Chainsaw help, climbing and limbing

Anton

Hi everyone, I am new to tree forums so please excuse my ignorance on how to use these things.

I am just starting out in tree surgery. I want to start my own business and I hope you can help me out with any problems I have.

can I just ask which is the best saw for snedding, mculloch or partner?

Thank you everyone and Hi again

Regards
Anton

treesandsurf

I'm not sure what snedding is there anton, but if you are talking about climbing saws hands down the stihl ms200t (otherwise known as the 020) good luck.

jp

Eric Frei

Snedding is limbing up or bucking up a felled tree.

A lot of Aussies call it "docking it up" ... yeah, dock her up mate.

The two saws you have mentioned, sorry can't advise, I only use stihls ... I'd go ms200T for climbing and perhaps a Ms260 thru to Ms460 for docking ... just depends how big the limbs are you have to cut.

Other good and tuff saws that are cheaper are Shindaiwa, Echo, Dolmar, Jonsered ... check them out too. Just look at HP and weight, ask the saw shop to fill them with gas and then turn them upside down see if they leak and see if they start them and see how they run, turn them upside down too when idling see if they conk out!

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Anton

Hello again,

Sorry to be bothersome, but I logged in on this page and cant seem to get out of this page, so I can post my questions on chainsaws in a more suitable forum. I know this is the welcome thread but I hope you dont mind if I talk about chainsaws here, so I can pick up more information, until i know how to move to another page.

I have seen Stihl saws on the web and they are too expensive for me, at the moment, in fact I looked up those other saws that you mentioned, they all look good and are available in the UK. But they are still a bit too dear. I have to watch my spending, till I have a few jobs under my belt.

I have been to my local B&Q Homestore this morning and the salesman sold me a great saw for much less than the other ones. Its a Ryobi, I cant wait to use it. The salesman said I should wear eye protection and gloves. He tried to sell me some but I am not that gullible, I wear glasses anyway and I have my gardening gloves at home. These people! they just dont know when to stop.
He also sold me 2 stroke oil, chainsaw oil and a container for the fuel mix though.

I have my first job on Monday, removing a small cypress bush from my neighbours garden.

I know I said I was a tree surgeon but to be honest with you all, I am totally new to this profession. I have very limited resources to start with apart from my sister's computer, which is great for internet advice and my new saw + car,ladders and small trailer.

What is the most important thing to buy next? A local gardener said I should buy a blower? is this a good idea, because I have seen them at a reasonable price in B&Q.

Sorry again to have asked these questions here, how do I get out of this welcome page once | have logged in?

Regards
Anton

Eric Frei

Well hopefully you have found your way here and I have moved our relevant posts.

Blower huh?

Hmmmm, got a rake? A good one.

So I take it most of your tree work will be ground work and the ladder perhaps.

Have you got a saddle and ropes etc? Even working off ladders you should tie into the tree in case the ladder falls ... just use the ladder to access the tree.

Like many other businesses there's safety requirements. so for your own sake and your friends / family etc ... do the right thing and wear your safety gear including earmuffs and a helmet. If you get off the ground tie in.

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Anton

I have a rake. brush and shovel + arge bucket for small stuff to carry out of the garden. I suppose a blower is a luxury just now.

Thanks for the information regarding helmet and earmuffs, I think I have not realised how much all this would cost.

I will get them though when I have done a few jobs to pay for them. I think B&Q sell them.

Regards
Anton

I just tried to post this quick reply and a message said that I have to refresh the page and log in. is this normal this is the third time I have had to do this in half and hour? Its complicated.

Drouin Tree Service

Find someone by ringing around that will chip your debris for the cheapest possible price and preference to them not having a sign covered truck,buy one decent saw (IMO a 026 stihl second hand)be prepared to spend on adverts,maybe buiy a trailer if you have a vehicle that can tow.

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Anton

Thanks, for the advice.

I have just done my first real quote.

It was for the woman who owns our local newsagent.

She has trees, she said they are sycamore and ash? in her back garden growing too tall. She told me they have been cut in the past, and said she wanted them back to the original height.

They look about 40 ft tall she wants them cut to 20ft.
They are full of ivy, There are 3 trees in total

I think I will need help on this one from the gardener.

She was asking if i had insurance because of the phonelines and ornamental stone wall under the trees. I panicked and said yes. I feel really guilty now.

She is a very nice woman who seemed to totally trust me.
She said because i was local that she wanted to give me the job.

I worked out it would probably take 3 days with Iain helping and I can dump the branches at a local farm, where the farmer has a big fire every few weeks.

Well I just plucked a number out of thin air for the quote, I said ?1200.00

She thought that was expensive, but she said yes anyway. Most of the people round here are very wealthy. so its all relative.

I will let you know how it goes as I am starting it on tues.

I am looking forward to buying a rope and harness with the profit from this job.

I have also put up 8 adverts in local shops and library, cafes etc.

