Purchased Item, Then Regretted Purchase

[Menchhofer]

Has anyone out there bought equipment or tools and decided afterward it was not a wise decision or the tool/equipment did not work as intended or advertised?

This has happened a few times and I now research and think a while before purchasing anything.

1.Bought chain link fence adjuster..never did figure out how to work it...came with no instructions..fell apart one day when I REALLY needed it.... wasted about $20.00

2.Purchased small hand grinder on line. Kept in truck for a few months..finally needed to sharpen chain while on job. I thought no problem, pulled out grinder to begin sharpening..grinder had hardly any power and ended up in trash.

3. Purchased small bobcat or loader to carry wood out of customer yards. Did not stop to think the machine would tear turf and weigh almost 3 ton...was used on very few jobs.

4. Purchased hydraulic tools for bucket truck. Hydraulic saw and pruner..thought this would work out great. They are now on a shelf gathering dust..Although they did work fine, most limbs and pcs need control when removing. Seems as if only a few are free fall anymore. The tools were a little heavy also.

5. As stated in another post, I eventually ended up with three trailers over the years for transporting equipment. Finally got smart and sold all three and purchased low profile dump trailer for what I had in the other 3...works out fine

Could also turn this thread around and say which tools/equipment have been you best choice?

I already know Sanborns answer, GRCS.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Then I would say ascenders & bigshot, Air-knife, though I do not use it very often yet.

I don't own anything I truly regret buying, but have a lot of little things that don't get used often.

 

[treeclimber165]

Only two items I can think of right now that didn't work out as anticipated. A $22 30" Tenex eye-and-eye prusik cord for my friction hitch that wore through 2 strands in less than a week and a Gibb's ascender that will not work for SRT ascending and is too heavy for a flipline (a friction hitch on a biner works much better).

My best purchases of all time have to be my BigShot and my Pantin ascender. Since I cannot footlock they have enabled me to look at tall ascents in a whole new light.

 

[NeTree]

Hmmm...
I'd have to say the Brush Bandit chipper. After I bought the first Vermeer 1250, I now see that the 250XP is alot noisier, has the feed chute way too low to be comfortable (I like to feed at MY waist height, not the height of a dwarf), is unnecessarily heavy, and those small horizontal feed rollers feed like crap and make the machine shake like hell whenever you put wood in. Only piece of machinery I REALLY regret buying. JMHO

Erik
[email protected]

 

[monkeypuzzle]

Silky Hayauchi '21 footer' the spring loaded buttons SUCK!

It lasted only a few weeks before it started giving us problems.

And she wasn't cheap!

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I do agree there, I like Silky but the locks on the ARS telescoping saws are better.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i was told over the phone that a Maasden rope puller could be installed midline.

i guess i expected more outta my powerhead driven capstan winch, gave up on it.

Fig. 8 too much line spiral for descending/ rigging compared to other available options

i'd rate Throw Line, Porty high, have found a knot tender to be the smallest, simplest innovative lil'trick to really improve the machine.

Have to work my new Pantin in when i can; bought a mini traxon, haven't drawn as many uses out of it as i thought i might as per propaganda of being some extreme of required, compact, powerful, multi use gear. Beautifully engineered device, am i missing something (about the device i mean !)?

 

[seanlarkin]

Originally posted by John Paul Sanborn
I do agree there, I like Silky but the locks on the ARS telescoping saws are better.

Expect to see that ARS telescoping polesaw in our 2003 catalog.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by TheTreeSpyder
i was told over the phone that a Maasden rope puller could be installed midline.

...and?

 

[Menchhofer]

Originally posted by monkeypuzzle


It lasted only a few weeks before it started giving us problems.

And she wasn't cheap!


Thanks for the advice..I was thinking about purchasing one of those

 

[Treeman14]

Ditto on the hydraulic tools. Used for one or two cuts, then put on a shelf. $2,500 mistake. Anyone want to buy a brand new hydraulic chain saw or pole saw?

 

[treeman82]

Originally posted by treeclimber165


My best purchases of all time have to be my BigShot and my Pantin ascender. Since I cannot footlock they have enabled me to look at tall ascents in a whole new light.

I have to agree with Brian on those items. I owe a lot of my recent upgrades in equipment to my implementation of the Pantin. The BS, I don't know how I ever did without it. Being able to shoot a rope up "one crotch, one shot" is VERY nice.

 

[Menchhofer]

This past year purchased two radios (the new family service models GMRS) from Radioshack. Complete with earbud and PTT controls. Thought this would be ideal for tree/bucket to groundie use. Earmuffs would fit over ear piece. Cheap communication.

Ha! Used them for about 3 minutes trying to talk to each other. Too much noise from the radio and not enough volume... could not hear a thing. Took them back the next day.

Agree with others, BS was a great purchase.

Purchased over the years about 100 pairs of gloves..each mfg. said would keep hands warm in winter. Nothing works so far.

Spent over $1,000 on springs and airbags trying to make my one ton truck haul like a two ton. No one was willing to tell me it was a waste of time...

Seems as if I have made more than just a few mistakes...............

 

[treeman82]

If I had to pick two items that I now regret buying... they would have to be my old 019T and my Husky model 41. Both of those saws gave me nothing but problems. I am happy that I got rid of them. OH! and that 18' trailer which I wound up giving away!

 

[ORclimber]

bought an off brand chipper that made crappy chips no matter how it was adjusted. Had to pay $50 to $70 to dump truck, nobody would take the chips for free.

bought used knockoff hobbslike lowering device, a spring keeps breaking and the capstan free wheels, it sits in the garage as I am too afraid to use.

Can't wait to get pantin, big shot, and try out distell hitch. Thanks for the tips guys!

 

[DDM]

LoL Hmmmmmm Arboristsite wouldnt let me Post the whole list too Long.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Forgot my REI storm shell. Best jacket I've owned, Keeps the wind out and is rugged enough to climb in. Zippered slash pockets brest high so I have some place to put stuff while in saddle...