Power Pruner

[Chillimau]

Hi everybody, Great forum finally decided post something and quit lurking.

I have a place in southern OK and am finally getting to clean up after our ice storm. Pasture has been too wet until lately. Anyway was thinking about buying a gas powered pruning saw to finish cutting the limbs that are broken over but not down yet. Echo seems to have the largest selection. Any thoughts. I have a stihl chain saw and a Shindaiwa grass trimmer both have been good machines. Never really considered any echo products. Stihl and Shindaiwa both make the powered pole puners, but the Echo has the longest reach and about the same power and bar size. I like the specs on the Echo but haven't went to a dealer yet. Anybody have any thoughts?

 

[Bird]

Chillimau, I've owned and used Stihl products; good ones except for being heavy weights to handle. And I've never owned an Echo product; however, both from what dealers tell me, and from what I've observed, the Echo seems to be the product of choice for commercial use in my area.

And where in Southern Oklahoma? Your profile doesn't say. I've been a Texan most of my life, but spent the first 16 years in Southern Oklahoma (born in Carter County).

Bird

 

[Joeinindy]

Last year I decided to buy a pruner for use on my walnut trees, about 1500 of them. I looked at Echo and Sthil dual units that have both a trimmer head and a pole pruner attachment. I bought the Echo due to it's lighter weight and slightly lower cost. The first time I used it the cable that powers the head broke before I had used one tank of gas in it. I took it back to the dealer and they fixed it on the spot, took it home and before I had ten minutes use it broke again, needless to say I wasn't happy, so I returned it and got my money back and bought the Sthil, FS85 I belive is the model number. I can reach up around 10' or better with the prunner and it will cut big limbs with no sweat. This unit is a real work horse and has been put through some tough work with both the trimmer and the pole prunner. You might look at the units that have removable heads, they cost a tad more but it's cheaper than buying the pole prunner, trimmer ect seperately.

 

[MReeter]

Have a friend who contracts the maintenance of Utility Co. right-of -ways.He covers several miles of brush chocked road banks.He says he has 4 different kinds of chainsaws and power pruners;Stihl,Stihl,Stihl and Stihl.I would'nt look any further.

 

[brantley]

I have used a Ryobi with the reciprocating pruning saw attachment for the last two years and have found it
invaluable for trimming up all the blackjack I have on my property. I probably use the pruning attachment more than I use the weed cutting attachment.

 

[Billc]

Chill, good post.

Like you I've started shoping for a power pruner. I've looked at the Stihl, Echo, and another Jap brand but don't remember the maker. Does Husky make them?

I have a Stihl chain saw. I've had it for about 4 years. Have used the heck out of it with out any problems. The rest of my equipment is Echo (line trimmer, edger, blower, and hedger) They work great as well, never a problem. In fact, the Echo stuff starts a LOT easier than my Stihl.

The Stihl and Echo power puners were around the $590 range. Is this what you found?

Keep us updated.

Bill Cook

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have a power pruner Echo Brand. I have owned it for several years. I live in Northern Maine and have a tree farm where we planted 80,000 red pine trees. These were planted in the 60's and I have pruned several thousand to the height of l7 ft. I have yet to have trouble with the Power Pruner. I believe it costs a little more than Stihl. I have and use Sthil chain saws and like them. I think that echo power tools are excellent tools and like everything ealse, you can get a lemon once and a while. I have an echo broom and week cutter that are top notch.

 

[alex_cocco]

i have had the echo for about four years, great for limbing and cutting up downed trees, you can reach into them from a safe distance without being tangled in the limbs, good unit.

alex

 

[ccatfish]

Lessons from my local dealer:
1) Stihl has standardized its engines on power pruners, blowers, weed eaters and such. Makes for much easier part replacement and servicing.
2) The echo and stihl pruners are virtually identical except for the engine.

The last two people I have hired to prune both used Stihl for the big saws and the power pruner and used Echo for the small saw used while climbing.

I bought the Stihl two weeks ago after spending 2 months searching for the best price. It seems every dealer I talked to wanted the exact same price: $599. Stihl ran a "special" that allowed the dealers to sell it for $549 that may or may not have ended. While renting a stump grinder two weeks ago, the rental company had a crispy new FS75 (the one that extends) on the rack. When I told "nobody has given me a reason to buy it", he did some calculatin' then quoted me $465. I snatched it up and never looked back.

I now have a pile of poison ivy cut from my pecan trees. If anybody wants to come pick it up, its all yours

 

[Chillimau]

Hi Everybody, Thank you for all the responses. Sorry I haven't gotten back sooner had a busy weekend and didn't get much done.

Birdie, My place is in Prarie View a very little town. No post office just an old convient store with high prices, but cheaper than going to town. Better directions, 10 miles North of Sulphur. My In-laws our moving to Ardmore this summer. Wife's sister is going to start her teaching career there. My Mom and Dad are/were Texans just spent the last thirty in Ok tho.

Went and check out the Stihl and Echo pruners and got to test the Echo. Didn't cut like the Stihl chain saw but the chain is 3.5 hp vs 1.1 hp for the pruner. I think the pruner needed the chain sharpened and the tension on the chain loosed a bit cause it was very tight. But did work good. Prices so far are 549 for the Stihl and 599 for the Echo and 95 for the five foot extension for the Echo. Echo has the best reach so I am leaning towards it. Sounds like these machines will hold up by the number of trees some of you all have. I thought I had a bunch with 60-70 mature pecan and oaks. Husky does make a pruner but it looks very expensive. It is a hydraulic unit. Has a back pack motor like other pruners with hydraulic pump and lines and then a extension with lops and I think a saw attachment is avail. not sure. Looks like quite a mess to strap on. Shindaiwa also makes one but haven't look at it. I think the reach is a little less than the Stihl. Have started thinking about how to transport this thing. I don't live on my place yet and the pruner is 9ft long at its shortest. I guess I can tie it in the ladder rack, just scary to have that much money flinging around in the air.

Probably still a few weeks from buying this thing but will keep you updated. I can "look" for days, drives my wife crazy.