Powered Pruners

[rockyridgefarm]

I have thousands of trees all over, and would really like to prune them up. I have been able to borrow an Echo Power pruner (the extendible fiberglass handled one...)

I'd like to purchase one with these considerations:

I wouldn't mind having one that was a little lighter

I really don't have much advantage in getting one that is interchangeable, but I could buy a Ryobi head for $80.00

Has anyone used both the Ryobi and one of the chainsaw models? I have heard that it works well, but never from someone that used both.

Another consideration;
I can get a Stihl 75 that was demo'd for $500.00

 

[mdbarb]

I too am pushing the CFO that we REALLY need one of these.
Sure beats climbing up and down and seems safer to have both feet on the ground.
I havn't used one yet and didn't really think the weight difference was too critical, just so I got a good solid machine not a light toy. I'll be watching for the feedback of others on this.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I love stihl. They are for professional use. Of course a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.planopower.com/stihl/index.html>bud of mine</A> sells them so good sense and friendship go hand in hand on this issue.

Seriously I would look at the stihl. Unless of course you don't plan on needing the tool in a couple seasons.

I have a stihl chainsaw, quick saw, weed eater, blower. I don't necessarily like two stroke but I do love stihl.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Yeah, but what do you think about Stihl?

I like the Stihl very well, and service is great for them, locally. Their policy of only selling locally though servicing dealers is what is keeping saw shops around. It seems everyone else is tripping over themselves to get into discount city.

Now if I only had all the money I need for all the toys I NEED...

But still, if anyone has used the Ryobi, and can tell me if its worth the $80.00, I might try one

 

[EdKing]

While I haven't used a chainsaw type, I do have a Ryobi pruner. It cuts very nice and has one definite advantage, the blades are fairly inexpensive and realitivly easy to change.

 

[blurrybill]

Interestingly, I just started another post on powered pruners in the Off Topic forum. I love my Echo 12" pruner. Just made around 40 piles of brush. Go for the 12" bar. There are some design differences between the Echo and Stihl; I liked the Echo, but own a commercial grade Stihl trimmer. Both are quality products. I absolutely wouldn't be without the power pruner on my acreage. The cost seemed extravagant 3 years ago but I (and my wife!) agree it was money well-spent. The trees and brush just keep growing and hopefully always will -- these powered pruners just make life so much easier. They are also safe to use, with the usual respect afforded any powered piece of equipment. Let me know if you need additional info from my experience -- I'm certainly not a professional arborist, but the thing works great for me!

Bill

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Ed, I looked at your profile to see if you really had any trees and were "qualified" to comment. I grew up in "Agony" County, and can honestly say, yes sir! thank you very much!

You would not believe how similar my situation is, here in Oklahoma.... About half of my 80 acres are heavily wooded, but even my pastures have nice stands of trees....

I figure the Echos and Stihls would certainly work, but I really didn't think the Ryobi (a brand I greatly respect for great value) would "cut it" no pun intended...

BTW I see Ryobi blades all over Ebay at $4.00 a pair...
Thanks for the input.
It's comments like BlurryBill's that make me thnk that I woudn't be mistaken with the chain versions...

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color=blue>Interestingly, I just started another post on powered pruners in the Off Topic forum. </font color=blue>

I had looked at that by way of Search, and, somehow, figured it was an older thread. It answered a lot of questions about the chain variety, but left me wondering about the reciprocating Ryobi.

The fellow I borrowed the Echo from had one major caution: "this thing can make a lot more work (in brush cleanup) in a very short time than you can imagine" he sure was right...

 

[EdKing]

Like I said, I don't have any experience with the other pruners. For the amount of pruning I do, I couldn't justify a $500 pruner. I still use a hook/blade style pruner for the lighter stuff. I already had a Ryobi string trimmer, so I got thier pruner attachment for the heavier branches I couldn't do with the hook pruner. One other thing to consider, be careful not to bind the blade while pruning. I managed to do this with the Ryobi and it bent the blade. I would have been sick had it been a chain unit I spent $500 on.

 

[Carl_NH]

I also have the Ryobi and got three attachments after the initial purchase - edger, cultivator and the limb trimmer.

We have eastern white pines with dead wood from 8-40' up and I thought this would be the tool to have. Well after cutting just two 2-3" dead stubs I returned the unit as speed of cutting, reach of 10-12' off the ground was not enough, plus just could not imagine me up on a ladder with a 6' trimmer in hand dodging the falling branches.

Most of the professionals use the Stihl, Echo or other major suppliers of chain based tools when on a boom truck - this is the safest way to go.

For now I resorted to using a ladder and my smaller Echo 3000 saw - saving the high work for those with the right tools.

Carl

 

[rockyridgefarm]

<font color=blue>Well after cutting just two 2-3" dead stubs I returned the unit as speed of cutting, reach of 10-12' off the ground was not enough</font color=blue>

Well, speed IS a problem, I have WAY too many chores to wait on the saw. U am wanting to prune back a lot of trees, so, while the Ryobi should be fine for occasional action, as an attatchment to a unit you need anyway, I would have to buy both, and I think I'll go the Stihl route, unless I find an awesome deal on an echo (based on local service options)

As an aside, one of my reasons to be cutting limbs is that we have a tremendous tick problem, here. When I moved to my property, it wasn't an exaggeration to find 200 ticks on one of my kids after being out for a little while. Clearing brush, regular mowing, removing all tree limbs below 10', and guineas is the prescribed cure, We are down to one or two ticks, an outing, and I hope to improve that...

 

[bsauter]

I bought an Echo system last spring and have been extremely happy with it. I have the PAS 2400 with attachments. String trimmer, cultivator and power pruner.

The pruner has worked out great. I have around 150 trees in my lawn and it makes shorter work of getting the pesky branches that get in my way when mowing. The automatic oiler works great and it has tons of power. I highly recommend it!

 

[Ken_NC]

I have the Ryobi. It's one of the mistakes I've made in my life. The reciprocating action can easily cause it to bind, and that ain't good for the motor nor for you. I will be selling mine to get an Echo or Stihl.
Hmmmm....perhaps I should have said the Ryobi is great, and would you like to buy mine? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif.
Ken

 

[rockyridgefarm]

Thanks for the heads up.

I noticed that there are several brands of trimmers that take interchangeble atatchments with each other, but only Ryobi has this pruner. I guess the other guys didn't want to warrant it.

 

[rockyridgefarm]

I had left the Ryobi page up and I noticed it was listed as MTD on my taskbar. It turns out that the link on Ryobi's site was bringing up an MTD site (<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.trimmerplus.com>http://www.trimmerplus.com</A>)

So the missing link is that MTD is building the attachments, at least for several brands (Homelite, Deere, Ryobi...)

Interesting...