jrose

If you haven't done it already, register as self employed - you can do this while still employed full time. Work out what you want as a day rate before contacting firms. Alternatively you can keep an eye out for full time PAYE jobs on here, but that's more of a commitment. Contact every firm locally, asking for a bit of Saturday work. Should pick something up here and there. Don't focus too much on the climbing at the moment, if you haven't already got it work towards your CS30/31. Get yourself basic PPE - helmet, boots, trousers and if you can a ground saw - Stihl MS261 or Husky 550xp size, don't bother with the little hobby saws. That should get you the odd day here and there, enough to get a bit of experience and work out whether it's for you!

How tight is the access?

I know Ermin plant will do a Timberwolf 150 or similar, not sure what the smallest they have is but probably worth a try.

As above, anyone can go and buy climbing kit and a chainsaw - even top handles, either secondhand or take the chance new (I've brought at least one new 201 without being asked for my ticket). A bit of time on YouTube, and this doesn't surprise me in the least. A landscaper friend of mine once asked where to get a harness and rope from, as he wanted to learn. When I enquired further, it turned out he'd taken down an 80' Eucalyptus by going up it with a pocket of 9" nails, a hammer and a 046 tied to his belt. Bang nail in, take step up, repeat! Reckoned once he got to 50', he decided that was high enough and took the top out from there ?

Position: Utility Team Leader Due to promotion within the company, we are looking for a Utility Arboriculture Team Leader. We are a small but growing company, working throughout Gloucestershire and the surrounding area. The majority of our work is utilities and commercial, with a small amount of domestic work. The ideal candidate must be experienced and competent with all aspects of utility arboriculture, and able to lead a team. Very competitive wage, dependent on skills and experience. For the right candidate, this position will offer continuous professional development and the opportunity for progression within the company. Essential: NPTC CS30, 31, 38, 39, 40 or equivalent NPTC UA 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 Min. 3 years experience working within utility arb Full, clean UK driving licence Desirable: NPTC CS 32, 41 Towing licence WPD authorisation CSCS Card For more information, please email a CV to [email protected] or phone 07305 875500 for a more informal discussion.

I'd agree with this, carrying out a felling operation on your own surrounded by people most of whom have never been near a tree being felled before? Especially as it reads as you haven't long been working for this company (could be wrong here). Something's wrong with this picture... Did anyone else on site have first aid training (forestry specific), in case you were to have an accident?

I've never bothered to put a date of expiry on, as said you're not under any obligation to do it should they come back to you several years later. I make sure every quote I do is written as I've been caught out before by giving a verbal price, then 3 months later they ask me to do it and neither of us can remember what we agreed! Every quote goes via email, in the very rare case the customer doesn't have email (elderly usually) I print off a quote and post it/drop off when I'm passing.

Hi all, I am in the process of loading up a few cheap tablets for team leaders with selected apps, with the aim of moving a lot of stuff (job sheets, calendars, tip site list etc) over to paperless. Partly to fulfill various contractual obligations and partly because we should be doing it anyway, I want to replace our daily climbing kit/PPE checklists with an app, where all staff can go through it in the morning, mark any damaged/failed kit, do vehicle checks, etc. and then it uploads to a cloud service or similar, so I can load it on the computer in the office. The best option I've found so far is iAuditor, but wondered if anyone else had any recommendations? Thanks! Joe

I've always liked Marlow Boa to be honest, it's cheap and cheerful but it grips reliably and is nice and supple. Personally I don't see ,much point in buying the pricey stuff for prussik loops, but if money's no object I always got on well with armour prus, and bee line. Avoid the Beal cord, almost came out of a tree once when it just refused to grip. Would never use it again.

Hi, Bit short notice but I've got one man on training and another off, so could do with a half decent climber for a job in the Forest of Dean on Thursday. A very small amount of rigging may be required, must be comfortable with relatively straightforward takedown s. I will provide all fuel, rigging kit, big saws etc, so you'll only need to provide yourself, PPE climbing kit and top handle. Don't always get on here, so best to call or text me on 07305 875500

How long did it last? As bear in mind this only has to last for 5 mins, it's a sprint not a marathon.

Got to give it a go, plus I quite like the idea of making a "hot strimmer" as I doubt its been done very many times, if at all!

Would take longer to spin up is the only thing, and time is of the essence here!

Alternatively, if we're really going to town imagine this but with two fs550s. I don't think my budget will stretch that far though!

I was thinking of trying both the largest grass knife I can find, and a modified Oregon Jet Feed 4 way head with different line types. Maybe something like guitar string, which has the little washer thing fixed on the end to hold it in place?

Think it has to be a strimmer or close variant. Otherwise someone would turn up in a combine ?

Cheers Spud! I'm up for giving it a bash, I'm 6'4" so got some reach on me ? if I arrange getting a brush cutter to you, you up for porting it please?

I might have to get a custom grass knife made up for it as well ?

Usually the sycthe Steve, although it seems to be a fit young man with a razor sharp sycthe against an underpowered strimmer with the wrong head on , for 20 metres - by the time the strimmer chap has started up, matey with the sycthe is a few metres ahead!

Thought I'd post this in public as a bit of fun, but it's really aimed for Spud if he's up for it... For several years now I have been tempted and never got round to entering the sycthe Vs strimmer race at at Sycthefest in Somerset... Having just gone by again, I now have a year to prepare and deffo want to do it next year. So, I need what may be a world first - a fully ported, tuned, flame breathing racing strimmer! Seeing as it's usually some bloke with his D handle Makita, shall we represent the 2 stroke world in style? Would you be up for building it (obviously for payment)? I have an old Kawasaki KBH43 in the shed which I think would be ideal, as it's got a really long shaft (giggity), so good swathe width. Or, I can get my hands on an really old Husqvarna clearing saw, which I think was about 60cc? Would either of these work?

Smartphone when I need to look something up there and then. Mostly desktop from the office, it's so much easier to do anything that involves a lot of reading/typing/using more than one window at once. Had a tablet once, broke it and replaced with a laptop.

It's been a bit longer than planned, but here's my thoughts on the Simarghu harness so far... Bridge is too long as standard, I've added another ring as I usually use my lanyard on the bridge as well and shortened it. The idea of the three bridge positions is brilliant, I've moved it to the top as the middle hole was putting too much weight on my legs. Not had an issue myself yet with the leg loops moving, will keep an eye on this. The leg pads feel slightly odd at the moment, but it's probably just because they're different from what I'm used to. Not quite sure where the saw attachment is meant to be, as the little ring looks rather lightweight especially if hanging a bigger saw off it? Will probably end up using the rear ring. It's probably personal preference, but I really like the design of my old Skylotec with gear loops at both the top and bottom of the harness, or at least the option to add some in. All in all I'm pretty pleased with it, waiting for a decent size takedown to try it on the side Ds for an extended period and to use it with a bigger saw so will report back then. I would have one all day long over a tree motion!

I can't remember if it was the arb show or the APF, but wasn't there someone who had all the expensive amber LED beacons stolen off their truck in the car park?

Hi, A last minute reshuffle means I could do with an extra man on a job in Gloucester tomorrow. Climber or groundy, must have basic chainsaw tickets and a bit of experience. If you have a tipper, that's even better but if not it's not essential. Cheers Joe