is a laugh! I’m 44 and feel broken and weak but I can wrestle the 3 tonner buckets in and out a van if need be, the demo grab is 120kg that takes a bit of manouvering or a scaffy pole if there’s 1 lying around. Ideally I want to do away with 3 tonner so I can sell my jeep. I do a fare bit of work that I need 4x4 for and the 3 tonner can wrestle much bigger stuff, a months work just came in for it today that I wouldn’t want to put a new machine on digging trenches through boulder country.
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I’m trying to remove stress out of my life, every day I’m overloaded with the 2.7t and driving a 4x4 packed like a sardine using loads of fuel! I’ve bought a welfare van with loads of room, heating, kitchen, toilet and drying room. It can tow 2.5t. Machines 1.8, trailers 560kg The buckets are easy to lift by hand so they can go in the back of the van easily. I’ve sold the 3cx so just trying to do less and get my work life balance sorted.
