Doing some tree trimming

[ArlyA]

We have two Honda trimmers with the handle bar style grips. We work from a UTV, and found they were to difficult to transport them in the back of it. Having said that, we also found the we didn't miss handle bar grips, when we switched to the Echo style ones. Do note, Echo offers some handle bar grips as well.

For sale; two Honda trimmers.

 

[ArlyA]

Maybe I should add that I clear trails for my job. On this blog is photos of that happening. Maasto Hiihto and Churning Rapids Fall Trail Improvement News

 

[JRobyn]

If I intend to use a string trimmer for anything more than a few minutes, I swear by one of these - Amazon.com : HIPA 4119 71 91 String Trimmer Full Harness for STIHL FS, KM Series String Trimmer : Garden & Outdoor

Your back will thank you.

You can spend $85 for the same thing with a Husky label, but these work terrific IMHO.

I haven't tried using it with the pole saw yet. Might have to adjust it some for that.

 

[two_bit_score]

^^^^those are good!

 

[Gem99ultra]

If I intend to use a string trimmer for anything more than a few minutes, I swear by one of these - Amazon.com : HIPA 4119 71� 9��1 String Trimmer Full Harness for STIHL FS, KM Series String Trimmer : Garden & Outdoor

Your back will thank you.

You can spend $85 for the same thing with a Husky label, but these work terrific IMHO.

I haven't tried using it with the pole saw yet. Might have to adjust it some for that.

I bought one based on a previous recommendation. My experience wasn't quite as good as yours. After trying to get into it, then get it adjusted I discovered that it did not come with a hook for the tool connection. I finally got a connection jerry-rigged up using a hose clamp. Then upon trying work with it as intended, I found that the harness was too restrictive for full motion with my trimmer.

Obviously, its a well worth item for those that can and will use it. You see most professional lawn care workers using it. But for me, well - its just a $13 orange thing hanging in the storage building.

 

[Wagtail]

^^^^those are good!

Agree! That's the chest harness that came with my Stihl and it's great!

 

[ericm979]

I splurged for the top of the line genuine Stihl harness for the FS250 I bought- my wife was complaining about the strap on the old 130. And it came with a standard full harness as well, which I use. It's SO MUCH better than the strap.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Any pics of the setup eric

 

[oosik]

I have a Stihl FS350. I finally used the OEM harness and my back pains all went away. Now if I go at a reasonable speed and a smooth swing - I can get thru all the trimming in a couple hours.

This thread reminded me that I haven't done my annual tree/branch trimming down my driveway. Driveway is a mile long, gravel and lined on both sides with Ponderosa pines. If I don't eliminate the small pines and big branches - our heavy snows cause them to lean into the driveway. As I plow snow these heavily laden trees/branches will dump on me as I try to "glide" under. This really causes a rude awakening - if the cold hasn't already done that.

 

[ultrarunner]

A good harness makes getting the job done much better for me.

My problem is a lot is in mountain goat territory... about an acre and I keep slipping.... nothing like that happened 30 years ago and the steep angle takes a toll on my joints...

Every year I say I am going to fence and bring in goats to meet the fire code which will only get worse after the most recent California fires...

The biggest fire ever here was started in a Homeless Encampment... just like one of the So Cal fires burning now...

Defensible space goes a long way as long as the winds don't kick up.

Speaking of cold... this is the first time in a long time the horse waters have frozen at night... SF Bay Area... coming to work it is one comment after another about the cold... but I find it fresh and invigorating... to be outside working... especially at the Tree Farm.

 

[bunyip]

Bought a cheap pole saw on ebay, has 3 alloy tubes to make up to about 12' long.
It is the most useless thing I have ever bought as the tube is too springy, it touches the branch then bounces up and down and cuts nothing. Resorted to a ladder and small chainsaw.
Like others I would like one but can't justify it for the little work I have to do.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Bought a cheap pole saw on ebay, has 3 alloy tubes to make up to about 12' long.
It is the most useless thing I have ever bought as the tube is too springy, it touches the branch then bounces up and down and cuts nothing. Resorted to a ladder and small chainsaw.
Like others I would like one but can't justify it for the little work I have to do.

Yep, we get what we pay for. Go look at the Echo pole saws. You won’t be disappointed.

