Rope, pole saw/high limb

[Fuddy1952]

I value opinions here from real experience.
Yesterday I cut some oak tree limbs I'm guessing 20 ft. up or more. I used tractor FEL bucket to get me at least 10' up, then a.c. electric pole saw. This is a Harbor Freight $69 special...works but they don't last, I might get 20-30 hours use before they quit.
I have a good (Fiskars I think) hand pole saw.
So two things I'm interested in. One is a rope saw, you toss (a sandbag?) over limb and it has a chainsaw like blade. Then manually saw. The other would be ac, battery or gas powered (Stihl?) longest pole saw.
Thanks any advice/brand.

 

[HCJtractor]

When I go that high, I use a commercial grade telescopic manual saw. Mine is the Silky Hayate. It’s pretty slick, but expensive. But I’ve also used the Stihl version also. But over 20 feet gets tough. The really long gas versions are heavy and I doubt you can even get up to 20 feet. I love my Stihl Kombi. I can easily reach 10’ with it all day long. So what I use is a Kombi for lower limbs and my Hayate for higher ones. If it’s over 20 or 25 feet, I don’t cut it from the ground.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I use an Oregon 18 volt pole saw from a makeshift two story basket that goes on the forks.

Problem is, the higher the limb is, the more likely it is to jam up your saw. Then what? It would be nice if one could angle the bar so you can come straight down.

 

[Diggin It]

I do things a little different sometimes. Got one of these Trimmer Plus pruner add-on for trimmers with shafts that will take extra tools. It comes with the straight black shaft shown plus one extension boom. I gutted the curved shaft from a now-defunct trimmer head and fit it into the pole saw head. It's a quick screw or three to go back to the straight shaft as needed. Still limited to around 10-15' based on how high you can lift the whole thing once assembled, and it does got a little difficult to manage. Better than the blade/rope type pole saws for lower branches, but doesn't have their reach for higher ones.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Last night I got this one from Lowes, 10% off because it was a display so $90. A.C. which I like, you can adjust angle or disconnect as a chainsaw. 10" blade, 11ft.

Now I need one of those rope manual ones you toss over a limb.

https://m.lowes.com/pd/Remington-10...LaaePMLAXDhOoQXAKDdZ7LOGgTVE_vIBoCjaEQAvD_BwE

 

[Wakey]

for severing your limbs.

^^

The sandbag and string cutter seems problematic assuming you will be under the limb.

I have the Black and Decker pole saw and it's great for touch up work. For the bulk of my pruning I rented the Stihl and it worked great but it is heavy. I actually took Ibuprofen that weekend :laughing:

Mostly I used a 10' A-Frame ladder if needed and a few times, an extension ladder. It's dangerous, many times I stood on the ground going over my options to be sure I knew how it would play out.

I use an Oregon 18 volt pole saw from a makeshift two story basket that goes on the forks.

Problem is, the higher the limb is, the more likely it is to jam up your saw. Then what? It would be nice if one could angle the bar so you can come straight down.

Did you cut a wedge on the bottom of the limbs before cutting from the top? This worked pretty good for me but that is why I needed the Ibuprofen. It's easy to rest the bar on the top of the limb, not so easy pushing up from the bottom.

8 years ago on a different property I took a bunch of trees up to 20' with ladders and a chainsaw. Not recommended..

 

[Wakey]

Also, something I found using my battery pole saw is to rotate my wrist, side to side. It makes the cut a bit wider and seems to make things go smoother.

 

[Industrial Toys]

How can you cut a wedge with the tip of the saw? I love that saw and even like using it just to walk around cutting stuff at ground level, but it does not have a lot of power and will stall easily if you don't have control over the agressiveness.

 

[ededic]

Save a life, use your chain saw and rent a man lift. You can rent them by the day on a trailer cheaper than a pole saw.

 

[Diggin It]

Save a life, use your chain saw and rent a man lift. You can rent them by the day on a trailer cheaper than a pole saw.

Where? My pole saws ran between $25 and $100 each and I have them at my disposal whenever I get the whim to use them. Man lift runs $260/day plus delivery and has to be scheduled usually at least a week in advance.

 

[ededic]

I’m not talking about a manual pole saw and also not standing under the limb. Maybe should have included Dr bills in the equation. Anytime you can be at level or above limb the better.

 

[newbury]

To the OP -
Obviously you are a frugal person (I'm called a cheap b#strd).
I've a 17' or 20' manual pole saw which is a good cutter but VERY TIRING to use at max distance. And generally, several years after the first trimming I've got to go back and trim again.
And I've LOTS of trees that need trimming. Tress that brush up against buildings, trees dangling over my lanes etc. Some are way out there, some are not.

To add to my manual pole saw I bought an Echo PPt280 with 4/ extension, it reaches out.
Thread here.
Here's a pic of my son using it WITHOUT the extension.


