Groundskeeper Rake

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  • #26
I was only kidding, I dont mind raking... although the 'disheartening bit' rings true, seeing a guy put in 30 years only to get hit in the face with brush every day at the chipper isnt exactly encouraging.

I love what I do, the whole package and all, but I hope I am not chipping past 50.

Like Stephen says I make an hourly rate loading logs or pushing a rake it makes no difference.
 
arborworks1 said:
Y'all need to learn to use your bp blower in combination with your gk rake....
Remember people don't give a shit that you removed a 20,000 pound tree, made it fit in a 4x4 hole in the landscape. They only remember the condition that you left the property in.
Click to expand...

I absolutely 100% agree. No one gives a crap what cut you used in the tree, or how you nearly got your ankles smashed butt hitching down logs. Nope. They care what they're yard looks like when you are done. They far prefer to hear about your modified rakes then modified chainsaws. That's how amateur and half assed climbers and tree companies get sway with murder and bizarre methods in the tree. As long as they're job was left perfect, most folks are happy with them.
 
Way too egalitarian for me. I get done with the felling or the climbing and then lay out on the tailgate of my pickup and tease the grunts 'til they hate me...now that's fun!!

8)
;)
 
Nick, you gotta remember, we are all tree workers. Even the best of us need to lend a hand cleaning up if we are truly focused on getting the job done. Except subs of course. Subs are usually a hired gun to kill the beast and walk away. They're not a team player though usually. They're an independent entity coming in and specializing in one part of the process. But IMO, anyone on the clock full time, be it a climber or groundman, best be doing something to keep the job rolling after the tree is in the ground. On my jobs, no one is above helping the job along.
 
Absolutely right, Chris.

I used to use Ames rakes. They work well with a couple minor modifications. I keep one on the truck in case I need it once in a while, although I rarely deal with cleanup any more.

Nick, that's part of the deal working for Big Green. There's good and bad, so either accept it all or else plan on learning what you can until the day you decide to leave. You need a long term plan of either building a career there or else using your time with them as a stepping stone. Never just resign yourself to being stuck in a rut.
 
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  • #34
I am playing it cool right now, making connections and laying the groundwork. The plan is to stick around for a few years at the very least and then if there is an opportunity make a move, otherwise strike out on my own.
 
Nick I wasn't suggesting you aren't a team player. I apologize if I made you think that. I meant to explain my feelings on deva climbers that lay in the truck when the tree is on the ground.
 
As a climber though, I do take my sweet ass time chilling out for a bit when I get out of the tree. I expect anyone to. I typically come down, chill in the truck, used to smoke a cig, check my phone, snack, play the radio quietly..... After a bit I roll out of the truck and get into the game again. As the climber and boss, I feel its important to do grunt work as well. It let's my guys know I'm dealing with the same bullshit headaches they are, and then some.
 
I agree everyone better chip in. When the guys bitch about me leaving them to go on bids, I usually get out of the truck, start helping out, when one of them asks why I'm still here. I usally smart off about how getting this job done quicker is more important than working next week!!
 
Tucker943 said:
As a climber though, I do take my sweet ass time chilling out for a bit when I get out of the tree. I expect anyone to. I typically come down, chill in the truck, used to smoke a cig, check my phone, snack, play the radio quietly..... After a bit I roll out of the truck and get into the game again. As the climber and boss, I feel its important to do grunt work as well. It let's my guys know I'm dealing with the same bullshit headaches they are, and then some.
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Like minds
I am not going to ask anyone to do what I have not or won't.
 
arborworks1 said:
Y'all need to learn to use your bp blower in combination with your gk rake....
Remember people don't give a shit that you removed a 20,000 pound tree, made it fit in a 4x4 hole in the landscape. They only remember the condition that you left the property in.
Click to expand...

Amen!
Though I have wondered if these rakes are worth it. I have seen a ACE Hardware knockoff for $15.
 
arborworks1 said:
Y'all need to learn to use your bp blower in combination with your gk rake....
Remember people don't give a shit that you removed a 20,000 pound tree, made it fit in a 4x4 hole in the landscape. They only remember the condition that you left the property in.
Click to expand...

This is how we roll also. Total quality management. Did you take the course?
 
I am finding that as you grow you do less clean up since there are bids to be done. Now less time on the job period.
 
sotc said:
I am finding that as you grow you do less clean up since there are bids to be done. Now less time on the job period.
Click to expand...

This is how I have been rolling lately: you have a falling/climbing crew in a truck/lift depending on the jobs lined up for the day, a chip truck, and a mini/stumping/racking crew in another truck. The tree comes down everybody helps on the major clean up and once that is done the falling/climbing crew is off to the next while, well, you get the picture. Then by the time they get onsite there is stuff on the ground and back to work helping out the chip truck. I have found it to save about 1/2 to 1 man hour a day which is about break even in cost for the third trucks fuel, but it is more time for running esties at the end of the day as opposed to eating into family time.
I can't compromise on the clean up the job has to "look like it never happened".
 
CurSedVoyce said:
A lot depends on what you are raking. For sticks, pine needles and clean up around the chipper, I swear by these from Lowes.
049206191396xl.jpg


http://www.lowes.com/pd_304459-302-1913951_4294936085__?productId=3066473&Ntt=rakes

Then the blower comes out.
Click to expand...
I got one exactly like that .Got a couple blowers too.

I don't have too good of luck with those 6 dollar steel tined types
 
I don't know but that one is a pretty tough rake .

Toms crew likes the ones made of bamboo .They go through a bunch of them though in a season .Seems what doesn't get worn out gets mashed by a truck like the saws and blowers .:lol:
 
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