ideas for a long boom pole saw

[irsmun]

They do have chainsaws with automatic oilers but I think a chainsaw is the wrong tool for what you are looking to do for those heights. Chainsaws are finicky about positioning when cutting. The people who trim high lines and right of ways use a boom with a circular saw blade type cutting tool at the end.



Its also reatractable. I can't imagine driving around with a 40' pole sticking out from your loader.

 

[Redneck in training]

You might look at hydraulic shears. I saw some on a pole while ago but can't find the link now.

 

[zzvyb6]

That looks really scary.

What's scary is the thought of a tree limb falling down 40 feet and hitting you while you sit in your tractor seat trying to manipulate a bouncing pole saw. Its better to be above the falling branches than below them.

These man-lifts are pretty cool to operate and won't let you go beyond their designed operating range unless you plan on hitting some electric wires. Here's another 35' shot:

 

[BukitCase]

I agree with most of what's been said so far - As to automatic oiling, the Makita UC4030A has auto oiler and a 16" bar. I bought one for a similar project, it's pretty highly rated. I plan to use a flex mount, tie the trigger on (it also has soft start) and stick to vertical cuts, with the last couple feet of extension on a hinged joint supported by a webbing strap so the saw cuts mainly with gravity. I'll start/stop the saw with one of those plug-in switches you can buy at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.

Looking at two 10 foot sections, small hydraulic cylinders limited by a flow control needle valve to slow down, mounted either on front or rear buckets of my 580B. I will use all 2" receivers and tubing for various configurations. That will give total extension from ground anywhere from 30-40 feet.

Hope to have it done by spring, no pix yet... Steve

 

[Poopdeck Pappy]

What I wonder is how the OP is going to get 40' in the air to retrieve the boom-mounted chainsaw when the chain binds up 1/2 way through a big limb.

 

[Ken45101]

^^^ I had thought about that too! I have enough trouble with a 6' hand held pole saw.

 

[irsmun]

That was my point. Cutting with a chainsaw requires good positioning. Its much harder for me to cut a limb with my 9' handheld pole saw than with a chainsaw in my hands and my eyes on the cut. With a boom pole (especially that high) being maneuvered by your FEL I think it would be a mostly useless tool. If it worked well you would see commercial versions. The fact is they use circular blades or shears.

 

[Leejohn]

All I can say is mine works good for me, but it's only 10' hooked on to the bucket.

 

[zzvyb6]

3 inch conduit is probably not strong enough to be self supporting after at your required distance. It will buckle. Plus, you will need a bit more than 40' (like 47 --> 50') to reach your height will a reasonable angle on the boom in order to see what you are doing from the tractor seat and also to be safe from falling debris. If you fasten it to the center of the bucket, the sheet wall of the bucket will flex considerably, making it difficult to position the saw, so, you will need a 3 point type of fixture to hold onto it.

Maybe you should consider buying a good scope for a slug shotgun. A few potshots and the tree will be limbed! I used a shotgun with birdshot to blast high altitude wasp and caterpillar nests very effectively. You get a few branches, too.

 

[papa4fofox]

Can be done as a 2-man operation with a man-basket mounted to forks on the FEL. With my son in the basket using a chainsaw we readily cut branches up to about 15' high. Easy to maneuver.