Mick Dempsey

2. Thé fixed Klou type. Only seems to have been on the scene a few years but quickly became very popular, heavy but well built around double the price of the knockabout. It is great at carrying the biggest lumps as there is no swing. Brilliant for removing hedges and standing small stuff in the ‘scorpion’ setting. gréât for loading trailers because you can push the stuff to the rear with the grab itself. Drawbacks are a lot of hopping in and out to change position, and not too clever at snaking brash out, even in the loose setting it tends to stick. But still very useable. It’s rigidity means picking stuff up off lawns leave them looking like a war zone if you’re not very very careful. You’re losing a couple of feet of reach as well which can be annoying. Overall, excellent, heavy for the little loaders, but I understand a light weight version is available these days. IMG_1619.MOV

Been meaning to give a short review to help people in the search for the best grab to go with their loaders/skids whatever. Ill do it in three posts, Knockabout, fixed (Klou type) and powered rotator. 1: The knockabout is the simplest and cheapest and is widely used in the industry. Its the lightest which is a big thing on smaller loaders and requires some skill to be used to best effect. The extra 2ft reach you get is very handy for going over walls, loading trailers. When you get handy with it though it’s like poetry in motion. To the uninitiated it seems a poor tool, floppy and lacking purpose, but once you learn how to orientate the tongs from the controls and use the heel to good effect it is simple but brilliant. Good points. Drags brash backwards out of a garden. light, more capacity for smaller loaders. Cheapest Bad points. large lumps tend to swing whilst travelling causing them to drop. A careless user will twist the pipes causing them damage.. IMG_0348.MOV

Bit of splitting, bit of moving logs to the log store. Featuring the new hi-cap bucket.

I think it just emboldened them.

Another advantage is you can put a tow hitch ball on the front of the grab (holes are conveniently provided) Pushing the chipper/trailer into place is easier than a hitch on the back of the machine.

He’s blown it. Gambled on a fait accompli, now it’s just a matter of what kind of defeat he wants. Walked straight into America/NATOs hands. America (and other western powers) don’t care how long the war lasts, longer the better.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COPOAEsoI9w/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= Here for example the rigidity means you can hold on to really big irregular lumps. If that was swinging, you’d never keep hold of it.

They’re a good tool, easy to use, some drawbacks. Picking up stuff from lawns it’s very difficult to avoid making holes as it’s so rigid. It can’t snakes-tail brash out as well as a knockabout, but for standing hedges and the biggest lumps of wood it’s the best of the three.

IMG_1619.MOV

I ground a line of leylandii stumps along side a wire fence with that green plastic screening fabric. Melted a nice line all along. Client was ok.

No bonfire pretty much anywhere here (France). All the more incentive for clients to to give it the old “while you’re here with your machine would you mind if…”

There’s a guy on Instagram called Travor in Trees, he’s a contract climber. He divides opinion a bit to say the least. Anyway he fooked up a bit of rigging, all his fault and spent a couple of minutes berating an entirely innocent Nate on the ground crew. It went a bit viral and it became a trope on the tree work sosh.

Anyway, Igor keeps an eye on proceedings, no slacking, no fraternising with cats or client’s dogs.

Looking for your fix of a bit of drama Daniel?

Disgraceful post. Absolutely true of course

I can only speak personally. I don’t know what’s in the pile, I have had countless clients swear blind that it’s all clean wood etc. only to find wire, roots or stones in it. I normally only chip what I’ve cut myself. When a client says ’I’ve started it myself, to keep the price down’ or words to that effect. I always think ‘well you wasted your time there then’ As I said, you may get someone hungry enough to cut you a deal. I’m only telling you how I approach it and every other guy who’s been doing it for a while does as well.

Good luck to you mate. I always charge more (or just walk away) if someone has started the job and left a load of crap on the floor for me to deal with. But you might get lucky.

Sorry to hear.

I rarely, if ever, watch crane or mewp vids now.

If you put the jockey wheel high so it’s only on the rear wheels it’s easy to manœuvre. On flat ground I can spin my big tipping trailer no probs.

There’s a bloke on FB, Bart chipper Doctor or something, travels the country fixing TWs. Seems to know his stuff. 07518404414

Incredible isn’t it? The French IW dealer near me has practically given up on them, started getting other makes in to fill the showroom. Maybe start looking for other brands?

Not just yet Stubs!