Request for advice on starting A tree Bus

Jeff Darby · 18th March 2007, 04:25 PM

Hi All,
Just lifted this from another site,(hope no one gets upset over it as it was not my intension to upset anyone) This bloke want advice on starting a Tree Business,would you give him advice??...I mean you cant blame the man for wanting to have a go but,2 saws,read a book and away we go QUOTE [ i was wondering if anyone would give me some advice on starting a tree care service? i have read the books the fundamentals of general tree work the tree climbers companion, and the isa offici arborist study guide. i know how to take wraps to rig a limb or secetion of tree,i know how to climb and how to make proper pruning cuts.i figured i would do the climbing myself because i enjoy it.i also figured on doing it all my self for a couple of years until a friend of mine told me it was illegal to do it that way. is that true? i have a back belt not a saddle i also have 2 chainsaws. a husqvarna 141 and a husqvarna 51. if anyone would take the time to give me some advice i would greatly appreciate it.]....all he left out was his wheelbarrow,but this is what we are up against here aswell.1st place to start 1/do an aproved course of study in Arboriculture,the rest will come.( names removed)
What do you think??

Sean Freeman · 18th March 2007, 06:12 PM

Are you sure it was legit?

If he read the ISA Arb Cert study guide he either skipped the chapters on safety and climbing and working in trees or they had been ripped out, if he actually read them i doubt he'd be asking most of those questions...I'd be strongly hoping that the thread was a wind up, Ekka had a very similar (too similar?) thread here, have to suspect the work of trolls.

Sean

Jeff Darby · 18th March 2007, 08:23 PM

Hi Boa07,
I just re-read the original post where this came from and although it doesn't fit in with the subject being discussed it seems legit, The author is a young farm hand??but hey if it proves to be a wind up Ekka will no dout remove this thread,but it still fits into the mentality of some of these shotgun operators,a saw ,a wheelbarrow,and a hope and a prayer.Apart from suggest he does an aproved course in arb I would not say anything more??
All The Best
JayD

Eric Frei · 18th March 2007, 08:45 PM

I'd say this sort of thread would be happening almost daily in the real world somewhere on planet.

I'm surprised he didn't ask what size ladder to buy.

TREE-SURFER · 19th March 2007, 03:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

I'm surprised he didn't ask what size ladder to buy.

Funny you should mention that.

I've seen a bloke going round with a motor-cycle with a little box trailer hitched to the back. and a couple of old (like really old)saws bungee strapped on the top of his old knackered ladders. Seen him working away and was hanging from a piece of nylon rope around his waist whilst sawing off a rotten limb. I thought he was in distress and being equipped for aerial rescue, stopped to offer my services. And I quote, "Do you think I need a longer set of ladders?" Assistance offered was to get him down safely (only 10 foot) with his (cough! cough!) ladders and to give him some sound advice. All he does is collect fire wood for his little stove. Give him his due, he says he only takes off the dead stuff and his cuts are OK too, Just his apparatus is a little bit concerning....

Eric Frei · 19th March 2007, 09:02 PM

Well there you go, you can dump ya wood at his house so he can burn it.

I fell off a ladder so I hate the buggers, but sometimes you need one to get on a roof or something.

TREE-SURFER · 20th March 2007, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

I fell off a ladder so I hate the buggers, but sometimes you need one to get on a roof or something.

Quite recently, I was taking down an Elm with a pretty bad lean. It was only about 30 feet high with little foliage. But, to throw a line in was getting tiresome as i was missing my mark Damned Ivy. I decided to use my triple 20 foot ladders just to gain me access. Raised the first section and the middle section got stuck. Gave it a jurk and as I looked up to see where I was going with it, seen the first section coming back at me.

Thank the Hard Hat company for making good helmets.

Eric Frei · 20th March 2007, 08:37 AM

I used to have a big 36' ladder I did palms on, when going up about half way that thing used to get bit of a bend and wobble up. The end had a chain that wrapped the palm trunk, now if it was windy it was even more bazaar ... I really hated that heavy aluminium ladder and sold it.

