Pole saws?

11B CIB

11B CIB

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Any gas pole saws worth a darn in the $250-$300 range? Home Depot has the TroyBilt offering in there but quality wise? Dewalt apparently makes one but I didn’t know they made power tools like that.

Echo is like $500+ and Stihls are even more. Not looking to start a landscaping company, just trim some branches once or twice a year without having to sell a kidney
 
I bought one of the Dewalts recently and it works great for my needs. It seems to me to be a little front heavy at full extension but not terrible. I had an old Stihl that rarely got used so it was typically a pain to get running right after sitting for awhile.
 
Carolinatlc said:
I bought one of the Dewalts recently and it works great for my needs. It seems to me to be a little front heavy at full extension but not terrible. I had an old Stihl that rarely got used so it was typically a pain to get running right after sitting for awhile.
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Is yours gas or electric?


I have a large yard perimeter I guess I should mention. Electric will be really really difficult. I guess cordless battery is an option but are they powerful enough? I don’t have any batteries already
 
Do you have a weedeater with the universal attachment system? I got a cheap ($100ish) pole saw attachment for mine and haven't had too many problems with it. I've cleaned up branches for deer season and around the house the last couple years with it.
 
I'm using a Harbor Freight Atlas 40v electric and it does what I need. This pairs with the Atlas 40v 16" chainsaw. I have one of the convertible gas head units too (Toro I think.), but the electric is much more convenient.
 
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11B CIB said:
Is yours gas or electric?


I have a large yard perimeter I guess I should mention. Electric will be really really difficult. I guess cordless battery is an option but are they powerful enough? I don’t have any batteries already
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The current gen battery stuff from DeWalt, Milwaukee or the like are pretty impressive these days. A 4 or higher amp hour battery lasts a good while. If your constantly cutting blade length oak or locust you'll eat up batteries. But for normal couple inch sized trimming, it's pretty impressive.

I don't have the battery pole saw. Have used a DeWalt a few times. But use both a DeWalt and Milwaukee chainsaw quite a bit and I'm impressed enough that I keep going back and forth on whether to get a small Stihl (which I also use a lot) or the DeWalt for a truck saw.
 
I have an echo that I’ve had for years. If I was gonna use it more I would’ve bought a stihl. Gas is gonna have more torque on bigger limbs.
 
My vote is electric - I can cut about 2 hours on one charge. Same battery I use in the weed whacker.

I would NOT recommend a WEN - I bought it from Amazon based on it having the longest reach and I needed to trim hanging branches that hit my RV.
 
I have the Home Depot TroyBilt and it’s been great. Keep a sharp chain on it and keep it lubed.

I got it because of the hedge trimmer attachment that can also share the power source. The hedge trimmer has had a small defect where the spring loaded button that allows the head angle to change. I can still change it as long as I have something to depress the button.

But the saw has been good. Be sure to get the extension piece too.
 
11B CIB said:
Is yours gas or electric?


I have a large yard perimeter I guess I should mention. Electric will be really really difficult. I guess cordless battery is an option but are they powerful enough? I don’t have any batteries already
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20v Battery. I would get another stihl gas if I was running it daily. I always emptied mine and ran it dry but still had problems with it running the next time I would use it. Last time I tried to use it, I gave up and ordered the Dewalt. For my use a couple times a years, battery powered makes the most sense. It also came with an extra pole extension that makes its reach a few feet further than my old Stihl.
 
I've got a 12' Stihl that's 10+ years old when we boarded horses and had riding trails to maintain. I only use it a couple times a year now, I empty it and run it dry each time I use it. It usually fires right up with fresh gas. When extended it's heavy, I've cut over 12" red oak branches without a problem.
Make sure you do not get it in a bind overhead, the shaft can get bent. I don't loan mine out.
For homesteading, I'd look into Milwaukee or Dewalt if I already had the battery system.
 
I own both gas and battery electric . The battery is a great option for a tool that doesn’t see regular use . I have an Oregon PS250 that will extend . I can make several hundred cuts through limbs the size of my arm without running down the battery all the way. Gas works great as long as you run it fairly often - sitting with fuel - especially mixed gas for a 2 stroke doesn’t work out too well unless you buy expensive canned fuel
 
A quality battery saw was too cost prohibitive. Especially since I wanted to go with Milwaukee to match all my other cordless tools. It was like $600.

I think I paid $400 for the TroyBilt gas pole saw and hedge trimmer.
 
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Get Off My Lawn said:
I've got a 12' Stihl that's 10+ years old when we boarded horses and had riding trails to maintain. I only use it a couple times a year now, I empty it and run it dry each time I use it. It usually fires right up with fresh gas. When extended it's heavy, I've cut over 12" red oak branches without a problem.
Make sure you do not get it in a bind overhead, the shaft can get bent. I don't loan mine out.
For homesteading, I'd look into Milwaukee or Dewalt if I already had the battery system.
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If OP wants a powered pole saw, I'll second getting into either of those battery eco-systems. The new Dewalt Power Stack batteries are amazing! Don't let the 1.7Amp Hour rating fool you, it's got plenty of power and run time closer to a 4 Amp Hour.

That said, I recently got the Dewalt Pole Hedge trimmer which is the same base unit and battery as the Pole Saw. The also have a combo kit that has both trimmer and saw. One piece the pole saw has that the pole trimmer does not is the 3.5ft extension. Dewalt actually reccommends you NOT use the extension with the trimmer head, and after using mine I can easily see why. Any pole saw or trimmer is going to be a bit head heavy. A friend who is a Dewalt nut just got the pole saw and said he really liked it. $300 for the combo unit or ~$225 for just one head AND it come with a 4 Amp Hour battery and charger.
 
