flatyre

don't think so, good video by the way!

well then anyone who can remove 100% of the risk guaranteed:001_tongue: is a better tree surgeon than me. Just as well I work alone

who knows but there are plenty of customers who still go with the big firms even when they charge double.

what does that even mean? walking down the street is dangerous!

I would say there are still plenty of dangerous variables no matter how skilled you are. Felling trees is not an exact science, no matter how long we've been doing it, we can only reduce the risks, not eliminate them?

Where I come from big firms charge £1,500 a day for a two man squad, I always assumed it was because of the dangers involved, I know when people ask me how I can justify charging £200 a day I politely tell them chainsaws aren't toys!

You don't think tree work is dangerous??? is that not a key sales pitch:confused1:

don't need one, I know people who work there.

agreed, personally I think arb wages stink, £60 a day for dragging brash is a joke considering what Tesco pay for shelf stackers who wouldn't know what a sweat looked like, and climber get little more for doing an incredibly dangerous job...at height!

Hey folks I was in the process of swapping out the points on a couple of 028av's and damages the flywheel on the donor saw in the process, don't need it anyway says I until I noticed a difference in the two wheels. On one wheel (the damaged one) there is a clear flat point on the back where it slides over the tapered crank, I assume this flat section opens and closes the points as it rotates, acting like a lug on a cam. But on the other wheel the same part is perfectly round. The points had already been robbed from that saw so I don't know if they open and close off another part of the flywheel. Just curious as to how this other wheel works compared to the damaged one?

Thanks for the info guys, yes there are many variables to consider when pricing, It would be handy to have some sort of reference thread where people can post their jobs, what they charged, and what they overlooked etc. But then that would make it too easy I suppose. Anyway this is the job in question. Five roadside ash the customer wants reduced but he's not sure by how much, biggest one nearest the drive has an LV running next to it, there is a footpath between the trees and the road, but it is a fairly busy road. He also want the conifer removed and a 17ft holly just out of shot reduced by half. Two of these leaning ash need taken out but can't just be felled as he doesn't want them damaging the smaller trees they overhang. Also there is no access round the back so everything the customer doesn't want will need to be dragged up the side of the house and round the front. Then two of these trees need removed, they are the ones to the right and left in the second picture. Might not need a full road closure but have spoken to an experienced climber who says two climbers and a groundsy will have the Ash trees sorted in a day, will need a hand with the leaning ash in the back so that's another days wage plus my overheads which on this job wouldn't be much as no fancy equipment needs hired. I'm thinking about £1200, but then I fall into the usual trap of thinking what a big firm would charge, maybe as much as £3,000 so then I start thinking greedy and wondering if I should up the quote.

I think in future any listings will state NO RETURNS!

Whats your views on a thread for pricing? I'm fairly new to the self employed game and a lot of my work is the awkward stuff that other firms don't want. So pricing is still a challenge for me, is there a pricing thread on the go where I can post up a few job pics for more experienced members to comment on?

I made the mistake of going with yell.com. rip-off, £250 to have it made, what they don't tell you is the £96 a month for hosting it. Plus you can't get them to reply when you want to make any changes.

good thread, my 560xp autotune might sit for a few weeks without being used, I use BP ultimate and Echo oil, do I still need to drain it between uses?