 

[bunyip]

Yep, we get what we pay for. Go look at the Echo pole saws. You won’t be disappointed.

I paid about $200 for the chinese rubbish, the Stihl is about $1500, I thought I saved $1300 but I wasted $200 and it is now a paperweight and as an added bonus you can't get spare parts for them as I found out when I managed to break the chainguard.
Want to buy a cheap polesaw?
Guaranteed to be useless, there, an honest salesman!

 

[Wagtail]

I paid about $200 for the chinese rubbish, the Stihl is about $1500, I thought I saved $1300 but I wasted $200 and it is now a paperweight and as an added bonus you can't get spare parts for them as I found out when I managed to break the chainguard.
Want to buy a cheap polesaw?
Guaranteed to be useless, there, an honest salesman!

I went old school handraulic from Gardening tools, secateurs, garden cleaning tools | CutAbove Tools. They were at the local Tassie field day (Agfest).

They had a high quality (made in Taiwan) set of 5M expandable pole, ratchet pruner and HD saw for around A$170. The pole doesn't wobble and the saw, especially, cuts through my blackwood limbs like the proverbial hot knife through butter (on the down stroke).

Money well invested, in my humble opinion.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I paid about $200 for the chinese rubbish, the Stihl is about $1500, I thought I saved $1300 but I wasted $200 and it is now a paperweight and as an added bonus you can't get spare parts for them as I found out when I managed to break the chainguard.
Want to buy a cheap polesaw?
Guaranteed to be useless, there, an honest salesman!

Like I said........ go buy an Echo PPT.

Tree Pruners, Long Reach Pole Pruners, Extended Reach Pruners | ECHO USA

If somebody is trying to charge $1500 for a pole saw ......... run!

Edit: I just realized that your in Victoria, Australia.

Echo PPT265ES Pole Saw - Melbourne's Mower Centre

As I recall an Australian $ = about .75 US$

 

[orangeandgreen]

I've had a Stihl pols saw for several years and it has served me well. First "large" branch I cut with it (20") pinched the bar and I ended up mangling the head and pole, expensive lesson on how NOT to cut a limb. Replaced the business end of the saw and have been more careful since then.
It got quite a work out cleaning up after the ice storm we had in 09.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I've had a Stihl pols saw for several years and it has served me well. First "large" branch I cut with it (20") pinched the bar and I ended up mangling the head and pole, expensive lesson on how NOT to cut a limb. Replaced the business end of the saw and have been more careful since then.
It got quite a work out cleaning up after the ice storm we had in 09.

On big branches, try cutting maybe 1/3 from bottom side then, do top side.

 

[orangeandgreen]

"On big branches, try cutting maybe 1/3 from bottom side then, do top side."

Thats what I was doing, problem was the branch diameter was almost double the length of my bar, and it was 15 feet up. I did a generous bottom cut, then was moving from side to side working my way down from the top. The limb swung toward me and pinched the saw. I went out to the end of the limb and pulled it gently in the other direction so the saw might slip out but the limb broke and it all came crashing to the ground. It bent the pole like a pretzel and broke the saw head in half. Limb was 20" plus diameter at the tree and 20 to 25 feet long.
Lesson learned: don't try to cut anything larger than the length of the bar.

 

[lostcreekranch]

"On big branches, try cutting maybe 1/3 from bottom side then, do top side."

Lesson learned: don't try to cut anything larger than the length of the bar.

Bingo!

 

[Creamer]

I paid about $200 for the chinese rubbish, the Stihl is about $1500, I thought I saved $1300 but I wasted $200 and it is now a paperweight and as an added bonus you can't get spare parts for them as I found out when I managed to break the chainguard.
Want to buy a cheap polesaw?
Guaranteed to be useless, there, an honest salesman!

I purchased a Greenworks 40V from Menard's for less than $100 and have been more than happy with it. I elected to go electric versus gas because of the handiness of not having to pull start up on a ladder or climb a ladder with a running saw. Also the electric is lighter weight. I am not a fan of the power of this unit but it is adequate and the convenience for a low use tool of electric power is worth the tradeoff.

The other thing I am thinking about is safety - cutting off limbs with a chainsaw require you to be too close to a falling limb so unless you have a manlift of some type you put yourself in a very risky situation.