Getting burnt out>>>>help please!

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe in your area there is a shortage of good climbers but here there are plenty

[/ QUOTE ]

Dout it, sounds to me he's a bser.

[ QUOTE ]
I climb a couple times a month for these guys, I charge them 65$ an hour. I wouldn't bother for 25-30$/hr

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats cuase Brendon V is the man we all know just how much work you can do in a day with a f 350. Roll that 8 yard chip truck. LMAO. your a joke.

Please just do your main job and help us out when we get hurt. Do your super tree jobs on the side 1-2 days aweek.

[/ QUOTE ]

And your a punk, and we all know that.
tongue.gif


I musta made an impression on you though, since you remember what I do an what I have down to the T.
grin.gif


I smile when I ride away in my F350 with two yards of chip and a fat check in my pocket.

It's even more awesome when I fit the mini loader back there with it all too.
 

Attachments

  • 233343-5-21-2010005.webp
    233343-5-21-2010005.webp
    84.4 KB · Views: 63
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[we all know just how much work you can do in a day with a f 350. Roll that 8 yard chip truck. LMAO. your a joke.

[/ QUOTE ]

hahahahahahahahahaha! Holly, you buying into the 'more stuff taken out' thing now too?

Some of my best days have been when I drive away with a little teeny load, but climbed all day to make it. Granted, a chip truck would be nice to have if it followed me around all the time, but don't disparage us high end arbos just 'cuz you can't make a grand or two without filling up a big truck vroom vroom.

What kind of chip truck do you own, Hollister?

-Tom

[/ QUOTE ]

Word.

Hollister doesn't own a truck, he get's flown in personal aircraft because he's so super.
 
You're burned out. You have a reliable income that will allow you to take time off. Take the time off. You'll be refreshed and ready to get back to the work when you're ready. The work will still be there for you. Most of us don't have the choice you're able to make.

It has taken me about 2-3 weeks to begin to physically recover from doing tree work weekly. I found this out by "accident". I was rip roaring to go when I returned to work. I felt stronger, had more energy, my head was clear, and my attitude was better. Take a break, or shut up and climb the trees.

Since you're from Michigan and working in Ash trees killed by eab, how about sharing some of you're experiences with those of us who're just starting to face this problem. I'm looking at things from the climber's perspective as are others. Some things I'm interested in knowing are: the trees reaction to rigging once dead; were there any experiences you had which caught you off guard like limbs breaking or limbs not breaking when rigging? Does the bark peel off the trees when rigging or spiking them? Do the infestations kill the lower or upper part of the tree 1st in many cases? How does this affect our abilities to rig over obstacles? A new thread needs to be started to keep our experiences documented and easily accessible.

Good luck.

Joe

Edited to correct spelling errors.
 
[ QUOTE ]

Since you're from Michigan and working in Ash trees killed by eab, how about sharing some of you're experiences with those of us who're just starting to face this problem. I'm looking at things from the climber's perspective as are others. Some things I'm interested in knowing are: the trees reaction to rigging once dead; were there any experiences you had which caught you off guard like limbs breaking or limbs not breaking when rigging? Does the bark peel off the trees when rigging or spiking them? Do the infestations kill the lower or upper part of the tree 1st in many cases? How does this affect our abilities to rig over obsticles? A new thread needs to be started to keep our experiences documented and easily accessible.


[/ QUOTE ]

X2.
Yes please. EAB is about 20 miles away here...
 
I feel like dead ash trees are just dead ash trees to me now. I dont trust them any further than I can throw them, and I cant pick them up. The bottom is attacked first, sometimes you wont have any bark at the base of the tree untill 20-30ft up. Its not to bad spikeing threw the bark because its thin enough. I usally dont venture to far from the trunk or main limbs, because even limb walking...the tip your tied into isnt the most ensureing thing! When theres any movement from rigging or dropping they just blow up and make a mess. If you ever rig a decent log and slap them against the trunk take cover because the tips always break off and shower you. A couple of the bigger outfits around here have policies that prohibit a climber in any ash tree thats been dead longer than 2years, there was some info(I forgot where) about cases where the ash trees where breaking off about 4-5ft from the base! Most people dont have you cut them down when there dieing, they wait for a couple of years! I just did 12 dead ash trees on thursday last week. You'll get alot of apt complexs and condos wanting all there dead ash taken down, not uncommon to have between 100-200 dead ash trees in a week to cut down on those jobs. I have a few good pictures of dead ash trees. One with a huge tree house 30ft up with no bark and a deck around it, with nothing in the tip to tie to. Used a crane for that one, I was suprised how far I could walk out on the dead limbs(knowing I was tied into the crane)....but i learned my lesson on day one about posting pictures on here lol...so in short you probaly wont cut many that are dieing, you'll cut alot when they have been dead in 2-3years.
 