I've got a ton of oak & hickory around the house to keep after & my Kobalt 14" chainsaw & pole saw/hedge trimmer combo do just fine for what I need. I can swap batteries between 'em & with the 4aH battery, the chainsaw will cut down a 40' tall, 10-12" dia. hickory, buck it & cut the works into 2' lengths on one charge. Which to be honest, is about all I wanna deal with in a day.
 
Pole saws are worth their weight in gold. this red oak had fallen over the road sometime yesterday. I was able to piece the branches supporting the main trunk out safely then on to saws for removal. it's an Echo 2620

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"...once or twice a year..."

cordless electric.
i have a B&D 20v.
batteries fit my drill and weed-eater,
so i have enough for a twice-a-year episode.

but...if were to start "from scratch"
i would go 40v and add a chainsaw.

i used to rent gas due to infrequent use.
but...now, i would not BUY gas for anything
except a lawn mower. electric mowers
cannot "power through" wet grass.
 
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Old thread ... I have a hand pole saw like the one in @BowWow 's pic above. I now have a yard with enough work I want to do to justify a powered saw.

I already have an "investment" in Kobalt 24v batteries. Have any of you used the Kobalt pole saw?
 
Me. said:
Old thread ... I have a hand pole saw like the one in @BowWow 's pic above. I now have a yard with enough work I want to do to justify a powered saw.

I already have an "investment" in Kobalt 24v batteries. Have any of you used the Kobalt pole saw?
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My wife bought the 40v Kobalt pole saw.

My only complaint is the cross bolt safety. It's cumbersome and why is it even needed? I mean, the chain is a full 1/8th mile away from you...

Otherwise, it works very well.

Oops. One other complaint. It has a hook on it. That implies you can hang it for storage, but when you do that, bar oil runs down and drips on my nice shop floor.

Otherwise, it works very well.
 
Fullboost21 said:
Nope. Pony up for the Echo or Stihl. Keep the canned 50:1 premix fuel in it since you'll only use it a few times a year.

Just like with a trailer, you'll make more friends with your new pole pruner!
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What he said. I picked up a husqvarna mainly because of the reach. Also learned the stihl takes a proprietary blade where the husqvarna takes a regular blade.

If you were closer you could use it.0E6B035E-F439-4694-962A-EE9287CEFC9A.jpeg
 
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I bought the saw. Came home and put it to work.


Screenshot_20230218-181140.png


Most of that wood pile and the well-over 100 cuts that make up the brush-pile in the back. It took three charged batteries to do all that work.

I'm very happy with how it worked. The 40v one would have been better for the longer bar. But I'm not looking to get into more batteries.

$153 out the door, with a battery and charger. If I never use it again, it has already provided its value, over the work of a handsaw.


Tomorrow it moves to the back yard.
 
My Kobalt saw is great, but leaks bar oil as well.
Were you serious about the veg oil or just kidding ? Never heard of that.
 
Yes. I filled it with cheap canola oil from the grocery store.

Is it right? Is it best? Probably not.

I got the idea here on CFF actually. Somebody jokingly said he uses veg oil because the squirrels like it. I can’t find the post right now.

Chainsaw winter bar oil?

Not sure if this is a huge issue or not, a bit out of my wheel house honestly. I'm going to be running a Stihl 271 at or below 32f and do not have access to winter weight bar oil. What are my options? I've used 10/40 motor oil for years but I'm not crazy about running it it my "good" saw...
carolinafirearmsforum.com carolinafirearmsforum.com

An internet search shows that plenty of folks use veg oil.


For the little bit I’ll use it, and the availability of veg oil around my house, I’ll take my chances that it is “good enough” for my little eight-incher.


87F5E52B-5A0C-4910-B89D-01E2A399B0CA.jpeg
 
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Day 2 review. Several hours of brushing and cutting in a grove behind my house. It was an overgrown area. I cut down every small tree, and every limb within 5 feet of the ground. Made a brush-pile big enough to loosely fill a one-car garage. Hundreds of cuts. None bigger than 4-5 inches. Mostly 1” or less.

Then I turned my attention to a big branch over the driveway.

I enjoyed how quickly this made firewood out of it.

I was glad to have a few batteries, to keep the work moving.


One criticism…. You have to stop and adjust the bar tension really often. It’s easy and toolless, but it is often. Like 10-12 cuts.
 
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Sun Joe electric that I got from my MIL's garage when she went in nursing home. Never been out of the box. Damn thing is amazing. I went mid evil around the yard with it. Like a hot knife thru butter. Leaks bar oil. They were less than $100 new. Bought an extra Oregon chain for it. Then I hurt my back, again and have been told I need both shoulders repaired. I dont chain saw or climb ladders anymore.
 
On a like saw battery or corded electric is a good option. In most cases you will use it quite a bit when you first get the tool , but after that not as much.
If this is a tool that you will use often over a long period a time - buy a gas unit
 
What do y'all think this is? Best I can tell is a northern water snake.

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Me. said:
A little pole saw update, and a question.

First, I’ve made hundreds of more cuts with this thing. Some on limbs that were 10”. The brush pile is getting out of control.


For a tool like this, do you guys bother sharpening the chain, or just replace them for $15?
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I replace the chain and keep the old one for sharpening on a rainy day.
 
you need 2 chains. one to have on the saw and another for sharpening. your hometown hardware store probably sharpens then for $RI. you can get a ot of sharpenings out of a chain.

if you want to sharpen it yourself you can make do with 1 chain, but it's stihl better to have multiple.
 
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