sylvaarb

Have always used fairly ergonomic harnesses, first the butterfly (remember the blue one where the bridge would wear and replace with a bit of rope after 6 months, then the butterfly 2, briefly a dragonfly but found the solid seat to cumbersome in most situations.

Now use a treeflex and have done since i tried one at a show when they first came out, best harness i have tried to date for myself. Tend to wear high up and since switching over to a ms150 for most reduction work hardly feels im wearing a harness. Never thought before about a heavy chainsaw hanging off one side, another reason to use 150 for reduction work i guess.

When i first set up on my own i aquired a climbing kit secondhand off a friend as i had to give mine back to employer, that had a skybelt included i could not get on with this at all to the point that i found climbing really difficult and uncomfortable and some manoveres I had done before virtually impossible. at my hips and back would suffer. Did not like the way it heild my hips together whilst suspended or even branch walking . Strange as i have worked with some excellent climbers using old skool harnesses like willians and skybelt and they dont like the more ergonomic harnesses. Horses for courses i guess

First govnor used old merist wood harness with the padding missing so there was just a belt around the waist, suprised that did not put me off for good!!

Allways keep waist tight, leg loops slightly loose and wear where it feels right fairly high up my back.

Occasionally suffer from lower back pain but don t think its connected to harness have started doing yoga again and would recomend to anyone who climbs or works for a living.

I only reallyusetop anchor for sort that way can tie it myself once I've ascended tree, don't have to rely on anyone else

Make srt line the length from you to the floor to ensure u can get down overs suitable anchor point.

Tie alpine butterfly knot on non climbing end of the rope

Attach mallion to butterfly knot attach climbing line so it runs through mallion until it cynches on ancor point. Srt on this end!

Once descended pull on other end, rope should run through mail lion and eventually pull down

I have made up a special spanner for mail lion and have it attaced to harness with short length of starter cord.

Been doing this 6 month not got stuck yet sometimes needs a good tug to get down best to plan final descent in same line as redundant end of rope.

Hi there

I have a customer who would like to buy a few peices of my milled up wood (roughly 8'8" long by 20 inches across by 2 inches thick to make some bespoke kitchen worktops. It's too far for me to deliver (but within the UK). I said I would look into courriers. Who do you recommend?

Many thanks

We are looking to contract out some tree work to bona fide contractors over the next few months. Must have own van, tools and public liability insurance and be able to carry out the work without our supervision. If interested please email your public liability insurance and certificates to [email protected] or call Maryla or Dean on 07947 574237.

For more info on definition of Bona Fide subcontractor, please see Sub-Contractor Categories | ContractorsCompare.com.

Run a 365 as my main ground saw, tried and tested, rugged, loads of power and cheap, had one for years when i first started i was running a 24" for all takedowns/ringing up and a 18' for everyday use, till it was stolen. dont think you can beat this saw for the money and with an 18' bar is well balanced. Have had my recent one for 12 months trouble free other than bolt running loose from choke. Will cut fiewood on sawhorse all day!!!

A tree is defined by planning law by something that one would "ordinarily call a tree", I have been lead to believe. Think this was determined in a past legal case.

Also <75mm is exempt, I think at 1.5m.

The fact it has been trimmed as a shrub would suggest it is a shrub not a tree but make your own judgement, take pics to protect from future litigation etc.

Up to date Gear, Hitches, Ropes and courses should make the job faster and more efficient thus represent better value, sounds like a chancer to me. The right gear and knowledge should halve the time in the tree not take 2 days!!!

Would agree that a lot of green "tree surgeions" come out of college expecting inflated wages.

Give me the latest shiny gear over old skool 3 strand and mw harness i learned on though.

Hi,

Thanks for starting an interesting thread, we purchased a danequip 27 hp self propelled machine to run alongside our rayco 1625 super jr nearly 12 months ago. The reason was cost of parts (£300+ for polychain belt!!) and seems to be just to small for most garden gates and to unstable for steep banks , Danequip is such a good machine fo the work we do i haven't took rayco out once. Will be listing on ebay in next few weeks, had new belts bearings and engine in last 24 months and not used in nearly 12 months with fetching nato green paint. Only 2 minor faults now, needs new drive sprocket at some point in future and have lost a spacer whilst re assembling the polychain pulley assembly PM if ur interested!!!, honest machine, open to honest offers.

