Which Stihl pole saw?

[Happy Gilmore]

I have an Echo split shaft with the Power Pruner attachment, I've had it since 2001 or so, works pretty good for the lower stuff. I also have a Stihl HT 131 and although it's a bit heavy, it works really well. I prefer it over the Echo for the reach.

 

[Sodo]

Go thru and cut out everything 2" and under and drag it away then the 3" and over is another project (with more space to work).

To me, 3" and larger is more than b***h slapping

I'd post a video of my machine doing this work if I could figure out how. Here's one I found, searching "brushcutter skilsaw blade":

but he's using a big, heavy blade, maybe a thick tablesaw blade - not the nimble 7 1/4" skilsaw blade I've come to like. My video shows how its done! but I don't use a guard, & I suppose quite a few folks wouldn't do that.

In any case a lot of folks who do this work with a chainsaw know how hard it is on your back, you can imagine how much more productive it is when you don't have to bend over, you can cover far more acreage.

 

[amaxwell]

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

I have the Echo telescoping with the 12" chain. Most of the limbs around the edges of my property seem to start high and grow downward to get more light, so get the longest you can get. Also a tip , cut from the bottom a bit then go to the top to finish. This prevents stripping bark from the tree trunk, and from getting the saw chain pinched as you cut.

 

[s219]

I have more Stihl equipment than anything else, but I'd recommend an Echo for a pole saw. I think they have a slight edge in bang for the buck, and they sure as heck start more reliably.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I used to have trouble starting my Stihl equipment too, s219, until I started using E0 fuel with stabilizer and running everything dry when I finished with it.

 

[s219]

I used to have trouble starting my Stihl equipment too, s219, until I started using E0 fuel with stabilizer and running everything dry when I finished with it.

Well, the way I look at it, if I am using the same good fuel in all the equipment, they should all behave! I use ethanol free across the board. The Stihls are not hard to start, they are just inconsistent and not predictable. The Echos always start in two pulls cold and one pull warm. Can pretty much count on that like the sun rising and setting! I am a Stihl man at heart with my chainsaws, but give Echo respect for easy consistent starting, and recommend their saws to homeowners over the other brands.

 

[xzcVAbc5]

My family has the Stihl HT101. I basically take all the brush off the branch in air and get rid of it. Then come back and cut chunks off of the main branch.

Either saw is going to cause you to bulk up your shoulder muscles

 

[KiotiKowboy]

Either saw is going to cause you to bulk up your shoulder muscles

EasyLiftHarness

 

[coobie]

I have the Stihl HT 131.It cuts great but having it fully extended wears your arms out if you doing a lot of cutting.

 

[DHD]

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?

I have a Echo PAS 230 with 4-5 different attachments. One of my attachments is the pole saw and I also have the 3 ft extension.
Have used with and with out the extension, can be a little ungainly with the extension due to the added length but it does work, using it with the extension for long periods of time can wear a person out in a hurry.
I just love the flexibility of having one power head and many different attachments. I actually have 2 different trimmer heads with different diameter trimmer string.

Here is a video link of a guy explaning the Echo PAS, he shows how to attach the pole saw attachment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkMPGXbSoD4