Spruce Pirate
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Everything posted by Spruce Pirate
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Phytophthora Control by Soil Inoculation? Old News!
Spruce Pirate replied to treeseer's topic in Tree health care
I don't think it would work on P. ramorum as it's an air bourn infection which enters through the foliage and causes the tree to die very quickly. From what I know of P. lateralis it's a soil bourn infection which enters through the roots and is slower acting. Hence soil treatment may have an effect. -
I helped out peeling Scots pine poles for a log cabin years ago. We did it all with drawing knives from memory. Keep them sharp, straddle the log and just keep peeling. It was hard work as I remember it. I think you can buy a debarking spade from Stihl, not sure where to get a drawing iron.
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I like ours, it's pretty good off road, it does a long journey in comfort, you can seat 7 in it (albeit at a squeeze), fold the seats down and there's loads of space, it tows well. That said, it has to be serviced regularly and it's had a bit of money spent on suspension and steering recently. All the points mentioned in previous posts are valid too. Bear in mind that the newest Td5 you'll look at is 10 years old now, there are probably bound to be a few parts needing maintained. Our current one is 15 years old, but still good to drive and got a bit of life left in it. MPG-wise it will do 25 - 31, 31 only on a good long run with little weight an no trailer.
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Assuming you already know how to plant a tree? Emergency First Aid at Work + F, which is what I presume you've booked yourself a place on. For the FC you need to make sure that your squad has adequate first aid provision, which generally means at least two members have a EFAW+F cert. I think the FC prefer all on site to have the 1st aid cert. Quad ticket if you're laying stuff out with a bike. PA1 will be required for planting treated trees on FC sites from next year, not sure about private. I don't know if PA6 will be needed for FC or private. If you want to pick up other stuff through the year then PA1 PA6 will let you do spraying, this is needed for all operators. Strimmer and brushcutter tickets would be an advantage for other work. Same with chainsaw.
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I have an IPAF and NPTC CS39, this has, so far, been enough for our clients. If you're operating a two man team in the basket I think you would get away with the MEWP operator holding a relevant MEWP cert and the saw operator holding CS39 (but this is only my opinion). You would need the protective screen between the saw operator and the MEWP operator.
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That's the one Mat, I knew if I mentioned it someone would know how to find it.
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As I understand it - and I've been wrong before - it is perfectly acceptable to use a chainsaw from a MEWP if you have CS39 and an IPAF or LANTRA or NPTC or any other recognised MEWP CoC. The reason for CS47 coming into being was that some operators wished to use a chainsaw from a MEWP but did not have the relevant climbing certificates. There is an old thread on this on here somewhere with a link or reference to the HSE confirming that in their opinion CS39 with a recognised MEWP ticket is acceptable. I'd put up a link, but I'm still pretty computer illiterate and don't know how.
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Ideas please on pulling this monster over!
Spruce Pirate replied to Jonny Burch's topic in General chat
Count me in - you can add my travel and subsistence expenses in to the quote. Have a look on the members directory on the FCA website, there might be someone on there who can help you out. -
towing a chipper in third lane of motorway
Spruce Pirate replied to robert t's topic in General chat
Without wishing to fan the flames of this, could someone explain why it is illegal to tow in the third lane? Especially on congested roads or when overtaking two large vehicles taking up the other two lanes. For the record, I was aware that it is illegal before this thread, but have never known why. -
Ideas please on pulling this monster over!
Spruce Pirate replied to Jonny Burch's topic in General chat
Ditto. I presume you've actually looked at the tree and you're not pricing of the pic? -
I like the sound of it. I've been put off applying for AA membership for various reasons, mainly that I'm mostly forestry with a bit of arb on the side, but this sounds like a good option for folk in my situation. Count me at least pencilled in.
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Could you not have straight felled into the field? Put a winch on it for a back up?
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Now that chainsaw refreshers are well established - in forestry at least, if not arb - it is only a matter of time before they start on pesticides, then quads, then strimmers, then.............
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What would happen if an employed person got a mortgage on the strength of their current employment and then either found themselves changing jobs and ending up with a lot less income? Unless you're suggesting that self-employed people deliberately cook the books in order to get the mortgage approved. In either case:
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My wife and I are both self employed, we got a mortgage with no problem at all. I don't think it's the being self employed that is the problem, but as other's have said, the tendency for us to try and minimise our earnings for tax, hence big spends at the end of the financial year. If you declare your correct earnings and are applying for a mortgage within your means, IME, you shouldn't have a problem.
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I'd have said beech, personally. Will happily defer to superior knowledge of others though.
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I had a shot of one on the ground once, found it like the Krypton Factor, could barely open it even once I'd been shown how to do it. Could be I'm just a bit slow though.
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Ditto, don't know how many old cans and spouts I've got in the shed. I swapped to a Stihl can this time last year, big improvement over the Husky. Like the look of the new Husky's, but until they're on the shelf impossible to tell what they'll be like.
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Was that a bespoke course for one person? Even if it was it still seems expensive, but if you have four candidates for training that's £1640 for a trainer for a day???? I know trainers have costs, and if it's through the ring then there's their on-cost as well, but really - £1640 for a day??? I'd be genuinely pleased if any trainers on here can justify that cost.
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Sounds exactly like that. Quite common here too, especially out west.
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In the end I got a Stihl BG 86 as I got a good deal on it from the dealer (I know Stihl dealers aren't flavour of the month on here just now, but it's true!). Very pleased with it, big improvement on the old Mitox.
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I like the K&H, way better than the Oregon. I tend to be quite hard on wedges as they get used mostly on the back weighted outsiders. I think I've only broken one in about four months, that one only the other week. That's pretty durable in my book and good value for money. Like the triple-taper a lot, be interested to try the hard head.
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It's a very useful bit of kit. We use it on almost every domestic job and have even used it in the woods to get stuff along narrow footpaths. With a bit of thoughtful loading you can get a lot of stuff on it. Realistically as it's mostly forestry we do it doesn't come out that often, but for domestic stuff it comes into its own. Like others have said, once you've got one you wouldn't want to be without it. As far as costs go, everyone has to do their own cost/benefit analysis - in my case it was far easier and more cost effective to buy one, if you have a lot more time on your hands maybe self-farbrication is an option.
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Forestry's tough, but at least your destiny is mostly in your own hands. We've all had jobs where it's difficult to make your wage on piece rates but if you're having a bad day / week you can always try and work that bit more, shave five minutes off a break, do an extra fill (I'm not going to mention running back from a chipper ) to try and catch up. If the weather really picks up into a gale or serious snow you can call it quits and get out of the woods. Stuck on a boat on the other hand there's nothing you can do. If you're not catching you're not earning, and what you do catch goes to the boat first and your wage comes after the boats bills are paid. If the weather comes up and you're in the middle of the North Sea or out in the Atlantic you can't go home and get out of it. I've known a couple of fishermen, don't think I'd swap the woods for the sea in a hurry.
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I'm looking for a new blower just now as well, pretty much looking at either the Stihl BG 66 C-E or an Efco as that's what's in stock at either of the local dealers and I need one now. Both similar in price, has anyone got any experience of the Efco or should I just stick with the Stihl? It's to replace a Mitox which has given up the fight.
