Best saw for use on ladder while trimming trees

[Wilburn Cox]

Hello from Central Texas;
I live on 4 acres that has about 75 large oak trees on it. I am always trimming limbs. I have a Stihl pole saw that extends 12 feet, a Husqvarna 350. they are both great saws BUT I have limbs which the Stihl pole saw son't reach. I also have two manual pole saws which will extend about 12/15 ft.
My question is; would a battery operated saw such as a Sawzall be good for using while on a ladder? I certainly won't use a chain saw while on a ladder.
Any suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance and have fun.
Red Cox

 

[jeff9366]

I have been very happy using my battery powered Milwaukee Sawzall trimming branches.

Use only the blade length necessary. Longer blades tend to whip and bend.

I use Swiss produced 9" Diablo blades most of the time, the strong dollars makes them pretty reasonable.

However, my favorite branch cutting blades are THE AXE from Milwaukee.

 

[Xfaxman]

I have used my one handed version while on a ladder, they will definitely do the job.

 

[Wilburn Cox]

I have been very happy using my battery powered Milwaukee Sawzall trimming branches.

Use only the blade length necessary. Longer blades tend to whip and bend.

Thanks Jeff; I appreciate the info. Have any idea how long the battery holds up when cutting?

 

[Wilburn Cox]

I have used my one handed version while on a ladder, they will definitely do the job.

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Thanks; Xfaxman; I appreciate your info and also how quickly you added the pics. I have a lot of Craftsman products. Will check out their battery operated saws. Hope to find on with 2 batteries and charger. being 75 years old on April 29th I just won't stand on a ladder while using a chain saw. I am blessed with good health even with 2 steel rods and 6 screws in my lower back. I appreciate your help. Have afantastic day
Red Cox

 

[4570Man]

I think a sawzall on a ladder is still a bad idea, but they would certainly get the job done. I have a Makita one that actually works pretty good. I wouldn't have ever bought one new, but I bought it cheap at an auction. Another tool that works great that I wouldn't have bought new is my cordless impact drivers. I was really missing out not having one.

 

[jeff9366]

Have any idea how long the battery holds up when cutting?

Two NEW batteries will carry you through an eight hour day.

My batteries are 4+ years old. Each battery now operates the saw about 2-1/2 hours.

Recharge time is short. Less than thirty minutes.

 

[Wilburn Cox]

Two NEW batteries will carry you through an eight hour day.

My batteries are 4+ years old. Each battery now operates the saw about 2-1/2 hours.

Recharge time is short. Less than thirty minutes.

Thanks Jeff;

 

[Xfaxman]

Thanks; Xfaxman; I appreciate your info and also how quickly you added the pics. I have a lot of Craftsman products. Will check out their battery operated saws. Hope to find on with 2 batteries and charger. being 75 years old on April 29th I just won't stand on a ladder while using a chain saw. I am blessed with good health even with 2 steel rods and 6 screws in my lower back. I appreciate your help. Have afantastic day
Red Cox

You're welcome. I am a year older than you and a limb clipper is what I would get if I had a lot of them to do.

Check this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/326582-wolff-limb-clipper.html

 

[lostcreekranch]

Caught a good price on a Ridgid saw last year. They are really handy for one handed sawing. I also got a 4 AH battery for it. Have several 2&3 AH versions of same battery for drill and impact drivers.



Like others I really like the Diablo Pruning blades. I mostly use a 9" but do also keep some 12" also.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I like my electric chainsaw for trimming , its light and It was 10 bucks at a yard sale

 

[CobyRupert]

I think a sawzall on a ladder is still a bad idea, ........

:thumbsup:

 

[lostcreekranch]

:thumbsup:

Yep, me too. I don't do anything on ladders around trees. You can never be certain where a cut limb will go.


I use the Ridgid saw, from the ground, and anything I can't reach gets cut with 16' Echo Pole Saw. If a cut limb comes my way, I can step away. Can't do that on a ladder.

 

[dickfoster]

You're welcome. I am a year older than you and a limb clipper is what I would get if I had a lot of them to do.

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Check this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/326582-wolff-limb-clipper.html

I wish they had something like that strong enough for big roots that you could put on a backhoe. I've actually thought of making one up myself. It would have to have big curved bypass blades like a lopper.

 

[sixdogs]

You're welcome. I am a year older than you and a limb clipper is what I would get if I had a lot of them to do.

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Check this thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/buying-pricing-comparisons/326582-wolff-limb-clipper.html

.
This is the only way to go. I'm no nervous Nellie but to be on a ladder with a chainsaw is a bad idea. The Sawzall is OK if you stay on a low ladder. Having seen chainsaw cuts from bad decisions on ladders, the only way I would be serious about limbing is the limb clipper thing above.

 

[Timbersawz]

I cut trees for a living, and there is NO WAY I would risk doing the ladder/saw combo.

Better to get a Silky polesaw and get good with it, sure it will be exercise and patience but less that having to learn to walk again when the ladder spits you off, cradle and all.

 

[sixdogs]

I cut trees for a living, and there is NO WAY I would risk doing the ladder/saw combo.

Better to get a Silky polesaw and get good with it, sure it will be exercise and patience but less that having to learn to walk again when the ladder spits you off, cradle and all.

Is that YOU up in that tree?

 

[Wilburn Cox]

I cut trees for a living, and there is NO WAY I would risk doing the ladder/saw combo.

Better to get a Silky polesaw and get good with it, sure it will be exercise and patience but less that having to learn to walk again when the ladder spits you off, cradle and all.

Thanks Timbersawz; I have checked out,on line, the Sisky pole saw. they are pricey. Are they really any different or better than other manual pole saws??
Have a great Day,
Red Cox

 

[Timbersawz]

The silkys have fantastic blades, cut better than anything else I have tried. They do take a bit of time to get the hang of using. The most important things are to
1) not try to cut to much at once, best take the branch in a few cuts if its thicker than 30mm.
2) make sure you have a clear zone for the blade to work back and forth (no little twigs to get pulled and jammed into the cut)
3)make nice straight gentle pulls of the saw.


They do take some time to master but have fantastic reach. start on little branches, work to avoid jams or having the pole get swung into, as its a long way up for it to get stuck!

That isnt me in the pic as I take the pics, but that tree is being used as a spar pole to cable out other logs in the gully, I took the top out of it and the others around it the day before. I have literally thousands of pics of us doing tree work but very very very few have me in it.

This is me, taken by a pro photographer no less some years back.

 

[check]

The silkys have fantastic blades, cut better than anything else I have tried. They do take a bit of time to get the hang of using. The most important things are to 1) not try to cut to much at once, best take the branch in a few cuts if its thicker than 30mm. 2) make sure you have a clear zone for the blade to work back and forth (no little twigs to get pulled and jammed into the cut) 3)make nice straight gentle pulls of the saw. They do take some time to master but have fantastic reach. start on little branches, work to avoid jams or having the pole get swung into, as its a long way up for it to get stuck! That isnt me in the pic as I take the pics, but that tree is being used as a spar pole to cable out other logs in the gully, I took the top out of it and the others around it the day before. I have literally thousands of pics of us doing tree work but very very very few have me in it. This is me, taken by a pro photographer no less some years back.

Man, you gotta use that pic in a commercial or something - great action shot!