Unskilled or Lazy

[BigJohn]

How many of you use a polesaw for prunning? I was just wondering if people really use them because you need to use it or are they just too lazy to go out there. Me I am too lazy to ask for something and don't have the patients to wait someone to get it. I don't usually let my guys have a polesaw unless I am not in the mood or have the time to watch them struggle for 20 minutes trying to get out there because now they are too lazy to change their rope angle.

 

[rborist1]

:Eye:

 

[topnotchtree]

I agree, they have a time and place. Though I rarely use a polesaw. I almost always climb out to my cuts, whenever possible. I seem to use polesaws more during stormwork.Cutting pieces you are not sure where they are gonna go.Staying back, out of harms way.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by topnotchtree
I agree, they have a time and place. Though I rarely use a polesaw. I almost always climb out to my cuts, whenever possible.

Same here.

 

[NeTree]

Polesaws are standard on small ornamentals.

Usually I'll just climb out and cut, unless it requires putting my weight on small wood that may not hold me. Better safe than dead.

By the time you ask for a polesaw, and it gets there, you could have been done already, usually.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

IMO I think it is wise not to let first time climbers use polesaws. They become too dependent on the polesaw instead of learning how to climb out to the work. This is the way that I was taught. Polesaws, as others have already said, have their place.

 

[Dadatwins]

I think a lot of people who came from line work use pole saws more since they are so used to it. A lot of older climbers use them because years ago chain saws were so heavy to try to get started out on the tips of trees. Now with lighter saws, and better equipment pole not needed as much. Just like with better hand saws more cuts by hand than chain saw on trim work. Pole saw still has its place and I would not go out on a job with out one.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by netree


By the time you ask for a polesaw, and it gets there, you could have been done already, usually.

TRUE 'DAT!!!

 

[topnotchtree]

I think a lot of people who came from line work use pole saws more since they are so used to it.--------------

Maybe some, but not all of us. Around here they are rarely used while we do line clearance. For Isabelles clean-up we were sent to Maryland. Most everyone there could not believe we were trimming these hot trees without the aid of a polesaw. Maybe we were just trained differently???

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I never really used a polesaw, with the exception of maybe setting a rope for a double crotch, untill just a few months ago. Now it seems that I am using it every day to cut small suckers on the Silver Maples and Cottonwoods here. I also agree that they are extremely useful in busting off the little suckers in elms that have already started to compartmentalize. I agree that there is no excuse for getting out on a limb, but I can clear a lot of little stuff from one location in a tree and then progress out on a branch or further up with out having a bunch of little stuff in my tripping me up. But hey thats just me.

Kenn:Monkey:

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by netree
Polesaws are standard on small ornamentals.

Usually I'll just climb out and cut, unless it requires putting my weight on small wood that may not hold me. Better safe than dead.

By the time you ask for a polesaw, and it gets there, you could have been done already, usually.

Excent post!! I rarely use mine, but they deffiniately have there placein the truck. I use the silky bout a 1000 times more tho. But like Eric said, they have there place when you cant get out there for fear of the limbs breakin.

 

[ORclimber]

I don't use a polesaw much, sometimes when deadwooding oaks. Pole pruner gets used on almost every prune job.

 

[Guy Meilleur]

We have a lot of wide-spreading trees here, and I have my polesaw in almost every one I climb. Cuts can be clean to collar if you get into the right position and know how to use the tool.

Telescoping is a must for ease of use. Pole pruner good for tips; I carry the pruner head in my pouch if I know I'll need it; not a problem to swap. Pole snaps on a dogleash--what could be easier?

 

[murphy4trees]

I know an old tree climber that was complaining about a guy he worked for a while back... My friend said "he's been cuttting trees for 15 years and doesn't know what a pole saw is...."
What he meant by that is the guy just spiked up everthing and took out the tops.... ANd he wonderred why he could never get any work in the high income neighborhoods....
So I guess that just goes to show there are two classes of climbers out there that don't like to use polesaws....
I keeep a twelve footer on the ladder racks and at least 4 sections in the truck with pruner and saw heads... though I don't use or rely on them like I used to...
Still from time to time, I'll stand on top of a 40' ladder and use a 20' polesaw to set my climbing line... Never did like them for making pruning cuts though....
And one more handy use for them is for cleaning gutters... When the roof is not walkable, one hand on the blower, the other hand pushes the mess along.
And another thought... sometimes I'll put together two 6' sections and clip on the big shot head.... Its hard on the rubber but will add some serious height to the shots... I'll put that 12' pole and bigshot against any hand tosser in the world for height and accuracy.... Just give me a few warm up shots to sight her in.. I guess with the remote release, I could put the big shot on a 20' pole.... that'd be fun.

 

[wiley_p]

On spreading crowns I don't use them much, well except conifers. But on large vase shaped crowns a pole saw is mandatory on my crew alot of our middle aged Bigleaf maples it is difficult to work the ends, and like Guy said proper positioning will make a good cut.

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

i think for slapping dead twigs etc. they are economical to offer customer service. We get lots of SpanishMoss, and twirling it like cotton candy and pulling the stuff as ya go with polesaw; when ya got enough to pull without breaking the moss (till ya want to), yet not overpowering you for clean evacuation of moss is strategic move to me.

Also for 'knocking off' mistletoe isn't too bad, and if ya ain't taking the tree branch anyway, more efficiency for the same service. Some line advancing, knocking a dead limb outta a neighboring tree, or even leaving a stob in that tree you won't enter to get dead rotting piece away from tree, and not fall on anyone, i think is better than not taking the few seconds to do cuz that isn't a paid tree etc.

i too think a correct cut can be made with the right stance etc.; pruner for specific tips, figuring on setting up in one spot and having a 20' 3d sphere (38' fer .......... oh never mind he might be reading this....)to reach from there gives lots of options. i wouldn't wait for one for a single task or so, but at some point can be seen as equitable to have with me.

Orrrrrrrrrr something like that,
:alien:

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

i think theres a time and a place for all or most arb tools ..if theres no use for a tool why was it invented somebody thought there was a need.............

 

[appalachianarbo]

We had a guy who would take a pole saw up on nearly every pruning. He pretty much hung in one spot and lion tailed everything around him. Crappy cuts, too. Bad climber or lazy...maybe both

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

There are two sides to the spectrum; htose whjo over use the toll out of fear, incompetance or ppor training, and those who under use them out of ego.

I rarely use a pole for many of the reasons already listed, dragging the darn thing around in the tree and kepping track of it so it does not slice your ear off is another.

The times I do use them are already listed too.

I'll do lots of ground trimming with my big Silky, especially on vista and line of site work. (in my thinkig LOS is more trim and Vista is more prune)

Fine deadwooding can be more productive with a pole, especially in trees like honey locust.

with everything being equal, I would rather climb out to make the cut, then drag the thing around the tree.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Forgive me, in advance...

I know this is gonna be taken the wrong way, but I feel someone who overuses a pole saw is overusing a polesaw. Kinda like someone that can't tie a bowline.

Wouldja believe I've never used one to set a line?