Pole saw help

[wushaw]

I have a Sthil HT75 that is five years old, I use it every winter for my trimming chores, it will make a pile of branches very quickly to haul off. I went with Sthil cause I just like Sthil.
I am sure the Echo is just as good....I recently inherited a Echo weed eater that is very impressive.
I recommend you work smart and take your time... it will wear you flat out in a short time.

 

[rswyan]

Stihl HT101 here - I've only had it about a year but found it to be very handy - particularly when limbing cut/fallen trees. If the tree has a large crown with lots of branches I'm able to cut the limbs off from a distance without having to wade into the mess.

I have thrown the chain on mine quite a bit - but I suspect that's just from me not keeping it adjusted as I should.

 

[klm]

I have a Poulan pro and guess it is just a little better than nothing, needs constant carburetor adjustments, I just carry the tool with me, once I get it running ok it does a decent job. the next time I use it its the same thing over again.

 

[RoMad]

I also have a power pruner and have been very happy with it. It workds great but will wear you out. One thing I have learned is the straigher up you hold it, the less it wears you out. Just don't forget to back up before the limb falls.
When I bought my power pruner I asked the guy what the number one reason he sees them back for and he said, "thats's easy, people run over them".

 

[om21braz]

Stihl Kombi here - great tool! Excellent limbing saw for downed trees too.

 

[Tollster]

I broke down and got a Husky 327P5x, its 14 pounds, two stroke with a 16" reach, the harness makes a world of difference.

The 16' may seem like a lot, but when its by your side, I give 14'... Its one of the 2 strokes that see's little action so I run tru fuel though it.. I can count on it always starting...2nd pull after sitting for 6 months or more...

It was pricey, but good tools don't come cheap much anymore, so I bit the bullet and called it good.

 

[SPIKER]

I have a Pull-N-Pro Pole saw too, it is a nightmare same issues as others say and Mine also will die anytime it is picked up more than about 60 degrees it simply dies... It does work great for a few min then carb issue pop up and it acts up till I readjust it.

Anyone else have the DIES when over 60 degree issue""?? I had assumed it was to keep people away from cutting a limb while standing under it. ()Safety tilt switch>?)

Mark

 

[JRobyn]

I figured for how/when/where it was typically used, an electric would do. Bought the cheapo Harbor Freight one ($50 w/coupon) and the little 900w generator ($90) to match. So far, it's worked great. The saw is actually much better quality than I expected. Seems to oil good, doesn't leak oil, has an Oregon bar/chain, and runs smooth.

- Jay

 

[Sodo]

I figured for how/when/where it was typically used, an electric would do. Bought the cheapo Harbor Freight one ($50 w/coupon) and the little 900w generator ($90) to match. So far, it's worked great. The saw is actually much better quality than I expected. Seems to oil good, doesn't leak oil, has an Oregon bar/chain, and runs smooth.

- Jay

Jay I had that exact thought, but didn't do it. I guess it depends how much you use it. Some seasons all I need to cut is a few branches it doesn't make sense to have a $500 unit for that. And that little 900W generator is very lightweight (and I already have a lightweight generator). This is a good idea I think. My question is whether the Ryobi is worth the few extra $ over the HF.

Sometimes a pole saw is too long to cut just the stuff that you don't want to reach (up or down) for. For example brushing trails. I've been using a weedwacker with a skilsaw blade on it. You can reach up pretty high, a couple of feet overhead. It cuts so fast & effortless, just ting! ting! ting! The polesaws run the chain kind of slow, you can't cut a small branch (like 1/2") more than a few inches from the trunk, the chain just skips over it. But the skilsaw just goes "ting!" even 3 feet out. Also after the branches are on the ground you can chop them up too, ting ting ting, and leave them laying there. I'm re-tinking whether I need a 2-stoke polesaw at all, maybe an electric one just for the far reaches.

And you can use up all your old skilsaw blades. 10" carbide blades for weedwackers (1" arbor) are available, & reasonable, but they are heavy and seem more dangerous. I've tried the 10" carbide blades. With that heavy 10" blade singing overhead just as fast as a tablesaw, it gets your attention. :shocked: I prefer the little 7 1/4" skilsaw blades, plus I have a big stack of used ones. I can cut a branch up to 2" but it prefers 1" and less.

To use skilsaw blades you have to buy the appropriate new hub pieces and cut the skilsaw 'diamond' into the hub shoulder but that's easy with a hacksaw and file. I was able to find the hub pieces for my Echo trimmer (straight shaft) for $20 and for the Stihl trimmer (straight shaft) a new hub to modify is about $14.

Sorry this is a bit off-topic, but might be interesting to someone wondering if they need a polesaw.

 

[cmore]

Like Jay, I got the HF pole saw but with coupon and 25% off, paid 59. I already had a generator so did not need that. Has worked well. Wish I had bought it long a go.