theflyingscotsman

Hi thanks for your response, Any reason you wouldn't have another? And what else would you have? Tractor type ones better?

Hi People, I'm starting to take on 'mower' grass cutting contracts than ever this year. Has anyone any thoughts on the above? I was looking at the g21/iseki equivalent. Then seen a good ex demo gzd for almost half the RRP--- Anyone who has used one let me know I mainly do 2weekly cuts on large gardens, finish doesn't need to be bowling green, but would be useful if the gzd could cope with the odd high grass verge etc.. Many thanks in advance for your input! Cheers Colin

n This is my Ranger supercab.. Love it, although it will be for sale shortly as its done about 96,000 miles.. Great truck though, secure storage and a big back 😃

Just use Shiply.com It's great free quote, **** hot service and they can take over sized and heavy bits of kit. All independent couriers which moved up and down the country weekly. I moved a few things before Christmas and was super impressed.👍

Yeah Second that, H&W training in Dumfries are great 👍

Howdy, I'm a self confessed Creocote junky. I love the stuff, jet black when painted on (easy to paint on too!) then returns a nice dark brown color. I like it as it's cheap, easy to go on and easy on the eye. Lasts maybe 3/4 years before a re-coat. Obviously proper creosote can't be beaten but it's tricky to get in small amounts these days. We did a few sheds in Ronseal 5 year wood stain and it was top drawer stuff too, but cost £25 per 5L 👍👍

No problem at all, i spend a lot of time on my own business development and I openly admit I'm more in it for the money and early retirement!! You'll likely know but tree work pay is usually better per job than 'gardening type' work so if the works there and your business sways round that way..go for it. You can always learn all the tree stuff as you and the business grow. It also makes the winter a more profitable time, tree work and storms can be year round and also if you generate a lot of waste, start a log business. ££££ 👍 Work smart and hard short term, easier life long term. (That's how it should go anyway, the nae Sayers may disagree!) Arb talk can be a very useful resource, the amount of times I've 'searched' a topic to find out something, it can save weeks of not years of failed development attempts. Best of luck 👍

Yeah, I'd plan on getting at least your first two tickets as then you can do all the ground work. You'll make very little out of it if you can't bring some to the table. (You can also watch and learn) For contracting help pay top dollar if they are good, available and fair..(£200pd+\- a little) If you have the work offered why not make some money out of it.. If I get offered any jobs which are out with my remit I will either suggest a trusted contractor or supply one.. Joiners,builders, plumbers anything... I know in my area who's good and bad, my customers trust me and take my advice.. Just the same with your own business and tree work. Networking and advice costs nothing but is very useful tool. I have one main contract climber, he doesn't have a business himself so likes being offered additional work, I try to plan it over the weekends so he is available. he's a better climber than me and extremely experienced so he gets called to the toughest of jobs and puts everything down where you want it. Better than my fists of ham and feet of concrete making a mess of everything and ruining my business reputation in one foul swoop! Better to work within your ability and watch and learn until I'm the uber experienced guy anyway. Business is business, no point handing the tree work to a competitor company as you will make nothing out of it. Work out how to make at least a little if not the lottery win on each job. Then your always going forward. I'd just ask on here if there are any free lance climbers in your area on here.. Plenty of good climbers on here, and usually quite a helpful bunch of people. Then read the situation correctly (which is not easy) does the man fit the job? Tools, appearance, references.. (A pair of ass-less chainsaw chaps and an Argos chainsaw may be not the right person) But make sure you have a decent small job to put him on if he's worth having. I can tell instantly if someone's had years on a saw or just blagging a days wages) And take copies of qualifications, driving licence and insurance details before he sets foot on site. In my humble experience of free lancers be watchful for the super slow... This can kill profit in a job. Safe, swift,professional efficiency is what your after.. That's just my take on the subject I'm sure many would argue

Howdy lgw Vented chaps off ebay of course I'm sure the mosquitoe net ones may be better? We've just built sheds now as I didn't want to take the chance of part seasoned wood again!!

Hi Richard, Yes is the simplest answer.. No need to spend that money until you've at least some tree work.. Tickets you'd require are nptc cs30/31 then on to 38 and 39 for climbing as a minimum. If you've clients already it would probably pay to offer the service just with the current contracts.. Don't rush out and buy huge chippers etc.. Unless you've a lot of work. Try and aline yourself with an good and insured climber. Hire anything else you need. Good luck

Okay then.. Mods make things more efficient... Does your Thor have single handed operation? Perhaps a pedal on the ground? What about the height when your using it?! Perfect height right out of the box-- doubtful.. Depends on whether your 5ft or 6ft.. Perhaps a bigger sorting table so your not stood bent over picking up logs off the ground? Mods don't need to have much to do with the components of the log splitter but may help you be more efficient at splitting logs. And I've plenty space for the splitter, you don't so you have a more compact splitter. I split logs for many of my customers too so it suits me fine. Wallenstein' even the small (£1900) ones are excellent splitters...there may different views on them, but you get what you pay for... Each to their own.. I've no experience with Thor splitters, have you had a go with a Wallenstein? I have the raised height 30t road towable with added removable sorting table and it's great 👍

