Stephen Blair

Thanks for that Doobin, my mates sent me some pics of a switch i am likely to find in there. When you say jump the switch, do you mean bypass it? If so what is the best method? Thanks

First breakdown today, not bad for 6 years! I think it’s the dead man handle. Everything starts ok, just no hydraulics. I can hear the ‘ click ‘ when the handle goes down. Any advice welcome.

Those poor hoses ?

I’d much rather have 3cx work daily, locally. No need for trailers, hitching, fuel cans etc, bigger cab and generally more fun to operate. So much to do and consider, always on the move in the cab. BUT the CAT is a SUPER groundie on steroids. I’d sell the 3cx if 1 had to go. If I gave up tree work I’d sell the CAT.

2336 hrs, looked today. just finished a tricky access path for my neighbour, I wouldn’t of ever thought of attempting jobs like it years ago. little CAT making wages every day, that’s 3 years since the finance was paid off, 1 set of tracks earlier this year and 3 hoses , that’s all she’s ever cost me.

2700 hrs

Very very cool! An Urban harvester and trailer, can’t get much better I reckon. thats 6 years tomorrow since I ordered my Cat, time flies. Just heading out to work with her after my bacon roll. She runs as good as the day day I got her.

Their prices aren’t bad either, fare bit of metal and engineering has went into them. I fancy 1 for the 3cx. Probably prefer a 3’ ditching bucket version for the wee cat.

I like that!

I was sitting in a new 5 toner the other day thinking ‘ this will do !’ Then I thought about moving it, relying on a haulier, no flexibility with customers juggling jobs around or having to invest in a big tractor and low loader then constantly worrying about being stopped. All I can say is I’ve never been stuck in the 3cx or thrown a track!? the back actor has more power than my old 9 toner.

1700m of big heather, ditches, hills, wind and a lot of rain felling Bitch and cutting back Granny pines to allow machine access for new Argo Track.

Thanks guys!

Hi, I’m looking for spare hammers for my flail head, anyone got some links of a tried and tested supplier. thanks in advance

Sorting out a flooded saturated part of a field and flailing Aspen

Shiny shiny, I’d want some protection to the valves!

Buy a small extending dog lead and attach a carabiner to the handle and felcros to the lead, job done.

Imagine it from an employers point of view, bringing someone in 2 days a week who is at apprentice level who wants to do ‘ the big trees’ the climber makes a tree surgery company money, until branches get cut off a tree, there is no money being made, you are not going to get paid to stand and ask questions and get taught how to do it. If you have a harness, rope and a saw, that’s it, you are a climber. If a company owner sees you run up a tree and cut branches off, there is a level of potential to work with. If you are still fannying about with ropes and can’t get your saw started after 5 mins at the base of a tree, no 4g signal and tube is going to help you. A transition period doesn’t show commitment imo, I’d pick a money hungry guy over a dream chaser all day every day. I’ve been both, the first time I tried to become a tree cutter I lasted 5 weeks, then 18 months of living in a bed sit after chucking my couchy job and free house and spending all my savings , I realised I HAD to get up the tree, I had to be terrified and bursting for a shit in the pissing rain and wind with no option but to keep going up and battling my brain that keeps telling you to get down and go to a safe place but you can’t, you have an audience, you have said you can do it, so you keep pushing past your fear to get it done.

Make a man basket and hang it off the hook for hedges, or build a a big chip box and stand on top of it with a pole saw and hedge cutter attachment, you will get near 30’.

If you are naturally very good at climbing and fearless then it’s easy! Just monkey up and cut it down! That’s all I’ve ever had in my head, as far as tree knowledge, waste of time! Focus on pull ups and dips, It’s Scotland, no such thing as arborists, it’s climbers and grounders and good climbers do takedowns, learn how wood works under the saw, every cut tells you a different story, if you can stick it 1 year, no days off, no pub, no holidays just graft then you should make it. You need to be in the gym 5 nights a week after work and that’s you working minimum 12 hours a day! You are over 30 so it’s going to hurt in the morning, you will need a good Ostiopath, good sports massager and painkillers. If you want to be Mr Ninja Climber and TOP of your game and somehow manage it, nobody will know, there’s no badge or trophy’s, just a bank balance that’s either full or empty. To become a good climber you need to do big trees, you need to find out who does the big trees and get a job with them, so a big company where you will just be a guy who sits in a cab with other guys who hate their job and won’t even blink at the thought of an 80’ dead elm removal on a railway in the dark! There’s no montage music when you are tripping over your gaffs falling head first into brambles and dragging your rope through dog shite before you even start getting off the ground plus you will be doing it in water proofs over ballistics 9 days out of 10 in the central belt after taking 2 hours to get anywhere and same again at night trying to get back to the yard to unload before heading home in further traffic then home soaked to then dry your ropes and harness out before the morning. Charge on and just do it is my way of thinking.

This! I only became self employed so I didn’t have to work with idiots and the lazy.

Known as ‘ Double Dogs ‘ .

I’ve had the boots for nearly 2 months now, lightest comfiest boots I’ve ever had. I don’t understand the panic about the lace system, laces are rubbish, lots of flaws, snap easy, gets soaked in crud and when your hands are freezing and your back is sore, it’s a pita tying and un tying them, they have been needing an improvement for decades. The Boa system is great, twist and go!