theflyingscotsman

Yup a dubious act by a major company I, like so many others spent 000's on stihl products before the ban... I've not spent a single pound on stihl since...traded the two stihl chainsaws I had for husky equivalents...(although I 'stihl' have a host of combi kit and blowers) After all nobody likes a gun to their head. My local dealer is a rogue and is always shut at the most inconvenient times and adds about 500!quid onto the Rrp of a 660...nah..be a cold day in the warm place before he gets my cash. I mainly use Jonsie and LS for parts... Stihl will have lost millions through their frankly silly policy...helped NO one in the process and left them selves looking very stupid... Most of the dealers they where trying to help where just bad at business. Good company's ..small or large can/could make selling online work fine.. Most are just lazy and don't bother... Thanks for the updates though

Ps: for larger 30-50 ton loads I hire in a big one.. But it's fine.. A tipper load of softwood if it's in rings takes and hour and a half to split. May not keep up with machines 3x 4x or 5x the price but it's quicker and easier than an axe a great first time purchase.

Hello, This is the one I started with... http://m.northerntooluk.com/product/65575e Converted the two handed operation to one handed. And made a wooden table for it.. Used a block of wood and a bit of seat belt to shorten the stoke and speed it up. Has two speeds 4ton fast for easy stuff. 8ton slow for really knotty stuff. I've split about 150cube with it give or take a few and apart from a lose fan which now has a hose clio on it it's still going strong.. Takes a while say 30-45mins per cube but if you've got the time...it won't win any races but it's a surprising machine and for <£300 quid.. Your more than welcome to come and have a look at mine and see...we're At logs all weekend doing a 'big shift' so you're welcome to pop in and see my small-medium operation. I've had folk laugh at it......until they try it... They soon stop Laughing....

Haha there's always something on the shopping list in this business

No worries Hire that log splitter from Pentland Biomass as it's so cheap compared to buying one... I hire it, saves me investing in one and they have the maintenance. Easy to collect and tow home

Hire one then...you'd be amazed how much a wallenstein will chew through in a weekend.

As I understand it::: When employing 'subcontractors' You've to be careful that your don't become his sole employer.. Ie: a self employed person has many bosses and pays his own tax If your giving him/her 3days work a week and he/she has no other work You are then deemed there employer and they technically have full employee rights. Employers lia will cost you around 500-800 on top of your public lia. IMHO.

Yeah 2500 grand buys you a road towable wallenstein... However if your just in lanark you can hire them from Pentland biomass. £55 1stday then £30 per extra day.. Wallenstein are excellent splitters..

I've had mine (red ones) about since Christmas in them about 4 days a week, Fairly comfy out of the box, sturdy design, good waterproofing just now.. Only one slight concern the vibram soles are quite slippy on wood out of the box... Not yet buffed the shine off them yet... May see about getting some studs... Apart from that pretty good boots

Great but get it in writing and don't invest in ANYTHING you don't need. You want to 'start' logs- chainsaw and an axe. You want to invest in it : log splitter, better chainsaw and so on..... No point in producing 100,000,000 bags a day if you can't sell it. Any draft bugger can do that and go broke... I personally wouldn't offer him anything except perhaps producing some logs for him to burn/or a labour exchange in the first year then once you've a few customers then give him a share of the profits start at 10% If he wants more than that go into partnership with him and look at the various grants that the government throw at farmers/landowners for biomass producing. Any not to digress. If you want to start a small business where margins are tight to start off with Give as little away as you can get away with...as you'll be doing the graft...

Yes this is true to an extent.. Just trying to save him a £10 For his sake I hope it's just the fuel filter. Good luck let me know how you get on as I'd be interested to here if it is the sensor. Seams to be a fault on that year of ranger. Google it there's plenty of questions about it just not many answers.

Yeah sadly had this no less than twice last year.... Groans... I am super careful and have always got protection/glasses. Both times where using hefty brushcutter's.

Haha the old late 2006/2007 cough and cut out rears it's ugly head again!!! Now fuel filters are all well and good chaps but I'd bet my house on it being ............... Fuel pressure sensor in the common rail........... Why should I know this gem of info.??! It took me and a local specialist about 6 months and many trips to the garage to work it out. I when through the whole fuel system.. It's a tiny part. If you phone CCMS Diesel in Edinburgh he will explain better than me. Sadly the repair could set you back around £500.... You can still drive your motor and the problem will semi clear itself meaning you just need to flick the ignition on and off and the engine will re start on the go... To start off with it was a trundle to the lay by followed by a lot of turning the engine over before it starts....but it does clear somewhat.. If your garage hasn't seen this exact problem you will need to educate them..

