Hydraulic Limb Snipper

[J_J]

This hydraulic snipper was built from parts I had laying around. Right now it is on my boom pole, and can reach up about 16 ft. It will cut about 5 in max. I designed it to also cut sideways, and upside down. When it is on the short adapter, I can drop it across tree roots and cut them. With it on the short adapter, in the horizontal mode, I can cut small trees at or below ground level. It is made using 3/4 steel, welded to a 2 in receiver tube. I am using it with only one blade sharpened. It works quite well.

My next project is to mount my hydraulic chain saw to an adapter for use on the boom pole. or be able to work the hyd saw off the trail.

I also have a hydraulic backpack that uses a hydraulic chainsaw on a handheld pole, same as the linemen use to clear limbs. I haven't tried it yet, but I bet it will give you a good workout.

 

[J_J]

Some more pictures

 

[bx24]

J.J.
Neat Project.
I have been toying with the idea of a similar device snipping roots.
I figure that once most of the roots are cut, the remaining stump can be hopefully, easily pulled out.

 

[schmism]

waiting for the safety police to arrive

on another note... there was a real hand held hydraulic limb shear and saw "like the linemen use" on my local craigslist.... Thought it might be intresting to run off the tractor hydraulics

 

[coobie]

Very neat looking setup you have there.coobie

 

[IslandTractor]

Tyranosaurus Rex is the first thing that came to my mind on seeing the photos. Great job.

I don't know why Schism is concerned about the safety police. I spent time last week with a powered pole saw and I think JJ's device is lots safer than that. It might be a good idea to put a stop on the lift mechanism so it cannot come higher than 45% though to keep you from dropping stuff on your head.

 

[J_J]

waiting for the safety police to arrive

on another note... there was a real hand held hydraulic limb shear and saw "like the linemen use" on my local craigslist.... Thought it might be intresting to run off the tractor hydraulics

How about explaining about the safety police, I am not reaching up to cut power lines.

 

[IslandTractor]

How about explaining about the safety police, I am not reaching up to cut power lines.

Well, you do have rubber tires so that could not be the reason.

 

[ArTrvlr]

JJ, as proof that great minds think alike, I have several doodles of various ideas I have had for a pruner, and one is almost exactly like yours.

My intention is to sharpen the top blade. My thinking is that will let the cut branch fall away from the upper cutting blade as it slices through, rather than pinch on the lower blade as it slices through. Maybe with hyd. power it won't matter, I was just going from experience cutting larger limbs with a hand-held pruner. With those, if you cut from the top the cutting blade goes through easier. Since you have experience with the hyd cutter, do you think it will matter?

Also, have you had any problem with limbs trying to slide out of the jaws as they close? If that was a problem, my plan would be to put small "teeth" on the non sharpened jaw.

And here is a similar design: Hydraulic Limb Clipper to fit Bale Spike on Front End Loader

 

[J_J]

JJ, as proof that great minds think alike, I have several doodles of various ideas I have had for a pruner, and one is almost exactly like yours.

My intention is to sharpen the top blade. My thinking is that will let the cut branch fall away from the upper cutting blade as it slices through, rather than pinch on the lower blade as it slices through. Maybe with hyd. power it won't matter, I was just going from experience cutting larger limbs with a hand-held pruner. With those, if you cut from the top the cutting blade goes through easier. Since you have experience with the hyd cutter, do you think it will matter?

Also, have you had any problem with limbs trying to slide out of the jaws as they close? If that was a problem, my plan would be to put small "teeth" on the non sharpened jaw.

And here is a similar design: Hydraulic Limb Clipper to fit Bale Spike on Front End Loader

I have notebooks full of drawings. With hydraulics, and the force applied, it really doesn't matter which blade is sharpened. I built mine to be able to put the blade on bottom, top by turning upside down, and even cut sideways. Some have two cutting edges. I have seen many different designs. Power-Trac has a tree shear that I like the best.
Two rowa of teeth and let the blade cut between them would be good. The tree shear below can be turned sideways also.

The second picture is a picture of the tip of the cutter you referenced.