Dbikeguy

Doing some planning ahead for a business plan and looking at vehicles. it needs to do dual duty so some personal use. Thinking a Yank pickup, they tow well, have big beds for less trailer needs, look quite interesting so good advertising etc fuel economy isn’t amazing but it should only be shortish journeys so not overly concerning. Is anyone using one?

i use 2-3mm veg tanned leather for knife sheath making. it’s fun to work but you will need some tooling to do it. dye flebings is good and easy to use. awl - making holes to stitch through edge setter - gives a straight line to stitch from formed punches to mark and make initial holes waxed thread couple of leather needles leather wax or balm for after very sharp knife/scalpel edge beveller edge smoothing stick these would be the minimum really to make what you want. wouldn’t be overly cheap, may be worth asking a couple of saddle makers if they can help?

i have my shotgun ticket and have spent years shooting air rifles etc. a 6ft lb pistol unless hitting soft tissue in a vulnerable area from point blank will merely piss them off. Any form of ‘gun’ if used against someone or in a public place (within 50ft i think of a road) on land you don’t have written permission to be on with said ‘weapon’ is a firearms offence. expect fast armed response and to be in an uncomfortable position with several muzzles pointing at you! they detain then ask questions. spend the money you would spend on the pistol and buy a gold secure bike chain, something 1.5m ish and loop it through the saw handles, and round the chipper frame. then concrete in a ground anchor or bolt it down they cost about £50 for a decent one. now lock anything to this and without a disc cutter they are not leaving with anything. total spend under £300. you can get blank shotgun door alarms, that normally sends them scurrying and no danger other than to their ears!

Crossbow would do the job nicely and you can get pistol ones... for putting a line into the tree offficer

It’s amazing, some people help nurture new blood coming into the industry, others just make life difficult. Everyone started at day 1 once upon a time. There are several routes to becoming good at something, not everyone goes via college, gets into a crew and becomes a hero climber. Where are you based forestboy1978? i am just starting out, have saws, climbing kit and have done a few jobs, mostly dismantles ( reading tons about pruning as that’s a whole separate thing to master) removals from my limited experience are mostly physics and common sense with a healthy dose of go smaller and lighter than you think when rigging bits down! i climb SRT using a rope wrench, VT knot and a hitch climber, then DDRT with the same setup minus the R-Wrench. get out and practice all you can bud, try and find other rec climbers to practice with too, if you are anywhere near Derby let me know

Why not use a quad and wide tyred trailer? farm type one would drag a chipper with ease. i had one for fun that got used to tow cars into my old workshop was only a 125 fun thing but it had some grunt. once you have finished on the job, sell it on and you won’t have lost anything as they hold their value

Wouldn’t worry about welding an oil tank as long as your not doing long runs. Used to build canal boats and regularly had to go out to repairs. Never drained the Diesel tanks when welding and nothing’s ever blown up, just make sure it’s not a sealed container. Anything flash flammable is a different story!

I went from a hobby saw to a husky 562xp awesome tool. light for its power, happily runs 18-24” bars can go 28” if you ever need it to. similar newbie doing my courses and working weekends at the moment. wanted a pro saw that i won’t want to upgrade quickly. Found i preferred the balance of the husky compared to the similar Stihl models

Looking to use CTS forestry in Warwick as i can commute and save on accommodation costs. Can get through the courses quicker as will be spending less.. based on Derby if anyone can recommend a different company?

is SRT still seen like that? i don’t know if doing this stuff now will make me a better climber that others on the course but it does make me more comfortable being on a rope 50ft up a tree, what the gear is, knots etc so hopefully that’s an advantage. will go google the course syllabus and see what i need to pass the test then. cheers for the chest advance idea i have a bunch of slings

Thought as much. Will make sure to practice both single and double then.

Doing some learning before doing my courses later this year. Have been climbing DDRT, added a foot ascender then knee ascender which made it easier. Intrigued by SRT so added a new rope HTP sterling 11mm and a rope wrench. very impressed, so much smoother and faster going up. Took a few 10ft up and downs to get comfy and the hitch cord to grip properly, then gradually increased in height till i was doing 45ft climbs easily and not gassed out. So will i be able to use SRT for my aerial courses or will it all be double rope? Thinking if i am learning using the latest ( most efficient?) techniques is a good idea? Need to sort a decent pulley ascending system, didn’t like a neck tether. might mock up a chest rig before buying something i may not use. This forum has provided lots of info so thanks

Would you consider someone new to the industry? self funding through courses, have my own ppe, saws inc a 562xp, climbing kit ( rec climbing and doing the odd dead wood help for mates at the moment. plan is tickets up to climbing so could ground with rescue capabilities in the near ish future, based in willington derby. full clean license etc

Get yourself to a rock climbing centre, most have auto belays so you can go alone. will help desensitise you to being at height and it’s easy enough to go a couple of times a week. failing that find some recreational tree climbers to go try things

Quick squirt of WD40 or similar would provide enough live till the stuff in the saw could circulate or to stop the rust if storing them

Anyone working that many hours is a fool. Life’s for living, we all only get one go. Work to live not live to work!

Where are you based bud, i want to start rec climbing with some others to help progress my knowledge. new to trees but not ropes ( rock climber) now using a hitch climber setup with knee and foot ascenders. addictive fun and have done a few bits with a silky and a top handle after a few months of rec climbing. just bought a big shot so i can get the rope into some bigger trees. Rope wrench next to move to SRT too.

All about having a good attitude i have found in previous roles. i will be in a similar position to you in a couple of months but have been using a saw for a while now and recreationally climb ( currently on a hitch climber setup and getting some SRT gadgets next month) the more you practice the more normal it becomes. i started doing a few bits to help my brothers gardening fork up north, pruning with just a silky saw and a removal using a 200T all my own kit. Have since done a few removals for mates. If you are practically minded and respect any sharp kit you pick up,( i have a background in building canal boats so hot, dangerous steel works, using compression and tension in metal etc) start low and slow. courses will teach the basics i have been told it’s like your driving license, you learn to pass then gain experience in how to drive. A can do attitude, desire to learn and not moaning make you employable. Just remember the training courses didn’t always exist and the trainers had to learn their way, plenty of good guys learnt before HSE got involved and made courses essential...

I am a sales rep in the cycle ind as the full time job and moving into arb work at weekends so far with the view to go full time next year. Retail is way down, lots of big players are closing as people are not earning as much and or holding onto their cash as brexit etc is lots of uncertainty. No surprise it’s hitting even the arb world. The best way i have seen to fight this is to be super proactive, sort the website/social media, get your face and company name popping up so that when someone does need work doing they think of you. diversify can you do something else to bolster cash flow while it’s a bit lean out there?

Looking to move into the tree industry, currently a sales rep in the bike industry but it’s souless. i recreationally tree climb on a hitch climber with foot and knee ascenders. tree motion harness etc. looking to get some experience while i am doing my tickets with the potential to go full time once i have them. ( figured i might as well be earning well until i am qualified) have ppe and saws. Have done a few pruning and removal jobs for a mates firm so comfortable on a saw ( 236 and 562xp huskies) just rebuilt a 200t ready for once the ariel course is done. based in derby but willing to travel to learn.