Andrew Barrett

Hi, I need my climbing and rigging kit LOLERed. I'm based near Tewkesbury in North Gloucestershire. Anyone interested in doing it please let me know. Cheers, Andrew

Thanks for your interest Mr_D, but we'd rather find someone more local. It hasn't worked out very well in the past when we've had people making a trek. Cheers, Andrew

I'm still looking for some reliable help. If you're out there don't be shy coming forward! Andrew

Hi Stuart, The number you gave has one too many digits. Could you call me on 07801 337 565 to discuss work. Andrew

Who are you little green woodchopper?

Hi all. I'm still looking for help anything up to four days a week. Please send me a personal message including your rates. Cheers, Andrew

PM me if you're still looking for work. Cheers, Andrew

I forgot to say the days I need don't all have to come from one person. So, if you've some days spare please contact me. Thanks, Andrew

I need a groundsman/woman for three weeks full time from Mon 19th Nov and for 3 or 4 days a week thereafter. We'd start off doing a day or two to see how we get on. CS 30 & 31 + own PPE minimum. CS 38 desirable. We're a small company based near Tewkesbury. You can find a bit about us on Checkatrade: Barrett Tree Service Ltd | Garden Services, Tree Surgeon in Forthampton, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL19 4QQ. Pay dependent upon experience and possibly equipment (e.g. own ground saw). Possibility of gaining some climbing experience if desired. Thanks, Andrew Barrett

I use a suitcase. I started with one I found one next to a bin and am now on my third. Buy a cheap-ish suitcase with integral trolley and you can just wheel it around on site. Then when you put it down and unzip it the whole lid hinges back and you can find everything very easily. They usually have various internal/external pockets for gloves / karabiners, etc. They only last about a year but cost £20-odd.

I've been thinking a lot about pricing lately. We were quoting based on £350/day for two men, truck & chipper (Hilux & 5" chipper) but a couple of weeks ago we upped it to £375. Quoted for two jobs yesterday at the new rate, total £1,625 and both clients accepted on the spot without getting other quotes. One was a long term previous client. We had quoted once for the other client and they accepted someone else's cheaper quote - they didn't bother to even get those guys to quote this time! I'm always thinking about how to change the way we compete from price to service.

Just ordered mine Rob - thanks. And thanks to Morten for the info too!

Just ordered mine Rob - thanks. And thanks to Morten for the info too!

Hi Rob, I've only just seen the PM you sent me and read the thread. I would like to have taken part, but I've just finished week one of a nine week full time course at Merrist Wood. So won't be out doing normal work for a couple of months more. Andrew P.S. Does anyone know how to get Arbtalk to send you an email when you get a PM, so you don't miss them?

I'm wondering what people try to earn for a day's work for two men, truck & chipper. I price at £350 per day (no VAT) - but am coming around the the idea that it's not really high enough. What do other people charge? And do you find the type of work makes any difference to the rates you can charge? I'm also interested in rates people charge / price at for larger gangs - or even blokes working on their own.

Hi all, I've had seven separate bits of damage in the last six weeks done by three different self-employed groundies. Two new shrubs trodden on, one new Wisteria chopped at the base (still got £11.99 price tag on!), one borrowed tarp cut with chainsaw, one corner broken off plastic table, hole torn in posh Brabantia washing line cover and lastly knackered jockey wheel! I've had enough! What do people do when their employees or subbies cause damage? Do you pay for it yourself, or do you make them pay for it? So far, all I've done is not pay the extra I would have paid for longer days. When I started with my uncle he would always pay the cost of damage done by employees. But I'm thinking that having an explicit agreement that they pay, say, half the cost might help focus the mind on being more careful. But on the other hand, it might discourage them from telling me - and I would hate the client being the one who finds out first...

Sorry jbtreeservice, I don't think so - your day rate would have to be pretty low to compensate for cost of digs.

