Manual tree pole pruner, what's the trick?

[MossRoad]

The problem with the pole saws is that the motor is at the top end making them unwieldy, back breaking and dangerous. A pole saw, gas, battery or electric, with the motor at the operators end would make much more sense.

I suppose the design challenge is transmitting the power to the cutting end while maintaining the telescopic functionality. Not easy to accomplish.

Hmm. My Poulan weed eater has a pole saw attachment. The motor is at the bottom, the chainsaw at the top. It's balanced pretty well. I don't think I've ever seen one with the motor at the top. That would be horrible.

 

[MossRoad]

Approximately sixty years ago,a right of way crew came through the yard and before my elders snatched me away from the great event, I got a glimpse of a worker using the shear on the end of a pole to nibble away at a large branch and cut it. The closest thing I was able to find to that pole pruner should appear at the following link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09G9TTH5..._product_details#immersive-view_1652926294760
I recently bought that pruner and the problem I'm having is that on the first bite the blade gets caught in the branch and it takes a great amount of manuvering to get it out and take another bite. i've already broken the rope once, trying to cut straight through a large branch. The saw works , but I'd like to lean the nibbling technique.

If anyone knows the trick to nibbling through a limb with a rope operated pole pruner, please let me know.

One more thing.... maybe your rope and pulley aren't strung correctly, so you're not getting the maximum leverage?

Can you take a picture of the pruner and rope/pulley section so we can have a look at it?

I've had a few times where my rope got off of one of the pulleys and it reduced my leverage considerably.

Just a thought.

 

[Diggin It]

The problem with the pole saws is that the motor is at the top end making them unwieldy, back breaking and dangerous. A pole saw, gas, battery or electric, with the motor at the operators end would make much more sense.

I suppose the design challenge is transmitting the power to the cutting end while maintaining the telescopic functionality. Not easy to accomplish.

Interesting! Do you find them a lot easier to use that one with the motor at the top end? How is the power transmitted through the telescoping arrangement?

Hmm. My Poulan weed eater has a pole saw attachment. The motor is at the bottom, the chainsaw at the top. It's balanced pretty well. I don't think I've ever seen one with the motor at the top. That would be horrible.

I have both of these .....




The Remington electric mounts the entire unit at the distant end, but it can be removed to double as a hand held unit.

Yes, it's heavy and hard to maneuver.





This one is just an extenstion add on for gas or battery power heads. The business end is just the gear drive, bar and chain with an oiler.

 

[npalen]

Hmm. My Poulan weed eater has a pole saw attachment. The motor is at the bottom, the chainsaw at the top. It's balanced pretty well. I don't think I've ever seen one with the motor at the top. That would be horrible.

Yes, it IS horrible!

 

[2manyrocks]

The problem with the pole saws is that the motor is at the top end making them unwieldy, back breaking and dangerous. A pole saw, gas, battery or electric, with the motor at the operators end would make much more sense.

I suppose the design challenge is transmitting the power to the cutting end while maintaining the telescopic functionality. Not easy to accomplish.

You've reminded me that you can buy pole saw attachments for gas and I suppose electric trimmers that are attachment capable. I also own one for my gas trimmer. The cutting head itself is lightweight, and the gas engine part of the trimmer at the other end balances it out pretty decently. I think there is a one or two extension section limitation, however. The problem I would see trying to combine many more sections is the play between the sections might get to be too much.

 

[stuckmotor]

I don't nibble with the shear. It's only good for branches that will fit fully in the jaw .... generally less than an inch or so diameter. Beyond that I use the saw. Let the weight do the work and only expect it to cut as you pull it back towards you. What annoys me is that the teeth aren't great and will get clogged with resin which causes binding and that can cause the blade to get stuck or bend. And I haven't been able to buy replacement blades at a price that makes sense not to buy a new saw, pole and all.

The consumer versions run under $50 while the commercial versions can cost hundreds and can be extended 30' or more.

I have one Remington power saw that will go to 10' and and extender pole that lets my gas or battery power saw head get to around 15'. At either of those heights the tool is heavy and unwieldy and can become a safety issue. Far less risk with the manual saws, but they take a lot more arm work, pushing and pulling.

Diggin It,
Could you give me a name or link to a commercial version that reaches 30 feet or more?

 

[kenmbz]

Agree the trick to any decent size branch is to undercut a foot or so out and 2nd cut above that.
Then cut the piece attached to the tree. Trying to cut up against the trunk with any branch weight makes a mess.
I have battery and manual pole saws. The fiskars manual is for the higher stuff. I replace the blades when they dull, so I use mine a lot. The M18 pole saw is for anything it will reach as it is much faster and has extensions that get added in, so not carrying the weight unless needed.

For more high end pole saws, go to an arbor supply house.
Example: but I don;t own any of these:

Search: 55 results found for "pole* saw*"

Arborist Supplies + Tree Climbing Gear at Bartlett Arborist Supply. Low prices on arborist supplies, tree climbing gear and tree equipment. FREE SHIPPING!

www.bartlettman.com

 

[newbury]

Hmm. My Poulan weed eater has a pole saw attachment. The motor is at the bottom, the chainsaw at the top. It's balanced pretty well. I don't think I've ever seen one with the motor at the top. That would be horrible.

Most of the battery operated pole saws have the electric motor at the top and the battery at the bottom.

 

[kenmbz]

Milwaukee has the motor on the bottom. Some brands seem to have both top and bottom models.

 

[stuckmotor]

One more thing.... maybe your rope and pulley aren't strung correctly, so you're not getting the maximum leverage?

Can you take a picture of the pruner and rope/pulley section so we can have a look at it?

I've had a few times where my rope got off of one of the pulleys and it reduced my leverage considerably.

Just a thought.

Moss,
You're probably right. I don't remember exactly how the rope was strung through the pulleys, before it broke, but I don't think it was the way I have it now. There are some pictures on my phone and when I remember how, I'll try to get them up.