The working man, and chainsaw thread!!!!!!!!!

[Brian13]

Randy, that looks like a nice saddle. Its right along the lines I am looking for. I have been looking hard at the Treemotion, but I am kind of leery of the rope bridge. Let me know how it works out, its going to be a while before I can save up for which ever one I end up with.

Good job with the carb kits Norm, before you know it you will be welding up your own tools to split cases. Its nice to be able to work on your own stuff.

Will, glad to here your back is getting better. Hope you can get back to work soon. Sometimes working on a saw is pretty therapeutic, and sometimes it just causes more stress LOL.

 

[parrisw]

Randy, that looks like a nice saddle. Its right along the lines I am looking for. I have been looking hard at the Treemotion, but I am kind of leery of the rope bridge. Let me know how it works out, its going to be a while before I can save up for which ever one I end up with.

Good job with the carb kits Norm, before you know it you will be welding up your own tools to split cases. Its nice to be able to work on your own stuff.

Will, glad to here your back is getting better. Hope you can get back to work soon. Sometimes working on a saw is pretty therapeutic, and sometimes it just causes more stress LOL.

LOL ya that 075 pissed me off, finally figured it out, first to e I've worked on a Carb with a fuel governor.

 

[NHlocal]

Randy, that looks like a nice saddle. Its right along the lines I am looking for. I have been looking hard at the Treemotion, but I am kind of leery of the rope bridge. Let me know how it works out, its going to be a while before I can save up for which ever one I end up with.

Sure thing Brian, I'll let you know as soon as I get a chance to climb with it.

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Hello gang! The working man was in healsdburg again. On one of our hunting ranches. Cleaning up more downed wood, and hauling firewood home. Check out this bastard growth fir, Parmeter climbed it once, about two years ago. Glad you are enjoying the Macs Aaron, for me it was a no brainer. They belong in the hands of someone who loves em. The 700pm was easy, the sp-81 took some persuasion. Especially since John won that saw competition with it. His little mental trophy LOL! I'm sure the saw had alot to do with it, but he has a gift when it comes to running them. Licking my chops for that 1100 for sure!!!!! And can't wait to run a 750

 

[struggle]

Norm is the whole tree coming down? Base looks big and thins quickly

 

[NHlocal]

LOL. I's three hours earlier for you, which makes it close to sunrise. I work nights, and just got home from work after a long commute and gassing up the pickup. It's almost two hours past midnight here......and is my bedtime..

Bedtime???, I'm just getting ready to turn on the coffee and leave for work. :hmm3grin2orange:
Ayuh, it's funny how you can lose perspective of distance with instant communication.
Thanks for the reality check Aaron.

 

[NHlocal]

Hello gang! The working man was in healsdburg again. On one of our hunting ranches. Cleaning up more downed wood, and hauling firewood home. Check out this bastard growth fir, Parmeter climbed it once, about two years ago. Glad you are enjoying the Macs Aaron, for me it was a no brainer. They belong in the hands of someone who loves em. The 700pm was easy, the sp-81 took some persuasion. Especially since John won that saw competition with it. His little mental trophy LOL! I'm sure the saw had alot to do with it, but he has a gift when it comes to running them. Licking my chops for that 1100 for sure!!!!! And can't wait to run a 750

Nice pics Norm, always look forward to seeing what you post, Thanks. :msp_thumbup:

 

[NHlocal]

Maybe you can help.....?

Norm is the whole tree coming down? Base looks big and thins quickly

Shane, I've got one for ya'. A customer I took two trees down for last year asked if I would grind one of his stumps out.
I'm pretty familiar with running a saw, but I've never run a stump grinder before. Do you have any "words of wisdom", tips? :help:
We've got a place nearby that rents them out. "Super deluxe" and the "wheeled manual type".

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Shane, no on the takedown. We are just cleaning up what we took down, and what came down. When we first came on the ranch, the owners inquired about the removal. They were worried if it came down it would take out neighboors wire fence. We let them know to take it down we would have to clear and take down the fence anyway. Recomend they leave it and if it comes down on its own, we clean up and reapair some small fence sections. They were happy with that idea. Don't get me wrong we have big saws, and love to cut big wood, but it made more sense to leave it standing. Thanks Randy I look forward to your stuff too. Howdy Aaron:msp_wink:

 

[struggle]

Shane, I've got one for ya'. A customer I took two trees down for last year asked if I would grind one of his stumps out.
I'm pretty familiar with running a saw, but I've never run a stump grinder before. Do you have any "words of wisdom", tips? :help:
We've got a place nearby that rents them out. "Super deluxe" and the "wheeled manual type".

Boy I don't know how it would pay to rent one and charge the customer and make some coin on top of it? The manual swing ones I have not used. Mine of course is hydrualic on the swing.

I think the rent would be a killer unless money is no object to the customer:msp_tongue:

Charge amoutn I get is $2 an inch to the flare of the trunk at ground level and add six inches on top of that. Then if they want the chips hauled away and dirt brought in I charge $4 an inch what the total measurment of the stump is.

So unless you can line up several stumps you will have to figure out the rental cost on top of the grinding cost. Just not sure how it would work in your favor.

I will say though if a guy can buy into a used one cheap enough some pretty good coin can be made, although mine is currently looking for more work, phone quit ringing this week:msp_unsure:

 

[NORMZILLA44]

I agree Shane, be a hard one. We have been lucky to bid grinds in on the tree work. And then rented one, as for us if it had been stumps alone, like you said we could not have covered the rental. I think 300- a day an up here. Some small tree jobs, we have barely made anything as we rented a chipper. I rather we took a hit then the customer so if we had a 600 dollar job, we made 200 or so and worked for it. Chipper here is 375 a day. Randy see what you can do, and maybe drum up some more work like Shane suggested. Then one bid price? Hell I agree too a stump grinder is a very good investment, if we had coin one would be parked in my yard. So happens I made a good friend now who has one. And now one of my best buddies works at a rental yard and free rentals. So we have him in on the jobs, and no equip- over head got lucky.

 

[struggle]

My grinder is way old but didn't cost a fortune to buy $700 and I have just under $4K into it as it runs now. So pay back was fast on it.

It may be old but the stumps don't know it:hmm3grin2orange:

This was the last one I did (maple) it was a grind and run job. I actually like the grind and haul and fill jobs as they pay a lot better and I get dirt for free currently and have a free dump

 

[Eccentric]

I agree Shane, be a hard one. We have been lucky to bid grinds in on the tree work. And then rented one, as for us if it had been stumps alone, like you said we could not have covered the rental. I think 300- a day an up here. Some small tree jobs, we have barely made anything as we rented a chipper. I rather we took a hit then the customer so if we had a 600 dollar job, we made 200 or so and worked for it. Chipper here is 375 a day. Randy see what you can do, and maybe drum up some more work like Shane suggested. Then one bid price? Hell I agree too a stump grinder is a very good investment, if we had coin one would be parked in my yard. So happens I made a good friend now who has one. And now one of my best buddies works at a rental yard and free rentals. So we have him in on the jobs, and no equip- over head got lucky.

Cool. I have a #### pile of brush to take care of at home, now that we're no longer allowed to burn in this area. Doya think your buddy would hook up your other buddy with a cheap chipper rental???

 

[NORMZILLA44]

Great pics Shane, grinder looks sweet to me! Aaron good to see you, and if you can wait a bit on the brush I should be able to work it out. If nothing else I can maybe get it for 100 bucks, to pay him for the haul, and time. Or we can time it when I get one for a job, and then nothing. We will make it work buddy.

 

[NHlocal]

Working man.....exhausted.....

I agree Shane, be a hard one. We have been lucky to bid grinds in on the tree work. And then rented one, as for us if it had been stumps alone, like you said we could not have covered the rental. I think 300- a day an up here. Some small tree jobs, we have barely made anything as we rented a chipper. I rather we took a hit then the customer so if we had a 600 dollar job, we made 200 or so and worked for it. Chipper here is 375 a day. Randy see what you can do, and maybe drum up some more work like Shane suggested. Then one bid price? Hell I agree too a stump grinder is a very good investment, if we had coin one would be parked in my yard. So happens I made a good friend now who has one. And now one of my best buddies works at a rental yard and free rentals. So we have him in on the jobs, and no equip- over head got lucky.

Hi y'all, another day done for this "working man" and I'll tell ya I am completely exhausted! My whole body hurts, even hurts to breath. But it's all good, finished up the job and the home owner is very happy! Hurtin' like this is a good hurt. :bringit: I'll start cutting at his neighbor's place next Saturday I think, that's the plan. :msp_thumbsup:
Thanks for all the feedback on the stump grinding Shane and Norm. What I was wondering is more along the lines of what to look for or be aware of, general operating and safety procedures. I can rent the "manual" grinder for half day at $76. The stump is Norway Maple, about 24" dia. at ground level. When I cut it flush I only left about an inch above the ground. The lawn is "clean" with just soil around the stump. I will be confirming that there are no rocks before I start grinding. I don't have to fill or get rid of the chips, the home owner is taking care of that himself. :msp_thumbup: Is it possible to get one stump like that ground out in a half day? As I said I've never run a grinder but I've seen it done. The one I watched looked like a "manual" model and it didn't seem to have much trouble grinding, looked like it went through at a steady pace. I'm not looking to make much on the job, if I put $50 in my pocket I'll be very happy. This is going to be a "learning experience" for me more than anything. It will give me a good idea on how to better answer the question the next time it comes up. Thanks again for your help.
Work safe. ::thumbsup::