WITH extension it is a beast to handle (try holding a 2 gallon jug out at the end of a 15' pole). But what I've done is sort of walk it up the tree, rest it on the limb to be cut, then give it the gas.
Note that echo usually offers 20% discounts at their dealers ONCE a year and cycle the sale through different dealers geographically.
Chainsaws, Trimmers, Blowers, Edgers and Outdoor Power Equipment | ECHO USA

And then to add to my arsenal I bought the HF Lynxx battery operated. This is wonderful for my "lane trimming", I just sit on my M4700, drive down the lane a bit, trim a tree, move on. Feel like a knight with a jousting lance. I think a good DIY'er could add in a long extension and make it a 15' pruner.

Save a life, use your chain saw and rent a man lift. You can rent them by the day on a trailer cheaper than a pole saw.

It's your money, you do it that way. For me to rent a man lift it's 4 hours of driving, don't think they deliver, and I'm at their whim and the weather's. I like to be able to look out and see it's good weather for pruning and get er' done.

Where? My pole saws ran between $25 and $100 each and I have them at my disposal whenever I get the whim to use them. Man lift runs $260/day plus delivery and has to be scheduled usually at least a week in advance.

Yup.

I知 not talking about a manual pole saw and also not standing under the limb. Maybe should have included Dr bills in the equation. Anytime you can be at level or above limb the better.

Gee, I'm glad you mentioned not standing under the limb. We are all too stupid too think of that.
Just make sure you don't get hit.

And note that a GOOD manual pole saw may cost a lot. A silky or Jameson can run well over $300.

 

[newbury]

I use an Oregon 18 volt pole saw from a makeshift two story basket that goes on the forks.

Problem is, the higher the limb is, the more likely it is to jam up your saw. Then what? It would be nice if one could angle the bar so you can come straight down.

There are a couple of saws that the head is angled and I think at least one it is adjustable..

 

[ededic]

To the OP -
Obviously you are a frugal person (I'm called a cheap b#strd).
I've a 17' or 20' manual pole saw which is a good cutter but VERY TIRING to use at max distance. And generally, several years after the first trimming I've got to go back and trim again.
And I've LOTS of trees that need trimming. Tress that brush up against buildings, trees dangling over my lanes etc. Some are way out there, some are not.

To add to my manual pole saw I bought an Echo PPt280 with 4/ extension, it reaches out.
Thread here.
Here's a pic of my son using it WITHOUT the extension.
View attachment 566846

WITH extension it is a beast to handle (try holding a 2 gallon jug out at the end of a 15' pole). But what I've done is sort of walk it up the tree, rest it on the limb to be cut, then give it the gas.
Note that echo usually offers 20% discounts at their dealers ONCE a year and cycle the sale through different dealers geographically.
Chainsaws, Trimmers, Blowers, Edgers and Outdoor Power Equipment | ECHO USA

And then to add to my arsenal I bought the HF Lynxx battery operated. This is wonderful for my "lane trimming", I just sit on my M4700, drive down the lane a bit, trim a tree, move on. Feel like a knight with a jousting lance. I think a good DIY'er could add in a long extension and make it a 15' pruner.


It's your money, you do it that way. For me to rent a man lift it's 4 hours of driving, don't think they deliver, and I'm at their whim and the weather's. I like to be able to look out and see it's good weather for pruning and get er' done.


Yup.


Gee, I'm glad you mentioned not standing under the limb. We are all too stupid too think of that.
Just make sure you don't get hit.

And note that a GOOD manual pole saw may cost a lot. A silky or Jameson can run well over $300.

Never meant imply anyone was stupid here. I learn a lot from this list and have never done anything but talk about the things I have already done that are related to OP topics.

I rented a trailer man-lift for $182 per day to build my house, less by the week. The reach can keep you out of harms way especially with unwieldy branches.

Everyone has there own way, this is just another option.

 

[Wakey]

How can you cut a wedge with the tip of the saw? I love that saw and even like using it just to walk around cutting stuff at ground level, but it does not have a lot of power and will stall easily if you don't have control over the agressiveness.

As long as you can give it a score of some sort it will help. I DO use ladders as I've said. Try wriggling your wrist too (hope that makes sense). It makes a slightly wider cut than the bar and chain usually make when cutting.

 

[ultrarunner]

Didn't have a camera yesterday but saw two guys with a TLB and pallet forks... and about 12 pallets to make a platform with one guy up on top with a chain saw and the forks raised up as high as possible.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I'm really pleased with the Remington electric pole saw. I cut some great big limbs easily. It's heavy but that's an advantage cutting through and it detaches to make an electric chainsaw.
I also ordered a rope saw, Amazon.

 

[Coyote machine]

One doesn't really need a wedge as an undercut. Depending on the distance, angle of the saw to the branch, etc., one can flip the saw over and do a single undercut from the ground, close to the tree trunk, but not too close. The chain will tend to push the saw back toward you when running upside down, but with proper footing one can be prepared.
A single undercut will allow the branch to fall to the cut and not strip bark off the tree as it falls. Another method is to cut the branch away from the trunk, regular cut, saw bar right side up, and then make a second final cut(s) closer to the trunk with the branch/leader already on the ground.
I wouldn't suggest using the bar/chain tip area to make undercuts. A few inches back from the bar tip is better to maintain control of the saw and cut.
I have a couple of manual pole saws, Fiskars and other brands, and a couple of Echo split boom pole saws with 10" bar/chains. All my saw saws are Stihl...see list below.