Had fun in the wind today. Felled 9 firs, including one live one that was lodged in another, 7 dead ones and one more live tree. Pat made 7 spear cuts to get the lodged tree to fall free, while I set a line (via Big Shot) in one fir that had a target behind it (a house) The rest we wedged over, if wedges were even needed. All but one were 100-120 footers. A fun two hours...Customer was thrilled. So were we when he gladly peeled off 9 Ben Franklins. So was Pat when I flipped him two of 'em. I was so fast, he only got to fall one of the eight, besides the leaner he took care of. When you're hot, you're hot, eh? Even if I'm due for a rocker, or is it walker......
Heh!
Then, I located a pilot bushing housing for the Bandit 250, that had broken. Found one in Cali, that's being overnighted here. Phew. The Bandit guy had said he could get one by Friday, from Perkins in England. But the Vancouver Wa Perkins dealer said that, other than the part that he managed to locate in Cali, word he'd been told was, that it might be 6 months before the part would be available from England.....Wow. either way, I dodged a bullet. Took the bell housing with the Twin Disc in, to get the end bearing put on, and a missing fitting installed on a new throw out bearing. I think the clutch is fine, they'll let me know for sure tomorrow.
Then, I just heard from another tree service, that the low life who stole 8 saws from me last year, ( I got 4 back) and has just resurfaced, stealing a bunch more stuff from me (some of which I recovered--two lenses worth $1000, compressor, chain saw and Red Max blower--still missing lawn mower, weed eater, and 335 Husky saw), tried to sell Ryan two saws, then threatened him with what could have been a gun or knife when Ryan told him to leave. Ryan called police and filed report. Different town from where my reports have been filed. Detective tells me that they are finally filing felony charges agains the prick...and will hopefully soon be issuing a warrant. There are now 3 separate cases....I'm frankly mighty miffed that it has taken since last August to charge the drug addled low life.
Mid afternoon, I measured and scaled the 5 firs (14 logs) that are waiting for the log trucker, who didn't show (2Moro, I hope!)...and flush cut two stumps, filed the 372 and 346, while I waited for him. Hope to net $600-700 from the logs, which will make that easy day be at $2175-2275....not bad, eh? Looks like 2250 to 2800 board feet....depending on how the scaling goes. medium grade..fir is tough to get much $ from these days.....
Oh, and wiley, we flush cut all the stumps, plus 3 existing ones, ALAP, as the customer can't afford a stump grind right now. It's amazing what a shovel, axe and garden hose will do. Nary a dulled chain.
Great to work for folks so appreciative. All day long they stood outside and watched, not a worried thing, but interested, and as if they were anxious to help if there might be something that they could do.
