Advice on Pole Saws

[W2Synth]

Hello all,

This is my first post on GJ -- I'm looking for some advice. I'm in need of a battery pole saw (I have never owned one) and am trying to determine if I need to spend the extra money to get the best of the best stuff. I have about 15 trees on my property that need to be trimmed annually. I'm looking at either

This: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AW72WR0/?tag=atomicindus08-20

or

This: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IN2FD0O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would like something that is going to last me, and I guess that is where the concern comes in. I feel like performance wise the Greenworks would work for me. I just don't want to have to replace it in 3-4 years after such light use. Does anyone have any experience with either of these? I plan to buy the corresponding chainsaw for whichever system I go with as well. I'm just having trouble because generally I buy whichever one is best but with how little I will use it I have some trouble justifying the difference in price.

Thanks,
Jeff.

 

[no704]

I would think that battery operated would not be a good plan if only used once a year.

 

[kctyphoon]

The corded harbor freight model actually gets decent feedback in here.. for cordless, I'm not sure.. I have the manual pole saws at work and home, and they are really good so long as you don't have big branches to trim..

 

[gdocktor3]

If you do your own lawn mowing and trimming, have you considered buying a gas powered multi tool with weedwacker, hedge trimmer, pole saw, etc? I have used a Ryobi multi tool for at least 3 years as a part time professional landscaper and it has really surprised me. I just replaced the carb a few months ago because it was running crappy from all the debris, dirt, dust, etc and they're like $10, but that is the only problem I've encountered. Just food for thought. A gas powered unit will last way longer than a battery powered unit that may not be able be replaced if the battery stops working next spring...

 

[fourjeepin]

I have a corded one and a manual one, but reach for the manual most of the time. The corded one is so much heavier and doesn't have near the each of manual.

That said, I do use the little chain saw quite often detached from the pole. It is very handy for small trees or for limbing a larger one.

 

[CJM8515]

I like the manual ones. Rather easy to use, light and doesnt need gas or batteries. If I was to buy one Im spending the coin on a pro type model. The home use models dont hold up from experience. If you are using it that much then the pro model by echo, husky, stihl, redmax, shindaiwa, etc would be best. The homeowner one isnt gonna last.

 

[OldNeons]

I use the heck out of my dads Remington corded electric pole saw and love it (until I dropped it and bent the aluminum shaft and now it doesn't collapse down). LOTS of power for up to 6" limbs for sure and easy to use. Highly recommend!

 

[peteco]

Remington corded electric pole saw for me too. Over 20 years and it is great. Yes it is heavy.

 

[TooMuchHair]

I've had my Silky for about 5 years now, it is awesome. Always ready to go, zero maintenance. It is incredibly sharp and easy to use. You will find that the extra length of this extendable pole is a MUST. There is no way I would have been happy with any of the gas or electric saws. Shop around, I found a deal on Ebay when i bought mine. But this Amazon price seems about right. (can't remember how much i paid).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014C7Y6G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[shawhite]

We were recently issued the Stihl battery powered pole saws at work. Have to say since we have received these the Manual saw has not made it out the bin. 16ft reach and one charge last me thru more cutting then most people care to do in a day. Just keep the chain sharp and oiler filled and your good to go.

https://m.stihlusa.com/products/pole-pruners/battery-pole-pruners/hta85/

 

[Finky198]

I've had my Silky for about 5 years now, it is awesome. Always ready to go, zero maintenance. It is incredibly sharp and easy to use. You will find that the extra length of this extendable pole is a MUST. There is no way I would have been happy with any of the gas or electric saws. Shop around, I found a deal on Ebay when i bought mine. But this Amazon price seems about right. (can't remember how much i paid).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014C7Y6G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I do tree work Professionally and completely agree with this... It doesn't have to be a sliky allthough there , but the most functional saw. for a home owner is a manual one. It will do everything you need except power itself which I get that its not fun... but there's just so much less to fail...

I've had numerous customers in the past do there own pruning with a gas pole saw all in the pursuit of saving a few bucks to get it stuck 15' up in a tree. The kicker is when I get there and fix it with a manual (silky) 20' pole saw...

 

[kctyphoon]

If you decide to go manual, just remember that your cutting on the downstroke. I have the model from Jameson, but I wouldn't hesitate to get a Fiskars from HD either. The benefit of the manual stuff is the flexibility. I can extend mine with three 6' fiberglass handles, so with the saw your easily at 20+ feet of overall length. Anything more becomes a bit too awkward to use, but with one or two sections the saw handles very well. Obviously a powered saw will cut easier, but they can get heavy really fast. I'd imagine a cordless would not be cheap, but you will be the best judge of if the money is worth it for you. At the very least the manual saws require no maintenance, or oil. I have a hydraulic tree saw at work, but the reach is nowhere near a manual, and most times it's just quicker to pull the Jameson out and start cutting.

The Oregon by far will be a better saw compared to the greenwork. I'd just ask myself how much use it will see.. If it's a one or day a year kinda thing, I'd honestly stick with a manual like this one

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-14-ft-Bypass-Pruner-93006966J/100153111
Or
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Jameson-...age-with-Three-6-ft-Poles-LS-6PKG-6/202536694

If it's ALOT of cutting you need to undertake, then just buy what you want. Nothing wrong with spending money on toys. I've spent way too much money on stuff that barely sees any use, and most of us on here are probably guilty of that. Not sure I'd be willing to sink $500 into this though, but you're the only one that knows how much easier it might make your life.

 

[W2Synth]

Thanks for the advice all, I did end up going with a manual one this weekend. It took a little bit of getting used to but I was able to take care of most of the troublesome branches this weekend and the rest will be taken care of next weekend. Thank you all very much for the advice!

 

[rlitman]

If you decide to go manual, just remember that your cutting on the downstroke. . . At the very least the manual saws require no maintenance, or oil. . .

I too own a Jameson pole saw. I've got three 6' poles, plus a 3' section, and the saw head is mounted on a 3' pole. It's still quite usable when all put together, and it has a LOT more reach than my Stihl telescoping pole pruner.

Yes, you're cutting on the down stroke, but it's not like most hand sawing. With a regular hand saw, your hand provides the pressure into the cut. With a pole saw, the curve of the blade causes the saw to move back just enough to keep just the right amount of pressure in the cut, so long as you're moving fast enough. Pull too slowly, and it doesn't really work all that well. Once you get the rhythm of it, the sawdust can really start raining.

As for oil, well no, they don't require it, but I actually like to keep my blade oiled. I find it binds less on the return stroke. What works best for me is to spray my blades down with silicone spray when I'm done cutting. It washes off the gum buildup, and leaves a slick coating.