jrose

I do it two ways - 1. Daily checklists before taking vehicles out include milage at start of day. So you can see how many miles were driven on a day by looking at the next days sheet (as long as people remembered to fill it out! ?) 2. All my vehicles are fitted with a tracker, mainly for security, not to spy on staff! But you can see in realtime where the truck is, and can replay the days journey. Speed and distance is measured in km, I'm sure if you clever you can change the setting in the app or otherwise just convert it using a calculator.

I see you've brought one now, but in case it's relevant later or to others reading this... I know they don't have the reputation of Makita/Dewalt/etc, but I've got a Ryobi drill which I have abused for years and it keeps going, with two batteries and charger I think it probably cost about £100. Have also brought to go with it an impact wrench https://www.homebase.co.uk/ryobi-one-18v-3-speed-impact-wrench-r18iw3-0-tool-only-_p389743 which is absolutely brilliant around the yard, one of the best "treat" tools I've ever brought. Takes 1/2" sockets, and came with an adaptor so you can use it as an impact driver if you need to, even if slightly heavy and overpowered! If you do go Makita, be careful as they do a homeowner type drill/driver which is branded Makita but the batteries don't interchange with any other tools in the range, a friend was fooled with this.Think it might be this one? https://www.powertoolmate.co.uk/Products/004000060012/EB%2FMAKDK18015X1?gclid=CjwKCAiAt4rfBRBKEiwAC678KVOHiimeCqN1Ztd4NxMTY3nCj49MWeY-hW_rl40BePKKcx3I1a4xCRoCMGkQAvD_BwE

If this really is a concern (and it seems a bit excessive, but so be it..) why not just buy some of this hi vis reflective tape in a colour of your choice, stick it all over the blower/chainsaw and make it both more visible and less pinchable in one go? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Reflective-Tape-Hi-Vis-fluorescent-Tape-Vinyl-Roll-Self-Adhesive-Metre-Lengths/173274733841?hash=item2857fa9d11:m:m23y6PYXAKyaaGneDGXsO8A:rk:6:pf:0

Hi all, Think I already know the answer, but want to double check my ID and diagnosis... First of all, is this Ganoderma on this Beech please? The area next to the fruiting body is very decayed, I managed to push a rebar stake that was to hand 3' through the 4' stem with barely any effort. There's also a hairline fracture on the stem at the base, looks pretty recent. The crown of the tree is yellowing heavily, when compared to the adjacent tree of similar age, height and location. Given that there are sheds, flood defences and driveways underneath my initial advice would be to remove. Thanks Joe

J. Rose Tree & Countryside Ltd. Positions Available: Team Leader/Lead Climber & Ground Staff/Second Climbers Based in the Forest of Dean and operating throughout Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas, we are a growing business focused on providing quality tree care to a variety of clients. Our work is a mixture of utilities, commercial and domestic arboriculture. Due to an increase in workload and promotion within the company, we are looking for both Ground Staff/Second Climbers & Team Leaders/Lead Climbers. Ground Staff/Second Climbers A basic level of experience & training is preferred. However for the right candidate we would provide training straight away, more important is the right attitude and ethic. Team Leaders The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years experience working within arboriculture, and be confident supervising a team carrying out day to day tree work. We offer benefits such as: Use of a company vehicle Provision of PPE, saws and climbing kit of your choice Opportunites for further training Progression within a growing company for the right person Pay will be subject to skills and experience. For more information, please contact Josef Casserley via email – [email protected]

Reckon one day he'll crash that Mercedes into the bloody Whomping Willow ?

Although probably the stupidest thing I've ever seen on the road is a convoy of 3 Landys & tracked chippers, filled with boys off to cut 4 spans of mature Hawthorn hedge to 1.5m high on a wet February day. Beat that!

There's someone in a black Mercedes I see once or twice a month, frequently doing 70mph+ on a dual carriageway or motorway - while reading a paperback novel tucked down between drivers door/steering wheel in right hand! Went past him once in traffic, that day it was Harry Potter.

I understand this to a point, but when Auntie Sue has a mature Sycamore overhanging her garage & conservatory that needs to come down, my price for four men, van, chipper & MEWP for a day is probably cheaper than two lads spending a months worth of weekends mashing up brash in the back of a BMW 1 series (yes, apparently this has been done!)

Cheers all. It may work for some people, but I'm not really interested in the hiring the kit out idea. Think I'll draw up some sort of terms and conditions letter, 10% commission. The deal I currently have with regards to work coming in - every team leader has a work phone I provide, and that number is the one they contact my customers on, so they're not using their own phone. Any work that then comes through that (repeat work, word of mouth etc) is my job, no finders fee. The same for if the neighbour sticks their head over the fence while we're there, and wants a quote. The problem arises when Auntie Sues neighbour wants something doing, she asks her nephew and he passes it to me. In this instance, a commission seems right and fair, but not 50/50!

The problem with hiring gear out: 1. My trucks are on the drive, with my name on the side. They may be wearing their work shirts, which again have my name on. If something goes wrong, or they have a disagreement with the customer it's my name that suffers, even if I had nothing to do with the job other than handing the keys over on a Saturday morning. 2. Any job that ever gets offered I (and other actual tree businesses) won't stand a chance, as the lads will just put in a quote cheaper than I can. I understand Saturday work will happen, and they're self employed so it's up to them to declare it. But it does have an effect on people trying to run a company, rather than make up a bit extra on a weekend.

