jigs_n_fixtures
Veteran Member
Amazon has a Silky Pole Saw listed. The $499 price will send most folks looking for something else.
Tree pruning in the PNW
- Thread starter w7dms
- Start date
- Views: 4147
-
- Tags
- auto-moderated tree
grsthegreat
Super Star Member
Hillbilly hall of fame
Sprinkler Fitter
Platinum Member
Another call, a couple guys had to be the first on the lake to ice fish, they went through the ice, we risked our lives for 20 minutes dragging and looking for a person, luckily one of the accesses to the lake was at a bar, fire trucks didn’t go on the ice so they were talking with the bar owner and found out the guys made it out and were in the bar drinking.
Or the drunk guy you are using the jaws of life to cut him out of a car and he is cussing us out like it is our fault he crashed his car.
Shawn T. W.
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2025
- Messages
- 1,029
- Location
- SW Missouri Ozarks
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB - Kubota L5030 - John Deere Z960M
Actually I don't have a wife or kids ...
And the whole point of this thread was the OP showed a away that he was using his tractor to help him ... He never said anything to the effect of "I'm kinda new at this, is this the best way to do it?"
Neither did I or the other guy that posted using his loader with a picture ...
Yes, I see accidents everyday ... Will it cause my insurance or taxes to go up, yes, probably will ... But what's crying about it on a forum gonna do?
Who knows ... The OP may be in the hospital at this very moment from falling off his ladder or cut himself ... That's his problem and I doubt anything anyone says will cause him to change his tree trimming process ...
I've found that when giving advise when asked goes along ways, but otherwise I'm usually wasting my breath ... People tend to do what they want, I just wish more would be willing to be held accountable for there actions!
And the whole point of this thread was the OP showed a away that he was using his tractor to help him ... He never said anything to the effect of "I'm kinda new at this, is this the best way to do it?"
Neither did I or the other guy that posted using his loader with a picture ...
Yes, I see accidents everyday ... Will it cause my insurance or taxes to go up, yes, probably will ... But what's crying about it on a forum gonna do?
Who knows ... The OP may be in the hospital at this very moment from falling off his ladder or cut himself ... That's his problem and I doubt anything anyone says will cause him to change his tree trimming process ...
I've found that when giving advise when asked goes along ways, but otherwise I'm usually wasting my breath ... People tend to do what they want, I just wish more would be willing to be held accountable for there actions!
Little Red Tractor
Platinum Member
I have done a lot of things that most would consider risky: cutting trees while on ladders, etc.--my crowing achievement was jumping one building to another to keep someone from jumping off...what was I thinking?!?!?!--and I lived through it all. Now, I try to keep both feet on something solid. for pruning trees like that, I've rented a portable lift--yes, I'm big on renting things that make my life easier. A few hours in a lift if a joy compared to juggling ladders, and a lot safter...though I like the ingenuity of the tractor mounted ladder. It does look stable.
Problem is the judicial and political powers that be will not allow us to look at the person that just played blackjack with Darwin and say "bye bye", just die and go away. Society has to take care of them. Society is another word for your tax dollars and SSDI and insurance rates. Furu
sounds like you have an axe to grind. please explain your resentment of society addressing sometimes foolish & dangerous actions of others. by nature, we make mistakes, what is your point and solution to addressing emergencies of others within our first responder system? blaming government while they bleed? regards
sounds like you have an axe to grind. please explain your resentment of society addressing sometimes foolish & dangerous actions of others. by nature, we make mistakes, what is your point and solution to addressing emergencies of others within our first responder system? blaming government while they bleed? regards
Mcdust
Bronze Member
Good on you! I hate going up a ladder leaned against a tree, which way is it going to slide and spin me off. This looks as safe as you can get with what you have. Nothing can move ,no creeping hydraulic, ladder stabilized, I'm not sure what the fuss is about??
1Mech
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2022
- Messages
- 397
- Location
- Sand Springs, OK & Yellville, AR
- Tractor
- International B414
In 2024 39,345 people woke up and sometime during their day went outside walking or driving, never expecting, it would be the last time they wake up in this world! 39,345, that is how many people died in highway/traffic related incidents across the United States in 2024. Everything we do in our lives involves a choice; some we make in a thinking manner, others just happen.
I am a firm believer in one does not die until ones appointed time to die, but that doesn't mean you cannot get hurt long before then and wish you were dead! Let's all be as safe as we can be, making wise choices while doing our work, observant and aware of what is going on around us, so that we can be present for our spouse, our children and our friends.
I am a firm believer in one does not die until ones appointed time to die, but that doesn't mean you cannot get hurt long before then and wish you were dead! Let's all be as safe as we can be, making wise choices while doing our work, observant and aware of what is going on around us, so that we can be present for our spouse, our children and our friends.
You obviously have a reading comprehension issue as you did not read and comprehend what was posted. Not going to waste my time trying to help you with that endeavor.
Runner
Elite Member
- Joined
- May 12, 2007
- Messages
- 3,924
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- 2024 Cub Cadet Ultima ZTXS5 54, 2007 John Deere 2520, 1989 John Deere 185, 1960 Panzer T70B
I sometimes employ a similar method, except I use a step ladder in a trailer, stabilized by ratchet straps. Piccy shows my 8 foot ladder, but sometimes I lean my 10 foot step ladder up against the mesh ramp on the back and secure it with ratchet straps and clamps.
It ain't the best way to do it, but much more stable than just trying to use the ladder supported directly on the ground.
