Mark Wileman

I agree with you to a certain degree, I mean as a 16 year old school leaver sure. But as a 30 year old that's been using saws part time for years processing firewood etc? I've got a fair bit of climbing and mountaineering experience also, so far as yet nothing on the rope-work front is overly new to me, just new applications for already familiar knots/systems. I realise I just made myself out to be a bit of a know it all dickhead in that last paragraph, it really wasn't my intent, I don't know ****. But at the same time I'm not going to wait in line until some elitist climber thinks i'm worthy of putting a harness on, there was far too much of that **** in the Army. I think the Jack Daniels is kicking in...

Exactly! I didn't want to turn this into a financial post but yeah, one of the reasons for wanting to go out alone (a little bit at least) is to offset everything against my first couple of years earnings, as I'm leaving a well paid job to take a big cut. Every little will help, I believe you can back date 1 year of business related purchases? I read somewhere about firewood being a grey area in the business terms, like it's an industrial process and you have to tread carefully when dealing with it? Also the more time on record as a sole trader counts towards certain things in the industry that require you to have 5 years trading under your belt. #dreambig.

Thats the plan, i'm talking occasional weekend work and looking to invest in equipment whilst still earning with my current job.

Well surely if I used it in the conventional way I'd kill two birds with one stone by having the ability to chip and leave or chip and take away without the costs of a tipper/big chipper! What is the going rate for disposal fees, most tree work I see around here just leave chip in place, then again I don't drive past peoples back gardens that often!

Good point, best start hitting the deadlifts.

Good point, with my load limit I think I could shift 3m3 at a time of chip. More than enough I imagine.

Thanks for the reply, yeah by no means was that a comment implying that I would'nt drag brash. I've just read an awful lot of people on here who knock everyone for trying to get a start without year spent on the ground first. I'll have a look at some of those brands. I'm under no illusions that everything will just fall into place, as I said SE sub contractor is the plan, but in order to start a client base for the future (and get to start shifting some fire wood on the side) I would like to do my own stuff too. By big concern about a 6" is that by towing a big chipper, I won't have anything other than the back of my pick up to chip into and take wood out, and with a load limit of 1050kg, it won't really be achievable. Much rather tow a 3500kg trailer to hold chip and logs and throw the chipper on the back of the truck.

By prep you mean getting rid of bends, forks, twists and the like? Keeping everything over 4/5" will mean everything has to be processed to a certain degree before chipping anyway. I think the productivity of the site won't be great with a smaller chipper, but as you say, its better than nothing and I certainly can't afford a 6"+ at this stage of the game. The big appeal for me for a smaller chipper is that I can throw it on the back of my truck and still have the towing space for a trailer to shift the chip, logs out. I don't want to get a tipper for a couple of years as I'll be using my pickup as my primary vehicle and for other stuff too. Thanks.

Thanks for the support, a rare thing on the internet. My thoughts on getting a smaller chipper are that I would use that far more, initially at least, than I would a grinder. I doubt I'll be jumping into my own removal jobs right away, and if I got lucky enough to get one, I can just hire.

I see what you did there, would stumpgrindingdirect have one for sale by chance? Economy is tight, I won't be starting until next year, so all my pennies at the moment are focused on saws, tree ID books and ArborWear baseball caps.

The same way I priced jobs as an apprentice carpenter 10 years ago, asking advice from experienced people, applying skills learnt during training courses and ignoring the guys who preach that you have to spend 5 years dragging bush before you'll be allowed to put a harness on, let alone quote a job.

Thanks Shane, I guess I was trying to ask is it 'feasible' to do my own Arb work with only a smaller chipper. And the > is in the right place I think, I was implying "Is there a need for chippers larger than 6""? Peace and Love!

I have both, and my HGV! 7 points mind!

Hey guys, Starting out in arb, still in two minds on whether to try and get on the books or jump straight into self-employed and accept the facts that as a sub-contractor with all the tickets but very little experience, the wage won't be great! If I go down the self employed route I will be looking for my own work in between subbing to firms. I'm just toying with some ideas of a setup, in regards to chippers. How many guys here use a small chipper, less than 6"? I've seen some of the 4" vertical feed chippers, that don't have to be towed. Ideally something that I could put on the back of my pick up, and tow a trailer behind. Chip into trailer and crosscut everything over 4/5" and stack on top of chip (for firewood/carving/charcoal). Of course this method is a lot more work than sending whole trees through a 12" into a Unimog but as I said I am starting out and if I do get offered any bigger jobs that require it, I can just hire and price that in. Who uses smaller chippers here and just how much can I expect from them? Thanks as always in advance

I just found this, basically answers all my questions https://www.nptc.org.uk/assets/documents/aabd8accddcb4aae917158a3d7a3221d.pdf In relation to 2005/CS37 (Level 2 Award in Branch Removal and Crown Breakdown using a Chainsaw), it's a course teaching how to sned and process fallen trees. I was under the impression that that was already covered on the 2004/CS31 (Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross Cutting); can anyone confirm this? Sorry for the chain posts!

Yeah, that confirms my suspicion that I'd learn all that stuff on 2109 (Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rigging) as the CS45 isn't a pre-requisite of it. Would anyone out here not employ someone with Aerial Rigging because they didn't have a Groundbased tick?

Good point, I may look into some of the heavier machinery. My main concern at the moment is getting the most useful stuff for my time/money ratio, once I'm working I plan to keep attending courses to enhance my skillset to the more niche bits and bobs. In terms of emergency, windblown, sever leaners etc.. what is the most useful/recognised course out there? Looking at the NPTC list I can find the following, ideally I would like to do 2 of these courses as part of my start-up, but which two? > 002102 City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Award in Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees using a Chainsaw (QCF) > 002103 City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Award in Assisted Fell Operations (QCF) > 002104 City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Award in Preparing and Agreeing Emergency Treework Operations (QCF) > 002105 City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Award in Emergency Treework Operations (QCF) > 002110 City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Award in Installation and Maintenance of Structural Tree Supports (QCF) Am I right in assuming that 2104 (Preparing and Agreeing Emergency Treeworks) isn't as important right away as say 2102 (windblown) or 2105 (emergency operations)? Thanks for the replies

Hi all, I'm confusing myself with all the new NPTC course names, of course most are self explanatory but there are some almost duplicate entries that I wouldn't mind a training provider (or student!) making a little clearer if possible. I'm about to undertake some some intensive Arb courses and want to prioritise what is the 'better' award, and what is just overkill for an entry level climber. Firstly, what does this compare to in terms of CS? It's only a level 2 award and I thought this was covered by the level 3's aerial pruning, using a chainsaw in a harness and cutting using free fall techniques > 002005 City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Branch Removal and Crown Breakdown using a Chainsaw (QCF) There are two rescue courses now, is the level 3 worth the extra time money (obviously more rescue training can never be a bad thing, but in terms of employability )? > 002013 City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Tree Climbing and Rescue (QCF) > 002106 City & Guilds NPTC Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations (QCF) And lastly, what is this? Is it groundie rigging based or general site stuff? > 002008 City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Supporting Colleagues Undertaking Off Ground Tree Related Operations (QCF) Thanks in advance!