Dan Maynard

That bark looks like it's dead and flaking off. Get a recommendation for a local tree surgeon to come and have a look, difficult to say off photos but could be whole branch died back. It happens, sometimes it's the start of whole tree decline or sometimes just one branch.

Its tricky starting out because everyone will ask what's your day rate, when you don't really have one yet. Own PPE is pretty essential, own saw less so. Depends what sort of firm you sub to and what jobs going on, some days you could be clearing and dragging all day, some days on the saw all day. If you don't bring one you're at the mercy of someone else's saw, sharpening, etc so nicer to bring your own. The nearest to an industry sheet I know is find a freelancer https://arbtalk.co.uk/find-a-freelancer/#close More climbers than groundies, but you can see rates vary by area on there. Subbie climbing rates reflect the gear needed, rough guess groundies half to two thirds climbing rate. All depends though. Last thing, if you have machinery tickets that could be you find a fairly mechanised firm and become more machine operator than groundie - then your rate could be much better.

We can answer this question: no it's not.

Does it burn cleanly or is there smoke? If it flares up and then glows like charcoal then I don't see a problem.

I wouldn't thin smaller suckers, if anything I'd take out the thicker ones. Problem with this kind of tree since it's been topped is there is likely to be rot pockets at the big cuts, you don't want the long shoots breaking off. I do tend to agree though, it's a lot of work to keep a lime tree small. Probably not the right tree for this location.

Probably use a silky for that, pole pruner for the sides.

It was a scout summer camp. Starts with people gingerly paddling around, then games and messing around, ends the only way it can with everyone in the water including leaders.

And increasingly green wood is worth money as firewood anyway, quick turnaround.

That's brilliant, we had coracles one scout camp. Initially feel really wobbly but are actually surprisingly stable and hard to tip someone out if they don't want to go.

Lower water content in summer causing the wood to shrink (and hence build internal stress) is my pet theory for cause of summer limb drop, but obviously no backing for that.

Its unusual but @gobbypunk struggled to shift it as I recall, not easy to get people to part with actual cash.

Summer chip usually has leaves in, I'd say that adds air space.

I think the tall bloke who did green giant sweetcorn ads was inside the suit.

As far as I understand, Predator was a brand name applied to Laski grinders made in Czech Republic . Laski themselves still going strong.

Ah maybe I don't notice that as I'm always using 5.2 rather than 5.5 files. Stihl recommend 5.2mm for 3/8 chain, I was sent 6 boxes instead of 6 files by FRJones, so that's what I use for all 3/8 chains.

@Ty Korrigan if anyone has

Got a few EXL, not noticed them being hard to file but maybe a bit grabby new. What files are you using?

I got cotton ones from moo.com, uncoated so plastic free and recyclable/biodegradable.

I guess like a lot of people starting out I underestimated my overheads and lacked confidence to charge enough. Some of my earlier customers got a real bargain but I got experience, so no regrets. One old chap I still work for at the same rate, hedges and odd tree but he's 92 I can't put it up now. Comparison is the thief of joy, I'd say if you're making a steady 250 without all the driving of forestry then you're happy , they're happy , you're making progress in your aims. You can do a pile of work at that rate, it's low risk if truly day rate rather than priced up jobs. Once you've done a year or two of your own jobs you can assess machinery replacement and maintenance cost, breakdowns, insurance etc. I guess you'll want to put it up a bit but you have to decide whether to start investing in machinery etc or just keep it small and work with other people if you needed a chipper or whatever.

I once put an air filter gasket the wrong way round, result was lovely running for a couple of hours then stop with black plugs. Are they really covered in oil or just black, with wet soot?

What about three sheets of ply, tied together in the corner with ropes, trailer net to stop chip flying up? Not a mod, just part of the load? Not very permanent or professional either, agreed.

Fair enough, devil and the deep blue sea then.

Take pics of whole tree including the leaves. The trunk just looks like it's getting older, I'm a bit more gnarly now I'm older too.

Can't quite see but looks like the garage has been converted so no longer used, could they make the new driveway over the other side of the garden? Looks like the banking is higher but that wouldn't take long to shift with a digger and cost of a simple standard drive vs tree friendly would probably put a lot towards that.

I want one. Haven't got a anywhere to keep it, like but still looks an amazing bit of kit.