Hey folks quick recap, sold this saw complete and in perfect working order, buyer started asking all sorts of questions about the chain pitch, number of drive links etc before the auction even ended. From his messages he clearly know a lot about chainsaws but was happy to pay over the odds for an ms250. When he got the saw he said it was poorly packed (total rubbish, I make sure they're well packed) and sent a grainy image of a blurred cardboard box with the corner open, and the almost new bar and new chain had fallen out, and the petrol tank was cracked from an old repair using superglue. I totally rebuilt that saw two weeks previously and the tank had never been repaired nor needed repaired. Anyway he demanded a refund which I refused as it was clear that a lot of thing weren't adding up. he opened a case with ebay who ruled that he was to get his money back and I was to get my saw back, as ebay put it 'everyone is back to square one. I said I didn't want the saw as it was clearly not in the same condition I sent it in, and to send a complete ms250 in full working order, as that would be fair. Weeks after he got his full refund I have still not received whats left of my saw, this is a transcript of the messages, mine in green. You have to read from the bottom of the post up. Can I open an ebay case to have the original winning bid amount paid to me as he has his money and my saw and I have nowt as Hermes say there was no damage incurred while the parcel was in their possession, which I would agree with. New message from: matilav (1,143Red Star) I am having it repaired, new crank-case, New bar, chain guide, sprocket cover etc. If there is any cash left to cover the cost of postage when it's all done, I could send you the scrap bits. I assume that you have already claimed against the courier in any case? Reply Leave Feedback Your previous message Hi have you sent whats left of my saw yet? matilav: No, you didn't give it to me. You refused to have it returned, (over a fortnight ago)! Your previous message Hi do you have my address for returning whats left of the saw? matilav: I need resolution on this. I was willing to carryout the repairs/replacements, (as per earlier messages). If you are not willing or able to claim against the courier then the Item must be returned. The estimate for replacements was based on items posted on Ebay at the time, which may no longer be available. Please make a decision on this without delay. Your previous message Well that is not what I sent. matilav: That is just not going to be possible. You have the pictures! I only have what was delivered. Your previous message I'm sorry if you are unhappy with the saw, it was complete and in perfect working order when I packaged it. I have bought and sold a number of chainsaws on ebay, all have been packed exactly the same way and all reached their destination without damage. I am not happy that the transfer of cash has been withdrawn. As for returning the saw, I sent a complete saw in perfect working order and that is what I expect returned matilav: If no reply by 10:30 tomorrow negative feedback will be left.

I have a mwb transit van with two sets of metal shelves in the back, one runs along the bulkhead and has bottom hinged lockable doors, that's where all my saws and power tools go, the other shelves run along the left side from the side door to the back door. That's where the fuel cans, oil cans, hand tools etc are stored. Doing a lot of landscaping I need a van and would really miss the space. I still have plenty of room for the cement mixer, strimmers, mowers, rotavator etc. though I plan on selling the family car (wife doesn't know yet) and buying a crewcab pickup with a canopy but more as I want one, not that I need one as all my work is in residential areas.

what about washing the tank out with thinners and using jbweld or araldite?

Ah now that makes sense! thanks Rover

I use a panel van and on small jobs I just load the brash, rings etc into the back of it, problem is the condensation, not sure how much of an issue it would be with seasoned logs.

Hey folks have an old white top husky 50 rancher which I just fitted a new piston kit, plug, starter chord etc. its an old saw and probably not worth much but fixing old saws is a bit of a hobby, anyway everytime I set it down chain oil would pour out from between the bar studs, so took it apart and found this inch long crack behind the chain adjuster screw, there was no damage to the screw as it is safely behind the side casing, bar, and backing plate, question is how did it get there, the alloy is kinked in towards the tank so it wasn't punctured from inside the tank???

thanks guys, Aspenarb the top one in the photo is the same as my saw with the alloy body but the band and linkage I bought is off the bottom saw, would you consider selling a few bits? The top cover on mine has a bit of melting on the front edge above the exhaust, rest of it is good but would like a nice clean top plastic if I can get it. getting the saw up and running is priority though. Thanks again folks.

Hey folks I found this old thread while doing a search for a T&C template. Don't think I can download a copy without joining the arb association. Does anyone have a general template I could use for both tree work and landscaping on commercial and domestic sites? I need to hand in a quote for a building firm and if its accepted I want a good percentage of the materials bill up front and don't want to be waiting six months for payment after completion.

Round here there's a new thing called "flash for cash". Basically your at a T junction waiting to pull out, A car coming down the road flashes to let you out then speeds up and T bones you. Most people think you flash to let them out, the law says you should only flash at another vehicle to warn them of your presence. So they cause the crash then get to sue you!

should have known it was in Yorkshire! pah bloody northerners!