rbtree
Addicted to ArboristSite
First, the job, removing three 115-125 foot tall conifers, and three alders (dropping the alders into a greenbelt and making habitat snags) was 55 minutes from the shop.
Then, we had a green newbie helper. I spent an hour prepping saws, while Eli did the first easy tree. Next, I attempted to show the newbie how to run a saw. Impatient at his poor skills, I stopped him, and went up the first alder. Shortly therafter, as Eli was near the ground and switching saws, he dropped the Echo 3400 25 feet onto concrete, breaking the main case.....leaving us with one climbing saw. (I have an old 3400, hopefully I can use the old case..bound to be a tough job...)
Two hours later, as Eli was in another tall fir, the anal neighbor came home, and promptly wanted to know why sawdust and a couple twigs were on his two month old freshly seeded section of lawn. I apologized for God's choice of wind direction, and promised to have him blow it the other way....Actually I broke out the Echo blower...
After I got some fun rides bombing the three long leaning alder tops (using triangle hinge shape to reduce barber chair chances- trees too small for bore cutting) I talked to several neighbors, trying to get them all to get together and have us look at cutting 20 or so dying and/or hazardous alder, then came back to help Eli safely drop the last 25 feet of the very tall dead hemlock.
Shortly thereafter, the newbie proceeded to start the chipper, with brush right against the rollers, which were not reversed. The auto feed is not working, so it jammed, bad enough, but apparently he tried to force the clutch or something, which, when I opened the inspection cover, was still emitting an incredibly strong noxious aroma, and would not engage. So, in the a.m., I get to tear into it, to see if it is broken, which I'm quite sure it is....Groan... downtime, repairs, and unneeded expenses sure suck wind big time....
Then the customer came home, and wanted to know why the wood was on his (already very dry and brown) lawn and not being hauled away. Apparantly, I had said something about getting a friend to haul it, which may be true, but I forgot about it. So I assured him I'd find someone to get it out within a couple days. Then he said something about the holes in the lawn.
So, we get home after 80 minutes of driving and dumping chips. I call around and locate a wood hauler, phew!!! Then the customer's wife calls...and she is very nice, but has a passel of problems. She's cool that the wood will disappear, but worried about the sawdust and holes in her lawn. As well, one of the guys had taken their shovel, not knowing it wasn't ours. So I promised to bring it back, and blow the lawn, and even fill in some holes-- after the firewood is gone. I did remind her that I had told her the price was low as we would be free dropping the wood, as lowering it would have doubled the price.
But the kicker was the neighbor had come over, complaining about the mess we made, which was very very minimal after we blew his lawn, his driveway, his Jaguar....... he mentioned wanting restitution for his time, even brought up the insurance word.....what a jerk...the lawn is and will be 100% fine. I'd be tempted to laugh in the guys face...but I better not. I hope he'll mellow out, but I won't be surprised if he tries to cause further trouble.
But some good things happened--- a couple jobs came in, and out Butterfly saddles made it from Fresco!!
The pic is of some local color, and I'll post more in a new thread about the beautiful western red cedar that we took 55 feet off the top, leaving 75 foot. Oh and I reckon y'all will be wondering why the heck we did that.....
