R Mac

Just about sums it up LOL

Why ask about a truck that costs £17k now if you're not intending buying for a couple of years and your budget is going to be £8k? Ain't that the truth

Nope, a workman is worthy of his wages. I don't think we're actually arguing just looking at the picture from different sides? To be clear I'm not actually intentionally taking sides, hope it doesn't come across that way, I just don't want to see someone get bad advice and then have unrealistic expectations or have someone who is playing fair get slated for being a bad employer. They say there are 3 sides to every story, your side, my side and the right side. Anyway, done to death already I think

I agree with what you say if that was the case, i.e. 11 + hours on a regular basis for a flat £80 per day but from what has been said by Ross and of course Jimmy that isn't always the case. Not always 11+ hours and according to Jimmy (who I have no reason to doubt anymore than I have reason to doubt Ross) extra hours are compensated for either in cash or knocking off early on subsequent days. You appear to be making the assumption that Ross works more than 8 hours/day on a regular basis without getting any additional benefits. That may well be the case but equally it may be way off the mark. Like I said at the outset I suspect that we don't know the whole story, only what the respective parties want us to know. All I'm saying is lets look at how £80/day actually compares with the oft mentioned NMW/NLW, on a 40 hour week it compares quite well IMO but of course as I've already said it can always be better and £90 a day would certainly be an improvement or an extra £10/hour if the work goes over the basic 8 hours. That would apply in equal measure to employee as well as employer would it not?

No you're right and your attitude is admirable but can you explain how my argument is rubbish? All this talk of barely making minimum wage when he's potentially earning almost double the minimum wage for an 18-20 year old is rubbish, £400 for a 40 hour week against £212 for a 40 hour week. Ok he has CS 30,31, 38 & 39 but he's only being taken on as a groundman. How much is the other guy he subs for paying? if it's more why is he subbing for less with this Jimmy guy? You suggest the pay is 'low' as young guys/mugs will work for that kind of money? well £400 quid/week beats £200 (or £300 if you're 25+ years old) by my calculation.

I accept I don't know all the details but the figures I quoted are the reality, if you're earning almost double the NMW (age dependant) then you aren't scraping minimum wage. Fact. So when you're purchasing something you always buy at the highest price?

Afraid he's not scraping minimum wage. Age 25 or over the National Living Wage applies at £7.20/hr, For an 8 hour day that's £57.60 or £288.00 per 40 hour week Age 21-24 National Minimum Wage applies at £6.70/hr, For an 8 hour day that's £53.60 or £268 per 40 hour week Age 18-20 National Minimum Wage applies at £5.30/hr For an 8 hours day that's £42.40 or £212 per 40 hour week If he's getting £80/day that's £10/hour or £400/week based on an 8 hour day/40 hour week. (yeah I know that sometimes he's working way more than 8 hours and yeah he should be paid for it but...) So effectively he's getting; £112 per 40 hour week above the NLW for a 25+ year old or £188 per 40 hour week above the NMW for an 18-20 year old. Almost double the NMW for someone aged between 18-20. That's the reality, do I personally think Treeworkers in general are paid enough? no, definitely not, the physical side alone makes it a joke that you can earn the same stacking shelves or standing behind the till in poundland or whatever and if you're self employed there's the additional cost of equipment/training/insurance etc. But, and here's the rub, if it's so bad why aren't we all selling off our kit and seeking work in poundland etc? In this case you take your money and make your choice. I agree that giving him £90 wouldn't break the bank and it's a fair rate.

As far as the employer is concerned? Yes, not his fault if you want a days work but live 50 miles away. Couldn't agree more, of course if the guy doing the hiring doesn't like it, won't pay for commuting time but you accept his stance and go work for him anyway??

Not interested in discussing what could'a, should'a would'a been done in regard to the tree. Guys paid to do a job and done to perfection from cutting to rigging to clearing, aerial or on the ground, 100% and a standard of work to aspire to IMO. Thanks for sharing, a pleasure to watch :thumbup1:

I did say that 11 hours should IMO result in an increase in daily rate. So £80 for an 8 hour day = £110 for an 11 hour day = £10/hr. I'm assuming that the employer offers £80/day for a Subbie groundman, we don't know what rate an employee groundman is on. Like I said we're possibly not getting all the facts.