Hi all, Got a question, and want to see how you all deal with it as it's come up a couple of times recently. Most of our work is commercial, with the odd domestic job thrown in. But domestic isn't really my bread and butter. Some of the lads who work for me have their own kit (climbing kit, saws, pickup). They have been offered jobs by neighbours, friends, aunties, people they bump into at the petrol station. A couple of times, the job offered has required either kit they don't have or more time/staff than they can cope with - chipper, tipper, rigging, big saws, etc. They have approached me to go in on the job with them, and got offended when I don't want to split the cost 50/50? Despite me paying diesel, using kit, insurance, etc... I understand the feeling that they brought the job in so they deserve some sort of bonus, but not to that extent! Anyone else pay a commission/finders fee to staff, and if so what percentage? I'm thinking of writing up a more formal agreement - something along the lines of 10% of the job price in addition to normal day rate? Sorry for the slightly rambling tone of the post.

Best spikes I've ever used, think they take a bit of getting used to as the twist makes them feel different. But I've never tried another pair as comfy. Even the £400+ ones made from unicorn horns and tears of virgins aren't as good

May be able to help with the timber, what is it?

I can just see the pay structure now... Apprentice - Conifer Groundsperson - Willow or Poplar 2nd Climber - Holly, Elm Lead Climber - Oak, Sycamore Team Leader - Ash, Beech Boss/Manager - already long dead Ash & Beech, the sort that splits ready when it hits the ground...

Personally, I'd say if you're not comfortable taking a large limb off in one then get out and do it smaller is the best way. As said, don't strop into it if you can avoid it - if you absolutely have to, use your strop to your bridge NOT your side Ds. There have been a couple of extreme occassions where I have used a cable tie on my bridge as a clip in point (obviously with a high anchor somewhere else, never as a sole anchor) - this way if the worst happens, it's a weak point that will shear and just make for a bit of a swing. It's not a very approved technique, but can give you a good work position with less risk in the right situation.

I brought just the Hook, not the kit with the rope in a bag. I have a long lanyard (8m) with a VT/pulley, so I either just clip it onto the krab end of that and pull myself over using the VT for progress capture, or sometimes the tail end of my climbing line.

J. Rose Tree & Countryside Ltd. Position Available: Team Leader/Lead Climber Based in the Forest of Dean and operating throughout Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas, we are a growing business focused on providing quality tree care to a variety of clients. Our work is a mixture of utilities, commercial and domestic arboriculture. Due to an increase in workload and promotion within the company, we are looking for Team Leaders/Lead Climbers. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years experience working within arboriculture, and be confident supervising a team carrying out day to day tree work. Essential Full, clean driving licence NPTC CS30, 31, 38, 39 First Aid qualification Desirable NPTC CS40, 41 NPTC UA 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 Trailer licence Chipper training We offer benefits such as: Use of a company vehicle Provision of PPE, saws and climbing kit of your choice Opportunites for further training Progression within a growing company for the right person Pay will be subject to skills and experience. For more information, please contact Josef Casserley via email – [email protected]

I had a Mitox hedge trimmer for a while, it was always used on 50:1 mix with no problems. I always use the blue Stihl oil, and not supermarket petrol.

I've climbed on one for years, it's a good next step up from a prussic and even if you end up getting a mechanical device later on it's a handy bit of kit to have. Personally, I'd prefer a hitch climber over anything else I've tried - ended up selling my zigzag and spiderjack on, as they just weren't as good! You can use it with a knot no problem, just make sure it doesn't foul the hitch as said. I usually use a Buntline as a termination, nice and compact and cinches up tightly on the krab.

A theoretical question only, but something that occured to me a while ago... You are taking a tree down for Mrs Bloggs. She wants the logs left on site, cut up. You value the job at £500, so to add VAT to it takes you up to £600. New Start Tree Surgery from down the road will do it for £500 all in as he's not VAT reg. Would you be within your rights to cut the tree down for free, and then sell Mrs Bloggs the pile of logs on her lawn for £500, plus 5% VAT bringing the total to £525? The cutting of the tree would be done to obtain the product, which you are then as a good businessman selling to the nearest customer...

I'm no expert, but it depends how much you want to spend and what you're planning to use it for. Electric are easiest to fit and cheapest, will do the job for most things - getting trucks unstuck, pulling a stem over, etc. They're not the quickest though, and long repetitive use (dragging brash, extracting timber) will drain a battery quickly and possibly overheat something. The other advantage is if using it to get a truck unstuck, you can drive whilst winching. PTO I haven't really used, but my understanding is you need a straight drive shaft which limits where you can mount it, and the drive shaft can become vulnerable to damage. Hydraulic are good, quicker and you can use them over and over again. But the engine needs to be running, and unless you've done some fancy plumbing you can't drive the vehicle while winching, which can be a pain when getting a truck unstuck. Also more expensive once you take all the extra bits into account. I'm about to buy a winch for one of mine, and going to go electric - it does what we need it for, and doesn't cost a lot.

What about a surveyors tape measure, with the tape removed and throwline installed instead? They're fairly tough, not massive and probably more up to being banged about on a harness than a fishing reel... Something like this https://www.newitts.com/apollo-closed-reel-measuring-tape?sku=IT001518&gclid=CjwKCAjw2MTbBRASEiwAdYIpsSRF3jjhz2GKBc1a0cFedA-p8XH39Gct0o4L51_Scs7N1IIEQ8V5QhoC60YQAvD_BwE https://www.sealantsandtoolsdirect.co.uk/manufacturers/silverline_tools/measures_and_levels/surveyors_fast_rewind_tape_measure_reel_50m_250213_P28590.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw2MTbBRASEiwAdYIpseIXwKuM8S7g7gBkvMh-z8lXxD9xFC9KG-Vjxkk5iAKMUbHOYXA_1hoCrngQAvD_BwE Alternatively you could look at