pos1981

I too am a bit of a lurker on this forum. I agree that his practice was dangerous and unprofessional, but this is how some people choose to be? Like people that ride motorbikes wearing just jeans etc. Or the professional arb worker who wears his ppe when doing tree work then fails to put it back on when just "trimming" a small limb or whatever. Another thought but not related to safety would be that maybe this guy has tried to find work through a reputable company to learn things correctly, but with no luck and is now going it alone and learning as he goes?? I think people are very quick to judge on here, rather than to guide them into the correct ways. Just an observation

Evening all, Im looking at get a extendable hedge trimmer, There's on on ebay the saying its a stihl ht75, now i thought the ht75 was a pole pruner?? Also what is a good second hand value on these in good condition. Thanks in advance Ed

I would love to be earning that in a day! so far it takes me around a week to get that and them im out doing gardenig jobs either before or ater work.

I understand what you say pedroski but this is where the undercutting starts

I know what your saying mark and I haven't got a clue what the answer is. I didn't have any interest at going self employed I would be more than happy working for someone. I still won't go self employed but I can see why people do and this is why work is under cut and like felixthelogchopper says weather through inexperience or chasing work it's going to happen. I see that there is talk from lantra I believe about having some sort of apprentice scheme?? Not sure whether that would work.

Evening all, After having read all the comments on this thread i felt i had to have a small input to it. I am new to this industry and as like everyone else that is new, Im finding it hard to get a foot in the door. I have emailed and phoned various companies to try and get some experience, ive even offered to gain experience by doing work voluntarily. This has all drawn a blank. So Let me voice my opinion and please don't shoot me down in flames but it is what ive experienced. 1) like i say i contacted lots of companies looking for some work to gain experience i don't expect much if any money for this. 2) I decide to go out and get my cs30 +cs31. At the start of the course we were all asked what tree stuff people had done, there were varying answers. During my course i have a look at on arbtalk and read about a guy who had failed his cs31 but passed his cs30. There were lots of comments about going getting some practice in and doing lots of practise cuts on trees until confident. 3) I read a lot about about people undercutting people and so called Gypsies doing rubbish work etc. So these are my findings and i just want to quickly summerise. Only one of the many companies ever gave me any work for which i am gratful but this not that often. Companies and i can understand want people with qualifications. Fine i go out and pass my cs30+31. During the course i felt quite useless at times as i didn't have the confidence as some of the others as i didn't have the experience! I have no where that i can practise cuts etc as no body in the industry is going to let me loose on trees that i have no experience in. So to go back to the original thread, I passed my cs30 and 31 i can fell small trees upto a diameter of 15", if i was offered a small tree to take down cut up and take away then i would. What would i charge??? Ive no idea because im having to learn as i go on, Probably less than £100!!! The feeling i get is that experinced established companies don't want all these as some people put it "young college leavers" to come straight out of college with no experience and start working as their competition. What else can they do???? People also say I wouldn't do this job for less than this or im not breaking my back for that, and then are constantly saying to newbies that this is a tough industry and back breaking work. All im saying here is if a lot more established compaines maybe gave some of the newbies a bit more of a chance and an opportunity to gain some valuble work experience then maybe there would be less of this so called under cutting??? Im sorry to go on and i hope that makes sense. Ed

Hi all, Thanks for all of your replies, ive now managed to source most of the equipment needed. The list that i put was the list which was sent to me by the college running the course, therefore they obviously don't supply the equipment. Thanks all for the help as usual. ed

Hello all, Ive got my CS30 and 31 one course starting on Tuesday, ive been given a list of equipment that i need but can't seem to find anything in the shops i realise its laste as we have the bank holiday on Monday. I would be greatful if anyone could give me an idea oof where i can get the items. Im based on the nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border. The items are as follows: Guide bar cleaner Round file File guide flat file depth guage setting tool chain oil measuring device for cutter length? Fellling bar small wedge. I have tried a shop in Nottingham that i thought would have it all but they don't. Thanks in advance. Ed

Thanks for the replies guys. Tom10 some very vaLid points thanks for that. I appreciate your input tom d thanks for that, I have in fact bought all new ppe now, I don't have the hi viz though! Robert.s your comments are very positive and I appreciate them, I would love nothing more than to leave my current job and go it alone, but I'm not sure I can make that plunge just yet. I do believe what you say though about it's only me that's stopping me! I am determined to make this change of career work for me and I will succeed! On another note and also another reason for asking about the chipper what would be an ideal multi purpose/use vehicle to potentially get? Thanks again for all of the input it all means a lot. Ed

Thanks for that. Good advice very much appreciated, I will take this on board. Ed

Hi all, thanks again for the input here. I just wanted to say im not in anyway trying to undercut anyone, I just looking for someone to give me a chance to prove myself. Im offering to work voluntarily because i understand without experience to someone im next to useless. Everybody is looking for workers that have experience, how do you get that experience???? Im willing to work hard, ive spend any extra money i have on equipment i now have all my own PPE and will be doing what people have recommended. The chipper idea was just something that i thought might be able to me out there working. Im not going to do that now thanks to the advice given here. Thanks again Ed:001_smile:

Thanks a lot guys for the info a great help and in reality confirms what i thought, really but just wanted someone elses thughts. i just seem to have hit a brick wall really trying to find experience. I have my own ppe and will keep getting in touch with companies. It may seem like buying into the industry but i just thought it may be a way to see others work and get some experience but like others have said id only get the experiene chipping which is something that i did think. Im not looking to start up on my own, anytime soon if ever really. If somebody took me on once i was experienced then i would be more than happy to work for them. Ive heard a lot of poeple say that the industry is saturated with both genuine and very good aborists and there are also some not so good ones. I think this may be down to not being able to get a foot in the door to start with, I think some people get a few tickets and then start on their own with little knowledge or exprience. I think that all the comments are very valid and i thank you for them. Hopefully ill get there:thumbup:

Hi all, ill keep it short. Im new to the industry and have my cs 30 31 booking for a months time. Ive enquired with quite a few people about voluntary work to get me some experience within the industry. Things have been quite for me, so i was wondering do i buy myself a van and a chipper, get my chipper ticket and then offer my chipping services in return for work experience. I would appreciate all thoughts. Cheers Ed:confused1:

Hope everything goes well for you, here's for a speedy recovery:001_smile:

Thanks for the advice born2trot its good to know that this is the case. That post gives me great confidence to keep my head done and stay determined to stick at it. Thanks again