Like previous posts machine depends on your needs stump grinding has always been a stress for me from using blunt, ancient vermeer as an apprentice to hiring 9 and 13 hp machines as a new business wasting half a working day picking and dropping off at hire shop to rayco not fitting through gates so having to dismantle gates/fences to fit through only to tip it up and improvise various ways to get it upright again on my own. New danequip is quick and easy to manoeuvre, has narrow wheels to take through house if need be. 27 hp of power straight to the wheel with none lost to hydraulics and nice people to deal with too. We can also drive machine onto van up ramps whilst the chipper is still attached making grinding and chipping the same day possible, and no need for trailer when just grinding. Can also pull myself along on longboard pretty quick!!!!!!

We are a small business based in Hertfordshire with some work in Bedfordshire and North London, mostly private gardens. We are looking for an experienced freelance climber with a clean driving license who can tow a chipper. Ideally we need someone aged 25 or over for insurance purposes. We are going to be trialing climbers in May with possibility of more regular freelance work in June and July or even a short term contract. This situation has come about as our head climber may need to be off work for up to eight weeks following surgery (medical operation, not tree surgery!). If you meet the above criteria please contact Dean or Maryla via arbtalk or by calling 07947 574237.

have an iveco crewcab 3.5 2004, has a train weight of 7 tonnes, will tow my bandit and carry full loadn no problem, tow hitch is low though even when empty. Paid 3600 for mine 18 months ago with 40k on the clock ex barnsley council as tipper body was severely corroded. but patched up with dibond ally panels signwritten and stable doors on the back looks the mutts nutts.

Seems to be more hgv orientated than transit and looks a lot better imo.

easily overloaded i would imagine but arent all 3.5t vans.

Would imagine the 5.5 tonne version is better if you have the licence/operater licence etc.

had to stop watching, was seriously making me gringe, goes against the grain cutting anywhere near concrete.

Hi,

Good pics and attitude, run a very small operation in letchworth, quite a way to come but will be needing the odd days help from time to time on bigger jobs as i am loosing one full time ground y/driver, i do most of the climbing, the apprentice does some and some times i get freelancers in when my body is suffering ( have sustained several injuries these last few years) but would be good to have more people available part time with developing climbing skills that also don't mind a bit of dragging on bigger jobs, most of our work is domestic. Also have a friend in buckingham that may use a climber from time to time, espesh if your reductions are good (speed and quality).

Pm me with some details, not promising anything but we could talk some more.

Deano

We are a Letchworth Garden City, Herts based firm, but will be working in London for the next 2-3 weeks. We may be in need of some extra freelance climbers for some of this time. We will also have work in the future for freelancers in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas. If you are interested in forging a working relationship, and especially if you are able to work on Thursday 7th and Friday 8th Feb in London, please get in touch. Call Dean on 07793 319141 or Maryla on 07947 574237. Many thanks.

We have a big job for a cooperative housing association in in Camden, London from Monday 10th to Saturday 22nd December. We may be in need of extra staff for some of the days, especially Monday 17th December and Tuesday 18th December. If you are interested in working, please contact Dean or Maryla on 07947 574237. Thanks.

Email Sent

Too short notice for me but was right on my door step!

 

Are you a local firm?

Pmd you also Tony !!

We are based in Letchworth, used to be Welwyn Garden City but was mainly me as a freelance climber and scabby old van/chipper (but took pride/care in all my work) till about a year ago when my partner took over the running of the business and we got a shiny van/chipper and spent some money/effort advertising etc. And took on an apprentice through Capel.

Thanks

Deano

We need a climber who can work on at least one of the following days: Thurs 15th, Fri 16th or Mon 19th Nov. The job is in Bushey, Herts. Please call Maryla or Dean on 07947 574237.

Just had a teacher ask if he can have a discount if he offers me cash for a connie job, had an ex high policeman high up in the met who now runs a private security firm and is seriously minted ask for a discount for cash. Watched him cringe when i said my partner was to honest to accept cash jobs. Had doctors Lawyers and Bankers all offer, for a discount for the privilage of me putting my ass on the line.

Seriously get asked all the time, usually give them a small discount if it's within the profit margin of the job and put through the books anyway. Usually the richer the more willing they are to evade taxes, just look at the amount of tax coca cola pay (or dont).

If my children were being taught to snitch on people at school I would have a lot to say about it, seriously worried what this country and government are coming to.

Thanks

Will Pm message him once I work out how to.

Deano

Hi all

I have been putting quotes together for several big jobs in and around London M25/A1/M3, one of the jobs require the transport of timber from the site off the M3 to Welwyn, Herts, about 60 miles one way. About 70-100m2 of timber max. mostly sycamore.

