Stephen Blair

A bit of everything, some jobs I’ve had to track half a mile on tarmac to get access but mostly grass and woodlands. Machines got nearly 1700 hours on it. Eddie apart from a constantly sore lower back, no regrets. The grab and machine has now shaped my business.

Well 5 years have passed and the wee Cat is going strong, ordered her first new set of tracks today.

First and foremost, money. No one has ever given me any apart from child hood birthdays and Christmas. So if I don’t make it, I don’t have any. Secondly I’m hyperactive, so I have lots of energy. I get bored easily and I need to be doing things that get my heart beating. I’m also spontaneous and creative, so I jump at anything new and go in head first. I never need a plan because I’ll just work it out as I go. I’m very obsessive so repetitive things with an outcome I know keeps me at ease. So what folk find boring, I just go at it like a mad man until it’s complete . Then there’s the nicer things in life, nice car, nice house, hot tubs, motorbikes, mogs, tractors. They are the extras that make my life and my families better. BUT no one gets a free ride from me, you want a part of it, you earn it.

They look a bit ‘ free from Kellogg’s ‘ to me [emoji3]

Getting the right guys on the saw is key. There are the trigger happy tone deaf throttle blasters so the other guy needs to constantly be on the other throttle balancing it out depending on wood density and sharpness of the chain. Getting the chain tension is key, when using big bars what may seem tight enough isn’t once you get going, too slack and it will throw a loop out the pushing chain side. Who ever is the more heavy handed, put them on the pushing saw, won’t take long to tire them out and calm them down. As for working 2 different saws, id imagine it’s all down to how you operate them.

I nearly did it! And the pole was at full extension! I have used the hard top roof of my mogs that I’ve owned for a platform for trimming large hedges over the years. What I would usually do is trim what I could from the ground, park the mog beside it, stick my step ladders against the mog, put the pole saw at full reach with the hedge cutter head or saw on. Lean it against the mog, go up the ladders, stand on the mog and pull the pole saw up and into the air. I’d been doing this for over 10 years, no issues! 1 day I leant the polesaw against the mog with it running, I went up the ladder, grabbed the alloy extension and started to pull it towards myself to the 1 side, the triggers got jammed between the step ladder and mog, both orange levers got pressed and the saw picked up full revs with the saw around my knee hip area! I shat myself, almost picked up my Darwin Award and didn’t believe that just happened.

Just living with it now Mick, had an MRI. Nothing came up just a bit of wear and tear. I got fed up with the side effects of the 2 different pills they gave me. They don’t know what it is, there is nothing untoward as I’ve had a good few tests. I found a local really good sports masseuse that I go to every 2 weeks, she keeps me mobile. I just don’t work as hard as long and have to slow down a bit. The digger is a huge part of my business now but I do blame it for my back problem. Sitting for long periods of time in 1 position rocking around doesn’t do me any favours but I don’t want staff and I don’t want to work in towns and cities anymore doing tree surgery. I’ve just bought a cherry picker to help with the climbing side of things. Had a great year and you would never know I had a sore back apart from my moans and groans [emoji3] Thanks for asking !

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Sounds like the film crew technique is home made. If you are planning on doing work in trees, simply do your tree climbing and rescue ticket. It’s a simple enough course and you will learn how simple it is with the right kit and training.

1.2m I believe a hopper should be! The rotating spout I think will cause more hassle, when the chipper drops revs doing heavy foliage the chip throw is reduced, when the chute faces forward the slow chip can fall straight down onto the ground, with it sideways it falls back down the throat of the chute and can block up easier. My 2pence

Very cool, I used to hiab Gloria onto my track barrow and ratchet her on, hopper was the same end as handles and a pita! Good thinking.

Nicely done Reg.

Depends what stage it’s at, dead elm can go from loosing its leaves last year to standing deadwood totem pole for 15 years in a secluded spot.

You need to assess yourself. If you don’t want to do it, don’t ! If you do then assess it as you climb, don’t shock load it and climb it like you think it’s going to break.

Drop me an email with your tickets. [email protected]

Do you have permission from Cairngorms National Park for this?

Personally this makes the good guys feel not trusted and resentful while the lazy and sneaky will remain just that. Reprimand the bad and reward the good.

Bargain!

If you are good just chuck it and start yourself, I don’t see why any climber would stick working for anyone else after they have learnt the ropes.

It’s been a great year for conkers.

Anti histamine helps.

You need to show a future employer you can do the job, concentrate on cutting and climbing, getting strong, training, researching and thinking trees 24/7. You can’t be shown how to be self employed and how to be an accountant in a few posts on here. You are starting a new journey, you can’t expect to see the final destination, that will hopefully take you 30-40 years. What you lack is confidence, that is gained through achievement. You are right to be nervous but don’t let it cripple you, deep breaths and charge on is what I’ve always told myself. Good luck

Just out the gaffs facing each other in the middle of your bag with your rope around it, or what some use is the ends off of silicone guns, those wee plastic cones.

It’s not yours to sell. Anyone who has any common sense will ask if there’s an HP, if you say no then you are lying and at fault. If they don’t ask and there is and you say nothing, you are lying and at fault and would be taking advantage of someone. Call up your finance and ask for a settlement figure, if there is interest in the finance they usually add this on in a oner then your payments are knocked off that total. So you could still have 3k plus interest to pay on a machine worth less than you paid for it. If it’s a 0% finance deal like most offer then it’s a better situation. Ask for the settlement, have a look around and see what it’s worth. Hopefully it’s about the same. If someone wants it, you show them the settlement figure that’s valid up to a certain date. If you want more for it and can get more, they pay that amount to the finance and they will send you the change. Or if they trust you and it’s a mate, get them to pay you and you pay it. If less then you pay the pitfall to make it up. Just remember, the guy who sold you it is a salesman, he isn’t in the business of buying a machine back to help you. So you might get passed straight to finance.