If your starting small, plan on using med/large net bags (cheap on eBay) so you don't need a trailer and can deliver them in your car. A small trailer would be handy for additional collection however. Mind it's extremely labour intensive so get ready for a host of new aches and pains A small £200 4-ton log splitter is better than any axe as it can keep going all day..and save the aches and pains a bit. Without your own ground and some big equipment it is extremely hard work scaling up a firewood business. Phone round get an average price from your competition. See if the numbers add up. Perfectly do-able though good luck

Wallenstein are excellent log splitters

Hourly rate jobs will pay the wages....priced jobs will produce bigger profits or bigger loss's depending on how experienced you are.

There's a Real tree one on Autotrader around cheltenham with all the toys, looks cool let us know how you get on

Haha Waterproofing... Husky aren't to bad just don't sit down and you'll be fine

Yup I use Trust also, very good. They must see evidence of your ability to use and maintain a saw before they will insure you for tree work. So get your tickets and you'll get your insurance.

I wear the Husky tech's and find them great.

Eh...no.. The customer isn't always right. That's like saying you'd jump off a cliff if someone asked. I too don't advertise anymore, I do come across the odd arse of a customer.. I think if my business reputation if strong enough. One person isn't going to harm it. if I absolutely had to I'd tell someone straight to shove their job. I would be happy to..It could be impractical, unviable or just to dam dangerous.. So no, no one knows it all..including customers.

P.s. If you looking at Rangers sub 10k I'd avoid 56/07 plate ones... I've a 56 plate supercab (nice truck-when it works) Ie: replaced, clutch, flywheel, gearbox recondition, various bearings, various sensors (including a shocking one that cut the engine whilst sitting at speed!!) Mines now done 87k and touch wood is running sweetly just now, I believe the first of the newer shaped rangers where very problematic so best to avoid.. Old shape rangers seam to be the way forward...although newer ones are 140 a year to tax so one good point...haven't heard about so many issues with 08/09/10> rangers... I only do about 8-10k a year as all My business is local and my ranger just seamed to fall to bits if it's own accord... Unless that 10 grand is cash I'd maybe look at personal loan ( so you can buy a year old truck fit all your winches and canopy , tyres etc,) and pay it off. Lease vehicles have to be given back the way you get them which means a hefty bill at the body shop after 3?5? Years out in the field.. (Could depend on just how careful you are though..)

Howdy Will, I'm doing similar research just now, findings: Best but expensive: New Ranger, although (2.2) 150 engine seams a bit light for a big truck. (3.2 looks good) Best all rounder: D-Max strong build quality good engines tows lots well. Best for a businessman come family man: L200 long bed.. Only truck with big carrying space and double cab..but they are well....eh..rather long Good luck.. I know friends who have all three and they all rave about there motors.. Test drive those three forget the rest.

Furthers to my business is business comment earlier.... I totally agree Skyhuck.. A few comments through the old rose tinted here.... 'If you don't like what THEY want you walk away' ?!?!? WTF.... Simple communication and negotiation skills here. If what the customer is asking isn't on, it's your job to mould the job into sensible do-able profitable work... If they say cut my tree in half and you think 30% reduction is more suitable TRY and explain the best you can... But at the end of the day you've two choices to take the high ground and not make money or get on with it and make a bob or two. It's their property after all.. Yes they pay for your knowledge and expertise sometimes...some awkward customers won't listen a toss.... I get it mainly with mature hedges... Yes colin can you just half it...oh deep joy... Another job almost impossible job to leave looking good.. A lovely hedge that's now lost its head! But it's their hedge and their asking you to do it for their reason so I mainly get on with it. I have however in the past refused 'that type' of work if it is super prominent as I'd lose business rep by lots of people seeing = 'what the customer asked for' so you got to use your head way up the pos and cons.. But if you can make a profit = make it...

I've had this before, lasted about 6months, luckily it just went away.. I couldn't afford to stop working at the time. Try doing a different type of job if you can...it may speed up recovery..