arbclimber

You guys with your big interesting machines make me sick. I've never had anything more interesting than a crew cab transit. Every time I look at this thread I rack my brains for a reason to justify spending some hard earned cash on a big new toy, not easy as these days I am usually found driving a desk!

This man talks from experience. Very wise words imo.

Sorry guys, I'm with Rupe's way of thinking on this one. Obviously there are some skilled people working in our industry but generally I think its a semi skilled industry. As an example, my Dad is a precision engineer and has worked as one and owned engineering businesses for many years. I reckon if I took him out for a week I could get him climbing, cutting and rigging (very basic rigging). If I, or I would imagine most of you, went to work with him for a week we still wouldn't be able to do 1% of what he does. This is an example only - I do appreciate some of you may be quite handy already on a lathe/ milling machine.

Purely my opinion but I see 39 as a stepping stone to 41 just to give you an idea of how to use a saw in the tree. I did all my training at Sparsholt College and it seemed the general opinion there that you did 39, didn't bother with 40, then waited till you had done 41 before you could really do any proper work. In hindsight this does seem the best way of filling the industry with qualified staff with no real idea of what they are doing.

The B & Q ones are Bypass. I was told the Bypass ones are for live wood and the Anvil type are for dead wood. Not sure if thats right but it makes sense to me.

If its only a concern over 85 degrees I dont think ill worry about it ( for the 2 days a year it might be a problem) Interesting post though.

I bought some Wilkinson Sword loppers from B&Q:blushing: Actually really good, they are the gearded ones and for general chopping of bits and pieces they are ideal. Also have pair of the large Felco loppers. They are excellent but 4x the price of the B & Q ones. Not sure if should be more embarrased about buying tools in B and Q or spending over 100 quid on loppers now:biggrin:

When I sold my business I got very little for the goodwill. As a small business I seemed to find that all the repeat customers were coming back because they wanted ME to do the work. There is, however, a certain amount of goodwill value as far as advertising etc goes imo. Obviously advertising I had arranged which continued into the period of new ownership was a direct benefit to the new owner. However, (please dont take this as an insult it is merely my thoughts on the situation)if i went to my accountant tomorrow for advice and found he was googling and searching forums for answers, I would be a little concerned. I cant see how, from a goodwill point of view, our industry is any different to many others. As said this is just my take on the situation and if, as a person who recently sold a business in this industry, I can offer any more information, I would be happy to do so.

I seem to have a slightly different view to many of you on the subject of staff talking to customers/ public. I have never employed idiots so would hope staff would be sensible but I always tell them that if anyone is rude to them they dont have to stand there and take it. I wouldn't take it and I dont expect them to. Obviously I dont encourage a slanging match in the middle of the street either. Dont get me wrong, i'm not arguementative by nature, infact ill pretty much get on with anyone, but draw the line when people are rude or obnoxious. Ill always stand by my staff too, if the need arises.

Tony, I worked 5 days a week for £130 a day when i was 30, so i could afford to do a day a week at university. I know thats not bad money but its all relative. I am a naturally academic person but decided to get some hard graft under my belt before doing a degree. My brother on the other hand did 2 degrees straight after school and now, at the age of 30, is earning £200 k a year plus bonuses. Anyway, I dont climb or graft anymore and sell my opinion to anyone who wants it for £400 a day. What I am trying to say is 'DO YOUR DEGREE'. I was in exactly the same situation as you, but in reverse. As i've said i'm much more of an academic than a manual labourer, first time i got to the top of a big tree was on my cs38, wind started blowing and all I wanted to do was the worlds greatest Koala impression. Anyway I got on with it and the next week passed cs38 and 39. Do anything you need to, to get what you want. You are very lucky that you actually know what you want to do and are already half way there.

Dean, Planting and growing trees is so much more relaxing than cutting the things down. Doing stuff like that can seem like you have knocked your whole life down a gear. No noise, no useless staff and no customers asking stupid questions. Go for it. From what i've read on here you can turn your hand to most things so sure it would be successful.

Any wood thats been treated or any wood i have to pay for.

Have i missed something, havent bought any new tools this year but the caps you are describing as 'new' seem to be the ones i have always had on tools for about 10 years or so? Never had a problem with them either.

I'm quite a fan of the ms260. I always buy Stihl saws as all my hedgecutters, blowers, strimmers etc are all stihl so many service parts are interchangable between tools when out on a job. For example the same spark plug is used in all of my Stihl machinery.

Because it would be on the other side, but he has it the wrong way round?

Why would you be wanting to climb a dead tree of which the top 30' could be snapped off with a throwline.

Thomaskingtree.ca123, I dont think Skyhuck is trying to say that his piece of pipe was as well engineered or as effective as your product. I think he is just maybe expressing his opinion that throwing a piece of metal around in peoples gardens is not the greatest idea when a less dangerous product is already used. Or when said piece of metal is a shovel you are trying to get stuck in a tree cos someone on here persuaded you it is a good idea, lol

I do agree Bundle. I can see that it needs to be ascertained whether the condition of the tree or its (possible) lack of maintenance contributed to the severe outcome of the incident. Obviously some trees, in poor condition, should be dealt with as a matter of urgency if next to the highway but nooone can ever guarantee that any tree will be safe in exceptional circumstances, ie hit by a bus. I'm sure everyone on here has been asked at some point by a customer if their tree is safe and if it is going to fall over in the near future. The truth is trees are natural and each one is completely unique. Unless there is to be a ce mark for bus resistant trees I think all we can do is show due care and find a happy medium between becoming paranoid about every tree and just leaving them to look after themselves.

Seems strange that they conclude that more needs to be spent on tree care. Incident only suggests to me that more needs to be spent on training bus drivers.

I'm just glad that on the occasions when my throwing skills seem to disappear its a throw bag and not a lump of metal that hits the clients roof.

I dont think the police would get involved in any way to actually stop them as the issue is a civil not criminal matter. If they repeatedly went against court judgements i suppose the police may get involved but by this time we will probably all have retired so whats the point.

If thats the case they aint standing in the best place for when she starts knocking the felling wedges in. I've got a sneaking suspicion there may be a mog just out of shot, ready for a quick get away. Its definately going to be one for the stunt fell thread.

Ah, the old poke it with a stick method, you have taught her well.

Skyhuck, is the child in your avatar next to the tree trying to take the buttresses off ready to fell it. That would make a cracking vid for the stunt fell thread if they were.

Thanks Pete, Sad is right, I think I need a hobby! (maybe tree work lol)