Where the two sections of the extending ladder over lap is interesting. Some have what's called flyover (where the extending top section is above the bottom section) and some have flyunder (extending top section below top section).

My ladder was a flyunder.

I think they should ban the flyover, I wrote the manf years ago and they didn't really give a hoot. What happens with the flyover is this ....

... imagine you are coming down the ladder. I'm sure I'm not the only person who steps on the rungs where the balls of your feet are (just behind the toes). Well as you get to the next set of rungs where the join is guess what? The rungs are set in about 4" and the amount of times you near slip coz now only the tips of your toes caught that rung, it's stupid, you have to actually consciously move your foot in further which feels very odd especially as your torso is leaning out more as your still hanging on the top section. This is dangerous and bad design but most predominant on extending ladders.

With the flyunder set up, as you come down the ladder the next rung sticks out further and you catch it easier with your boot and your torso gets put on a better lean ... the safer option.

I hope you understand, so when buying a ladder check which style the fly is, and buy the flyunder.

Jeff Darby · 20th March 2007, 06:56 PM

Hi All,
Funny some one mentions something and bingo most times your've experienced something similier,me with our ladder,one method of entry into a tree we seldom use anymore,but still we have it just in case,My experience was extending the ladder to its second section was high in the air when the rope that extends the bloody thing snaped and the extended ladder section came back down at a hundred miles an hour I held my fingers out and it went wizzing by I quaked myself scary stuff sometimes.

Eric Frei · 20th March 2007, 09:49 PM

Screw them ladders, I hate them!

justoon · 21st March 2007, 08:43 AM

Guys, ladders and chainsaws/9"grinders or any type of grinder or powerful electrical tool is a big No No

Ladders are for access only!!!! seen too many injuries occur this way.If we were to do something like that on any of the industrial sites around here the site whso ( workplace health and saftey officer) would have a breakdown, we would be suspended from site and near on banned.The employee would be banned from site and we would have to prove our training methods and work practises before being let back on site.

TrevMcRev · 21st March 2007, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Screw them ladders, I hate them!

Me too! Spent 1/2 the afternoon working from one.

.............................painting my house

Its rare the ladder makes the trip out to a jobsite for us.

Eric Frei · 21st March 2007, 11:31 PM

Oh boy, painting the house, is it 2 storey? That'd suck!

Therrin · 7th November 2007, 08:04 PM

On the topic of Ladders...

I spent 5 hrs last week dropping a pine with a wicked lean on it that hung out over the h.o.'s fenceline, flowers, the road, etc... Brought the whole beast down, section at a time, nice and safely. Was only about a 60 foot max heigh, so it was pretty small still. Then while I'm cleaning up a bit, the guy comes over and says hey really quick, before I leave, can I prune some branches out that his wife didn't like. He's got this 20 foot ladder set up against the tree and I still had my little Stihl in my hand so I agreed.
I shouldn't have, I hate ladders. The thing was shakin like crazy and by the time I came back down, he couldn't understand how I could spend half the afternoon way up in a pine, and then hate the thought of using a 20 foot extension ladder.

It's nice to have found some people who can understand that just perfectly =)

defex · 8th November 2007, 02:14 PM

is there a sofware for invoices, something like quickbooks for tree service

Eric Frei · 8th November 2007, 08:08 PM

Wouldn't Quickbooks handle it?

I use Quickbooks for our business however quotes are written out from a quote pad still. If you have a big business you really want quotes coming out of the system so you can track everything. I suppose you could have the quotes transposed once back in the orifice.

DBS · 14th November 2007, 10:44 AM

i agree w/ Ekka as a quickbooks user myself.

