Electric Pole Saw

[richie00boy]

Thinking about getting a pole saw - those extendable poles with a mini chainsaw on the end - for doing my own small tree maintenance. We have a maybe 10ft tall tree on the side and an apple tree in the garden plus a couple of other "tree like bushes". Have been paying a what I suspect to be unqualified tree man to do the work but really needs the garden ones doing now and weighing up a £500 bill vs £100 for a tool I can use again next year.

Was looking at a Ryobi cordless or the Titan from Screwfix but a few of the comments are putting me off, maybe that even the Ryobi one is not going to cut a 4 inch main branch?

Any other recommendations?

 

[johnik]

i got the titan one, worked ok on light stuff....up for grabs if you are in Somerset

 

[jmp49]

I have the ryobi one because I already had some ryobi stuff and batteries, I use it to trim branches that are hanging or try to have me off as I drive past on the mower and the occasional bit of tree fall, and used it to cut up some bigger stuff when we had a tree down. I have put a couple of new chains on it and kept it filled with chain oil as you'd expect and its been really good, although the pole itself is a bit floppy especially when it is at full 4 x extension height (I have extension poles from a different ryobi tool, and I have used them to make it even longer for the odd job as theyre all the same...) , the technique is to lightly load it rather than use the pole to lever it into the branch, and let the weight of the cutting head do its stuff and not rush it, thick stuff takes longer is all.
Ive used it to saw up bigger stuff than it should be used for when too lazy to walk back and grab a real size chainsaw by sawing on alternate sides of the branch. Way bigger than a 100mm branch.
Its not a substitute for owning a chain saw, but it is great for trimming.

 

[Migmac]

I’d buy a copy of a silky pole saw, it’ll do what you want when you want.

 

[iNf]

I have the Lidl (florabest?) Cordless one. Very impressed by how much you can cut on a 2ah battery. You inevitably end up using these in outstretched arms so can be tiring on arms/back/shoulders so a rest after the battery has run out is welcome. If you use them for thin stuff more suitable for a hedge cutter they can jam up but the one I have is tool less chain adjustment so easy to clear.

 

[Kram]

Before we talk about product, please learn about proper pruning cuts, identifying and cutting to the branch collar without damaging it - that stops rot from migrating down in to the trunk. I have seen a lot of butchery caused by these things.

Having used them profesionally I'd suggest one with an angle adjustable head. Noting head protection and awareness is required, it will allow you to do an undercut, top cut to remove the weight of the branch followed by a proper pruning cut to the branch collar.
The fixed angle ones are ideal for butchery as you can rarely get a good position to make decent cuts, I've only used the Stihl one that we used on rail clearance butchery work.

A self oiling one is a good idea. Many of the cheap, consumer grade just give you a squirty bottle to apply yourself!

A 2T petrol multitool is likely a better choice, I'm myyself considering one of the 52cc import jobbies for occaional use.

 

[frank horton]

I bought the Lidil petrol one years ago still works fine.....it also came with a hedge cutter attachment.....
I'm quite happy with it.....

 

[gaz1]

Before we talk about product, please learn about proper pruning cuts, identifying and cutting to the branch collar without damaging it - that stops rot from migrating down in to the trunk. I have seen a lot of butchery caused by these things.

in my case i dont care once its gone past the boundary its getting cut back

as goes of neighbours complaining its tough luck either come round and trim them

 

[Old Dog]

If you've got tools with batteries already buy a pole saw that fits them. Other than that any of the cheap pole saws will do the type of work you're talking about, when it breaks just buy another as you will be had pressed to get spare parts. Just remember that no matter what power head you use if the chains blunt it will NOT cut, so learn how to sharpen chains.

 

[Kram]

I thought I should add, my cheapy brushless pruning saw can manage 10" limbs, and I'd expect a decent branded cordless polesaw should be similar to that. The problem for my pruning saw is it will only get 10 large cuts to a battery and its heavier than petrol.
The Echo 2511 is also lighter and much more pleasant to use... And one of the few 2T tools that does not need ear defenders, its quiet as standard.

in my case i dont care once its gone past the boundary its getting cut back

as goes of neighbours complaining its tough luck either come round and trim them

Your choice but the proper cuts will reduce growth compared to an explosion of new shoots on a decaying limb. Better for you and the tree to do it properly.

