IronMike

Ps @KateHI'm on Instaspam and Farcebook as: lowimpactforestryltd 👍🏼

Few choice snaps from the work we've been upto these last two years.

The machine that’s geared up for the bandtracks is the one I bought secondhand, and as yet I’ve never fitted them to see how they go. Of the two machines I’ve got, one climbs much better than the other (the one without bandtrack compatibly annoyingly) and the other is much better on flatter ground with tight turns. I might be able to swap the mounting parts for the bandtracks onto the other machine and see how it goes, possibly just put them in the back? I priced up some chains last year from an Avant dealer, the price was eye watering! Hence why I wondered if I could buy a bulk reel of chain and make my own.

Now then ye wise and knowledgeable lot. I've a site I'm working on currently that is steep in places, with the understory being quite slippy also. I was wondering about making my own chains uonfor the wheels on the Logbullets perhaps? Would this offer much more grip on the loose stuf? Has anyone done anything similar before? And if so, what type of chain did you use, where did you get it, and are there any techniques for construction? One of my machines does have bandtracks, the other doesn't. @Big Ji know you had decent success with the bandtracks but was this on steeper stuff or more on peaty type ground that was flat? Cheers in advance!

Ultimately there are those who are good at their job, but buy work for peanuts. There are those who effectively rob and steal and get away with it for the most part. There are those who are plain shite and either charge loads or practically nothing. Pricing, quoting etc is a dark art and with time and experience you can get reasonable at it but still it's guesswork at best. You win sometimes, and you definitely lose sometimes. I mucked up on my first and only standing sale last year. I got it MASSIVELY wrong, and it cost me a fortune to do the job. Everyone else got paid or a good deal, but I lost out big time. Lesson learned though. Stick to day rate, always!

I’m glad my post sparked some conversation! I admitted I likely overpriced the job, it is deceptive in the photo (isn’t it always though). I guess the bigger debate is wouldn’t life be better if the bodge job cowboys who set the precedent last year charged more and brought the bottom line up for everyone? As it that’ll ever happen! 🤦🏼‍♂️

I run an 18 on my MK2 550 every day. Absolutely loves it, no problems whatsoever.

I recently got asked to go and price an ash removal, not my usual remit but was asked by a friend of a friend of a friend. Landlocked garden, only access through garage doors. All material staying on site, to be ringed up for firewood. Tree was "pruned" last year by parties unknown, who also removed another much smaller ash tree in the garden. They also trashed the door frames taking the brash out and managed to break something in next doors garden too. The customer seemed very cagey about what happened last year, fair enough I suppose. The photo is deceptive, the main stem is a big old lump likely 1m across at the base. Tight drop zone with patio and extension to contend with. I reckoned 2 days for 2 men max, but a fair amount of rigging involved to avoid all targets and some time involved in ringing main stem up. I said £1500+vat which was maybe slightly overpriced perhaps but one of those jobs where the potential to go tits up was there so I thought I'd cover myself.... Anyway, customer comes back and says they'll pass as I was nearly 3 times as expensive as the lads he had last year. The ones who did a shit job. I said that's fine, no worries, and good luck with it. Cheap labour isn't good and good labour isn't cheap is my mantra. Point proven in this case?

The blurb says they use mesh technology to connect, which certain higher end Sena ones use too. You’d like to think they could connect, but the older models you run John might not work. £399 rrp (not sure if that’s ex or inc vat) so you’d almost get two sets of the all singing all dancing Sena for that. Bear in mind I got the 50S and have had a few battery issues with it, but Sports Bike Shop were very good and helped.

I smugly cruised into Tesco at Catterick to fill up with my diesel at £1.64, only to discover they had none left, and only had one pump spitting petrol out. Jobs knackered lads!

The Logbullet found it's long last big brother!

Depends how you view it mate! It was new to me, i.e my original one, not the one I bought off Big J.

(Sung in the style of pop goes the weasel) "Nice load on of Larch thinnings, and time to forward the timber, set off forwards with no problem, snap goes the axle!"

I tow my Logbullet around behind my 2010 Shogun. It's a 3.2DiD and has an auto box, and I love it! Semi auto really, so as been mentioned you can can use the gears to ease descent speeds easily. I won't be getting another manual car once I sell the Mazda I have for family life.

Much windier here today, yesterday was quite a nice day overall.

😍😍😍

Slow to reply to the many, many excellent replies and tips on good gloves! You lot really are an impressive resource of knowledge, should be chargeable! I'm going to take some time and read all the replies and will feedback on what decision I make 👍🏼🙂

Oh, and make sure your PPE is on the right way round too 🤣

Get that thumb wrapped, no excuses! I’ve berated a few folk for this over the years.

We’ve woken up to some snow here in North Yorkshire!

I should have said, these are exclusively for operating the machine. There'll be no saw work or moving brash etc. The issue with the Logbullet is there isn't a cab as such so my hands are just out getting piss wet through all day. Sealskinz seem to be available in any colour you like, as long as it's black 😂🙈

My poor little trotters have endured nearly 3 years of the finest weather North Yorkshire can throw at them, but I’ll admit defeat and say the time has come for some decent waterproof gloves. I usually use multiple pairs of cheap, thin gloves throughout the day that offer zero waterproofing. Most folks seems to say go for Sealskinz, but before I pull the trigger on a pair I’d better do my Arbtalk research. Main things I need are…. A. Waterproof! B. Finger dexterity isn’t compromised so I can still press the buttons without an Incredible Hulk style rage descending. C. Ideally a bright colour so when I invariably drop them, I can see the dam things. Orange would be good!

@spudulikeseemed to have this far matey!

Parts all arrived from the USA! Top recommendation there @Moose McAlpinemany thanks indeed!

Ah yes, windblown sites create the rare and unique thing known as comptension 🤣🤦🏻‍♂️