Does anyone use a specialist timber haulage company or have any better ideas. Also of the price per mile/hour/day.

Not come across this problem before as most jobs are fairly local and we just transport logs to our yard in smallish amounts in my 3.5 tonne truck and trailer.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Deano

We have found a couple of climbers for this Thurs and Fri now, but still interested in getting to know freelance climbers in the area. If you are interested, send us an email at [email protected] or call Maryla on 07947 574237.

Hi

Having put my back out mountainbiking and the constant strain on my body from being the sole climber on the firm for a long time now we are looking for good freelance climbers.

We are a small firm with ambition, i have over 15 years experience in arb.

Pay could either be paye or self employed, cant promise any amount of work yet.

We are based in Letchworth with a yard just outside hitchin. Possible accomodation (my little Campervan!,) is a possibility.

We are committed to safety and quality, as most of our work is domestic so good manners, client relations etc are equally as important.

Pm me or call 01462 682233 and ask for maryla or dean initially meet for a cup of tea and discuss abilities, pay, etc.

incedentallt there may be a days climbing this week if anyone is interested at short notice if the people i have offered the work to cannot make it (just returned from scotland with a very bad back today and would rather not cancell job for the end of this week).

Thanks For Reading

Deano

Tree Surgery – Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire – Sylva Arborists

Hi Lewis

We run a small company out of Letchworth, returned from scotland mountain biking and have injured my back so cannot climb, also looking for more freelance climbers on the books for future jobs to ease the strain off myself.

Have 1, poss 2 days climbing this week i need a climber for as i cannot climb, is an oak to deadwood and balance and a sycamore to reduce over power lines, safety and quality is the underlying factor in everything we do. sorry for short notice but if your intrestead let me know, will try to call you tomorrow.

My no is 01462 682233, ask for dean or maryla.

Thanks

Deano

Thinking about getting one can people offer opinions whether they like it or not,

I like it but i often wonder if it will become a pain reaching to my leg just to get my saw and if it becomes hard work when in stretched positions. Also does it fall out much because of the angles your legs are when climbing and when moving in dense trees.

 

I would like to get it off my harness so there is less on there and i think it looks pretty cool too lol

 

Thanks folks

 

Arran

Been thinking of using a swapod for years and trying to use silkys more in the tree now, snapped the attachment on my silky lanyard so have spent the last 2-3 weeks with the scabbard gaffer taped to my leg where a sawpod would go. Seems intuitive to have it there and will deffo be buying a sawpod at the celebration of trees next week. If you want to try you could try the same with gaffer tape at a fraction of the cost of a sawpod.

Hi, relatively new to this site but not new to mountain bikes, I ride a Dialled Bikes Price Albert at the mo for trail centres and bike parks thats a steel hardtail with long travel front forks. Ride a 96' rigid Lava dome to the

yard every day and on local off road rides (absoloutely fine for off roading in north herts and cheap to maintain).

Merlin Malt and rock lobster is a good choice, loads of bike for your money, used to ride one and have built my girlfriend a malt 1 and she loves it. On one bikes are deffo also worth a look as are diallled imo

, make sure you get the sizing right, have seen many people get put off mountain biking from poor fitting bikes how tall are you?, im 5"9" and ride 16 - 17" frames typically, that allows me to lower the saddle for technical/downhill sections. I have adjustable travel on the suspension forks as well and find that a useful feature as you can wind the front end down when climbing to keep the front wheel on the ground.

I wouldnt personally recommend a full suss for a first mountain bike, you can develop more skills on a hard tail and it will make you a better rider if you wish to progress, i have ridden full suss in the past but returned to hardtail as i find its less maintenence and more challenging, i also need to avoid any more head injurys due to health so the real hardcore riding is out of the question now!.

It would also be worth thinking about what you will be using the bike for, if its for commuteing on the road to work and shops forget about mountain bikes and get a decent hybrid with a good set of panniers and a rack and if you can face it mudguards, me and the girlfreind share one of these, she doesnt drive so uses this for her main transport and its great, faster and more comfortable than an mtb on the road and no sweaty back from carrying everything in your rucksack, this was my bike when i was temporarily unable to drive and i used it to carry all my climbing gear and even 020 sometimes easier than it would be to carry it in bags. Kona do a good range of hybrids. as do trek, marin, spesh and giant. Hybrids are very practical 99% of the time for most cyclists but are not very cool hence the popularity of mtbs i think.

Sorry for ramblings but will talk about bikes all night (if im not riding them)