WoodMouse

Thanks all for your advice. Posted an add looking for work in the Employment section.

Hi I'm looking to hook up with an outfit in South London. All i can offer is enthusiasm and hard work. Have plans for future investments in Training and Kit, but initially would like to get a taste of what it's all about and learn from some passionate and experienced professionals. Have clean driving license but will have to use public transport. Ex courier/sailor and weather proof. Tell: 07952 500 527 e-mail: [email protected]

Thanks fellas, I think i needed raining in a bit. I'm sure experience is going to be valuable, and setting myself up to provide quality support to a more knowledgeable team makes sense. Thanks

Thanks

thanks for the replys chaps, totally at a loss what to do with my life. Spent two years in the outdoors and cant settle back into an office again. I think working as a groundy for another team is the way to go.

Thanks Chris, i kinda thought that brush clearing, brambles etc, hedge trimming and small trees would be a small start. Although i'd be trained, i wasn't intending on taking on work any bigger than this. Unless i was able to support other teams doing it.

I bet anyone worth his salt in every industry working today would say the same thing. Perils of changing career. Perhaps all i want is to be happy.

What do you think i could earn doing that. Sorry for seeming bit gung ho, but im 34 and don't feel like i have years to get experience. I thought i'd be better just keeping it small and working my way up. Perhaps hiring a climber to get some sort of experience on board that way. An apprenticeship would be optimal but i don't think i have the time.

Afternoon, Here's my plan so far. Id like all the advice i can get really. Firstly id have to get trained. Considering doing the professional short courses with Capel Manor. CS30, 31, 32, 38, 39, 40 & 41. Possibly the chipper operation and maintenance course too. First question is if this is sufficient, too much? Have i missed any out? I'd like to go on and do further courses, but for the sake of starting to earn some money, im hoping the above would allow me to get started with small scale jobs and perhaps supporting other people on larger jobs. Id be kitting myself out with 2 saws, hedge trimmer and a brush cutter. All the usual PPE plus climbing and rigging equipment suitable for small operations. A decent size tipper, and a chipper. Boy do i have allot of questions... I guess i wont be able to work at height without a groundy. Worried about taking on other people full time because the business just wont be there from the get go i'm sure (or is there always stuff i can do?), Can i get people in on short notice, regularly and reliably. Labourer's, agency's, do people use them? I've also been considering an Avant. With one of these i can see being able to do stump grinding and transporting larger pieces of wood to the tipper on site. Wondering if i'd have a big enough tipper to justify having one, how do people without lifters deal with the wood. i think i've asked enough so far, this is by no means the extent of my inquiry's but i don't want to swamp the thread with too much. I really appreciate all your help.

The guy must have been joking, that's freakishly straight.

If your polish and like eating canned cabbage and pickled fish.

thanks for the link, checking em out. Ideal situation would be to hire one for a while and try out the different sizes. I've seen a few now with additional protection, mesh screens and reinforced roofs. Nice suggestion, and thanks for the tip with the 700. So i guess the 200 is the only one with the oscilating central pivot. Starting to think i should start small and work my way up. Do you think the 200 would go through an average garden gate? Im thinking about the log lifter, grabber, bag hook, stump grinder and log splitter. Was going to get a separate chipper. have you used any of these attachments?

sounds like a prize ass hat to me. I think i would have made up some bullshit about it being dangerous and diseased. Blind the guy with science.

The painkillers i had for my injury were spectacular. Power tools would have been right out of question, i couldn't even control my drooling. lol

Cool, so im thinking about one that could lift about a ton. Seems that's a useful size from posts on here. I'm thinking about how to transport all this stuff to sites. would trailing the Avant and say mounting a chipper on a tipper truck be a useful configuration for most projects?

have you been to the local gypsy camp, i'd bet that grand it's there. Stealing from someones business like that has to be the lowest form of life.

I can see the benefit in going with the 400's as you make a good point regarding the attachments. How are they in the mud, I'm thinking the smaller lighter ones would be able to go more places than the bigger ones. Unless it really is the case that i should be looking at the biggest i can afford. Having read an accident thread about a stump grinder, i think the hydraulic option would possibly have safety benefits.

Risky, you wont lose so much core strength this way, but by taking painkillers your going to be in danger of pushing yourself too hard. Your body hurts for a reason, listen to it.

Dude, i feel your pain. I tore my ribcage off one side of my spine in a motorcycle accident. I have since been a commercial diver, motorcycle courier and worked with boats without issue. But i'd say your in for at least 6 months on your ass. That in itself will weaken your core strength, so you'll have to be SO SO CAREFULL! (cant iterate that enough) until you get your strength back. But yea, it'll never be the same again, but most people abuse their back's imo, lifting badly, wrenching thing etc anyway, you can still do alot but dont ever take the piss out of your back again. Do the physio, you'll find your limitations there in a supervised environment and don't push it.

Ambitious... Main reason for considering these loaders is that i'd be able to handle larger pieces of timber. Id like to supply wood for round wood post and beam houses. So being able to transport large pieces whole woud be a benefit. Also thinking about being abe to do drainage, fit fence posts etc. In addition to providing me with a Stump Grinder, Log Splitter, winch. thanks, i heard track can rip u peoples gardens pretty bad. Thought this might be a good all round solution. thanks i'll check him out Yea, im wondering about access potential for the smaller one. But i'm thinking i should get one that can at least lift a ton. Might be too big to get through average garden gates though. Thanks! excellent to hear. considering all options right now. These machines appeal to the kid in me. cool Thanks for all your replys.

Thanks Ted. I can see you have a couple of cool contraptions to allow you to do so. How are those tools, i'm tempted by the Husqvarna 327HE3X, 535FBX for hedges and brush and the 540XP just to get me going. Possibly moving onto a bigger saw later, don't know see how the courses go. Would be great Minotaur, tomorrow for sure. Getting late now so going to sit back, chill and try and watch Scarface.

Thanks Treemoose, consider me immersed, brain set to sponge.

eZ Arbheadz Just wondering if anyone has a Avant 200 or 400. Wondering what the attachments are like, what size logs they could lift. Thinking about using one as a 4x4 lifter, shoveler and possibly some of the clearing attachments for a 5 acre woodland and whatever work i could get to utilize it. are they both easily trailer-able? they look like fun

Hi Treenerd, that's a nice offer. I'm currently in Tulse Hill south London, it would be quite a way to go considering i don't have transport as yet. I could get on the train if there's a station near to the site?

Why thank you my chainsaw wielding ornamental friend. Looking forwards to getting involved.