I have a preference for someone a little older, for the following reasons: 1. I retrained myself and so like to help out people like me. I also find people who've done more different things more interesting and that helps the day along. 2. If you're 25 or over you can drive the truck on my insurance. 3. People who are a little older often have a bit more common sense / awareness that things can go wrong. A bit of caution in tree work helps to avoid the breakages/injuries!

Hi, I've posted on here before about work for self-employed groundsmen. I could still do with one or two more reliable people I can call when I need extra help. We're a small tree surgery firm based near Tewkesbury but do most of our work in Cheltenham. I need the standard stuff: own transport, hard worker, reliable, presentable, ok with long days if needed, ground chainsaw certificate, own PPE, etc. I'd also like a non-smoker. Ideally 25 years old or over, as you could then drive the truck if needed. Own saw would also be a bonus (so that I don't have to sharpen mine when you stick it in the ground!). Would much prefer someone with a genuine interest in trees/ plants / wildlife/ woodfires so that we have something in common. Please let me know your rates when you contact me. Regards, Andrew Barrett

Sorry guys - obviously it's my fault it got broken. I didn't realise you should never leave it attached to your belt in between using it up a tree with the supplied carabiner for...attaching it to your belt! Having said that I think I will stick it down my Sawpod with the Silky in future. Thanks for the suggestion.

Oops...I meant to say 'as the person who started this thread'! Would also like to say I'm very pleased with my Stein single bollard and arbor trolley. And neither of my Stein rope bags have broken so far - and I really like the internal springs that hold them upright when empty to make it easy to feed the rope back in. I would be very disappointed if Stein stopped selling the mini-reach and I would happily pay £30-40 for a much more robust version of the same tool. If you try it you'll see how useful it is.

I agree strongly with Albedo above. As the person who started this forum I'd like to make a few points: 1. I made sure to give credit where it was due, to FR Jones for their excellent customer service. I now prefer dealing with the likes of FR Jones and Clark Forest on their customer service as well as pricing, compared to my local dealers. I have had problems returning faulty/damaged items to my local Stihl dealer that I no longer have with FR Jones. So I made sure to highlight the positive so that the thread was not just a moan. And thanks to Jonesie for pointing out that Stein are good on the returns, too. 2. I do like the mini-reach. I think it is an excellent idea and, before it broke, a great product. It saves a lot of mucking around swinging ropes back to the climber on rigging jobs. But if you make something cheap because it would be too expensive to make it robust enough for the job then don't be surprised if you damage your brand. 3. Stein: you made some miscalculations when you worked out how strong the mini-reach (45kg pull) and little metal ring (20kg pull) need to be. The problem occurs when you climb around the tree and either the ring or the end of the mini-reach gets caught on a branch or fork. Then when you pull yourself through or push up from your legs you exert a force needed to lift your whole body - i.e. 80kg+. That's how it got broken. 4. Stein: the mini-carabiner is fine, it's the very thin metal ring that is the problem. I have taken it off my replacement mini-reach and replaced it with a loop of chainsaw starter cord - as suggested by someone else earlier on. Cheers, Andrew

My Stein mini-reach gave up the ghost after eight months of infrequent use. The last section with the hook on the end fell off. On the first day I used it the flimsy little metal ring that attaches the supplied mini carabiner to the mini-reach broke and the mini-reach fell off my belt out of the tree. I'd only been using it for half and hour! It's a great idea and very useful for retrieving the rope on rigging jobs - but Stein needs to make it more robust. On the other hand, I rang FR Jones to let them know it broke. I sent it back 2nd class post and received a replacement 3 days later with no quibbles. Keep up the good work FR Jones!

I've compared the Vallorbe and Oregon files again as a result of some of the comments above. I also got my uncle (been sharpening chainsaws since 1966!) to do a blind test. The result is the same. Vallorbe and Oregon files are different. They both file smoothly but the Vallorbe takes more off with each rub and is the better file. I perhaps should have mentioned that I have been testing the round files on Stihl chain.