OllyB

Cheers Rich. Wouldn't be without the bone, my technique requires being able to get off the line easy. Fairly worn now grips real hard, and a bit jerky to release/control. Mine slipped a lot in the summer, worse in warm weather i think, not sure if it was just a period of its wear life though (i used to lock it off if i wanted to stop hanging). Was recently wandering how worn is too worn, its starting to thin in places nothing alarming but there must be a limit.

That maybe the plan never can be sure, I have recently been asked by someone else to do a video for them too.

Penrith close enough?

Not sure how long it took to make was a while ago now, my vids usually take 4-8hrs to make depending on complexity, how much raw footage there is and how much i turned camera on and off through the day. I was thinking the 100-200 mark although it will not be an exchange of money more of a trade but its good to have a mark to start the discussions.

Very true and a year ago he could of had it for free, but things have happened in that time. And mutual back scratching will only happen if he will ever scratch mine. Don't know how to take a second quote, so the rest will maybe not be so well constructed. As far as reputation I live in Cumbria where everybody already knows everybody or has as least heard of them i seem to be able to get plenty of freelance work, but i do my own jobs that's where reputation counts for me so allowing him to use the video is totally backwards i guess. He is the best man i have ever had on the end of a rigging line, which is why i keep on going back, also the crack is quite good.

Did this video of a job i climbed for someone else. He now wants it for his website, he is a proper business man and everything has a value.

I also had no money to start up with. I had been freelancing short stints in Oslo, Norway for almost double pay, to supplement my wage (which was not enough to support my family) however the exchange rates changed and this was no longer a viable option as it had been for 2-3 years previous. So i had to do something. My strategy was not conventional i guess, only owning a hatchback car i launched a website then improvised, using friends with trailers, local farmers, fires, hiring chippers whatever got the job done really. Priced the jobs to what i could do them for if i had a van and chipper and did them at the weekend (so i still had my freelance wage) most of the jobs i made money on, some i broke even, none cost me money. After a little while somebody i hadn't seen for years came out the woodwork with a tipping trailer and a 4" gravity fed chipper, chipper a bit small but this worked well, used him for a while gave him half the money off the jobs. Now i have a tipping van and seem to of secured use of a small tow behind chipper1-2 days a week under very reasonable terms. Saving up for a deposit for a chipper now. That is my journey, it has been/ is hard working 6/7 days a week all pricing, paper work, organising and maintenance done in the evenings. I think i had a little bit of luck as well, but after being freelance for a long time and being settled in the same area too it appears other arbs are almost falling over themselves to help (I didn't realise i knew so many people but i have always treated my colleagues well). I have lost one freelance client but now having a tipper have gained another. My youtube channel is OBtrees, I clearly accredit the firms that i am doing freelance work for and don't currently make a big deal out of my firm (but have embedded the vids of my own jobs on my website) treading gently as my bread and butter is freelance still. I guess one day i may stand alone but i am happily mixing my own jobs with freelance work and all seems ok for now.

Meant to right something this morning but had to go to work. I too contract climb and put vids on youtube accrediting the companies i am working for. I am also slowly setting up by myself and reg is right if you are staying put you will end up with more money, the only issue i find is getting the phone to ring (i live in a small rural community where word of mouth and being local are important neither of which i have, well a little word of mouth very powerful in fact). Also on the days that a contract climber is in they are one of the main assets, but you will not need one of them. I don't begrudge anyone for having work, and i work for many different firms, but it seems a bit wrong that there are so many about that can't handle the "difficult" jobs. At the end of the day they are businesses using their assets to get the job done, and as fun as climbing trees is it is about earning money to pay the bills really.

Not something I looked at but fairly sure there was not space to drop it whole and the wires. Would have needed strapped up to fell not sure about control what with split and ganaderma at Base too.

The wires are still intact the boss managed to get them off the barn, they were still there but lying loose on the ground so could be moved and pieces could be dropped or rigged down.

Technically yesterdays job, sorry. Mature beech tree split down stem caused by co-dominance. It looked like it the tree was breathing when the wind blew.

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