Hacks in utility arboriculture?

[OutOnaLimb]

It really wasnt all that bad, I enjoy being up in the mountains away from every one. If we were lucky we would have to go into town and get fuel for the trucks and get the chance to take an early morning dump on a real toilet at the gas station. The worst thing out of the whole operation was we were not allowed to "officially" go into town and get a 6 pack of beer at the end of the day. But a few of us elected to drive our own trucks up to camp every week, and at the end of the day we could boogie into town and get a hot meal and a cold brew.

Kenn

 

[OutOnaLimb]

You do have a point Justin, but the way I see it, it is our responsibility to be an example to the community as to what the standard for quality tree care is. Some guys dont really care as long as they are getting a check, some know what is right and wrong and tap dance on that line, but between you, me and the fence post, I am the type of guy that will raise the bar and go above and beyond the call of duty. If you plan on being in this business for any extended period of time, quality work above the norm and great customer service is better advertising than the biggest ad in the yellow pages.

"there are few problems in life that cant be solved with a suitable application of high explosives."

Kenn

 

[MasterBlaster]

You should naturally and instinctively do the right thing, all the time. It should be part of your natural self.

Why do the right thing, MOST of the time?

Do it right, and be done with it!

 

[Lumberjack]

First and foremost (IMO) the quality of work counts, but also the apperance of a tree company, makes a difference to. Might not make them hacks, but it makes them look like a typical red neck.

 

[MasterBlaster]

 

[OutOnaLimb]

If I can steal a saying from the Navy SEALS, " First time, Every time " (even though every one know that SEALS are a bunch of Girl Scouts)

There are few problems in life that cant be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

Kenn

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster

Bump that post count Butch.


(I am fighting for 1000 tonight)

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Very true, you do have to have some sense of proffessionalisim. Looking like the "Beverly Hillbillies" in the Cherry Creek district of of Denver will do nothing more than get the neighbors calling the authorities on you reporting that there are "Gypsies in my public parks" But like I said. There is a fine line between being "Joe Redneck" with a pick up and a chain saw, and "Joe Arborist" with a legitimate arborcultural business, just starting out. Dont be afraid to talk to the customer, or the neighbor, or the neighbors customer. Just make sure you have all your ducks in a row when you do.

"there are few problems in life that cant be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"

Kenn

 

[OutOnaLimb]

Hey Rocky, I hate to jump from one subject to another and then another, but how do I put up a photo or an image in my little profile do-hicky???

Kenn

 

[Newfie]

Matt,

That's a nice example but still a a skewed indicator. You are assuming because farmer 1 has the appropriate toys that he knows how to use them properly and work his land for the best.

I'm not an arborist or a line-clearance guy but in land clearing for house lots(shhhh!!! ). Right now my equipment consists of a Kubota "skidder", a 10" Morbark, a trailer and my 1/2 ton pickup w/ homemade chip box. Certainly a far cry from the local hack with his fleet of trailer trucks, whole tree chipper and harvester. Does that make me a "hack" even if I do a cleaner job, keep more trees on the lot and try to preserve as much of nature while still pleasing the customer and utilizing the wood to its greatest capacity? Or should I want to drop the whole lot and turn saw logs and firewood into chips?

If the customer is in no hurry and it would take me 6 months to clear a sub-division, am I a hack for even trying with the tools at my disposal? Maybe stupid.

Quality,Safety, Happy customer are the determining factors in hack. Big, shiny equipment is an indication of financial resources,nothing else.

 

[Lumberjack]

It is called an avatar, it is controlled in the users control pannel, along with all your preferances and such.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by Newfie
Matt,

That's a nice example but still a a skewed indicator. You are assuming because farmer 1 has the appropriate toys that he knows how to use them properly and work his land for the best.

I'm not an arborist or a line-clearance guy but in land clearing for house lots(shhhh!!! ). Right now my equipment consists of a Kubota "skidder", a 10" Morbark, a trailer and my 1/2 ton pickup w/ homemade chip box. Certainly a far cry from the local hack with his fleet of trailer trucks, whole tree chipper and harvester. Does that make me a "hack" even if I do a cleaner job, keep more trees on the lot and try to preserve as much of nature while still pleasing the customer and utilizing the wood to its greatest capacity? Or should I want to drop the whole lot and turn saw logs and firewood into chips?