 

[Smallfry]

Got an Einhell one from Toolstation. Self oiling and angle adjustable.

Its a bit top heavy, but not bad, but with these things, you always tend to over reach and be standing directly underneath, and its not always easy to get out of the way carrying these things.

 

[zzr1200]

Petrol multi-tool/head jobbie makes more sense to me, I have two 52cc powered units, one pole saw type with the chain saw+hedge+strimmer heads and one with cow horn handles for brush clearing, both are cheap far eastern, supplied by "Parkerbrand" based in Louth Lincolnshire and they sell spares.

Powerful and reliable, but I do use Aspen fuel, so leaving them in the shed untouched for a year+ is not a problem.

52cc Multi Function 5 in 1 Garden Tool - Brush Cutter, Grass Trimmer, Chainsaw, Hedge Trimmer & More | ParkerBrand

Our ParkerBrand high-performance 52cc engine—one of the most powerful in its class—is at the heart of this unrivalled multi-tool, built to handle even the toughest garden tasks with effortless power and precision. Thi

www.parkerbrand.co.uk

52cc Petrol Brush Cutter, Grass Line Trimmer | ParkerBrand

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www.parkerbrand.co.uk

 

[Red'n'Black]

Before we talk about product, please learn about proper pruning cuts, identifying and cutting to the branch collar without damaging it - that stops rot from migrating down in to the trunk. I have seen a lot of butchery caused by these things.

I'm very much an amateur when it comes to these things, so I just went and googled that. It's fairly close to how I was doing it already, but nice to have it explained properly

 

[richie00boy]

Thanks for all the replies.

I was being put off the Titan one by some reviews saying the chain kept coming off - could that be due to them pressing too hard and making it snag/stall on the branch?

That Parker one looks a good deal, but I don't really need all those accessories and am not too keen on petrol for various reasons.

johnik, thanks. Not sure why my location is not showing. Not that far away but not worth a trip for me, and no plans to pass any time soon.

 

[Kram]

could that be due to them pressing too hard and making it snag/stall on the branch?

Most likely the chain adjuster mechanism could be rubbish so it either doesnt hold tension or slips when in use. It seems to have one of those spiral adjusters, you dont get them on profesional stuff.

If you try to cut through branch from below it will pinch and snag the blade. People commonly try to pull it free, will likely loosen the chain and come off. Its much better to use a pole to lift the weight off the branch to free it, or a manual pole saw on top side of the branch to finish the cut.

 

[Ubique]

There's a Bosch one on Amazon that I got a few weeks ago, works well - angle adjustable head and even though it's rated to 115mm cut, it happily went through a ~150mm branch. £135 with charger & 2.6Ah battery, + free 4Ah battery offer which I think ends today. Self oiling with some oil supplied.

 

[dave h 2]

I had the Titan mains one just don't stall it in the cut or it lets the smoke out

 

[redlig]

Anyone had any experience with one of these please. Fiskars UPX 82 for trimming the tops of hedges with a branch dia of 15mm ish. Have got extended pole type chainsaw but it doesn't like the thin stuff . I don't fancy the ones with miles of string as I can imagine the tangle I could get into.

 

[Kram]

Anyone had any experience with one of these please. Fiskars UPX 82 for trimming the tops of hedges with a branch dia of 15mm ish. Have got extended pole type chainsaw but it doesn't like the thin stuff . I don't fancy the ones with miles of string as I can imagine the tangle I could get into.

Yes I highly recommend them, we use two with different angled heads and get used most days.

 

[Kram]

even though it's rated to 115mm cut, it happily went through a ~150mm branch

None of them should really have issue cutting the full length of the bar it may be slower. However if its a brushed motor it may burn out from being over loaded. Its a tool that needs to be brushless!

My cheapy £50 pruning saw above can manage about 9x 10" cuts in conifer as pictured before it drains for 4ah battery.