gibbon

My guess is its galls on a lucombe oak. Lots of lucombe oak around here and I've seen loads of galls so far this year. Mild winter

I clip the ascender, via a tether the the middle clip in my hitch climber. Works nicely but I am aware that all my weight is on the ascender. The idea is that if I used a bungee and I had a slip or my anchor moved, the bungee would stretch and the wrench/hitch would engage rather that shocking the ascender.

Seen that video and its good

Sounds like its time you had a holiday

Good job. For me that was certainly one of your best videos yet. Why did you go for the fell rather than use the platform? Was the tree too tall, or did you just fancy the challenge?

How much difference does the stiff tether make? Does anyone who uses a hand ascender connect it to the wrench with a bungee? I have been wandering if that would reduce the risk of the ascender damaging the rope if you had a slip whilst ascending?

If I was braver I would learn Portuguese and set up a tree pruning business in Brazil. I'm sure it would be a good move

I can go on trading, but that's only because I already have a house and my tools. I don't think I would want to try to set up again in this climate. I very much doubt things will get any better any time soon.

Your a lot braver than me. I climbed a strangled fig in Costa Rica but there was no way I would have gone inside. Can't imagine a better home for all those nasty things that bite and sting. Was there anything in there?

It's a dirty job no matter how you do it. Never tried a gas mask but my brother's daughter is a fetish model and I know she has a couple of gas masks. Maybe I should borrow hers next time.

Perspex full face shield is what I use. Enough room for a dust mask beneath doesnt steam up nearly as much as goggles

Looks like a fun job, nicely done.

We took out a larger mortgage last year and our business is the sole income for me and my wife. We couldnt get a deal anywhere that was close to what our own bank could offer. We took it out over 30 years this time but make overpayment to keep the term the same as it was before. By taking it out over the longest term available then paying as much as your can afford you have the option to reduce payments in the future if you fall on hard times, without incurring an additional arrangement fee for arranging a new mortgage. Because interests rates can not go down, our bank advised us that if you can not afford to pay £200 a month more than the current monthly repayment your most likely over stretching and will struggle when rates begin to increase

I know just what you mean. My girls are 2 and 4 and I'm just getting on with things again now. It's always going to be that extra thing in your mind on those difficult jobs.

If there is no.aerial.rescue then you got to think do you really want to work for.these people? Do they have insurance. That's when you say ok but only with my groundsman. Chances are there will be someone else on the job, if they won't swap that guy for someone who can rescue you then your best of doing something else. You just need to get your self out there. Find out what firms use a lot of subbies, get amongst it and make contacts. Call people, ask for work, if they are not paying what you think your worth do a day at their rate.and prove them wrong.

I did that

I can remember plenty of jobs 2 day jobs I went in for when once things starting going well I was expected to work on till 7pm to finished the job on a day rate then have the next day canceled. Like wise I had been asked to do a day for some gardner at an agreed rate, be done by 12, they want to pay you less buts it too short notice to do anything else. Either way maybe I had a bad experience. Its all going to come down to who you end up working for to how much you need to provide

Be clear on how long a days work is, agree hourly rate if days are long. Only use your own kit. Don't work for people who will not provide a trained rescuer. Agree whether or not you will charge for last minute cancellations, ie that day. Another common trick is after you knock out a job a record speed then they only want to pay you half a day. Work out during the busy times, when works thick and fast, who will keep you going at quiet times. Look after those clients even if it means turning down a boetter paid one off. Be prepared to work 50 percent harder Be brave enough speak up when a job is badly planned or not practical within the time. In my experience you.will.either work for good firms.who.are.busy or people who haven't got a clue and can't do the work themselves. Either way a good subby is employed to make problems go.away rather than to create them. It's been a long time since I.subbed but generally thats what I found. If you are a very good climber its worth.teaming up.with a good groundy you can work with swiftly. That way doesn't matter if your employed by a cow boy.outfit.as you.and your.groundy should manage and you know you have a reliable set of eyes on the deck.

East Devon Tree Surgeon and Arboricultural Consultancy

I think you did a good job, just sounds like the planning got the better of you. I know what its like to be a new business and want to prove to yourself and your client base you can do the job, but in the end I'm a slave to money not to clients. A word of advice would be to book the highway space first before you book the date with the client and get the crane. I was hoping you weren't just cutting below the old cuts to make the job easier. I would have walked away if the job meant making those cuts. That tree will stand as an advert for your work and could cost you more in lost work than you learnt that day. If you have a report to work to and your not comfortable with the spec then its worth calling the consultant. From what I could see, I can't see the advantage in cutting the reaction wood out. But like I said good job. I doubt there's many other lads your age running their own show and taking on awkward jobs like that. I wasn't at your age.

Why.....????

Were those your final cuts?

Hi I have rather a busy week next week and could do with a climber or good grounsman with aerial rescue for 2 or 3 days. Works in the Exeter area. Could be further work. Please pm if available Mat