WorcsWuss

Would that be 'genii'....

I think that's just for strops isn't it Drew...? Green, yellow, purple, 1 to 3 ton SWL....? Probably wrong, and no idea which is which!

I think it was 80% of trouble from 20% of staff... so it's only 2 in 10 you need to sack...! [Profit is all down to you!]

Could you not just get one made yourself, our local engineer would probably put something like that together in a day, just the cost of the steel really which presumably needs to be high tensile... The one in the video is from this lot Die WURZELRATTE® – das Rodungswerkzeug zur Komplettrodung

I don't, my sheets are pretty static with numerous small inputs, so for building up a quote, doesn't matter if it's 500 quid or £5m, I use the same sheet. Because it's built up from every task, purchase & overhead, I know EXACTLY what all our costs are so when the odd joker wants to haggle & shake on a deal, I know how far I can go! I've developed variations on it for friends who run small businesses, good little system.

Beat me to the punch, I was going to suggest that

I think that VAT reg versus not VAT reg debate is an interesting one. When VAT went up to 20%, did it make that much difference to most people? No, they know they pay VAT, 2.5% wasn't a deal breaker was it, another 25 quid on every thousand, not a fortune. So with most customers who don't want to pay someone who's VAT reg'd, surely it will cost them the same? Because a non VAT reg'd business loses out on claiming VAT back on purchases etc, so their costs are higher. I'm pretty sure that if you worked out what it actually costs you in lost reclaimable VAT against how much business you would ACTUALLY lose as a result of having to work VAT into your quotes, MOST people would find that going VAT registered pays off. Additionally, larger firms who are VAT reg'd prefer to employ VAT reg'd sub-contractors, I know I do in construction, keeps everything running smoothly. My advice is don't be afraid of VAT registration, it can have some massive advantages....

Shocking pink.... with sweatbands on....

That is a concern... let's say you post something in a political thread and have a very strong opinion on something..... A customer googling your name having seen it on your van may find that post and decide you're a raving capitalist and don't want you near their socialist paradise... or vice versa....! A forum I used to frequent was invisible to anyone not logged in, including search engine results. While that has benefits, it would have probably stopped me from joining up here, I lurked for quite a while before joining up, to be able to view the boards was great!

Microsoft Excel is your best office friend. Learn how to use it, even just to a basic standard and you will have one piece of software you can use for ACCURATE built up quotes, invoicing, tracking overheads, producing management figures [essential for your bank manager if you want his money] even flyers & posters. Everything is interchangeable with each other book or sheet. I took a while to become a fan but now I'm a convert, I turn to Excel more than anything else.... an incredibly powerful tool. I even have an Excel spreadsheet for comparing the price of my purchases across retailers....! Incidentally, if anyone would like a tailored costing spreadsheet let me know, I'm more than happy to help you out.

Damn straight! : I've been trying to decide what colour to anodise it... ISC have red DMM have grey & green Petzl seem to have gold [amongst various others ] Rock Exotica have orange Stein have blue... Doesn't leave me with a lot! Sounds like this will call for a poll later on!

I'm not selling it yet! Keep your pants on Veg, I know it's exciting but you're going to have to wait a bit! I've just about wrapped up a set of accurate CAD drawings of the components so I will be making another appointment to see the prototyping expert very soon... I'm looking into patenting at the moment so unfortunately you can't see anything until that's all sorted, whether it's possible to patent it or not. As soon as it is, all will become clear... Pete, are you well known enough on UKC to get away with starting a thread about this, really just for the purpose of getting some surveys done? Ultimately I'd like to canvas the rock climbing / bouldering etc community for opinions too.... when I get something I can demonstrate...

Is there anyone on here who regularly uses Treebuzz [or any other relevant forums for that matter] whom I could press gang into representing me on there? I can't run a thread like this on UKC without being a regular member and to be honest I don't really want to get heavily involved in any other forums.... Any climbers here use UKC...?

Nice day for it!

Anyone recommend any other forums I could tap into to get my survey completed? Have found UKC & rope access. Preferably arb ones, and, unless someone's offering to translate, English language! Tell you what would be helpful, if you could post the link to the survey [and I guess a bit of blurb too, I can dratft something up] on any other climbing forums you use? Thanks ladies & gents!

In my experience internet forums are not like real life, there's no real relationship there and it's very easy to become 'lapsed' and then it's difficult to start back in again. New members come along, like me, and the dynamic changes, names become less recoginsable and so on. I've lapsed on a couple of forums, I dip in very occasionally [one's a Land Rover forum so as long as the truck's not broken down I don't need to use it - even I'm surprised how little I've been on there!] but once you move on it's weird joining in with a forum again, a bit like sleeping with an ex girlfriend... you know you used to enjoy it but now it just feels awkward...!

£750 :lol:

Will keep that in mind, I'll need some honest appraisal as I get going with it, thanks!

Thanks Pete. Veg.. of course.... on both scores!

Yes please, as you suggested.

I have 2 halves of a 35m rope which I nicked with the saw, I cut it in half and sealed the ends, presto, 2 short ropes for little pruning jobs. I think the premium ropes really are New England [i think the Teufelberger Tachyon is the same?] Yale & Samson...? Like you, I have Marlow, 11mm Aeris, good old English rope!

Ha! Know the feeling!

Depends what the long term plan for the area is. If it were me, ash will produce firewood in the medium term, oak a nicer tree but any productivity is seriously long term. Thinking about future care, an ash is more likely to require work whereas the oak will more than likely just meander through the years without giving trouble.. If you don't want to do anything or gain anything other than a nice tree, take the ash out now and forget all about it. If you need some timber, leave them both go and take one out later when the situation calls for it...

Thanks everyone who has taken the time to complete the survey so far, and to all those who go on to do so. I'm pleasantly surprised by the responses so far and I think it bears out my initial ideas.

Fair point, forgot that's not America! Thanks all!