Also the city of East Lansing, MI home of MSU college has a great cert arbos and forestry program, the city I heard is now writing tickets to home owners for dangerous dead ash trees. So things are picking up there. Also if you get to the 4-5year dead ones, expect to bottom out your spikes in them, there nasty. FYI im sure to someone on here I have no idea what im talking about, and im 100% wrong! So skip the bad mouthing, because it really dosent encourage anyone to respond or share info (which i thought is the reason there are forums?) Im willing to share any info deemed valuable to those that are interested. Thanks.
 
the roots rot out on the ashes and they fall right over. I haven't done an ash almost all year now. the ones that are left are too sketchy.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Sounds like a break is in order.

Is it stressful to show up on game day for your first look at a tree?

I just did my first contract climbing job, and it was pretty much the first time that I didn't have the opportunity to see the tree while bidding, and having some time to mull it over before climbing. It gives me time to feel comfortable, and figure the most efficient way, balanced with safest way to get the tree down.

Might it help on some sketchy trees to visit before the work day?

[/ QUOTE ]

This is a very good point!

You contract climbers don't usually get to think about a tree for very long, you show up and do it. That's got to be much harder.

Although, I know if really big technical rigging ones, the smart company would pull in the contract climber and look at the tree during the estimate to brainstorm it and get a plan an estimated time.

The other negative thing about contract climbing would be working with a different groundcrew each time. But it sounds like you've taken care of that bringing your own guy, that sounds smart. yeah the $65-75 makes a bit more sense now.

Tom, I didn't think I was being too hard on him. I re-read my post to check. Yeah, sometimes I'm not too sensitive on the buzz. I kinda thought wording things like I did would help him to get back to work when it's time, more than hurt him.

I'm sorry if I was a big meanie, I really didn't think I was.
 
Well, he's not pissed, so I guess it's all good!

I agree with the point about seeing the tree first. The old schoolers bossing you around in the tree had the opportunity to see it first, and as a result, they have their own ideas of how it should be done, whereas you're figuring it on the fly.

If I am not the climber, I usually defer to their judgement or at least discuss options before making a call.

-Tom
 
So if you go out as a contract climber to look at the job ahead, do you get paid for that time too. If it takes 4 hours to do the tree and 1 1/2 too look at it ahead whats the pay?
At $25 per hour for a contract climber 40 hours a week is $52000 per year. Take out insurance fuel equipment. Is that a fair annual salary in your area.....Thats what you need to look at in your area.
 
For the CC, you can at least ask/ make the expectation that the salesman takes digital photos and emails them in advance. Not perfect, but better than nothing. Making the point that the more prepared the climber is on game day, the faster and more confident the climber is, should help the hiring company take the extra 10 minutes-15 minutes to take pictures, download, and email. Probably way less with a smart phone. Also this affords some protection for both the tree service and CC for bogus claims of damage if before pictures are present.
 
Allmark that is just the point. I do little things here and there but why make a living at it when your steady gig can pay 50-60 a yr steady. If there is a market for 75 an hr climbers then point me in that direction. But I think the reality of working full time is the real question. What happens when work is slow and only the full timers work. I always feel if you are not making money you are spending it. If boogie is feeling all jazzed up for whatever reason, pick one or two steady guys and stay with them for a more reasonable rate and a better relationship and understanding. Believe me I have had those crazy days working for 4 or so guys ina given week, getting crazy, training guys, wondering what was going to happen next. Not a very good feeling.
 
I think a lot of it is lifestyle choice. For me when I was contract climbing i did it precisely because I did not want a 9 to 5. I wanted to pursue other interests as wie It was great. Now I have my own operation and I have a 7 to 7 gig that doesn't pay very well. damn it.
 
i did the formula mark is stating when i got hired on with the company that i'm with now and net the same thing i did contract climbing/business owner with nicer equipment (ie loader trucks, cranes,and bob cats) and less responsibility, plus i work with the same guys everyday and i get overtime.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I musta made an impression on you though, since you remember what I do an what I have down to the T.

[/ QUOTE ]
Nay, I just recall that Sanford and son mini dump truck and laughing my arse off when you was bragging about it.

[ QUOTE ]
What kind of chip truck do you own, Hollister?

-Tom


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Word.

Hollister doesn't own a truck, he get's flown in personal aircraft because he's so super.


