Contract climber diaries

@Timber1972,
02835ec7817045933335243a57f423d7.jpg


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
 
Magnum783 said:
@TimBr I think the opposite it gives them the freedom to not worry if it goes over they can figure the price as they dictate what they do. I have been asked to give a day rate and to that I usually reply if I am going to have to estimate how long to do the job I just as well do the whole thing myself
Click to expand...


Thanks for this answer, @Magnum783. It is greatly appreciated.

Tim
 
Most climbers around here get 25-40$ an hour just showing up with their own climbing gear. If anyone shows up to help me we just agree on a price right off the bat and that is what they get paid a day. I base it on 8 hours and provide lunch, gloves, all rigging gear, saws, and pay cash in hand at the end of the day. Its not very often that I hire help but the fews guys I do use are always happy to help. If we get done early they still get paid the same but I won't work them past 8 hours without negotiating it on the spot. I like to do people right.
 
G'day CutHighnLetFly,
I will waffle on a wee bit but lets bear in mind what may apply here in Oz doesn't carry across the pacific.
as a sub contractor I am required at a corporate / government level of contract to have full arb qualifications, my own public liability insurance my own illness/death
my own vehicle insurance and my own health insurance,
have a senior first aid certificate and high risk work licence .
IMG_5767.webp
:D

I have a EWP (elevated work platform) above 100 meters ticket as well as rigging and other qualifications allowing me to do crane work.
 
Last edited:
Stihlmadd said:
G'day CutHighnLetFly,
I will waffle on a wee bit but lets bear in mind what may apply here in Oz doesn't carry across the pacific.
as a sub contractor I am required at a operate / government level of contract to have full arb qualifications, my own public liability insurance my own illness/death
my own vehicle insurance and my own health insurance,
have a senior first aid certificate and high risk work licence .
View attachment 43180
:D

I have a EWP (elevated work platform) above 100 meters ticket as well as rigging and other qualifications allowing me to do crane work.
Click to expand...

Damn, land of Oz keeps shit regulated!
Here on Cape cod, all you need to start is a belt, two lanyards, and a line if shit.
A Blake's hitch puts you one bracket above those guys, a reliable ride is the next step up.
I had one guy call me back and was asking if I have all these certs and gear why don't I just do my own thing.
Didn't want to tell him that instead of trying to outbid and out sell him and everyone else, I'll just dip into everyone's pockets that I can
 
I do not have a written contract with my customers,
I do know of some one who does - jbgrandwazoo on instagram. Jason Brown is his name if any one knows him?

as to damages well that is a grey area.
if you tied it and cut it and your supplied work rope snaps ( has happened to me) or that whoopie sling just can't take one more swing (ditto) then its on my dime.
if something unexpected or could not be reasonably expected at the time of the cut then its a shared cost on a agreed % between the climber and the contractor.
if it is the grounds staff at fault then you can bet your bottom dollar I aint paying nuffin.
this where filming the critical jobs can be invaluable because you have access to the slow motion replay after the event to determine exactly what went wrong when and why .
worth the time and effort on the jobs the contractor has deliberately chosen a sub contract climber on to take the risk off of his own insurance and the blame off his business name.
 
Last edited:
CutHighnLetFly said:
Damn, land of Oz keeps shit regulated!
Here on Cape cod, all you need to start is a belt, two lanyards, and a line if shit.
A Blake's hitch puts you one bracket above those guys, a reliable ride is the next step up.
I had one guy call me back and was asking if I have all these certs and gear why don't I just do my own thing.
Didn't want to tell him that instead of trying to outbid and out sell him and everyone else, I'll just dip into everyone's pockets that I can
Click to expand...

I also have to supply all my own safety gear and ppe work uniform (hi vis) boots etc
 
Stihlmadd said:
I do not have a written contract with my customers,
I do know of some one who does - jbgrandwazoo on instagram. Jason Brown is his name if any one knows him?

as to damages well that is a grey area.
if you tied it and cut it and your supplied work rope snaps ( has happened to me) or that whoopie sling just can't take one more swing (ditto) then its on my dime.
if something unexpected or could not be reasonably expected at the time of the cut then its a shared cost on a agreed % between the climber and the contractor.
if it is the grounds staff at fault then you can bet your bottom dollar I aint paying nuffin.
this where filming the critical jobs can be invaluable because you have access to the slow motion replay after the event to determine exactly what went wrong when and why .
worth the time and effort on this jobs the contractor has deliberately chosen a sub contact climber on to take the risk off of his own insurance and the blame off his business name.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct. Every landscaper around here wants to do tree work... Well sort of. They like to sell crappy work then hire a contract climber to do the work for them. They pay 500 in GL for landscaping and count on the climber to bring the tree GL.
A landscape buddy asked me to give him a price on a large job for a property management company. I did, he adjusted it so he could make some coin too... Then they asked him for proof of GL INS... I laughed when he asked me what he should do and if I could get him a copy of mine for them. He didn't understand how it would look with his name on the bid and mine on the ins.
 
Stihlmadd said:
G'day CutHighnLetFly,
I will waffle on a wee bit but lets bear in mind what may apply here in Oz doesn't carry across the pacific.
as a sub contractor I am required at a corporate / government level of contract to have full arb qualifications, my own public liability insurance my own illness/death
my own vehicle insurance and my own health insurance,
have a senior first aid certificate and high risk work licence .
View attachment 43180
:D

I have a EWP (elevated work platform) above 100 meters ticket as well as rigging and other qualifications allowing me to do crane work.
Click to expand...
Look at that Guy ! You may like your preservation work , but that's a serial tree slayer face if I ever did see ! LOL ! :p:birra:
 
@CutHighnLetFly . I think this game has many comparison to ball. Tree work is team work for sure. Even a star player will only shine when he has the ball ,but once it's in anothers hands the star becomes a spectator. I feel like subbing you play coach and you have to be the star of the show ,not in a glamorous way though per say. Although the rigging lately has heads spinning like a ball at harlem Globetrotter game. Your being brought in to get a job done though safety and speed, so through out thinking and outworking others you will get the shine in your pocket while they just riding pine. I feel like technical tree dismantles and high quality prune work are more like a chess match myself, hard to rely on people you don't know gotta feel them out just like the tree .. then who can make less moves and lose less pieces to get to checkmate is always fun. Then hold out your hand ,Check please!:)
 
CutHighnLetFly said:
Damn, land of Oz keeps shit regulated!
Here on Cape cod, all you need to start is a belt, two lanyards, and a line if shit.
A Blake's hitch puts you one bracket above those guys, a reliable ride is the next step up.
I had one guy call me back and was asking if I have all these certs and gear why don't I just do my own thing.
Didn't want to tell him that instead of trying to outbid and out sell him and everyone else, I'll just dip into everyone's pockets that I can
Click to expand...
THAT is the problem. Go to the local true value hardware and buy a belt, spikes and rope and I are a arbrist.
 
Tyler Durden said:
0916547061c87609e2e031413f2ef9d0.jpg

You can never have enough throw cubes. This looked like the perfect TIP from 50 feet below.
The last thing a contractor wants to see is, his bad ass climber crippled because one of his shiny toys is stuck/jammed.
Click to expand...

Consistency is key with throw line! And you got consistency that day! At least you didn't have to wander around the entire tree getting them unstuck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom