Marc Lewis

Hey Silky, I know that pub 'The Botanist', played cricket for the Barmy Army several times over the road on Kew Green. Nice place to chill with a pint, especially when the sun is out!

Trust are normaly pretty reasonable

aluminium is not the only type of ladders available. Wooden and fibreglass ladders are fine to use around overhead power lines. No one said anything about aluminium!!!

sound advice

Either you like ladders, or you don't, simples. The exercise argument is bull though, we get plenty of exercise in this job anyhow and you could always make other aspects of it harder or more strenuous if you so desired. Not for me though, I always look for the easiest way to do every job and if that means using ladders whats the big deal. How about instances where you cannot/shouldn't use a throw line i.e. like near powerlines?

If you don't need to cut anything that big , i'd get a 346, it is a belter of a little saw!!!

All usual tickets apply. Please contact Marc 07599 509760 Or pm me

I love em, No harm in making like easy!!

I know a good quality reliable one in the south. The Dorset Charcoal Co. 01258 818176

To work out cubic capicity of a log stack is not as simple as just x by 0.7. Take a look at Forestry Commision Booklet no. 39, Forest Mensuration Handbook pg27.

The mechanical background will put you in good stead cos so many arb companys have landrovers and mogs lol. But seriously that is a huge advantage. I've always wanted a climber or groundsman who's good at mechanics.

Have they now sorted alot of the original niggles? I'm quite keen to get one since I had a go on a mates, was right impressed.

I once saw a doctor in Scotland called dr donald duck!

Sounds like a good little course to get you starting at a reasonable price too. As you know and have stated, experience is very important in most lines of work, especially arboriculture. With these certs behind you, you should find it easier to find an employer who is willing to take you on and train/give you experience. We all have to start somewhere. I wish you the very best of luck.

Thanks for replies. I don't think a hycrack is for me. I have used them in the past and I do like them, its just I do not have any thing to run it. The Riko's look good and am gonna get myself down to Hants to have a look as it is not far from me. I'll check out the woodlines this sarvo Cheers

Some lads I work with sometimes were busy loading brushwood into the chipper whilst the chute was working loose. It had spun round and was now targetting a busy dual carriageway. And this was a big 14" chipper!! Apparently the supervisors face was a picture as he came round the corner, as they noticed this before the direction the chips were flying in beating the side of every car that past! Unbelievably there was not one complaint.

Hi there, This is my first thread so hopefully I am doing it correctly. Please bear with me if not. I am a tree surgeon and have been for about 18 years now. I carry out alot of utility work as well as domestic. About 4 years ago I started selling firewood through the winter (about 1 to 2days a week) as I thought it would make more sense than giving it away. Also the value of firewood has increased making it more financially viable. Until now I have just been using a saw and axe which has suited me fine, but not good for larger diameter logs especially if the customer wants them 14" or so in length! So this week I hired a Wallenstein wx530 log splitter which I was very impressed with although I do not have anything to compare it to. It seemed relatively quick and was able to split most stuff. And at the end of the day I was no where near as knackered either! So I am now considering buying either the Wallenstein wx530 or wx540. I do not really want to spend any more money than this as logs are not a large part of my business. I do not know a great deal about wood splitters and was hoping that somebody on this forum could tell me if this would be a decent machine for the money or if there are any other machines that I should consider. They cost between £2000 to £2400. Obviously the machine I buy must be relatively quick and build quality ok. Thank you in advance. Marc P.s great forum guys, I have been reading threads since about November and there have been some really good informative discussions. Some of you really know your stuff. P.p.s Come on England today v's South Africa

I am sure I remember reading somewhere that if you are carrying out maintenance work like powerline clearing, you are exempt from this also. I maybe wrong!!

About 5 or 6 years ago a mate of mine asked for my advice. He was thinking of buying a stump grinder and and doing solely grinding to make a living. I advised him not to as I could not see the market being that large and that alot of tree surgeons have their own stump grinders. Anyhow he went against my advice and bought a couple of machines (1 large, 1 small) and is now making a really good living at it! He has since employed another person and has enough work for the both of them grinding at different sites full time! The 1 bit of advice I would give (although history shows my advice not to be great, lol), is to get a large machine ie 40 - 50 hp + so you can do stumps quickly and be competitive on price.. You will need a smaller one also for tight access sites. It is worth calling round local tree surgeons and offering your service to them. Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it! Marc

I like the idea Dave, but I think that there are too many variables to get a true reflection. Like what treequip says. Then there is punctuality, people who can work better in a group, polite and able to talk sense to customers, people who don't mind working on to finish a job without a moan! The list can go on and on.

Thanks for your replys, I will get on to that

I have a 357 that runs lovely, only problem is it has a hole/crack at the front on the cast and so leaks chain oil rendering it useless. Do you think sugru would repair this? or does anyone else know of anything?

as said, no such thing as a left handed chainsaw, or are they all left handed?

The difference in price can also be, what takes one team a day may take another two, if not more!

I try to get to Brecon Beacons once or twice a year, though i don't think you can beat the quantocks! Whe i was at Newton Rigg for three years I found some excellent trails around Lake District. One in particular I remember went round Skiddaw and finished with a superb downhill!! Avoid summer, too many walkers.