maybelateron

Very impressive stuff from DRL; makes my entry seem piffling by comparison. I was looking at some trees for a regular customer today. This Beech is right next to a footpath, that is used by the local do walkers. It is probably about 80ft tall, could be 90 at a pinch. Pretty sure he will want us to get it down. Not accessible to MEWP at all, nor crane. I would not climb it as I would be way to worried that taking weight of one are of the crown could precipitate sudden failure of the trunk - it has quite a lean on it. Only way I can see of getting this down is to put heavy duty ratchet straps around the trunk to reduce risk of barber's chair, then do a back cut (not enough meat for a hinge, and not prepared to risk staying there long enough to make one). I might consider using a telescopic saw to nibble at the rear section that is under tension, don't laugh - even the 20ft Silky pole! It will take out some lesser trees as it comes down, into/across a brook. Then time to use the tractor winch to start extracting it carefully. Suggestions on a postcard please.

Looking at a regular customer's trees today I found tis growing out of the base of a large old Ash. The tree in itself looks it reasonable shape, but of course it might look different once the leaves are out. And of course it overhangs a neighbouring yard with some nice vintage lorries under it. There is also small electric substation under one limb.

Our work is 95 percent domestic arb. This means the timber produced is more effort to process into logs than a lorry load of forestry thinnings. We only process into logs for my own domestic use, and the few longstanding customers we still have; we do this when the weather is foul and unfit for climbing etc. I only sell unseasoned logs, and I have never been interested in delivering less than 2 cu m. More recently I have picked up a few customers who each year buy timber (in sizes one person can move) to log up themselves a year or two in advance. I feel the whole 💩Woodsure💩 thing is an utter farce, as clearly do the majority of us.

I don't think you sound soft at all. Our trade is full of dangers and there is no room for "macho man bravery". Nothing wrong in being sensible. Did you feel you could discuss the situation with your employer if you felt the methods available to you did not feel safe?

I saw your full entry before you edited it. It did seem a bit harsh on the OP, just my opinion. Like many of us on here, no doubt, I have done my fair share of horrible conifer hedge reductions, and we all know they can be the job from hell, especially when there is no skyhook, and nothing to stand on, in a hedge 14ft or more in width.

I put our rates up by 20 per cent recently, having kept them the same for 5 yrs. No sign of it putting decent customers off. Still got about 3 months of work booked it at the old rates though, and have to honour those prices.

Just being looking up online about Stoke, as it's my patch too (Wetley Rocks based, Eddie). Can't see any info about when it is planned to start, but will keep an eye open. The CAZ they propose will not be charging privately owned cars, just business vehicles. Seems a pretty biased way of behaving if it truly is about reducing emissions. The emissions from my wife's 2013 diesel Nissan Qashqai contain the same nasty chemicals as those from my 2015 Iveco Daily, so why only charge one and not the other. OK, let’s extend this ... I go and buy a newer Iveco to run "cleaner" and avoid the charges, what about the carbon footprint of the manufacturing of the new one?!

Brilliant idea

Agreed entirely........as long as there is room to get the machine close enough

Until 20 years ago we had two open fireplaces. It was time to update them and my wife said we should change to stoves. I was not convinced and argued for open fireplaces again, but I went along with stoves. Changed them both over to Clearview multifuel stoves, but only burn logs. No question at all - stoves are so much better than an open fireplace, for the various reasons given in this thread.

Yep, did that a couple of weeks back. Work is crazy busy, not getting quieter, haven't put prices up for 3 years at least. Had the monthly fuel bill today, and it reminded why I put prices up.

Found it. Page 25 in the hardback copy, half way down. Only reason I have not put up a pic is I assume copyright etc says I should not. Instead I will quote verbatim: "For this reason every house in Norway exceeding a certain size is obliged by law to have an alternative source of heating, which in practice means a woodstove. The requirement comes not, as one might think, from the Building Standards Department, but from the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning ..."

I have the book too. I remember quite clearly reading the bit about it being a legal requirement to have another source of heating in case of power failure. I can't recall if it specified what type of alternative heating. I have just picked the book off the shelf for a quick flick through, but without starting at the beginning and reading each page it might take me a while to find the relevant section.

Some are excellent, some are not. You generally get what you pay for. We have a Stihl MSA220 with a 14 inch bar. This is now our first choice saw at work for anything within its capabilities. It will happily saw through a 12 inch diameter branch or trunk, but not as fast as a more powerful petrol saw. You have to learn to let the saw go at its own pace - most electric saws don't cope as well as petrol ones at being pushed into the wood. We also have a Stihl MS160T top handle saw, same principles apply to this. As soon as a more powerful ground saw comes out from the quality manufacturers I will get one. Less noise, no fumes; what is there not to like? Having said these positive points I have no experience of the cheaper makes, so cannot comment.

Yes, very true. I have done this in the past, but have now given up nearly all commercial work.

Agreed entirely. Sadly one of the reasons my wife and I retired early from being GP's. Difference was we were paid well for what we did/ daily risks we faced (not took).

I take out at least a couple of pieces of resin coated plywood to a job, typically 4 x 2 ft. I use these to get over any awkward areas and also if the ground next to the stump is uneven - makes it much easier to slew the machine across the stump, and the won't hurt the teeth if it nibbles at them.

One of my men is married to a social worker. These are exactly the sentiments she expresses. Let's face reality - people who go into social work are highly likely to be of a caring disposition, who want to give something back to society. When working in child protection issues every day is a bed of nails - they risk being accused of being heavy handed and accusatory as well as negligent every single day.

I have found it varies from saw to saw regarding how long you have to keep pulling them over after this type of mishap. Most of my Stihl chainsaws start up OK after what you describe and the action you took. On the other hand my Echo top handle saw took ages of pulling until it sputtered back to life, and the Stihl hedge cutter was similar.

I have got the new version of the Rock grinder, the SGR-33. I think it is excellent value for money, and well built. It is surprisingly good in my opinion. It is certainly adequate for stumps up to 10-12 in diameter, as long as you don't need to go more than about 8 inches below ground, and it is not on a difficult slope, or up a slope to get to it. I think unless you are planning to do quite a lot of grinding, and larger stumps, this is a value for money machine. I know one guy from Stumpbusters, with loads of experience of machines, who feels that Predator lack something in build quality, and says FSI are much better.

Steam cleaner works wonders on it. Failing that hot water and detergent.

Is this the permanent move you mentioned previously or just visiting? Where are you, as we have got power again now. If you're struggling I have a petrol genny you could borrow.

I can feel a day of log splitting and machinery maintenance coming over us tomorrow.

Indeed it is. I expect the Buxton and Cat and Fiddle Roads will be closed.

I assume you are talking about the previous Iveco Daily, rather than the latest shape? I have a 64 reg Daily tipper with the 146 bhp engine. It is a great vehicle, but 1st and reverse gear are to high. Hill starts with a loaded chip box and 1.5 tons of chipper on the drawbar are not nice to the clutch, particularly if in inexperienced hands.