[/ QUOTE ]

None gave that up afew years ago, to much trouble to deal with no shows, guys that talk the game and can't do crap, some jobs I'd lose my mind bid for me to do and forget someone like Brendon was doing it. For a time LMAO I showed up in a KIA sportage, now it a Quest mini van, the real funny is I bet I cleared the same if not more then both ya.

[ QUOTE ]
Allmark that is just the point. I do little things here and there but why make a living at it when your steady gig can pay 50-60 a yr steady. If there is a market for 75 an hr climbers then point me in that direction.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd have to get much better first, I knid of know from facts here tough guy. Plus the piont of bringing in your own ground guy would make much more sence. If a Guy in New England is telling you he's make 60 an hour it's cuase the cost of living up there is more than yours. I turely doubt it's cuase he is that much better, if better at all. I seen alot of guys work, some that claim to be, some that are put on the post as the best guys around, know what, they are really good at comps but when it comes to the money they aint no faster then most others. Keep in mind it's very easy to climb a pruned out tree, put that same climb in a 120 year old pin oak thats never been pruned, you'll see he can't just run out on that limb like he did saturday.


Either stick with it, cuase it's just a phase your hitting, or bail and take care of the drunk drivers that crash. It's knid of like weight training you hit a wall, you either push through it or you don't. To whine, it's really what your doing,? then I'd say you hit your piont go back to your full time and do it part time. You'll find you enjoy it again.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I musta made an impression on you though, since you remember what I do an what I have down to the T.

[/ QUOTE ]
Nay, I just recall that Sanford and son mini dump truck and laughing my arse off when you was bragging about it.

[/ QUOTE ]


Hahaha sorry Bendov, I don't know you, but that's funny. That's why some of us like Hollen on here.
laughabove.gif


[ QUOTE ]
What kind of chip truck do you own, Hollister?

-Tom


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Word.

Hollister doesn't own a truck, he get's flown in personal aircraft because he's so super.


[/ QUOTE ]

None gave that up afew years ago, to much trouble to deal with no shows, guys that talk the game and can't do crap, some jobs I'd lose my mind bid for me to do and forget someone like Brendon was doing it. For a time LMAO I showed up in a KIA sportage, now it a Quest mini van, the real funny is I bet I cleared the same if not more then both ya.

[ QUOTE ]
Allmark that is just the point. I do little things here and there but why make a living at it when your steady gig can pay 50-60 a yr steady. If there is a market for 75 an hr climbers then point me in that direction.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd have to get much better first, I knid of know from facts here tough guy. Plus the piont of bringing in your own ground guy would make much more sence. If a Guy in New England is telling you he's make 60 an hour it's cuase the cost of living up there is more than yours. I turely doubt it's cuase he is that much better, if better at all. I seen alot of guys work, some that claim to be, some that are put on the post as the best guys around, know what, they are really good at comps but when it comes to the money they aint no faster then most others. Keep in mind it's very easy to climb a pruned out tree, put that same climb in a 120 year old pin oak thats never been pruned, you'll see he can't just run out on that limb like he did saturday.


Either stick with it, cuase it's just a phase your hitting, or bail and take care of the drunk drivers that crash. It's knid of like weight training you hit a wall, you either push through it or you don't. To whine, it's really what your doing,? then I'd say you hit your piont go back to your full time and do it part time. You'll find you enjoy it again.

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I have been offered $80 an hour to climb and give up my business...

Me and my diehard guys have type X blood and we aren't quiting yet. And I say screw you to the big companies that want to buy us out!

Ed's pretty cool, he's helped us out a bit and he does a decent job trimming too, not just filling our 40 yard chip box. He's a good production climber. A real worker, not just a forum junkie talking smack that can't back it up, like a lot of you S.O.B.s.

Actually, I shouldn't say this probably, but he's the only guy I've hired in the 15 years of being in business that can consistantly get jobs done in the time that I quoted for me to do them.

He's not perfect.... If he was perfect, he wouldn't smoke cigs on the job and he would also be a hot female model that would give me pleasures on the side.
grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
None gave that up afew years ago, to much trouble to deal with no shows, guys that talk the game and can't do crap, some jobs I'd lose my mind bid for me to do and forget someone like Brendon was doing it. For a time LMAO I showed up in a KIA sportage, now it a Quest mini van, the real funny is I bet I cleared the same if not more then both ya.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm glad you're raking it in as a CC, but you don't really have any business busting cubes about other people's chip trucks when you drive a minivan. I can't even believe you admitted that.

-Tom
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom