Littletree

Hi there starting small is the best way slowly building kit and exp starting with the small jobs so not to bite off more then you can chew . Keeping up your main job will ensure you don't land in the red so if the work does /does not come in then you are not going to struggle for money and you can keep smiling . If you want to get more work ,combining the chainsaw work with gardening you will capture a larger market so be prepared to do some grass cutting/strimming as well as the cross cutting/ felling /climbing .this will help to get you known . You can charge a slightly lower rate for the gardening to the chainsawing work . The rates you will get will depend on your exp and the part of the country you live . give some local company's a ring and ask what they would charge you for there different services they offer this will give you a guide . You can stat with a few bits of kit so not to brake the bank . A saw or 2 a strimmer and some hand tools and a small van to get about in . The more you apply yourself spreading the word and your cards the more will come back . remember no job is ever to small !!. All the best Eastwater:thumbup:

Hi thanks for replies can you tell me would this Brogio head do you reckon would it fit onto a Husky ? as most just come with line or knives. Thanks Eastwater.

Ok guys not quite chainsaws but most of you are lightly to have a brushcutter for clearence work . I have been looking at both Stihl and Huskys I must say the Husky 143R looks more robust then the Stihl equlivants . What do you guys use Stihl / Husky ? what modle and how it performs for you . Thanks Eastwater:)

Me to if it were my way . I am finding the voluntering is such a great way to gain my skills I would recomend it to anyone new into Arb even though it unpaid it just great to get exp with your saw with different types of work and get to use other types of equipment and different saws . Eastwater

Maby with the very basic one or 2 tickets if your self employed with all your own kit for ground work I would be asking 15ph chainsaw work and 12 ph for gardining . Employed for ground work chainsaw from 50 upwards per day depending on Exp and what part of the country your are . Eastwater:biggrin:

Hi Starting off small is good and will keep you from running in the red . keep the main job going as this is the bread winner, in this time you can start off doing little jobs for friends and people you know this will help you build exp and learn what tools you need by doing this .volunteering for your local NT or other wildlife trust is a great exp gainer in the early days it as you will learn all sorts of stuff with your saw . The basics needed if on very small jobs is a couple of saws ,wedges, a felling lever a pair of long handled pruners these are just great . A strimmer this gives you the option of grass cutting as well as getting to the wood bit . If you have not got a chipper then just for small jobs a couple of very large hippo bags for the brash and then off to the local tip as long as your van is not company sign written. If you are felling then a winch is a must unless you are very very selective on what you are felling . PL insurance is also a must when working with the GP. These are just a few little tips to get you started All the best Eastwater:001_smile:

For the first time I got to see a commercial tree production machine in action it was nothing like i have ever seen before I could not quite believe my eyes . This machine in under 2 mins grips a tree at the bottom ,fells it , pulls it down , snedds it and cuts it to the pre determined size and spits it out . I can see with these machines it out does the human tree cutting machine 20 to 1. Eastwater

Thanks Guys thats really helpfull info on the 361 this is a great site to ask these questions . I will take a look on his site to . (Mozza ) Not sure about arb event as dates clash with something else but will try to get to try out a 361 and others to see how they feel for me . Thanks Eastwater

Thanks Mozza thats really helpfull info my saw has been great to learn on but now its proving just a bit too small for heavy work thats its doing now .

yep looking at the MS390 what do you think will that be up to the job ?

For the owners of an Stihl MS390 I would like your ratings on it please ? Does it cope well with a good work load being used each day for several hours a time. ? Would you rate it as a work horse saw ? Thanks Eastwater:001_smile:

Yep I have had problems with my MS 211 since getting it .Yet again today its back in to have something to do with the carb sorted . I must of had it back about 5 times so far . I have been quite disappointed with it keep braking down I have maintained it well ever since getting it . its a great little saw but I think it just must be struggling to do the demands that I am placing on it as its only a firewood saw its not use to being worked this hard on the bigger stuff over some hours each time . Not sure if its the same problems that the the 200 is having . Eastwater

Hi Guys thanks for all your suggestions thats great I will follow them up . Eastwater:001_smile:

Hi there they sound great can you tell me where do you get yours from ? many thanks Eastwater:001_smile:

