Which Stihl pole saw?

[Richard]

I'm sick & tired of cutting the fields and around the edges, getting b***h slapped with all the low hanging branches that have encroached onto the edge of the field.

Want to cut them back, decide a pole saw and backhoe is best way. Cut things with the saw, put into bucket and carry/dump to the burn pile.

Stihl has a HT-101 and HT-250. My understanding is, the 101 has a telescoping pole that will go to 15 feet or something like that. The 250 has a fixed length pole that I think is around seven feet long.

The 101 as a slightly smaller engine.


So, the 101 has more reach, smaller engine
The 250 has shorter fixed reach but, more powerful engine.

Forget price concerns.

What say you, regarding which one might be 'better'?

If I were going to buy YOU one for your birthday, which one would you secretly prefer and why?

 

[MacLawn]

When ye find out, let me know. I need one too.

 

[Beltzington]

I'm sick & tired of cutting the fields and around the edges, getting b***h slapped with all the low hanging branches that have encroached onto the edge of the field.

If I were going to buy YOU one for your birthday, which one would you secretly prefer and why?

Boy I agree with that, I have been looking at pole saws for along time and just can't pull the trigger on something I will rarely use.
To your question a partial answer, buy the one that says Echo on it. I am a Stihl fan but people that use pole saws professionally seem prefer the Echo for its design and power. Comments on the Stihl HT series range from poorly balanced and under power. I have no personal experience but have done ALLOT of net research for what it is worth. $600 saw is a nice BDay present, good luck with your search.

 

[rekees4300]

I'd go with the 250 since it has more cutting power and will still cut high enough so you can drive your tractor underneath. But if you need more height they sell telescoping poles.

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[RedNeckGeek]

I ended up with a Stihl HT 131 when I had to cross that bridge several years ago. It's a little heavier than I'd like, but even with the 11' 6" telescoping pole it's been too short on some occasions when I needed to remove branches over the driveway. It might be possible to extend it by adding another section, but I haven't tried that yet. I figured that having too much saw for the job is better than having to replace a smaller one that wouldn't get it done. The 131 engine is mid way between the two models you listed, and it easily cuts through anything I've tried it on, up to and including live 12" oak limbs. I also purchased the angle adapter for the cutting head, but I wouldn't bother if I had it to do again.

BTW, I've found that cleaning up the limbs takes a lot more time than cutting them off. Only real problems are dodging the falling debris and getting worn out after about an hour or so of use.

 

[Beltzington]

Forgot to mention, our Home Depot rents the professional Echo Pole saws for $45/day. Maybe give one a try before you buy, I still haven't rented one yet which leads me to conclude I just wanted a new toy more than I needed a pole saw.

 

[sleepybozo]

Do you need the reach, or do you need the power? For me, the purpose of having a pole saw is the reach, and generally anything I cut with the pole saw is smaller stuff. Your needs may be different. They are awkward to haul around, so the telescoping pole might be handy in that regard. For personal use, my experience is you'll use it a lot the first year, then it's mostly keeping up with what's grown back. I have a 10' pole saw with a 25cc Poulon engine. It's proven quite adequate for my needs.

 

[Sodo]

I have an Echo PAS 266 quick-attach arrangement, with a pole saw attachment, and the 3-foot extension too.

--------and a brush blade that has a 7 1/4" Skilsaw blade which is the clear WINNER. The brush blade is so much lighter weight and cuts (instant and almost effortless) and cuts anything from grass to 2 1/2" diameter. And it will cut an un-supported branch ( TING ! ) where the polesaw just vibrates it. Polesaw is too heavy, it will wear you out.

As I said, I have both and the only time I use the polesaw is when there's a branch bigger than 2 1/2" or if I need a controlled vertical cut that's higher than 8 feet, but it's pretty seldom. Typically I walk the area with the skilsaw arrangement, get 98% of the work done (up to 8 feet high) then use the polesaw for a few high branches (if at all).

I would say that a carbide skilsaw blade on a brush cutter is about 10 times the productivity of a polesaw, or chainsaw, for bushes & branches up to 2" and from zero to 8 feet above ground. I have many many hours doing this work (clearing brush & clearing trails). I used the commercially available brushcutter carbide blades and cound they were too expensive and too big, and too heavy. 7 1/4" Skilsaw blade is far lighter, spins up faster, far superior, only a few bucks and available everywhere.

Physical effort, I would say that a pole saw is about 5x the physical effort of a skilsaw brush blade.

Skilsaw blade has some perilous action out there, it's probably not for everyone, but it gets far more work done in same time, produces far better results and a new skilsaw blade is $5-$7. That said there's lots of folks who ought to stay away from a polesaw too.

A pole saw for cutting near the ground is just wrong wrong wrong. It's too heavy, and too slow, cant use gravity, and you will inevitably touch the chain to the dirt then it will dull fast, becoming even more strenuous when dull. Just try it in the store (pretend) you will conclude that it's a bad idea without spending a cent.

 

[Richard]

Couple of meandering thoughts.

I don't know how many feet of edge I have with trees overhanging the field.... the farm is 250 acres. Mixture of fields & woods. I have a lot of tree edges. I would need to get something that would last and be up to task. I've beat the snot out of my Stihl 044 chain saw so I'm a fan. (I started with a Husky 55 and it's still going strong next door)

Although I have a bucket, I would never cut something while standing on my backhoe. I'd want both my feet on the ground where I can get out of way if need be. Bucket would be used for carrying the limbs. I'm glad my bucket is 8' wide.

I think I had a light bulb go off in my head.....

Would it be better to have a lessor powered (but still capable) saw that can reach out 100' (I know, absurd, just get my point) or would it be better to have my much more powerful Stihl 044 with a 20" bar....standing on the ground.....unable to touch my intended branch.

All the power in the world is useless if you can't reach your target, huh?!

I think I'm leaning towards the telescoping unit now. Use it for high stuff and my 044 for easy to reach stuff.

I've always loved this forum. Clarity of thought.

 

[Richard]

Sleepybozo and Bodo... looks like I was typing as you responded. Thank you!!

I agree (now) that the reach is what I'm after.

Sodo, I have a blade on my 'string' trimmer (Husky). You're right....that hard blade will ZING through little stuff and 'ting' through other. Some of the branches I'm attacking are 3,4,5,6,7 inches thick besides, I have NO idea what tool to use if I were to be using the circular blade up high?? It won't work on a pole saw (I don't think?), my Husky 'string' trimmer is too short.....

I love your idea and have used it many times, always paranoid that I'm going to ZING my leg off!!! Gotta give all this nasty equipment proper respect.