Djvicke1

What if the lads you employ on some jobs don't have their own insurance (they work on powerlines PAYE and do weekend work) but you have public and employers insurance?

Many thanks to Gary (breffni on arbtalk) for travelling down to Mid Wales to do an ash dismantle today, great lad to work with and a very skilled climber 👍🏻

Sorted now

Any climbers available for a few hours work tomorrow in Mid Wales near Newtown? Large stem on ash needs to be dismantled over hedgerow and fence, may need some rigging. Roughly half a days work £250 cash. Usual climber is unavailable and I'm too inexperienced to do it myself, Private Message me if interested. Thanks

Don't be afraid to ask questions, Health and Safety is very important in the assessment and just practice your cuts as much as possible. Relax and Enjoy it

Thanks for the feedback and advice its much appreciated. Those are both horrific incidents and I always try and work cautiously especially when working outside my comfort zone. I went to look at the job tonight. It's more than just a limb in fact it's one of 4 large stems that make up the tree. Its between 45degrees and vertical with large horizontal branches coming off it and is like a large tree in itself. As soon as i saw it I realised it was out of my skill level. There is also a new fence directly at the base and everyone seemed in agreement that it is a difficult job. I suggested getting a mate of mine who has been climbing for 8-9 years to have a look at it. I just took him to see it and he said he can do it by rigging a couple of sections to save the fence. All said and done the bloke is going to get back to me to give the go ahead after he's told the farmer the price.. If we go ahead then I will ground for my mate and hopefully learn a few things watching him which I'm happy with as its a load off my mind

I'm going to look at it with him tomorrow so will try get some pictures and I will know the specifics then. I will tell him I'd rather take it off in lengths. I'm just hoping I'll be able to find a good work position for the heavy stuff..

Also I will try and get some pictures of it and upload them if possible.

Thanks for the replies, I'm going to look at it in the next couple of days as the job will be next week so will update you with the specifics when I know. I've got cs39 (basically a trainee climber) My climbings ok but a bit slow and I can branch walk and have done large-ish limbs in the past by dropping it in bits but I suggested that and he shook his head and said to do it in one (he's not a tree surgeon). He wants me to take just this limb off and then put a winch in the tree to fell it. If after looking at it I'm still doubtful I might just ask my mate who's more experienced to do it, although I hate having to say I can't do it

I've been asked to do some work for a local landscaping firm, they want me to climb and cut a large limb (roughly 2-3ft diameter) off a beech tree. It's out of my comfort zone to be honest but as a beginner climber I want the experience, I've said I will do it but now I'm worried as I haven't really done any limbs that big yet. I can free fall it into a field so no obstacles below. Any advice on the kind of cut to use as I'm sure that size timber will react differently to smaller limbs?

I'm still getting to grips with spiking but today it was as if something clicked and I found a comfortable position with my right leg locked out and my left leg bent slightly above it (with both spikes dug in) was just wondering is it ok to cut in this position as I feel more comfortable than when both feet are side by side? Do other people have their own favourite position on spikes? Where you feel stable and ready to cut?

yep funny how often you come across a tree that's been half cut through and left because someones backed out last minute not sure of where it's going..

Cheers mate, thats some good advice, I've only just started taking on my own jobs and I've found that everyone always asks how long it will take and I always get stumped on it, so will try and avoid that in the future. Might start pricing jobs more too and just have a day rate for subbying. Live and learn

Thanks for the feedback, next time ill say £12 if he insists on paying by the hour. Otherwise it will be a day rate. Trouble with farmers is they all know how to use a chainsaw ("I would do it myself but...") and they always have a firm idea of how long they think it would take them.

Hopefully both, I've charged £8 an hour previously including fuel etc and it felt too cheap. He wants me back to fall some large leaning ash trees in autumn and probably will expect the same price, I don't have much experiemce though so might pass it on to a mate who works on utilities with a bit more experience and who knows how to price better

I'm glad theres a thread on this.. I've just started doing a few self employed jobs and I'm definately learning pricing the hard way.. Looked at a large oak that had been brought down in the wind, farmer wanted it all ringed up in 8inch pieces to split. When I looked at it all the brash was still on and didn't realise until I cut my way into it how much this disguised the size of the tree! Next time I will be sure to have a good look at it Also It's amazing how branches/brash/green waste seem to double in size once they're on the ground... I always feel under pressure to quote on the spot and totally forget that clear up takes just as long if not longer than the cutting. On a similar note can anyone suggest a good price per hour for doing chainsaw work for farmers, no climbing involved just cutting back mixed field hedges/small trees, and logging up fallen trees etc?

Cheers Jake, I'll give it a go today I might have to use the other end of my rope as my strop is only 6metres. Any tips on gripping the branch if theres no branches above to put a second anchor?

As a beginner climber I sometimes struggle getting a good work position, so was just wondering if experienced climbers have any tips on how to wrap your legs around the branch to get a good position? Especially if there is no fork to get a foot/leg in.

I think it's a good thing that restrictions are used. I have my cs39 ticket and have since bought a new top handled saw. The thing I found daft was how some shops are restricting the sale of top handle chainsaw's without knowing exactly what the restriction is... They looked baffled when I suggested the cs39 ticket

Also you could invest in some climbing kit to begin with to get a feel for it as any kind of experience is important, even just knowing certain knots etc. If you put yourself through your tickets make sure you use your initiative to read and research things for yourself and gain all the knowledge you can as this will enable you to know 'why' as well as 'how'.

haha thats what I thought I tried to explain what a cs39 is but I think he'd be happier if I took in a home made 'licence' with 'top handle chainsaw licence' written on it

Went to buy a stihl 201 from Charlies today, got told they need to see a licience so asked which licience they need to see suggesting cs30/31, cs38,cs39 etc he replied "the one that says top handle on it" I asked which one that is, he replied "you need to ask 'the chainsaw board'..." am I missing something.... is there a licience or even a 'chainsaw board'?? :confused1:

Any rec climbs going on in or around mid wales?

Also try holding your climbing line with one hand and pushing out from the stem to grab something with the other hand then swing back in, it helped me get a balance and feel for the ropes different forces etc and gain confidence being away from the stem.

I struggled with branchwalking but I'm getting to grips with it now. I had a good instructor on my CS38 told me that you wont always look smooth branchwalking if its a difficult branch just get down and hump your way up it if you need to and don't be afraid to wrap legs arms round the branch and really pull yourself along it and in the end I was right out on the tips. Use a longer strop (I use 6m) to let yourself back in and reverse everything you did on the way out helps too. Thing I struggle with now is the feeling of karabiners tugging at the connector rings at the side of my harness when turning away from my anchor point just feels like somethings going to snap/break but its mostly just mental things to overcome.