So Ross is employed as a groundman? it doesn't matter what he's qualified for he gets paid the rate for the job he does. Climbing to gain experience? again if that's his choice he can decide to climb or not given the rate of pay as he isn't employed as a climber. Working hours? commuting time is irrelevant, it's time at or available for work that counts so say 7.00am the clock starts. Personally I feel that the clock stops when he's back in the yard so if that's 6.00pm then that's 11 hours work and should result in an increase in the daily rate, (just my view and possibly incorrect) It appears he can and does work elsewhere but has the option of 5 days work with the guy he's talking about if he wants it. To me it looks like he has the option of a virtually guaranteed £80 per day when he isn't needed elsewhere so that's a nice safety net, no need to source work, no need to deal with non-paying customers etc etc. and a potential £400 per 5 day week. Is the guy he subs for willing to take him on as a full time employee at the same daily rate? would he take full time employment at that rate, £80/day. In the end I suspect we're only getting the information that both parties want to reveal, whether that's the whole story is another matter. As for what is a fair daily rate, the reality, like it or not is that local average wage will dictate what you can actually earn rather than what the industry believes you should earn.

Exactly, couldn't agree more The van v's pick-up is a whole different issue and to be honest isn't relevant in this case.

Yeah but Mick is using his as a working vehicle, you implied that you wouldn't being using the Great Wall primarily as a working pick-up. It is chinese made I know and only a 2.0l, but won't be doing major work at all, great spec, leather,electric etc etc and only around 17k? You're putting form before function, price before quality. Your money, your choice.

Resale is only the wrong way to look at it if you intend keeping it long term, if you intend keeping it you want long term reliability above everything else otherwise the cost of keeping it running needs to be factored into the purchase price. Also you'll want to be sure that whatever brand you choose will still be around long term.

I'm curious, what is it about the Navarra that makes it better than the Hilux? I had shortlisted the Navarra, Hilux and Ranger but in the end decided that if/when I buy I'd go for the Hilux. You have/had both so I'd appreciate your comparison, maybe it comes down to intended use or rather what the main use is? To simply say something is better without expanding on what makes it better doesn't really help.

It doesn't matter if they're the best pick up ever in 5-10 years time (I'm guessing they won't even be close), it's how good they are now that matters and when it comes to re-sale value it's the buyers perception that dictates whether they're actually worth anything regardless of how good/bad they are.

I'd rather have a 4 year old Hilux Invincable for that kind of money, something that's proved itself, will last and have a value when you go to re-sell.

Can it's presence can be detected when stationary/not actually sending reports by using an RF sweeper?

Agreed

It's possible they were meant to be used with a Beam Drill which has a chuck but also a set screw to keep the bit from rotating. See Here Just Google Beam Drill, loads of stuff on Youtube. As for the brace with the 3 jaw chuck, I have something similar but it actually has a 2 jaw chuck

It's very likely and if you are tempted to sand the outside of the cutters at the end in an attempt to make them nice and sharp you'll end up starting a hole that the remaining part of the auger won't fit in, once you've bored in to 6" (if you even get that far) the bit will be stuck, good luck getting it out. @se7enthdevil, you can buy a file specially for sharpening auger bits but of course you'll probably have to buy it from the States, a very small nedle file will work but buy a decent one.

They're known as Auger Bits generally. There are a couple of variations in the design, the ones you have that look a bit like a corkscrew and the ones that have what looks like a central shaft. The type you have are known as Lewis type from what I can see, the most common of the ones with a central shaft are Russel Jennings or Irwin. You can still get the corkscrew type, try Irwin, Bahco etc, stick with names you've heard of, for the earlier type again Irwin, Faithfull, Record etc etc try ebay. If you want to use them in a brace they probably need the tapered square end otherwise a regular straight end like yours. You can get expansive auger bits, again try ebay. For new high quality tools try workshop heaven.com Here's a link to a page explaining the variations on auger bit styles, What are the different auger bit patterns?

Don't use an abrasive, you'll alter the size. Try Paul Sellers Blog or Youtube channel, I'm pretty sure he had a blog post or video about restoring Auger bits. If I can find it I'll post the link. Here you go, you'll need to register, some of the content is viewable only if you have paid membership but this one is free. https://woodworkingmasterclasses.com/2013/10/sharpening-auger-bit/

Yeah, what he said, IMO.

What height is the retaining wall going to be?