I wanna chainsaw on a stick

[mdbarb]

I have lots of tree rimming to do. I'm unable to reach those clumps way out on skinny limbs. I may buy myself a fathers day gift of a chainsaw pole pruner. They don't come cheap @ $600+ but either does my time or my brittle bones when I fall from a 10' ladder.
Anybody have experience, feedback or opinions on them?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Don't do it !!! I bought a small $90 electric Remington chainsaw on a stick and when friends, relatives, and neighbors found out about it I became very popular. Actually it is a very handy tool to have. I can put more limbs on the ground in 30 minutes than four people can cut up and drag to a brush pile in an hour. I would love to have a gas powered one to trim limbs around our fields but cannot afford one at the present time. I have looked at the Echo and Stihl models and would take either. Oh yeah, from experience with my little one I can tell you to get some good safety glasses and maybe a hard hat.

 

[EddieWalker]

I bought a Poulon at Lowes for under $200. It's 12 long and can cut six inch branches without much effort. 12 feet always seemed just a little short to get the base of the branch I wanted down, so I back my truck under the tree and the extra few feet really make a difference.

For $200 it can die now and I've saved money. Two houses later and about 20 hours trimming and its still working fine.

 

[BB_TX]

I have a gas powered Echo chain saw and love it. About $350 at HD if I remember right. Sure makes cutting those low hanging branches a lot easier.

 

[JackIL]

I have an Echo extendable unit. It does a good job and has allowed me to do a lot of trimming without a ladder. However, it does wear me out rather quickly. You have to develop a technique of knowing what length and angle to use. With the center of gravity so far away from you it takes a lot of strength to control the placement of the saw when starting a cut. Then after the limb is severed, the saw starts to drop and you have to be careful in controlling it.

Overall I am very pleased with what it can do. I just have to take it easy so as not to tire myself out with it quickly.

JackIL

 

[Pacesetter300]

Our local Home Depot's don't carry the Echo Pole saws. I have two Echo chainsaws and love them so was dissapointed when they didn't. My local lawnmower shop has a Maruyama on special for $350. Nice about that, THREE year warranty with homeowner use. The other guy has a Stihl FS55 with pole saw for about $360. Both are convertible for other attachments. Awful hard for me to make the jump to $600 with those two available.
Pacesetter

 

[edt]

Try this i have a dewalt corless saw zall taped it to a long pole
taped switch on and cut away /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
EDT

 

[alco141]

i have the echo model, bought it before echo bought the company (called powerpruner) making it, it is heavy, but great to be standing on the ground and cutting, it is also very usefull for cutting blow downs that are a tangled mess, you can reach into the tangle from the outside and cut it apart without getting into a situation where you would be wrapped up in the tangle and trying to use a chainsaw. then just pull apart the branches from the outside. i have done a lot of work with mine over the years, and it has undoubtedly save my bacon more than a few times, a must have tool if you have a woodlot.

alex

 

[blurrybill]

I've used my Echo pole pruner (aka chainsaw on a stick!) for over 2 years and love it. I got the high end model and haven't regretted the purchase. As others have remarked, it does create some leverage challenges, but the ability to trim 8-10" limbs 15 feet off the ground makes it really worthwhile. Also, I feel safer doing some bucking on felled cedars by reaching in a clearing some limbs before cutting the logs. Mine has easily started every year. I take care of my things and I expect it to be a reliable tool for many years. The technology is slightly different from the Stihl model -- I thing with the Echo one can rest the saw on the branch and then start the chain -- maybe some Stihl owners will comment. Both are quality products. If you have a lot of trees, you'll not regret the purchase; those branches keep growing!

Bill

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Overall I am very pleased with what it can do. I just have to take it easy so as not to tire myself out with it quickly.

JackIL )</font>

Sounds like a good candidate for a FEL, backhoe, or 3PT boom
mount project. With a sufficiently long throttle control
cable it might actually be safe.

This is one application where a hydraulic motor would be
preferable to replace a chainsaw's 2-cycle engine.