Hi I am looking for some really strong and very large type garden industrial sacks to take away brash ? . A reusable type would be good . The ones i have been looking at for normal garden waist are just to small and flimsy for what I need .. Any suggestions would be great Thanks Eastwater

Hi I am looking for some really strong and very large type garden industrial sacks to take away brash ? . A reusable type would be good . The ones i have been looking at for normal garden waist are just to small and flimsy for what I need .. Any suggestions would be great Thanks Eastwater

For me its weight training and kickboxing keeps me fit for the climbing and working with the chainsaw . The weight training is my biggest benifit with the upper body it really really works . eastwater

OO that looks like a proper job ,So pleased you are ok and your goundie was good Hope you heal real quick and are back up the tree soon . Eastwater

Hi I had a full body harness given to me and it was quite grubby so I soaked it in a bowl of Non bio hand wash powder hot water then I gave a it a good scrub and then used the hose to make sure all the soap was out . It came up really nice . Nothing too strong to clean it as its a weight bearing harness you dont want to degrade the webbing . Dogs Poo !!!! oo thats got to be a bad harness day Eastwater:001_smile:

Talk about rain On Mon it rained and rained I got so wet, I was on ground level ,by the time I had finished it had gone right through to my skinnies every part of me from Aprat from my boots and under my helmet was soaked through . The rain coat I was waring was useless so after a while I just took it off and thought what the heack its only water and no point trying to stop its decent now. Just gone out to my local army surplus store and got a gortex jacket and legs for 30 quid all in so that should give me a good defence against the larger determind raindrops . Don't mind the rain but nicer when its dry . Eastwater:001_smile:

Hi There thats really really sad to even think about giving up something you love and have worked hard at for so long . You may have put years into learning the trade becoming good gaining certs and the equipment . It would be the worst move you ever make if you through the towel in now. The best way forward would be if you are not making any money is to maybe do a part time job at something else for a while to help you manage financially this will take the pressure off and then you can have re look at the drawing board as to how you are advertising and getting the word out about your services and presenting yourself to the general public . Sometimes when you are going through a bad patch and feeling low it makes everything feel crap and feel the world is working against you this can have a negative impact on your business and how you are seen by others . The other posters have suggested that doing lawn mowing and strmming is a really good way to increase your trade as the more things you can do the more you will have to offer . Make sure you have good sign writing on your truck /van and a T shirt with your company logo and phone number on it, large enough for people to see. People will tap you on the shoulder if they need things doing its a continuous loop . Times are hard but remember this The brown and green suff we work with never stops growing and will always need someone to do it regardless of the economy. Take care All the best Eastwater.

Hi Really really sorry to hear this . I hope they get caught and hope you are able to claim back the money if you were insured and work again soon thats just so bad I hope it never happens to me . Eastwater:sad:

Hi Any idear on what they charge for the CS31 course ?? Thanks Eastwater

Hi there Giving some friendly advice to someone how to stay safe with there saw is great and could save them from having a nasty accident with it as most people that go to B&Q and buy a saw will not have a clue how to use it or the dangers with no PPE. Charging for giving advice or training is a different ball game as when you take payment for something there is a level of expectation that then comes in if they were to hurt themselves after your training could land you in court with no backing from the recognised governing body's as to the standard of training you had delivered to them . . I would imagine that Recognised chainsaw trainers would be affiliated to say eg LANTRA a governing body they would have to deliver a certain standard of training and be guided by a schedule of what to deliver they would have some type of insurance. If the trainee then went home after the training and had an accident and blamed the trainer for it when it went to court the trainer would have the Governing body's to support them and the trainer can prove that they delivered a certain level of training to a set standard the the lawsuit would fall apart unless the trainee could show that the trainer acted negligently IE giving training that does not comply or is outside of the schedule for the course the trainee is attending Just my humble opinion for what its worth. Eastwater:001_smile:

Hi there Go for it if thats what you really want to do . life is only lived once so go eat the apple . Thats what I am doing too I am 37 and have just started this path too and so far its the best thing I have done yet age is no problem as long as you keep fit and willing to work hard. . The more you do the more opportunities come your way the more people you meet and it goes on . Training costs seem to vary up and down the country ,down the south west the 5 day course for 30/31 is around 500 for the training then you have the assessment fees on top . Good luck Eastwater.