Dan Maynard

As the saying goes, there are old pilots and bold pilots but not very many old bold pilots.

This build up to the last chapter, I was thinking either a lady involved or you'd found a watch worth £6 million at the back of a garage. Good luck to you, stay positive, keep posting.

Thought they had gone the way of the mullet and platform shoes (common sense eventually prevails and we all quietly forget about them). Can't see they'd be very practical for climbing in either.

Have you got the engineer to change his drawing? +1 to hazel not elm.

https://www.gov.uk/waste-carrier-or-broker-registration

I think that is a website from some people pretending to be official but actually trying to make money from you. This is from the official site, where it does mention gardener but specifically under building, construction and demolition waste. I still reckon you are lower tier for tree work. What is building, construction and demolition waste? This waste typically includes soil, concrete, bricks, glass, wood, plasterboard, asbestos, metal and plastic. It can be produced as part of a large construction project or a smaller business activity, like a general builder replacing a bathroom, or a gardener replacing fence panels and paving slabs.

I've not seen any special rule for gardeners - where did you find that? Everything on the official sites I found says that because the waste is only what you have produced through your business then you would be a lower tier carrier - free registration without requiring renewal. Pretty easy to do on the www.gov.uk website as I remember. I think I had to fill in my number when registering for an account at the local transfer station so have used mine for sure.

Hi Dan. Good to hear its working out for you. Yeah, still going strong. I've now replaced the drum bearings, blades and belts and fitted that hour meter - just need a bit of updating on the wiring and it'll near enough be a whole new chipper.

Do you remember when they used to tear yellow pages in strong man competitions on telly? Not the same any more...

I nearly bought some boots off Treebay today, airstreams few months old for £100 which the guy said were 13 but turned out to be 12. Sounds like if you need 12 or 13 they'd fit perfectly. https://m.facebook.com/groups/269475046595740?view=permalink&id=874997292710176

... and yes, compared to prussic it makes everything a lot easier. There is always another more expensive gadget so you have to draw the line somewhere but I think the hitchclimber is really good value for the benefit it gives.

When you say red hot after 15 minutes, is that hard work or just idle? If it boils up at idle then doesn't seem like blocked water or cleaning as cooling system shouldn't be working anywhere near capacity. Warped head was my other idea, skim may sort that.

WD40 makes a really good cutting lubricant for aluminium, helps stop it sticking and scuffing.

With luck like that you shouldn't be felling trees.

A wise man once said to me problems that go away by themselves can come back by themselves. I'd want to know why it locked if at all possible.

Is that £1000 in Scheppach chainsaw vouchers? If so then I'll keep the answer to myself.

Like you I've done desk time so I think I get that. Other thing I might add is spend £100 on books about trees, pruning, plant physiology. The NPTC courses tell you how to cut but there is a hell of a lot to learn about trees to be deciding what to cut and why. I've been doing this as well as getting hands on experience, my take is if you find this stuff fascinating it's another sign arb is for you. You also have to pick connie bits off a gravel drive in February with rain soaking through to your pants. Go for it!

I like my JoBeau which pushes itself, especially at the end of the day onto the trailer when I'm tired (with an f). Can't do steps at all though, without a couple of planks. Swivel chute is really useful, yes. Shrubs fly through, have to be a bit careful not to let too much in at once as can block.

APF is where I bought mine, Jonsies had a whole row hanging up which you can just hang in to try out. Really worthwhile.

This sounds a bit like the question about employers liability insurance, when two self employed people get together do you need EL? In that case the person responsible for the contract with the customer is held to be an employer even if some of the people on the job are self employed.

I was going to say stick a new plug in anyway, for a couple of quid worth a try. Our mower once wouldn't run at speed, missus first said what about the plug of course I checked everything else first but finally changed plug which made it work... Is it possible that cable was damaged before? Maybe you just uncovered the root cause of weak spark?

I'm intrigued what the 5th chap said - reduce heavily and hope for the best? Can't see it surviving long term but could be a way to keep some shade while you establish replacements nearby?

I don't think we answered all your questions 1. The tree surgeons on the AA site are all vetted and will be fine. It is also true that lots of very good local tree surgeons are not AA listed, next best thing is a personal recommendation - once you have found somebody ask them what qualifications they have and to see a copy of their insurance as any good firm will be happy with that. Either friends Facebook or neighbourhood websites are places to ask as well. 2. Removal - any time as long as there is no bird nest. Autumn is also much busier for tree surgeons, if you go for it now you might just be in front of the rush. 3. The stump is likely to resprout unless you have it ground out (separate extra cost). Lots of people don't have the stump ground, just cut back the regrowth each year for a few years and it will die off. You can plant in the area, my guess 1m will be tricky but 2m should be OK - don't skimp on the hole though. 4. Apple is always good, a good tree nursery (rather than garden centre) is worth finding for advice because you might as well get one with apples you are going to enjoy eating. Lots of other trees are available on dwarf stock, ornamental for blossom or with interesting foliage. 5. I leave a lot of timber for logs in 'manageable pieces' (ie lumps I can move it around) as most people getting free wood for a burner will cut and split it into logs themselves. Personally I don't charge extra for that, but if you wanted it logged right down then I would. Best of luck Dan

Best results if you prune about 3 inches above the ground.

re your earlier question, can't really see port and climbing being good combination however big the tree. Sensible suggestions though would be buy 3m friction cord, 3m climbing line and one biner asap, so you can keep practicing the knots otherwise in a few weeks you forget. Other really good advice on my course was go to the APF show in September and spend some time hanging in all the different harnesses before buying one, they set up small scaffolds for this purpose.