 

[fir]

Thanks! I can move around better now, but still is some pain, I really just have to watch what I do. Not been working this week, so I've fixed a few chainsaws and a Trimmer that's been sitting there waiting for me. First was a MS360Pro that got crunched by a Backhoe didn't see it, crunched the tank and front handle, amazing that was all, then a 200T just a tune and clean, and a Shindiawa T27 trimmer, and finally got my 075 running better, which I think I'll sell. Had to do a few small jobs, nice to make a few $$$ fixing some easy things, since no money coming in this week.

How about selling the 200t

 

[parrisw]

How about selling the 200t

Not mine to sell.

However I have one that is like new, maybe 10 tanks of fuel through it, that I could be talked out of for the right price, seeing as how they are not available anymore.

 

[fir]

Shane, I've got one for ya'. A customer I took two trees down for last year asked if I would grind one of his stumps out.
I'm pretty familiar with running a saw, but I've never run a stump grinder before. Do you have any "words of wisdom", tips? :help:
We've got a place nearby that rents them out. "Super deluxe" and the "wheeled manual type".

Here we have a little husky stump grinder and charge 250 and up sometimes we rent a the big one and charge a fortune. Is there many people in your area that stump grind. Check that out and charge accordingly.

 

[struggle]

NH on a 24" stump I would have it ground out in 30 minutes or less from start to pulling out the driveway.

A manual swing unit would take at least twice that I would think or more but I have not used one of those.

From a safety point I would say never ever use one without doing call before you dig. After that is clear.

I like to cut into the leading edge of the stump about a 1/3 of the cutting wheel depth and lower my cut as low as I can get the wheel and from there then work into the stump at the same height. If the grinder wheel is big enough you might only have to make one pass if the stump is mostly level to the ground.

The stump I show above I had to make two passes on to get it down low enough so that once they put dirt back over it grass will grow.

For safety I put a moving blanket over the entire back of my vehicle as my unit is stays connected to my Tahoe. Blanket $15 at hobo freight...breaking out the rear window wiht unknown object:msp_thumbdn:

I wear my chaps when grinding as stuff can really fly out from under the machine. In my one picture you see the wheel as I have to replace the missing skirt I tore off:msp_ohmy: I also wear a pro rocman helmet with the screen (thanks Bailey's) and gloves.

Pretty much basic stuff is to not have anyone near the machine except for you the operator. A customer I told to step way back and he just would not listen and a chunk hit him dead square in the head and then he left and sat on his patio and watched from a distance.

I would check the condition of the teeth on the grinder you rent. If the don't have much of an edge you will be working harder I would guess on grinding if it is manual swing.

Also spruce/pine trees seem to shred/tear and are much harder to grind out than say a maple of ash tree. I ground out a couple of apple tree stumps and knowing how hard they are I figured they owuld be tough to remove and they were way easier the the spruce /pine trees I have done. Spuce just plain suck unless you have fresh sharp teeth.

 

[struggle]

Here we have a little husky stump grinder and charge 250 and up sometimes we rent a the big one and charge a fortune. Is there many people in your area that stump grind. Check that out and charge accordingly.

You can rent a bandit unit that is manual swing I think for around $125 half day.

I pretty much charge a minimum of $75 for anyone out of town. In town I do better usually as the people want the stuff hauled and filled.

So far I have been doing very well with current rate. Some trees I charge more for if they are big maples as they are like grinding out a volcano below the surface as far the the flare is concerned.

I did bid a stump here in town that was accross from the guy I vought the stump grinder from and the guy gave me some yarn about he was going to ask his kids what they thought about grinding it out.......pretty much I could tell the guy was just lieing. I know more than left and he ran over to the guys house that I bought the stump grinder from and asked him if I was to high and he said my bid was worth every penny I asked for:msp_tongue: Guy never contacted me back which is fien with me. We have few old guys in this town that think they run everyhting including the coffee shop talk. They can kiss my uhm well you know:msp_ohmy:

I will not apologize to those people for my prices. I just tell them they rent them out in Sioux City have at it:biggrinbounce2: