ContractArb

By far the best axe I've come across is this one: Fiskars X25 Antishock SoftGrip Splitting Axe Fifty odd notes..

A Mog would be Sharon Stone methinks. Iveco? Maybe Renee Zellweger. Both great at what they do but it's the older one with the class & still will turn all the boys heads. (higher maintenance too)

Treefellers in Chester are always on the lookout for subbies. Drop Spoolos a PM. Also, Simon Brain at Amenity Tree Care was on the lookout for self-employed team leaders. Good Luck..

That's what I thought Benndy...A few tractor tyres (& a tractor) & bob's ya uncle! We'd upset too many Range Rover driving neighbours tho

DJ Trees are looking for a climber to dismantle a large copper beech this coming Thursday & Friday (2nd & 3rd Aug). Its in Prestbury, N of Macclesfield. Paste this in Google maps [53.291897,-2.148711]. Normally I'd do it but my wife is very, very pregnant so I have had to turn this one down... Please PM me for contact details.

I'm not going to join in with the yoof bashing. Things have changed since I started contracting in 1994. Then all you had to do was turn up on time and someone would give you a stick to put in the chipper, simple... These days people expect our students to be much more savvy, but that ain't on the curriculum at Myerscough is it? Have you guys forgotten what it was like starting out? It's pretty daunting moving from the classroom to a commercial worksite. I'm confident with my ability in the tree, but more importantly I have learnt how to anticipate the needs of my employers. As a contractor, my ability to communicate, and hold to my commitments are my most valuable skills. But that isn't on the curriculum at any arb college is it? (Have I said that already?) Has anyone new to our industry actually got this far down the thread? Then you probably have the commitment already! Want my advice? 1: Be honest about your abilities but let potential employers know you are keen to learn. 2: Always show up when you say you will. NEVER let someone down by text. 3: Be confident with what you can do but don't appear over-confident. Your crew will be thinking "he can talk the talk, but can he walk the walk?". The former you can do straight from college, but the latter will take you 3 years minimum. Don't blag it - you will hurt yourself or worse, some other poor sod. 5: Our employers have two concerns; safety & profit. Don't work for any who doesn't put safety first. Period.

IMO the Welsh Government deliver a much better service than their English counterparts - especially for the young & the unwell. Welsh Government | Jobs Growth Wales

PM sent boss.

:thumbup1:Nice one Mr Beech - Check your PMs.

Hey guys, I've just got myself a Positioner 2 for Christmas! What make of wire cores do you use? What diameter is best? - I'm currently using an 18 month old Yale Hi Vis Wirecore with a Wild Country Ropeman & a quickdraw but it's getting tatty as I climb with it all the time and the ropeman tends to chew 'em up... (The Yale Platinum looks nice)

A mate of mine has an old Jonsered 111s Unfortunately we think it needs a new piston Does anyone know if parts are available for these? Methinks not but there's a rumour that parts from an old Husky would fit.... Help please..

Yeah, I've put in an application with them. Good bunch (bar the odd lunatic (no names, Richie)), they've helped us out at Tilhill a lot.

Thanks for your support Rob - You're a true gent.

I've just been made redundant , so I'm looking for some climbing work to start in the new year. I live in Chester and have two little kids to look after, so any part-time or contact work in the Cheshire/N Wales area would suit me down to the ground. I've spent 14 years as a self-employed contract arborist, working with various firms in Cheshire and North Wales. In 2008 I started work for UPM Tilhill N.Wales as lead climber/wage slave. This has sadly now come to an end. As well as IPAF type 1b (static boom), Forestry 1stAid, C&G Phase II arb, I have a few CS Units: 10,13,14,20,21,30,34,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,42,45,48 I know I'm in the queue behind RobArb, but if anyone has anything at all, Please PM me. Thanks Fellers, Regards, T'hillBilly

I think that will depend very much on your experience & reputation there cuz ;-)

Hi guys, My last saw, an MS361 with 20" bar was stolen last week, so I've just ordered a Stihl 362-w, the one with heated handles. Stihl will sell me a standard 362 with a 20" bar, but the 362-w comes with a 16" bar only..... Can anyone tell me why Stihl recommend a max bar length of 16"? Do heated handles really knock that much power of the saw to warrant the bar length restriction? If so, would that suggest a reduction in the"20% fuel economy" over my old saw?

I'll be there...I'm the one with the long hair trying on all the different harnesses I can possibly find.

You will hit the ground faster too Billy, if you don't use your strop. It's a bit like saying "I never wear a seatbelt whilst I'm driving":thumbdown:

Update: Sadly it's just firewood now. It had a radial crack running all the way up the stem. Strangely the crack was orientated perpendicular to the lean of the tree:confused1:

Josh speaks the wisest words ..... Saw some good deals at last years AA show...£100 off most saws, no reason to think the APF will be any different. 5 years is fairly ancient for an 020/200t - buy a new one, a couple of weekend foreigners will soon pay for it!

I have a 20m rope that does most jobs (Marlow Gecko) with LockJack Sport - the business! Have a 45m Yale XTC for big trees. Always use a 3m steelcore flipline with a Ropeman cam whether on spikes or not. Nearly always have a Petzl Pantin cam on my right foot also. Makes climbing a lot less strenuous. Currently climbing in a Dragonfly - with extra DMM anchor ring on the front anchor strap, find it very handy to have the extra attachment point. Looking to switch to a TreeFlex soon. Usually keep a few extra bits & bobs on my harness: DMM Revolver, Ocean Poly 8mm e2e prussic, Hitchclimber, Jane strop. All that stuff really gets in the way, but if the Treevolution boys wear it, so will I. LOL

LOL t'was a dog-tooth Josh. Just as well that it had a lean - I wasn't going back up to put a line on it!

Today I was asked to reduce this old boy by 40%: As I climbed above the remaining canopy, about 12m, I got a nasty shock.. I realised that the tree wasn't swaying in the breeze as I'd thought. It was wobbling. With my arse going like a goldfish's mouth, I abseiled down, sharpish... A phonecall later and we had the go-ahead to fell. Just as well really. Anyone know about spalted beech? This is 8m x 0.8m approx. Is it worth more than just firewood? It's starting to crack already...