A typical place I might use this rig is the tree in the background just left of the nose of the tractor. That tree is so small, there is no good way to climb it with my climbing gear and it has lots of dead twigs waaaaay out on the ends of the branches that are too high to reach with the pole saw alone.
In a situation like that shown in the OP, I would just use my climbing gear and Echo CS271T to remove the branches. Industry standard (in US) for arborist rope climbing and pruning (assuming using only the rope to climb and not spurs) is to be "double tied-in" before using the saw. An example of being "double tied in would be as shown in the photo in post #25. where the climber is supported by a Moving Rope System rig tied in higher up in the tree AND the lanyard going from his belt around the tree.
I probably wouldn't try (or have any reason to try) to cut any large branches using the ladder method, just because I wouldn't want to get knocked off the ladder.
It ain't the best way to do it, but much more stable than just trying to use the ladder supported directly on the ground.
A typical place I might use this rig is the tree in the background just left of the nose of the tractor. That tree is so small, there is no good way to climb it with my climbing gear and it has lots of dead twigs waaaaay out on the ends of the branches that are too high to reach with the pole saw alone.
In a situation like that shown in the OP, I would just use my climbing gear and Echo CS271T to remove the branches. Industry standard (in US) for arborist rope climbing and pruning (assuming using only the rope to climb and not spurs) is to be "double tied-in" before using the saw. An example of being "double tied in would be as shown in the photo in post #25. where the climber is supported by a Moving Rope System rig tied in higher up in the tree AND the lanyard going from his belt around the tree.
I probably wouldn't try (or have any reason to try) to cut any large branches using the ladder method, just because I wouldn't want to get knocked off the ladder.
Last edited:
Shawn T. W.
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2025
- Messages
- 1,029
- Location
- SW Missouri Ozarks
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB - Kubota L5030 - John Deere Z960M
I got a little battery saw, I wanted to see what it could do ... Had this branch hanging over my lawn and the the fence ... Top of ladder is 8', the platform is at 6' ...
The thicker part of the branch I didn't want to fall on the fence, or the ladder! So I positioned my forks to "catch it"!
My pole pruner has a 10" bar, this saw is 12" ... And the pruner has a less powerful motor ... Not sure I want to use a hand powered one either ...
I did even die, or fall down or get cut ... Overall a good day!
The electric is lighter, and a thinner chain it cuts probably better than my old tired gasser, which has a 16" bar ... I actually like the little battery saw better, (less vibration!) and the matching pole pruner!
The thicker part of the branch I didn't want to fall on the fence, or the ladder! So I positioned my forks to "catch it"!
My pole pruner has a 10" bar, this saw is 12" ... And the pruner has a less powerful motor ... Not sure I want to use a hand powered one either ...
I did even die, or fall down or get cut ... Overall a good day!
The electric is lighter, and a thinner chain it cuts probably better than my old tired gasser, which has a 16" bar ... I actually like the little battery saw better, (less vibration!) and the matching pole pruner!
Last edited:
Good write up & images. yeah, looks like you pay attn to safety w/good equip. i definitely like having 2 pro saws as well, ms 260 & 460. my Stihl pole pruner is a winner, can reach about 12' w/my short height.
my biggest safety hazard? i work solitary, but keep attn to the safety police around me. regards btw are you a trucker?
my biggest safety hazard? i work solitary, but keep attn to the safety police around me. regards btw are you a trucker?
Shawn T. W.
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2025
- Messages
- 1,029
- Location
- SW Missouri Ozarks
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson GC 1725 MB - Kubota L5030 - John Deere Z960M
Yeah, that's what I 'm in the sleeper of right now ...
I don't have the 2' extension for the pruner, they didn't have it in stock when I bought it, not sure if I'm gonna get it now or not ...
Did use the saw a little on this one, but no ladder needed ... As It just needed to clear my cab tractor ...
I don't go out of my way to see if I can hurt myself ... But it does happen by accident sometimes ...I'm all alone, and prefer it that way .
I don't have the 2' extension for the pruner, they didn't have it in stock when I bought it, not sure if I'm gonna get it now or not ...
Did use the saw a little on this one, but no ladder needed ... As It just needed to clear my cab tractor ...
I don't go out of my way to see if I can hurt myself ... But it does happen by accident sometimes ...I'm all alone, and prefer it that way .
jigs_n_fixtures
Veteran Member
I'm seeing a lot of pictures of step ladders being used for working on trees. If your on uneven ground you should use an orchard ladder. They have a wider base and a single front support so you end up with a far more stable tripod ladder.
well the Ozarks are a good place to be, i'm south in the Boston Mts of the chain.
working solitary of course is dangerous if something happens, but sometimes working alone makes a person even more safety conscious. if a ladder's secured, then it's all up to the operator.
working solitary of course is dangerous if something happens, but sometimes working alone makes a person even more safety conscious. if a ladder's secured, then it's all up to the operator.
m5040
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 1,024
- Location
- CT
- Tractor
- Kubota M6040 L2250, JohnDeere 310D, Ford 841 Elenco, Ford 961, Trapmaster, PT180 w/LM bucket and 45" brush cutter, PT1430 Deutz w/grapple bucket, Antonio Carraro Tigrecar 6500. John Deere 5300. Former owned Steiner 430 max, Goldoni REV Maxter 7
I restored the 30' ladder on a 50s military telephone maintenance truck. It worked great until my knees didn't like the limb, especially if you drop something. Then I bought a hyd manlift and this has sat for 15 years, now I have to find the time to redo the carb or tow it round like a trailer when I want to use it.