Quickbooks is a VERY powerful software IF you are familiar w/ how to operate it.

you can make custom estimates, and invoices to suit your needs. you can also create what is called in quickbooks and "item" you need only to create each item once, and they become selectable from a drop down menu.

you WILL find a wealth of info here... Quickbooks Forum

-Daryl

Streyken · 14th November 2007, 11:48 AM

Noticed this thread is a bit old, but ... if it isn't a troll. And forgive me if this has already been covered( all I noticed was ladders and quickbooks , but I'm 4 glasses into rum right now - witch is why I won't answer any other threads

) Get the basics down first. "Climb" for at least a year "full-time". Get insurance and Comp. then start a pick-up operation. Get some type of certification as soon as possible and keep it up - can never learn too much, even if you don't use it. Remember, it's what you keep, not what you turn over!

DBS · 14th November 2007, 12:21 PM

_____

Streyken · 14th November 2007, 12:24 PM

Lmao! OK, won't say anything else.

newguy18 · 14th November 2007, 01:36 PM

well I just saw this thread and since I'm the fellow that wrote this thread over at the other site.since then I have gotten a heap of good advice from people like Ekka and a saddle lol.I also have a lot more fieled experiance than I did when I wrote that thread and I also have a lot more respect for those who do this everyday.

Steve Tipton · 14th November 2007, 05:41 PM

Hang on Streyken, I'm 3 rums behind!

Eric Frei · 14th November 2007, 06:23 PM

Well, I just turn the handle!

Therrin · 14th November 2007, 07:35 PM

Gah! You guys are sure tempting..... that sure looks good right now =)

I'm just got a "30 day" token at AA a couple days ago ;-)

Eric Frei · 14th November 2007, 08:06 PM

Check this out, the shop I make my beer from has a You Tube Commercial.

Worth a look, and the beer I brew is the Eric Special, low alcohol, low carb!

YouTube - brew by u

shaggs · 14th November 2007, 08:45 PM

Woo Hoo
Drinkin already....and talking business.....is that a good combination????

Better stop talking business then!!!!
Bring on the home brew.............

Eric Frei · 14th November 2007, 08:47 PM

Need to change the title of this thread.

Request for advice on starting a brewery!

shaggs · 14th November 2007, 08:59 PM

We'd all probably make more money!!!!

playfordtree · 14th November 2007, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Well, I just turn the handle!

Thats a nice looking set up Eric.

Whats the costs involved?

Im thinking of home brewing myself but dont really want to bottle it.

I like the tap out the fridge idea better.

DBS · 15th November 2007, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Therrin

I'm just got a "30 day" token at AA a couple days ago ;-)

Good Job!! i wish you all the best! Stick with it!!!

-Daryl

18th March 2007, 04:25 PM	#1
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Hi All, Just lifted this from another site,(hope no one gets upset over it as it was not my intension to upset anyone) This bloke want advice on starting a Tree Business,would you give him advice??...I mean you cant blame the man for wanting to have a go but,2 saws,read a book and away we go QUOTE [ i was wondering if anyone would give me some advice on starting a tree care service? i have read the books the fundamentals of general tree work the tree climbers companion, and the isa offici arborist study guide. i know how to take wraps to rig a limb or secetion of tree,i know how to climb and how to make proper pruning cuts.i figured i would do the climbing myself because i enjoy it.i also figured on doing it all my self for a couple of years until a friend of mine told me it was illegal to do it that way. is that true? i have a back belt not a saddle i also have 2 chainsaws. a husqvarna 141 and a husqvarna 51. if anyone would take the time to give me some advice i would greatly appreciate it.]....all he left out was his wheelbarrow,but this is what we are up against here aswell.1st place to start 1/do an aproved course of study in Arboriculture,the rest will come.( names removed) What do you think?? __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