First time I used one was on a garden clearance, lots of brush, shrubs and small trees.. I was amazed how it chomped its way through everything.. I've used them for years but mainly hired them in... They have their place- they are not snarling wood chippers for demolishing branches all day every day.. For if you want that buy a chipper! But they are excellent for shrubs and hedge cuttings, some branches go through them great... Shredders are good for any green waste.. Chippers are more designed for wood.. Some cheap second hand ones out there too, most of the old ones the exit for the waste is directed towards the ground so a sturdy tarp is needed to transfer to a bin or trailer. Good luck 👍

Yeah even vented bags we found where pretty ropey at seasoning logs in them.. We built a temporary 'pallet corral' with a tarp roof, dried much better. We've now moved to a bespoke drying shed and heras cubes with tin roofs and have a kiln as a back up. It all depends on your situation as if it's really windy you may get away with vented bags.. Good luck hope your head heals 🙈

For hedge cuttings you'd be better with a shredder...like Eilet Majors etc..

As said above, but I'd take a phone in and record the entire meeting..mention its for legal purposes (I'm sure you must advise them of the recording on the recording to make it legal) Hard evidence. No squirm room. It also makes them think that it may go out with the company. Which they won't like. An iPhone would do the job. Gives you more time to focus on what's being said. I would have also call the HSE about this matter 'to clarify' you stand point.. Management won't like HSE breathing down their necks... Good luck, if it ain't safe it ain't safe..

Second that, the stove shops are still very busy, although I'd reckon with the money that CAN still be made, the affluent areas will soon be saturated with suppliers... I just keep my costs down and my product quality high and am always busy.

Yeah I'd probably get the fencing pliers out, remove all the steeples and wiggle out the posts as it's got a bend in the fence the wire will want to go straight (and saggy) drop the trees, posts back in tack on the wire..no worries 👍

Second for Wallenstein.. A few mods and they are great splitters!

Excellent post👍👍 About the name, good advice. I always think I breed work as I've my name on the company letter head... Sounds dull but David wyz.. Garden and tree services will undoubtedly get you farther if your good than some generic greeny/tree name. Your photos too... You could be cheeky and go for a walk with your camera and take a picture of any nice garden, if you ask the owner. Or perhaps a family member has either a garden or a tree that needs attention or tools laying around. As long as you actually take the shots and have permission to do so you can use them.👍

Again, agree with Kentjames here, quotes look VERY cheap.. Employers Liability is required by law by every business in Britain if you even have a sniff at remotely employing someone. It is the law. My original quote from Trust insurance was around £300 a year for just myself to do ANY tree work as long as my feet where on the ground. Some work at under 5meters up was allowed for hedge cutting etc.. My entire business/van/plant insurance tops around the £2600 mark... Although both PL and EL is based on turnover so the more you earn they're SOME companies want..

Yup, second that, ring Cameron at Trust..

Yes I tend to agree, as I've said before on here to start ups DO NOT focus on tree work especially if you've no previous experience. gardening although less jazzy is the way forward. Plenty of work, stick to grass cutting and weeding and it's easy and then easy to build a good business from it. It's also cheap to get insured and cheap to buy tools and cheap to operate. You've got to mind with out experience your going to waste your limited money too and perhaps get hurt..... That chainsaw you mentioned earlier... A crown reduction with that !! It might be okay for two or three trees but it will take you an age and be knackered shortly after. Absolute waste of time and money. If you want to include tree work in with your gardening then fine, but I'd suggest you find a pocket tree surgeon in your area you then price the job - get him in for £200pd and learn what you can off him whilst earning a chunk for yourself safely. I always say to start ups that weeding although extremely tedious and soul destroying is a great spring board to better things. A: it's cheap- doesn't cost you a thing (maybe a hoe or a three pronged thingy and a bucket) B: everyone hates doing it- so the well established companies will have better things to do. Leaving a gap in the market. C: money every two weeks- weeds and grass need maintained on the most part every couple of weeks so your wages can be made easily. ( no vying with competitors which are likely going to be more polished and kitted up than you) for the decent jobs which your unlikely to get. Don't be afraid to be humble in business. It's not easy: unless you get handed a huge wad of cash and a full spec kit of forestry/tree surgery gear it's a bit pointless thinking the works going to flow through the door. (Clients rarely go for 'super cheap' when it's dangerous and perhaps their property is at stake) Start small, think big, make money however you can..on start up I cleaned gutters, shifted copious amounts of dogs dirt and unblocked a few blocked drains and painted a few windows for customers- in time I got their trust and garden to look after, which includes trees, hedges, grass etc... Tree cutting is a very crowded market place in business. The savvy business people look for the gaps and exploit them.. Don't be discouraged from what others have said, but don't discount it either. Good luck it ain't easy..

Sunday's: just another day to make money. If you need the business get on the blower and don't be shy. Business is business. As some have said before I tend to work around the lovely scottish weather. I try to maintain a good work life balance and mainly take Sunday/Monday morning off. But i wouldn't worry about contacting folk at a reasonable time on a Sunday if you've missed them the day before👍

They started that model as McCulloch 21' before rebranding to Husky....used one very slow and pretty cheaply made however did the job..IMHO..

Haha very true, after a week on the wrong end going full tilt, it's not only the wheat that's shredded!! 👍