Thesnarlingbadger

That's a fair point maybe these larger felling tickets are not needed if you are felling all day everyday in a forestry environment. However if you rarely fell trees and are more of a climber it may be an advantage to learn to problems that can occur felling larger trees and it's not always a simple gob and back cut with a rope on with some of these big buggers.

That's exactly what this tree feller was on this forestry job I did was he came in the knock some more awkward trees over and I certainly learned a lot from him in a short amount of time. Was a pleasure to watch him work.

Just popping my thoughts in here after reading through the thread. I have had fells go wrong in the past but not on this magnitude (fence panels being the main suffer). Now I have learned from previous mistakes and like the think I am a more competent feller nowadays. However I recently did a bit of forestry work and worked with a guy who was a grade A tree feller, every single tree bang on the mark, if there was question to if a tree would go in the intended direction I was sent up to take back weight out to make it safe. This made me realise how bloody skilled some of you forestry lads are. Someone put up earlier that only a handful of tree surgeons are good at felling and after seeing this guy work I'd say your probably bang on the money. The problem is the bare minimum is to have the CS31 and that's what people get to get a job but never take it any further (CS32/33 etc). I have felled trees that are larger than 31 regs but not when there are things in the way. I agree that it is likely that these guys were under pressure to get the job done which is why the risk was taken, if been in these situations in the passed when you have to rush to get a job done or expect a rollocking from the boss, and it's horrible. But that being said I would have refused to do that tree within those conditions and would not have put lives at risk like that. You heart sinks when you see a branch or a whole tree go towards a fence panel let alone if a 80ft 3 tonne tree fall towards members of the public and parked cars. I obviously don't know the situation but am pleased no one was hurt and if the lads involved can honestly say if was a huge accident then I real feel for them but if they knew that that outcome was a likely scenario then why take the risk. It certainly should have been cordoned of though. My 2p anyway.

Indeed haha

12" for me, always has been, if I use a 14" bar it just feels wrong. But I can see the advantage of a 14 for those bigger take downs. Just can't get used to it.

I like that sort of tradition there Mark

Bloody good spikes and comfy. I have the carbon fibre ones with leather straps, but used the ally ones as well, both really comfy. Not sure about the Velcro feet straps as I haven't used them but heard they work loose after time. I have spent all day chogging poles down in the past on these and barely felt it. I wouldn't go back to using anything else now.

Is that just a nozzle? Can that fit any pressure washer? I'm guessing it's kinda a universal jobby?

Thanks for the input. Yeah a reel does seem like the best solution to those annoying tangles.

I'll look in to nilfisk as I've heard good things about them. :-). Thinking about the petrol ones it's more cost on fuel and I doubt I'd use it enough away from the yard to justify it. I like the idea of the poor mans car wash though. :-)

Yeah I think I will just wash the truck down with hot soapy water and then the pressure washer is just to rinse. Maybe to blast the thick crap off the truck and chipper on muddy days. £600 is pushing the boat out a little to much.

Thanks for the offer Eggs but I like to buy stuff new so if it does have an issue I can just take it back. Plus if I get one with a knackered pump it'll end up sitting in the yard collecting dust. Again appreciate the offer :-)

Yeah I was looking at them, it's been mixed reviews online but I get the impression the people giving them bad reviews are trying to use them to run a car wash.

Not a bad idea. Would be useful come the muddy days. I didn't really think of a petrol machine but it would be handy.

Hi people, I figured I'd pop this in the truck forum as it will be used mainly on my truck. I'm looking to buy a pressure washer and am looking around the £200 mark. I get that the more you spend the better quality mashed you will get but as it won't be used everyday (maybe once a month) I don't want to spend silly money on it. Just wondered what people have and what people advice to steer clear of? I'd spend a little more if there is one out there that is worth the extra. Not in any rush to get one just want to do my research first. All brands and models welcome. Thanks in advance.

Nice bit of knowledge that :-).

I'm lucky in the sense we have grandparents to do the child minding but once the business starts picking up and I have to do more quotes and weekend business stuff me and the misses are toying with the idea of her leaving part time work and running the at home side of the business side of things. As I am feeling more and more guilty lumping the little one with the mother in law. But since I went self employed and set up my own business I am finishing work earlier and on better wages so I am spending more time with my daughter. She's not bad at a bit of cross cutting either even if she flat out refuses to wear PPE ;-).

Yeah I know what it's like and as you say they would just get someone else in if your not doing it.

I hate having to do things like that, but customers always right as they say. It does make me pleased we have tpos and conservation areas in place so it can't be done on everything. I always like it when someone who wants a tree butchered is only allowed a 30% reduction. :-).

Brilliant thanks. I may well be giving you a shout in the next few months. Didn't want to come across as arrogant and I do understand the need for keeping up to date. It just sometimes bugs me when I realise there is anther expense I have to fork out for. Thanks for the info guys, appreciate it :-)

Cheers Paul, I guess every 5 years is not that bad and if an assessor can come to you that certainly makes life easier. I just wanted to clarify that more than anything else, want to keep on the right side of HSE.

Excuse my ignorance but do we all in the arb industry have to do these refresher courses? I as a sub contractor and with running my own show (where I am climbing every day) feel it is unpractical and unfair to make people do refresher courses. With first aid it is different as things in medical terms change on a regular basis so I have no problem with updating my first aid. However with climbing or use of chainsaws the principals stay the same and if you are doing this all day everyday you should be pretty bloody competent. Maybe if you could pay a small fee to have an assessor come out and watch you work for say half a day I would be more inclined to say fair enough but to have to go through everything again at the cost of a day's work every time is unrealistic. Surly everyone out there who is doing their job is fit and able (with exceptions to a few). It's not like you turn up to a job and go 'ahh sod it I'm just going to back cut this tree and pray it doesn't land on the house' because our insurance would go through the roof (no pun intended). So if anyone can shed light on whether this is a necessity to do these refreshers or not? I'd be grateful. Sorry for the rant but I'm sure a lot of you guys out there feel the same

I've heard similar in the past I think if the trees are 'prime bad nest' type trees they want the survey done then them taken down asap so bats don't have a chance to nest post survey. It may have something to do with time of year as well.

I see a chiropractor one a month. even if I don't have any back pain I get snapped back in to place and it seems to work. I stretch after a particularly hard days graft and have dry needling done whenever I do get a bad pain in my back wrists or elbows (keeping the tendinitis at bay). The way I see it you pay to have your truck or car MOTed you may as well have your body done as its more important. £40 a moth is well worth it in my eyes.

What is in your contract? Some people say no to side jobs as if you injure yourself they will be an employee down but with hedge cutting and small trees I wouldn't see a problem. The way I see it if you do the job everyday you should be pretty skilled at it therefore a lower risk of injury, much more likely to hurt yourself playing a contact sport and employers can't tell you not to do that. I'd say have a chat and make sure you mention any big jobs will be thrown their way. If I was employing someone id be happy with that agreement.