LGP Eddie

Still a lovely part of the world, I don’t blame you for spending a few weeks here. My Wifes friends took over the Boat a few weeks before Christmas, talk about savage time to take on a Pub, but hopefully they’ll get back on track when this mess is all over.

Moorlands Specialist Excavations Ltd, kit lives at Cellerhead or Rugby depending on where work happens to be.

Small world, I’m in Chedd. Black Lion is a regular walk in summer, lethal range of real ale and cider there, towpath always seems to have a few more bends on the way back!?

looked at using the excavator and grab, that with the lorry to haul the stuff would have been too heavy and the client doesn’t want any potential damage to the deck or the stone works,the crane will do it from the road side. I’ve not done any of it, WM Plant do an awful lot of it for the EA. In reality Kevin Russell has the tool in the Wheeled Sennebogen 718, which weighs in around 24 tonne all up, and combines a fantastic geometry/telescopic arm combined with a hi rise cab to give the operator a much better view. When I had the Sennebogen it was one application that really did spring to mind as you would very quickly be in and out to the next location in times of flood. If I ever get my new Telescopic extension to the Liebherr, it again will be a great tool for such work, with around 19 metres reach, excellent geometry and hi rise cab. Around 34 tonne and rubber block pads for the road. Another option is Al Wallace with his Truck/Felling Head, 30+ metres reach and great geometry. Radio remote so able to have great vision of the operation. Eddie.

I pretty much stopped supplying fuel as I've been caught too many times having a bowser on site and then a load of other kit turns up either without fuel to even begin the job, or needing filling up after a day or so. Long faces all round if I refuse to fuel them and the job has to stop, but very short memories when it comes to paying or replacing it. My clients will have to supply white and I don't like the though of machines left full of it. Eddie.

A lot bigger market for stolen white than red, machines and bowsers will be like cash machines!? Eddie.

I don’t care if they want more money, just take it fairly instead of propping up something that if it was normal business would be made to stand on it’s own two feet. Eddie.

No it’ll not happen, Farmers will as ever be exempt for whatever reason and then continue to diversify into cutting a slice out of anything they can with a bit of exemption help. Eddie.

The abuse will increase as they really have the advantage then, plus the Farm off sales of red will flourish nicely! White straight through would sort the job out and if food goes up so what, it’s too cheap anyway and half of it is pure shite in a packet. Eddie.

Same as when they haul Diggers to site with their Tractors on Red, and undercut all the Plant lads and Hauliers, we feel it massively too thanks. Eddie.

If they’re going to do it, then just do it! No exemptions or tax back for anyone, level the field finally. Eddie.

Triggers broom I suppose? But machines somehow seem to die a natural death of getting ever more shagged out, sold onto more occasional users who aren’t so fussy as long as it digs, or exported to countries that will be more than pleased to see anything that replaces manual labour. Some quite fresh machines can end up straight in the dismantlers these days for Computer, DPF, Engines etc. They don’t build them like they used to as they say, and they also don’t train old school fitters. No disrespect to anyone but hard to disagree the industry is geared to quick diagnostic and full part replacement, instead of old school take it off and fix it! Eddie.

Probably the best small setup I’ve ever used. It’s got the Engcon DC2 system that I’m not a fan of, but the rest is a great setup as it’s an Ec02 with the correct S30 Hitch for this size machine, and older style top hitch which is far less bulky than the latest version. Operating it you hardly know the Tilty is on. The Cab’s are a good size for a zero tail and it’s capable of a serious amount of work in a day. Shaun kept it 100% in terms of maintenance, and always has his kit mint looking. Hours go against it, but you’d have to buy on condition I suppose. Eddie.

My good friend Shaun Gratton’s old setup just come up. This had the very best of first owner and is a brilliant setup to use. The Komatsu mini’s are totally overlooked by most, but are fantastic bits of kit. Eddie.

I don't know a lot about them, some are factory Two piece boom units and some have had them done third party at huge expense. I'd agree with you, would have been expensive new and will make someone a nice setup. Eddie.

Rare tool, with a loyal following just come onto Twitter. Eddie.

Had the JS out with the Engcon Ec209 and TMK300 Tree Shear out recently. My mate Ollie at the controls and despite some horrendous conditions and a site where they’ve continued to try to run Dumptrucks despite the weather, he’s had no issues with having the big slippers fitted. Eddie. IMG_3311.MP4 IMG_3307.MP4

Try again

Where do you actually intend to work?? Yes you can find yourself in the situation of needing both FMOC and CPCS cards. Your thoughts are like everyone else’s! Eddie.

No thanks, I’m happy pulling the levers, but I’d have no issues sitting down with other Contractors, HSE, CPCS etc and see if we could actually clear a path to something like the Demolition Industry model. They now lead the way in utilising machines and attachments to undertake projects, and have managed to turn what was perceived as the absolute cowboys of the Industry, into a professional industry able to almost self regulate and provide best practices. Or we could just leave it to FISA and the HSE because if it involves Trees it must be Forestry! Eddie.

Need an Association of De-Veg Contractors or the like to begin to push back and get some of this sorted out, rather than having it thrust upon us by people who’ve never done it but think they can pull it under their umbrella for more revenue. It’s not Forestry, it’s not Arb, Mechanised De-Vegetation I’d say is the best description of what is an ever growing industry and it comes with it’s own issues. Eddie.

As said before the NPORS and CPCS are now working together, you get an NPORS with CPCS logo. Stamp your feet all you like, many won’t let you on without a CSCS element of some form. Can’t see the issue, do the ticket they want and charge accordingly. I had a Client insist on SafeContractor or absolutely no go whatsoever. No problem, straight on the invoice or I’m not coming! Time it was all shook up anyway and went the way of Demolition, where the Industry got together to work out best practice and guide the HSE and Card Schemes to produce something worthwhile. We’re stuck in the crazy situation where loads go for FMOC and for sites nobody would look at it, a basic CPCS will cover you no problem. Oh and don’t forget your £££ Safety Critical Medical, must be under 2 years from date for many now!? Eddie.

All depends where you work, pulled this week for all tickets/daily check sheets/machine 12 monthly and sling loler certs. Given a sticker for my hat to confirm all was in order. It’s just how it is these days, all boxes were ticked, they wouldn’t have given a toss if I’d never sat in that brand of machine, got my ticket in a raffle last week or used the attachment before, as long as everything was present and correct. Eddie.

You can convert npors to cpcs, so it’s basically NPORS CSCS Card - NPORS NPORS.COM Apply for your NPORS/CSCS card today! Get One | Get In | Get On The Key to Getting Your Job Done In... Do over 10 tonne it should get you both categories in one. Eddie.

Replaceable blade would be nice bud definitely looks strong. They’re all replaceable, but you’d have to be going some to ever need it. Eddie.