Using a Pole Saw In The Tree?

[jomoco]

The story on that picture resides in a thread here at Arboristsite, from like 5 years ago. It was a food thread. Search keyword 'curry' 'God' or 'holy crap!"

Now back to pole saws.

Good christian muscle doing the good work of feeding the modest among us I gather/hope?

jomoco

 

[(WLL)]

i have only herd(sp) of poles being called sissy sticks and lanyards being called chicken straps from hacks, imo they are a valuable tools. every tree care company should have them.

 

[TreeTopKid]

Cinched nylon loops of varying sizes can make for awful handy stirrups to place your foot into, to get that impossible branch.

Dual TIP's/redirects are way cool too, to access the seemingly impossible.

jomoco

I know I've been using loop runners for just that Jomoco! They are so light too, I always carry half a dozen of various sizes. I occasionally use a pole saw but I prefer to climb every time if you keep your weight on your saddle you can really get out on the skinny stuff. I also rescue cats and very often they are right at the tips, and the owners usually don't like retrieval with a pole saw! So I go a bouncing!

 

[tree md]

I never used a pole pruner period until about 3 or 4 years ago. I used it in the tree for a little while but eventually went back to just climbing on out there with a handsaw or power saw and making my cut. Couldn't make clean cuts on the hard angles and I eventually came to the conclusion that in most cases it causes you to exert more energy than it would if you just climbed out there. Plus they are no fun to pay to fix if one hits the ground. I do use one a lot to trim limbs away from roofs or cut lower limbs that I can reach from the ground. I also use it to clear lower limbs to clear a path for me to enter the tree sometimes. They have their place and save a lot of time but are only good for limited applications IMO.

 

[(WLL)]

I know I've been using loop runners for just that Jomoco! They are so light too, I always carry half a dozen of various sizes. I occasionally use a pole saw but I prefer to climb every time if you keep your weight on your saddle you can really get out on the skinny stuff. I also rescue cats and very often they are right at the tips, and the owners usually don't like retrieval with a pole saw! So I go a bouncing!

you can also use the tail of your rope when the loops wont fit or ya didnt bring em up. i need a good foot more offtin when cabling than pruning.

 

[TreeTopKid]

you can also use the tail of your rope when the loops wont fit or ya didnt bring em up. i need a good foot more offtin when cabling than pruning.

Yeah of course wrestlin' with the drill can be a right pain in the wrong tree.

 

[tree md]

Cinched nylon loops of varying sizes can make for awful handy stirrups to place your foot into, to get that impossible branch.

Dual TIP's/redirects are way cool too, to access the seemingly impossible.

jomoco

I never enter a tree without 2 loops on my saddle anymore. Handier than a pocket on a shirt.

 

[jomoco]

Yeah of course wrestlin' with the drill can be a right pain in the wrong tree.

Try it with a 3 foot drill bit!

No push, no go amigo!

jomoco

 

[(WLL)]

i dont take any extra tools when im climbing. if i need something ill call down. i like adj. loopies. climbs that call fer roping/ limb removal ill have one of each on the belt

 

[(WLL)]

Try it with a 3 foot drill bit!

No push, no go amigo!

jomoco

push-pull-push-pull/ over and over and over again

 

[jomoco]

push-pull-push-pull/ over and over and over again

Kinda like an arboreal doctor doolittle with no proper footing to either push me or pull me!

jomoco

 

[(WLL)]

Kinda like an arboreal doctor doolittle with no proper footing to either push me or pull me!

jomoco

rope placement is key

 

[jomoco]

rope placement is key

Do you mean rope in the singular or ropes?

Lanyard/rope combo is fine for short bits, but sometimes with long bits dual tip's or redirects are essential to comfort rather than exhaustion.

jomoco

 

[(WLL)]

Do you mean rope in the singular or ropes?

Lanyard/rope combo is fine for short bits, but sometimes with long bits dual tip's or redirects are essential to comfort rather than exhaustion.

jomoco

:agree2:

 

[tree MDS]

Using a polesaw in a tree properly is an art in my opinion. I see it as a nessisary evil. Its definately an anoying tool at times. I'm talking about fine pruning big trees, like the red oaks we get alot here. I started climbing doing what was then called a "class 4" (or canopy reduction by one third) down in FL - lots of climbing to the ends and rope walking/weaving through the canopy, hand saw/old school 020. We didnt use a pole down south too much, other than to pull hangers. My point is that I can climb out to the ends of a branch as well as the next guy or better, everyone acts like they are a hero for getting out to the ends of a branch these days - I was doing it as my job every day from the time I started climbing pretty much. I still like to have a polesaw hanging around. That said it took years of #####ing and swearing to get really good with one. As long as you care about your cuts and are strong enough you can do a good job with one. The blades I use now are soo much better than those old Seymour Smith "snap cut" things we had for years! Anyone remember those??

 

[Tree Machine]

The blades I use now are soo much better than those old Seymour Smith "snap cut" things we had for years! Anyone remember those??

Ick! Just like what you might find on a camping saw at WalMart.

I agree with MDS. Getting out to the tips is what we do, not to say that everyone can do it, but using judicious redirects you should be able to get to any place in the tree, short of it being too small where you risk having it snap of under your own weight. I think developing a dependence on using the pole saw will prevent you from developing the skills that will allow you to go just about anywhere in the crown. Going all places in the crown (not necessarily going, but having the ability to go) should be a baseline bread-and-butter skill for any seasoned climbing arborist.

Getting out there into no-mans land isn't so much about overcoming difficulty, or possessing brute strength and unlimited undurance; its more about utilizing your gear properly and getting past the barriers in your head.

Going to the hardest places should be done with the greatest ease possible. Carrying a pole saw gives you an excuse not to, and that's self-limiting. This is just an opinion, not necessarily some widely held truth or irrefutable fact....
(that I'm aware of)

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

IMO like any tool they have their time/place/use. Knowing when to use one and when to get it with a hand saw is the key.

There are many times that a few quick snips or cuts with a pole saw have saved me lots of time.

Practice up with a pole saw and you can make pretty darn proper cuts.

 

[tree MDS]

The first "razor blades" I saw were on handsaws (ARS I wanna say), it seems like it took a while for them to make it on a pole head.

The most useless blade IMHO is that giant Fanno POS, definately made for hacking. I'm likeing thr Marvin 330's lately, very sharp and articulate little blade, I almost think they do a better job pruning when they are a tiny bit dulled up sinse the hook is a little agressive when new.

 

[TreeTopKid]

Try it with a 3 foot drill bit!

No push, no go amigo!

jomoco

Thats EXACTLY what I was talking about LOL.

 

[TreeTopKid]

i dont take any extra tools when im climbing. if i need something ill call down. i like adj. loopies. climbs that call fer roping/ limb removal ill have one of each on the belt

Me either, but those loop runners are so light i always take a few. No tape measures, hand saws, and 20 'spare' karibiners though LOL