CJM

Hey Paul it's Chris we might be moulding minds together at kirkley hall soon:biggrin:

At the end of the day if you're standing on spikes 100ft up £50 doesn't matter

When I went to replace my spikes I looked at the steel version of those ally hogs and if I'm honest they were poor quality like weird gaffs ( like pencil points) and plastic straps. They look identical to the steel ones. I'd avoid mate

Just add one more thing, if you do break something try your best to sort it out yourself, I was stump grinding for a company and a roge stone bounced up off a wall and cracked a window, £50 later it was all sorted. It puts you in good light

I was confused when I first started out. I spoke to the companies I sub contract for and they said I'm covered under their insurance. If your doing your own jobs with your name on the quote then you need pl insurance when undertaking the work

Ok so you've just dismantled your first pole, next time use a wire core or your lanyard and put your rope around the stem (similar to how you'd anchor on a branch prussik and krab) also make sure your rope is below your strop, if you cut your strop the rope will catch you. Always use a rope you never know when you need it even if you need to send your saw down for fuel. If you're starting out keep it simple until you've got the hang of it then buy more gear like the others have suggested if you feel the need too

A bit off topic but if the 201t wasn't as bad as it is and turned out like a 200t would the husky 540t have a following as big as it is?

I've always liked the older style ford ranger (2005) it's more rugged and drove better that the new ones but it's looking a bit dated now. I'm presuming most of them now have towed stuff to moon and back

This is what happens when you sweep bits of brash down the drain haha

If I knew the history of that 200t and it was well looked after I'd pick that saw in a heartbeat, but people will tell you anything so they can make a quick buck, you can easily spend £150 trying to fix it, so unfortunately I'd have to say the 540xp only because of the two year warranty

Im a subbie and I send companies I've done work for an invoice via email with my bank details on with a break down like climbing kit, saws ect then the total amount owed at the bottom. Usually I get paid within 7 days not all the time though (biggest issue). Then I pay my own tax and NI once I've been paid.

I think it's personal preference and what you've been brought up using. If I started out spiking on tree gaffs I'll be using them now

Aww never mind some day I'll find a decent set, I only need them for my garden haha

I think the tax could be cheaper being a pre 51 plate

Lady Robson, I even got to see Bobby Robsons trophies and pictures

What you doing with your old ones?? Hint hint

It'll be fine the chipper spout moves doesn't it

Things that need to be on, rope with prussik and crab and a wirecore. For your cs40 add a first aid kit. I always find it funny when some guy puts his kit on and it's got 7 crabs, 2 strops, 4 prussiks and a few pulleys. Just no need for that extra kit keep it in your bag and get it sent up if needed

Any tree when wet is slippery airstreams or not. I find them slippery but not dangerously slippery. Tbh you need to change your climbing style when climbing a wet tree I find sycamores the worse trees to climb in the wet

You've got to remember leaving huge pruning wounds will do more damage than a few spike marks, stick with spikes play it safe and the end of the day you'll get it done faster and safer with spikes on

Hey Paul just had read through, hope everything is ok and also good luck on that job interview

I did a bit for Chris about 18 months ago and I didn't seen any issues, I've been doing this for 8 years so I've seen all sides of tree work within different company's. It's not like you were left running a 100k contract it will of been a missus miggings hedge to trim to tidy you were left at

That cable is Low voltage (up to 1000 volts) it's an ABC (aerial bundle cable) it's insulated but that insulation might be cracked leaving it live. Contact the network operator and ask for it to be shut down, be quick because I bet it's on list for the veg management guys to do and they'll do it for free

When you say self employed do you mean starting up with a van and doing your own work or being a freelance climber? I went self employed as a freelance climber I already had a climbing kit and saws so my start up cost were zero. Do the pros out weigh the cons of being self employed?? Yes/no it depends on your situation, if you are in a job the pays ok and you have a good working relationship with your boss but you get perks like holidays, pension, bonus, overtime, etc then I'd say no. I think a lot of people see the day rate and think your making mega bucks, but once you take off tax NI repairs put a bit back for slack days and holidays, you've also got to remember the invoices so paper work when your not at work, tax returns ect. Also it's hard to get credit no matter how good your credit rating is. Then self employment seems less desirable On a side note It helps a hell of a lot if you know and are friends with lots of company's in your area (Note to self; why am I self employed?? Haha)

I was told it's the colour, snazzy colours instead of basic green or red. That's what my local arb shop told me