So I'm just sitting here waiting for the phone to start ringing.

Thanks again

Regards
Anton

treesandsurf

hold on there cowboy, that sounds like an awful big job for you to be getting into, especially considering it's one of your first tree jobs, no? Look if you're going to be up a tree twenty feet, especially forty feet, you need to have some basic training from someone with experience (maybe you have?).

I mean break it down anton, forty foot trees with ivy(big mess), no insurance, phone lines, expensive property, no training, and you are asking 1200 for the job; doesn't seem right. Do yourself a BIG favor, find the name of a reputable (or at least decent) climber in your area, tell him you'll give him majority of the money, but make sure he'll teach you, even take you up in the tree with him. You'll probably save a lot of money this way, because you won't have to pay for all the stuff you break along the way!

Sorry to be harsh Anton, am stoked you're into it, just be smart and take your time, don't jump into a big job. Good luck

jp

kauriman

Hi Anton

Why do you want to start an arb business with no training or experience (it seems). If I wanted to become a plumber or a builder or any other new trade I would do some training or go and work for someone who was trained or at least knew what they were doing.

Grizzly

Some good advice will come from a seasoned tree climber, especially a arborist. Talk to them, have them show you some climbing knots and how to safely get up, down, and arround. Learning this trade dosen't happen overnight. I've been doing this for about 3 year on my own, but I've been involved in the industry my entire life. I would help my dad set up and clean up jobs every day. Hell, my dad ws surprised that I took it to another level were I was climping palm trees that were 90 feet and swong in the wind like wet noodle. Your either going to like it or get scared out of your wits. There is really no middle gound in this industry.

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Eric Frei

Palm trees suck!

We killed a stack of them this week, they're like weeds around here.

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lizardman

hi anton your a funny geezer.

yooper

Whats even is funner lizerdman here where i live another name for a crabby old fart(old man) is a geezer.... AS IN I HAD TO TELL THE OLD FU$%#N GEEZER TEN TIMES TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY, AS HE STOOD UNDER NEITH
THE TREE IN HIS JOKKY SHORTS WHILE I WAS TRIMMING THE DAMM THING!!!!!!!
I guess i was just interested if we where on the same line?
i know all our termanolgy is different!
no offence to you Anton.

osb_mail

reducing trees in half . Please learn how trees work before you work them .You might just get worked out really quick .

alba

the saw i use for climbing is the stihl ms170 is prity cheap but thinking of getting a stiga spr350 34cc 9/8 chain type 12' bar tophandle only ?220, anyone no anything about these saws and are they any good, for on the ground work i use a husky 350 bloody good saws, oh yes anton get trained before using a chainsaw, try finding out more about training for the nptc which is the national proficiency test council which is a certification for chainsaw users and climbers, you won't go far wrong if you choose to go in this direction and you will get more respect as an arbor when you have finished training, if you read more about climbing and chainsaw accidents you would understand that this is the way to go, not trying to be bossy just trying to inform.

Jeff Darby

Hi Anton,
By now you would have successfully done your job? Hopefully you havent hurt yourself,mate you need instruction on how to do this properly the job you describe can kill you quick smart if you make the wrong cut,there are many factors to consider before you even think about tackleing a job like you've described,please I urge you to seek out professional instruction so your here for a long time not a short time,The tree climbers companion will get you started on climbing techniques,knots,proper rated gear etc,etc.Mate saftey before profit,if you allways come from a safe approach you are loading the bases in your favor,if not,well I think you can work out what!!good luck and how did you go?

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Juno

Well I got the jonsered cs2135t top handle for half a year now.
It's a good saw en very easy to maintain.
I've bought the thing because the stihl 200t en the husky where to expensive for me. So maybe for a beginner it's a good advice.

Also anton I?ve wanted to begin just like you. I only had en certification for felling big trees and trees under tension. My first clim was in my own backyard. And if I had know what I know now DAME!!!

But try to do it like me and as a lot of boys. Learn some climbing by a specialist company our take some training on a school.
The jobs on the ground are now problem as long as everything is save.
By doing this you learn and learn more. after a some years you'll will be happy you did so really

Head up and hang on there mate

matty f

Right what the hell is this thread........all you guys who have encouraged this fella should all know better...
Ive just got my insurance renewal quote through.........and it sickens me people like this are out there and trying to trade.
The reason my insurance is so high is becouse idiots go down bq buy crap saws then proceed to injure kill and damage,no ppe,notraining ,no experience....just a month ago a so called tree surgeon killed him self a few miles from here.........get trained up or get some experience with pros is my only advice......STAY AWAY FROM TRADING AND LEAVE IT TO THE PROS IF YOU DONT WANNA FOLLOW IT.......or is this some kinda wind up???

Eric Frei

Matty

Just did some checking to find out Anton was a troll.

Thanks for helping.

As this thread was purely designed to antagonise professionals I will lock it and let it fade away but remain.

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