18th March 2007, 08:23 PM	#3
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Wind up?or Troll?? Hi Boa07, I just re-read the original post where this came from and although it doesn't fit in with the subject being discussed it seems legit, The author is a young farm hand??but hey if it proves to be a wind up Ekka will no dout remove this thread,but it still fits into the mentality of some of these shotgun operators,a saw ,a wheelbarrow,and a hope and a prayer.Apart from suggest he does an aproved course in arb I would not say anything more?? All The Best JayD __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

18th March 2007, 08:45 PM	#4
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	I'd say this sort of thread would be happening almost daily in the real world somewhere on planet. I'm surprised he didn't ask what size ladder to buy. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

19th March 2007, 09:02 PM	#6
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Well there you go, you can dump ya wood at his house so he can burn it. I fell off a ladder so I hate the buggers, but sometimes you need one to get on a roof or something. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

20th March 2007, 08:37 AM	#8
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	I used to have a big 36' ladder I did palms on, when going up about half way that thing used to get bit of a bend and wobble up. The end had a chain that wrapped the palm trunk, now if it was windy it was even more bazaar ... I really hated that heavy aluminium ladder and sold it. Where the two sections of the extending ladder over lap is interesting. Some have what's called flyover (where the extending top section is above the bottom section) and some have flyunder (extending top section below top section). My ladder was a flyunder. I think they should ban the flyover, I wrote the manf years ago and they didn't really give a hoot. What happens with the flyover is this .... ... imagine you are coming down the ladder. I'm sure I'm not the only person who steps on the rungs where the balls of your feet are (just behind the toes). Well as you get to the next set of rungs where the join is guess what? The rungs are set in about 4" and the amount of times you near slip coz now only the tips of your toes caught that rung, it's stupid, you have to actually consciously move your foot in further which feels very odd especially as your torso is leaning out more as your still hanging on the top section. This is dangerous and bad design but most predominant on extending ladders. With the flyunder set up, as you come down the ladder the next rung sticks out further and you catch it easier with your boot and your torso gets put on a better lean ... the safer option. I hope you understand, so when buying a ladder check which style the fly is, and buy the flyunder. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

18th March 2007, 06:12 PM	#2
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Are you sure it was legit? If he read the ISA Arb Cert study guide he either skipped the chapters on safety and climbing and working in trees or they had been ripped out, if he actually read them i doubt he'd be asking most of those questions...I'd be strongly hoping that the thread was a wind up, Ekka had a very similar (too similar?) thread here, have to suspect the work of trolls. Sean

20th March 2007, 06:56 PM	#9
Jeff Darby Moderator - Previously known as JayD Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: TreeWorld, Sydney Australia Posts: 2,031	Bloody Ladders! Hi All, Funny some one mentions something and bingo most times your've experienced something similier,me with our ladder,one method of entry into a tree we seldom use anymore,but still we have it just in case,My experience was extending the ladder to its second section was high in the air when the rope that extends the bloody thing snaped and the extended ladder section came back down at a hundred miles an hour I held my fingers out and it went wizzing by I quaked myself scary stuff sometimes. __________________ Member: Australian Tree Association Join the Australian Tree Association...Have your voice heard ! Arboriculture, A life long study for some, a passing phase for others © Jeffrey J Darby 2011

20th March 2007, 09:49 PM	#10
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Screw them ladders, I hate them! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

21st March 2007, 08:43 AM	#11
justoon Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boyne Island Posts: 54	Guys, ladders and chainsaws/9"grinders or any type of grinder or powerful electrical tool is a big No No Ladders are for access only!!!! seen too many injuries occur this way.If we were to do something like that on any of the industrial sites around here the site whso ( workplace health and saftey officer) would have a breakdown, we would be suspended from site and near on banned.The employee would be banned from site and we would have to prove our training methods and work practises before being let back on site.