If the customer is in no hurry and it would take me 6 months to clear a sub-division, am I a hack for even trying with the tools at my disposal? Maybe stupid.

Quality,Safety, Happy customer are the determining factors in hack. Big, shiny equipment is an indication of financial resources,nothing else.

No... quality first, but looks matter. Having equipment that is obviously ran down is a turn off. People like to see someone who takes care of there equipment, regardless of amount.

 

[Dobber]

In the line clearing side of trimming, the same as in the private tree care, you have to give the customer what he wants, I dont see anyone running from the $$$ handed to them for taking down a tree for the lady that is tired of raking leaves. If the utility wants topped trees then you will top trees, if he wants the side taken right off and the overhang rolled back, guess what you are doing? It is all well and good to say the trimming style sucks but quite often the style of trimming is not left up to the actual workers. The bottom line is just that, the bottom line. The utilities want a 10 foot box around their conductors to insure they have no problems untill they come around again in 5 to 6 years. You may call us hacks but I have the same everyday dangers you have while trimming a tree, plus an additional danger of 120 to 500,000 volts to deal with.

If you realy want to make a difference quit your complaining and go buy a utility, then you can trim your trees any way you want.

 

[ORclimber]

Dobber, You're reasoning is complicating things. Just post a picture of your equipment and Treeman82 will let you know if you are a hack.

 

[Stumper]

ORclimber, Don't be ridiculous. Dobber flys a Maple leaf. He could not possibly be a hack. Now if he were short and bald and called himself Gypo.............

 

[NeTree]

Dobber, the loudest people who complain about line clearance guys coming around "wrecking their trees", are also the loudest when their power goes out.

Ever notice that?

I've also noticed that the ones who put up the biggest stink about "their" trees being trimmed, are the first ones to make a town tree out of it when it wrecks the lines and they find out they get billed because they refused a trim to "their" tree.

 

[Curtis James]

I know what yout talking about. I had to trim two sides of this guys oak not to long ago and he pitched the biggest fit . I asked him if he ever hired anyone to care for his tree and of course he said no. I take pride in my work so I do anything I feel will help every tree I'm in.IE removing dead wood, crossers whatever. In the end he was extremely pleased. I didn't have to remove any large limbs and I cut a but load of dead out so his mighty oak was a site to see.
I work for shade tree. We are a large line clearence company also. We have some good equipment, some junk. As far as bucket trucks and such go. Possibly they were subbed to only do the trees you couldn't get a bucket truck to.? I agree with the majority here. I had an old 71 ford f-250 stolen from me. I did quality work with it. It didn't look so hot, but that doesn't make this arborist a hack!!!

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Originally posted by Dobber
you have to give the customer what he wants, I dont see anyone running from the $$$ handed to them for taking down a tree for the lady that is tired of raking leaves. The bottom line is just that, the bottom line.

You're right; what you describe is not hack work. It's ho work.

 

[Dobber]

I am sorry if the truth gets in the way of your arguement.
Utility trimmers are a different breed of tree worker, are some of us hacks? YEP.
All of us have to blast a hole in a tree to allow for clearance of the line, some of us (if we are permitted to spend the time) then try to give the tree some aesthetic pruning. Some of know proper trimming, and some of us were never given the chance, just told to get up there and bang a hole in the tree.

As for my equipment :
: Freightliner lift truck with 55 foot boom
: 009 stihl,
: 246 husky,
: 357 husky,
: 2171 jonsered,
: arbourmaster climbing saddle
I will not get into all the ropes, pruners, pole saws, hydralic tools, blocks, slings, micro asenders, micro pulleys,................
Tell me does this make me a hack?
I always assumed a trimmers ability in the tree dictated his hack status.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by Dobber
I am sorry if the truth gets in the way of your arguement.
Utility trimmers are a different breed of tree worker, are some of us hacks? YEP.

Of course they are hacks.

Just kidding.


Seriously... utility line clearance has little in common with private tree work. For anyone to expect the same standards to be applied is ridiculous- the goals are polar opposites.

JMHO