maybelateron

Yes, that is quite true. However, this was was a no brainer situation. Busy A road into a city, bend just before crossroads, pelican crossing as well. We recently had a similar traffic situation to manage (via TM firm) and the TM cost was just under £1,300 inc VAT. We got the job despite this added cost. Would not have dreamt of doing it without proper TM.

Yesterday on our way to a job we passed another local tree firm at work. They were taking the top of a very tall roadside Lime. The road a was a busy A road, and the work site was in the angle created by the A road and its junction 20 metres away with a crossroads. It was a 30 limit. Their only attempt at traffic control was their Transit tipper and chipper and a few cones round the drop zone, which was the pavement and one lane of the road. Oh yes, and a men at work sign (no tree cutting logo) right by each end of the drop zone. No advance warning signs, no footway closed signs. No traffic lights, not even stop go boards. We all felt very angry at such a cavalier attitude to safety. If the customer wouldn't pay for the proper traffic management costs I would have declined the job. Your thoughts, ladies and gentlemen?

Over the years I have found some of my vehicles could give me a static shock when getting out of them, yet others never did.

Static?

Echo 2511 or Stihl 160T for pruning or first part of dismantles, then over to 201T then 462. Love the Echo, but it does not like rain - air filter needs blowing dry after a bit, anyone else find this?

Local MP might be in cahoots with Council!

Good news, and well done.

Regarding amount of wood used: We get through one bay full of timber in my main shed per winter. The bay is 15ft wide, loaded about 8ft high, and depth of 20ft, ie 2400 cu ft of wood. This is a mixture (approx 50/50) of low grade conifer and higher grade hardwood, in lengths up to 20 inches.

In winter we light it around 4-5pm with a full load, then reload it once more generally. At weekends we often light it earlier, but never in the morning unless we have a houseful at Christmas time (remember those days?!). In spring and autumn we use it less, as we have two stoves plus solar tubes for hot water and PV panels for electricity with a 16kw hr storage battery.

We have an Atmos gasification boiler, which replaced our previous Perge (non gasification), coupoled to a 2000L heat store tank, and this works well in a very large bungalow. The actual cost of the boiler was surprisingly low, with a good build quality. It only burns logs, not chips or pellets.

Same here

Very sorry indeed to hear this. Fall into a river and you expect to get out alive, fall from 15ft and you'd expect to survive as well, albeit with some injuries, but falling from 15ft, into a river, and be tied in to the tree is just the stuff of nightmares. Feel for all involved in this.

Poplar Willo Alder

I have a H Max Power Barrow I bought from Fresh Group Products Limited. I find it excellent for moving timber and anything else for that matter. It has hydraulic tip, with 2 spare spool valves. It is 4 wheel drive. I guess it would not match a tracked equivalent for traction on a muddy slope. Having said that, we have used it with weight in it to pull some decent sized trunks over when I could not get anything bigger into place due to access restrictions.

Yes, quiet roads during the first and only real lockdown was such a bonus. Made crossing the city so much more tolerable, dare I say a joy almost.

I have always assumed the reason so many conifer hedges next to main roads that get gritted, and have heavy traffic with consequent spray when wet after gritting, is the salt they are exposed to. Doesn't mean I'm right of course.

Sorry to hear all this. But yes, it probably has saved hassle later on if that is how his wife wants to be. I employed a young woman for a few years, and was sorry to see her move on (to a tree officer job). She was one of the best workers I have have had, and good fun to work with. You'll find someone less controlled/more sensible who will take you on, and they will, l I'm sure, be better bet for you in the long term. Keep battling on, good luck.

Here is my invoice template to deal with the situation: Supply and deliver 2 cubic metres of unseasoned hardwood logs. This is my advice about the logs: These logs are not ready for burning and need to be dried until the moisture content is 20 per cent or lower. They need to be stored with good ventilation, the more air flow the better. Moisture meters are readily available to buy online for a few pounds. This is the “official” advice about unseasoned logs: This wood is not suitable for burning until it has been dried. You should not burn wood until it has a moisture content of 20% or less. Wet wood contains moisture which creates smoke and harmful particulates when burnt. As well as being harmful to your health and the environment, this can damage your stove and chimney and is an inefficient way to heat your home. Dry it in a sunny, well-aired space for at least two years, keeping rain off in the winter. Radial cracks and bark that comes off easily suggests wood that is ready for burning. Test the wood when you think it is ready for burning, ideally with a moisture meter. First calibrate the meter and then measure a freshly split surface to get the best reading.

It was a requirement for a grounds maintenance contract we had, and still is at the same place where we just look after the trees now. Difficult to know if it brings in more work - I routinely attach a copy of my Safecontractor and insurance certificates to the email when I send quotes out. Hard to know if if helps, but I am never short of work, and these days we are 90 per cent domestic work.

I have been Safecontractor approved for 6 years or so. That might be another option for you?

How do you find the dust aspect of London Plane when sawing it? Do you get sore itchy eyes/wheezey chest at all?

That is serious top shelf chainsaw porn

I understand what you are saying, but I would not want my sign written vehicle alongside that kind of job - could lead to people thinking we are cowboys I reckon.

Guns n Roses

Brought back the timber yesterday from a large Beech dismantling. Got it all into manageable pieces and under cover before end of the day. Now for a day on the splitter and sawbench under cover + changing chipper blades and servicing kit. Defo not climbing today💩