treevolution

Checkatrade was originally set up as a local leaflet in the seaside town of Selsey after a storm to help the local community found trust worthy trades people to undertake the repairs needed.

It grew from there and when I joined it was still run by the same gentleman from offices in Selsey and was brilliant and provided me with 80% of my work.

Since then it has been sold twice and I think it now belongs to a company in Canada who will just milk you for all your worth.

There has been a few very negative news story's on the company and the trade people that they promote. 

For example as to how bad checkatrade is, you use to have to send a copy of your insurance certificate that they would then check, now you just have to tick a box saying you have insurance without providing evidence. 

The only thing I lost when I quit was over 600 reviews but at least I'm not running around quoting jobs for people that have already asked 10 other companies and are just looking for who ever can do it the cheapest.

Thanks for sharing the video.

Would you be able to tend the device on srt by clicking into the top hole on a chest harness.

Have you got any videos of it in action you can share.

Still on the bulldog bone every day but would love a new device I could use to swap between SRT and DRT. 

Still love the bulldog bone and it's always my go to device over the Rope runner Pro or rope wrench. 

I don't know why it's not been pick up and developed to be sold mainstream.

I work for a company where one of the drivers put a subwoofer under the seats in the transit. 

Drum and bass first thing really got you in the mood to crack on with the job. 

I brought a GRCS 10 years ago and the first big fell I did paid for it. 

It's something that if you buy at the start of your career it's well worth the money but if you have managed without one for 20 years then the cost might not warrant the investment. 

I looked up the price they are now and pretty sure that when I come to retirement I will be able to sell for the same money I paid with a smile on my face thinking about the jobs that were made a lot easier with it.

Thanks guys for the help.

The tree officer should be doing a site visit soon as the client has put in for a crown reduction on the beech tree and also a horse Chestnut.

Not a very good picture but this shows some of the crown.

I don't think so as it is not facing the sun.

Possibly beach bark disease and it's tried to heal itself. 

As they don't want to have a report done it's hard to know what works, if any needs to be done.

Has anyone had experience with Beech bark disease.

Would anyone have ideas with what has caused this damage.

Last worked on the tree 10 years ago with no signs of damage.

As far as I know there has been no changes to the garden and no fires.

The tree has a TPO and over hangs a busy road with 3 Schools.

I have suggested a report done on the tree consultant but the client does not want to spend the money.

Any ideas or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks 

I left in August last year as I was getting no leads at all and the ones that did come were time wasters.

It's been taken over by a big corporation and they are just trying to get as much money from you as they can.

Completely rip off.

Real shame as a lot of my work use to come from checkatrade when I first started.

I've gone through 2 switches and also 2 triggers.

Unfortunately they don't like being left in the rain.

Worth keeping a switch spare as a back up.

Still a great saw.

That's got to be one of the most expensive tree fells.

I'm guessing £18000.

Has anyone tried the milwaukee pruning shears m12.

Any feedback would be great.

3 hours ago, lux said:

Its already delayed because of the imposed restriction, was hoping to do it one day week commencing 18th 

Unfortunately not got any time till 22nd April.

Sorry I couldn't help.

Have you tried D and D hire for a small chipper.

Based in Camberley.

59 minutes ago, lux said:

Hire request for a narrow access job

 

I have a job in Cobham. Out of area for me but a nice days work in pocket of council woodlands in the town centre. Conservation area job, permissions have been granted but with some restrictions around access / waste removal.(Original plan was for habitat piles but council have forbidden that) The woods is completely encircled by other properties, chip can be sprayed in the woods but my chipper is too big to get in there. 

I have had no joy with hire companies on finding anything narrow access that will still chip 4 inch branches. Anything bigger I will remove as logs. 

 

Does anyone in that area have a CS100 or other decent narrow access chipper that will cope with chipping up to 4 inch branches. Happy to hire just the chipper or with operator if that suits you better. 

 

Thanks in advance

When does the job need to be done by.

I have a a CS100 that I'm could come out with but booked up till after Easter.

So for a 40 hour week a climber can look at getting paid around £125 a day paye.

I'm sure wage's are going backwards.

18 hours ago, David Humphries said:

That’s likely to be Fomes fomentarius but need’s more images to be certain. Ideally when you’re trying to get an ID you need to present images of the top surface as well as the underside and where possible a slice/wedge of the flesh/trama from inside the bracket showing the colour and texture. 

Thanks for the reply.

Unfortunately I didn't have a ladder to get up close.

Will have a read up on the bracket to see if it matches and what steps should be taken.

Thanks 

Can anyone help identify this bracket.

Found about 2m high on a beech tree.

Thanks in advance 

I don't know anyone now that pays to tip wood.

In that area there is a commercial tip that will take logs and tip for free so we might as well tip there in one go.

You really need to offer something in return, even a nice cup of coffee goes a long way, but I would prefer cash.

I get £15 a load for chip at local allotments.

It's down to the freelancer to name their price not the company.

Need to be looking at £250 upwards to find a good freelance climber in that area.

11 hours ago, gand said:

Use the Husqvarna grease, it's thinner than the stihl one. They only need a thin coating. I can't comment on the new offering from Stihl that come with an actual grease plug, as we've not had any come back so far

Thanks for the advice.

Was using spray grease but think that has caused the problem with the trimmer keep cutting out.

On 06/02/2020 at 07:56, Mark_Skyland said:

That's the one but also check for wear on the con rods, holes in the blades and the main gear as that can wear where it drives the con rods.

 

Don't grease the gears too much as it will slow and put too much strain on the motor. The gearbox doesn't get filed like petrol machines. Probably little and often on the grease, might be the key to longer life.

What type of grease would you recommend.

Thanks 

8 hours ago, Shaunpaul said:

Did you opt for the 1.9 or the 3.0? Cheers for the info above.

8 hours ago, Shaunpaul said:

Did you opt for the 1.9 or the 3.0? Cheers for the info above.

Got the 1.9l but that was because the dealership only that engine at the time.

Be honest pulls as it should with a load on and towing a chipper.

I think you can get caught thinking you need to have a big engine to carry out the work that we do but unless you are running it as a 7ton gross train weight day in day out then the 1.9l will be fine.

1 minute ago, Shaunpaul said:

Yes

My price was plus VAT.

I would not go for LWB as it's additional cost.

You will lose payload and it also pushes the weight more behind the back wheels where it's better to have the load as central as possible.

I don't have any tool lockers on mine but if you have them then it will add around £2000 to the build.

I can pm you the dealership where I went if you're interested.

1 hour ago, Shaunpaul said:

I’ve just been quoted £48k for a grafter LWB with arb back.

Is £48000 Inc VAT