Spruce Pirate

Don't think it covers wedges, but ropes, winches (hand & mechanical) are definitely included, not sure about jacks.

Doesn't have to be exactly the same, like I said, the basics of it are already there with the NPTC's. Out of noseyness, how does the US system work? How many different grades, do you have to put in a number of years before going from one grade to the next, is it assessment based, do you have to be reassessed.... etc?

Almost certainly not. That said, I think it will become more prevelant. I'd be pretty surprised if more of the bigger companies and organisations don't start insisting on it, along with insurance companies, the accrediting bodies, etc. I agree, it's difficult to find the time, alright very difficult, verging on the impossilbe, when you're flat out trying to make a pound or two, but it shouldn't be impossible, and if it's done right you do get something for it. I like the sound of the US idea of varying levels of certification, in effect we have that here with the NPTC units, one leads to another, these could also be expanded to include advanced or specialist (whatever the latest terminology is) techniques.

The fact is that we should, note the word should, it is only a recommendation, take refresher training every three years for part time users and five years for full time users. While this will in many cases be treated as just what it is, a recommendation, there are those who insist on it. For good or for bad, I have two clients who insist on it so I will have to do it, and ensure that all those on site have been refreshed (there may also be insurance repercussions). In fact, we have done refresher and it's not a totally bad thing. Anyway, the point is, it's being done and has to be done, so it's got to be paid for by someone, either employer or S/E person and absorbed into costings. Just another expensive fact of life I'm afraid. I agree, getting people with the skill set to teach may push the instructors knowledge and abilities too, but is this really a bad thing? I'm not an instructor, but if I was I'd want to be learning and pushing myself to more knowledge as well. It may be that a two tier instructor system is needed.

Maybe, just maybe, there is a good opportunity here in refresher training. Perhaps we could split the refresher courses so that those who haven't used a saw since they did the training, or use it very infrequently, go back over the basics. If, on the other hand, you are a professional saw user, by the time you need refreshed, you must, by definition, have a good bit of experience behind you. This would be the time for instructors to introduce more advanced techniques, rather than just running through the basics again. I think I might just have had a good idea there, I'll quit now, while I think I'm ahead, and wait for someone to shoot it down.

I like Heli-Loggers, they look as though they know what they're doing. The other show is too much drama for the benefit of TV if you ask me. I know a Canadian over here who wears a pair of caulks, they look the mutt's nuts, I'd definitely get a pair if you could over here. I'm not sure why you can't.

Is it finished? Or a work in progress?

Just to be different, I like yellow. Orange make you look like a rail worker.

This is true, but only if your subbies are non-VAT registered. If they start charging you VAT you'll notice a big difference. With reference to the original post, everyone has a UTR. Some companies may ask you for it regardless of your employed / self-employed status. If your S/E you'll be responsible for your own tax unless you're on a CIS scheme, I only know of one Arb outfit who has been on this, but there may be more. Going VAT registered will bump your price up for domestic clients, won't make much difference to VAT registered companies unless they're on the flat rate scheme. If you do go VAT registered I would think about getting on the flat rate scheme yourself, look into it and do some maths, but normally it should work out well for a sole trader. I do find VAT a killer for domestic work.

If you look on the HSE website they have a H&S Policy Statement you can more or less download / print off for free and fill in the blanks. Or, at least they used to before they went all self funding.

I only assumed you made them on site as they look heavy and awkward to humph in, especially over rough ground. We do have some awkward trees to deal with here, some that springboards might be appropriate for. Not sure how HSE would view this, would probably fall under working at height regs and need a fall arrest system to be in place, not sure if LOLER would apply....... can't think why people go abroad to work. Don't get me wrong it's not all bad here, but sometimes I do feel over-regulated.

Imagination used. Never heard that one before. Don't think springboards are common here,the timber isn't really big enough. If you're out in the wilds do you not make them on site rather than taking them with you?

You've lost me again. What's a school marm? By our standards a 4' tree is a big one, maybe not massive, but big.

I think bucking translates as cross-cutting? Bore cut to me is going in from the side when diameter exceeds bar length and working round. Leaving a bit of holding wood at the back I'd call and strap cut or a dog tooth more recently (and I agree, it seems too popular at the moment). I think what you north americans call a sink I'd call a gub, but also called gob, face, notch, mouth - probably others depending on where you are. Personally I'm not that keen on the Humbolt, but I'm not used to it as generally use the cuts I was first taught - I think a large part of it is how you were taught and what you're used to using. Most felling here is done by machine here these days and most of the old cutters are now gone and have taken a lot of their skills with them. They've been replaced by NPTC units teaching a very limited skill set. I'd love to be able to get the time with a proper old cutter and get the benefit of their knowledge, but they're difficult to find these days. I'm not saying there's none left or that all modern cutters are unskilled, just that a lot of knowledge has been lost in this country. I think the US and Canada do a better job (currently) of passing down knowledge from one generation to the next. We are to concerned about paper trails and certification to learn this way here. Keep posting Craobh, but maybe slow down a little, a lot of us seem to be struggling to keep up with the foreign lingo.

Scary, I had almost the same thing last month five days before the MOT. Pulled up put full oposite lock on to reverse the trailer in, thought the steering felt light, went to move off and steered the oposite direction (ie, wheels hadn't turned at all). The inside of the steering box had dropped out! Drop arm was still attached at the box end and ball joint end. I was all right as I was stopped turning on a private track, but scary to think what could have happened if it had been on the main road, especially as I had the wee one with me. Again, no external signs of wear, no excesive play in the box, no leaks, no reason to suspect iminent and sudden failure. Glad you're OK and got it fixed easily. (mine wasn't quite as quick and easy fix as the whole box had to come out).

If you don't already have one the first place to start is by getting a driving license. I seem to get a lot of guys asking for work with tickets but without a license they're not really employable. Has to be said that this is more forestry than arb, but all the same, my advice is get a driving license first. Then basic tickets (30,31), then get some basic experience before doing more advanced or climbing tickets - learn to walk before you start trying to run.

Don't like the cold season, don't like the midge season, don't like the wet season. The other three days of the year I'm like a pig in ****. Wouldn't want to do anything else though.

I like that idea. In all seriousness I think we would all be more willing to sign up to these things if we felt there was a bit more reward to them. The benefits of "it means you comply with H&S", "it will allow you to stay on our approved list" make it seem as though you're having to do it just to stand still. The "you need it if you want to work for us" seems more like a threat than an incentive. More carrots, less sticks makes a lot of sense to me.

Believe it or not I once had a machine operator extracting the Michael about the height of my stumps!!! That was funny. Back to the point - it's not just cutters the problem is with. Quality planters are hard to find, and if planting isn't done right the problem knocks on right down the chain. Forget the cutters and get some quality planting squads sorted out. Far too much "its only sticking a tree in the ground" mentality at all levels, especially managment.

Well said, just about sums up all the recruitment problems this industry faces in one post. Anyone got any ideas on solutions? 'cause I don't.

Must've done if it supported the whole tree including the root ball! Presumably it withstood the dynamic loading of the rootball lifting out of the ground as well. Buitlt 'em strong back in the day.

Try asking around the local farms. There are still a few around which might be for sale for the right money. Other than that I think they're getting into "collector's items" and a decent one will either be too much money or too restored for putting to work in the woods.

Without the adjacent trees I don't see what you could do other than get some kind of crane in. Even with the trees it still looks a proper head scratcher of a job. Good result, very tidy.

Semi-Chisel Chain. That's always a mistake!

Yeah, to be fair, you did get in first. With saws, my general philosophy is: if in doubt, get a new saw, prefferably bigger.