21st March 2007, 11:31 PM	#13
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Oh boy, painting the house, is it 2 storey? That'd suck! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

7th November 2007, 08:04 PM	#14
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus On the topic of Ladders... I spent 5 hrs last week dropping a pine with a wicked lean on it that hung out over the h.o.'s fenceline, flowers, the road, etc... Brought the whole beast down, section at a time, nice and safely. Was only about a 60 foot max heigh, so it was pretty small still. Then while I'm cleaning up a bit, the guy comes over and says hey really quick, before I leave, can I prune some branches out that his wife didn't like. He's got this 20 foot ladder set up against the tree and I still had my little Stihl in my hand so I agreed. I shouldn't have, I hate ladders. The thing was shakin like crazy and by the time I came back down, he couldn't understand how I could spend half the afternoon way up in a pine, and then hate the thought of using a 20 foot extension ladder. It's nice to have found some people who can understand that just perfectly =)

8th November 2007, 02:14 PM	#15
defex Sappling Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 24	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus is there a sofware for invoices, something like quickbooks for tree service

8th November 2007, 08:08 PM	#16
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Wouldn't Quickbooks handle it? I use Quickbooks for our business however quotes are written out from a quote pad still. If you have a big business you really want quotes coming out of the system so you can track everything. I suppose you could have the quotes transposed once back in the orifice. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

14th November 2007, 10:44 AM	#17
DBS Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CT USA Posts: 182	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus i agree w/ Ekka as a quickbooks user myself. Quickbooks is a VERY powerful software IF you are familiar w/ how to operate it. you can make custom estimates, and invoices to suit your needs. you can also create what is called in quickbooks and "item" you need only to create each item once, and they become selectable from a drop down menu. you WILL find a wealth of info here... Quickbooks Forum -Daryl __________________ Stihl MS 200T Stihl MS 361

14th November 2007, 11:48 AM	#18
Streyken Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 150	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Noticed this thread is a bit old, but ... if it isn't a troll. And forgive me if this has already been covered( all I noticed was ladders and quickbooks , but I'm 4 glasses into rum right now - witch is why I won't answer any other threads) Get the basics down first. "Climb" for at least a year "full-time". Get insurance and Comp. then start a pick-up operation. Get some type of certification as soon as possible and keep it up - can never learn too much, even if you don't use it. Remember, it's what you keep, not what you turn over! __________________ Trimmin' bush and caring for flowers is good 'n' all... but sometimes ya gotta let the big wood fly and pound the garden.

14th November 2007, 12:21 PM	#19
DBS Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CT USA Posts: 182	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus ______________________________ __________________ Stihl MS 200T Stihl MS 361

14th November 2007, 12:24 PM	#20
Streyken Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 150	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Lmao! OK, won't say anything else. __________________ Trimmin' bush and caring for flowers is good 'n' all... but sometimes ya gotta let the big wood fly and pound the garden.

14th November 2007, 01:36 PM	#21
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus well I just saw this thread and since I'm the fellow that wrote this thread over at the other site.since then I have gotten a heap of good advice from people like Ekka and a saddle lol.I also have a lot more fieled experiance than I did when I wrote that thread and I also have a lot more respect for those who do this everyday. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

14th November 2007, 05:41 PM	#22
Steve Tipton Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Sydney Posts: 823	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Hang on Streyken, I'm 3 rums behind!

14th November 2007, 06:23 PM	#23
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Well, I just turn the handle! Attached Thumbnails __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

14th November 2007, 07:35 PM	#24
Therrin Former Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bakersfield, Ca Posts: 2,512	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Gah! You guys are sure tempting..... that sure looks good right now =) I'm just got a "30 day" token at AA a couple days ago ;-)

14th November 2007, 08:45 PM	#26
shaggs Mature tree Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 422	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Woo Hoo Drinkin already....and talking business.....is that a good combination???? Better stop talking business then!!!! Bring on the home brew.............

14th November 2007, 08:47 PM	#27
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus Need to change the title of this thread. Request for advice on starting a brewery! __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

14th November 2007, 08:59 PM	#28
shaggs Mature tree Join Date: May 2007 Location: sydney Posts: 422	Re: Request for advice on starting A tree Bus We'd all probably make more money!!!!

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