Pole saws

[_Keith]

Since I have to cut nearly every frond off of every palm, I am considering investing in a gas powered pole saw. Big Box has Poulans (8") under $200 and Husquvarna (12") on the high end around $500 and Echo (12") on the high end around $600. All have 12' reach, and similar cc size.

Anyone have recommendations, bad or good experiences, to share?

[Palmə häl′ik]

Spend a little extra coin on some quality, buy a Stihl. All my gas powered 2 stroke tools are made by Stihl.

Dont forget, you get what you pay for...

-Ray.

[empireo22]

If you don't mind getting on a ladder they sell 12'' chainsaws that can be held with one hand. they are commonly used to prune palms and aren't as expensive as pole saws.

[dalmatiansoap]

Stihl

[Phoenikakias]

I strongly recommend also a pole -saw. Just take care it is of good quality because their weak point is the axis inside the pole and their ability of the gas reaching engine even on an entirely vertical position. Therefore make a test first; rpm should not fall on a vertical position.

Edited March 22, 2014 by Phoenikakias

[DoomsDave]

I offer a word of dissent.

Get a $100 Remington electric pole saw. It's 10" and it cuts, and, best of all, you can take it off the pole and use it as a handy-dandy one-handed redneck chainsaw. I love mine, yeah, I know in love with a chain-saw . . . .

Yee haw.

http://www.chainsawsdirect.com/cutters/remington-pole-saws.html?gclid=CMTh07KVp70CFQqCfgodqmkAZg

I used mine to cut down 24" trees, weight brings 'em down.

The only drawback is that it is electric, and if you have a large property, you might need a long L O N G extension cord.

Just a thought.

Let us know, and give us a demo.

[Perito]

Keith, I've had my Echo for many years and have been very happy with it. The only thing I don't like about it is that the choke lever is in a spot on the motor that can be engaged accidentally while in use. This problem may have been addressed on newer models.

[cagary]

I love my 21 foot telescoping palm cutting pole. Its pricey, but well worth it! No ladders for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Silky-179-39-Telescoping-Landscaping-HAYAUCHI/dp/B0014CC4WK/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

[mike2748]

Love my echo 12 years old. Runs great. If you are going to not use it for more than 2 weeks run it dry before you put it away

[Jeff Searle]

Like Ray stated above, you will get what you pay for. Stay away from the cheapy , electric stuff. I have a Stihl HT 101 and love it. Just used it this afternoon and was reliable as usual. Mine is about 4, maybe 5 years old now. I paid right around $600 for it then. The only complaint maybe....it's a little heavy when it's extended.

[Palmdude]

I like Stihl too, my weed whacker blower and pole saw are all Stihl and they keep going and going. I do also have a Remington electric pole saw and it really works very well, I take it off the pole like Dave said and take it up a ladder to do all my cabbage palms and it works like a charm. Had it for probably right years so Stihl is great but for $99 so is the Remington.

[edric]

Stihl, Ed

[_Keith]

Thanks for all of the feedback folks. Looks like a Stihl is probably in my immediate future.

[O'o Bar Master]

Keith,

Can't go wrong with the Stihl. I use them regularly and they are the best! I also use a long manual pole saw by Silky (a bit pricy but fantastic) that extends to 21' and is my favorite tool for the really tall stuff. I also bought a cheap Poulan gas model that I have abused terribly. Like a Timex it just keeps on ticking no matter how I overmatch it. I've taken on trees that were way too big, got it caught in twisting tree breaks that wrenched the bar, bowed the shaft and nearly lifted me into the air, among many other abuses. Because it was inexpensive I actually did things that I wouldn't have done with my more expensive saws, not being willing to risk trashing a major investment. It continues to surprise me but I do see subtle signs that it may have a shorter life span than my Stihl.

Mike

[Palmdude]

Mike, that's exactly how I treat the Remington, I'm a bit more gentle with the Stihl

Edited March 24, 2014 by Palmdude

[amazon exotics]

IMO echo power prunner is #1 hands down. its a commercial pole saw, runs $700+ but worth every penny, will last forever, extends longer than a Stihl and has a circular blade attachment for shaping trees & hedges.

[redant]

I need a very long pole say for my palms silky pole saws are awesome

http://www.amazon.com/Silky-179-39-Telescoping-Landscaping-HAYAUCHI/dp/B0014CC4WK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395673607&sr=8-1&keywords=silky+pole+saws

[palmislandRandy]

  On 3/24/2014 at 3:08 PM, redant said:

I need a very long pole say for my palms silky pole saws are awesome

http://www.amazon.com/Silky-179-39-Telescoping-Landscaping-HAYAUCHI/dp/B0014CC4WK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395673607&sr=8-1&keywords=silky+pole+saws

Got one for my birthday last year!

[_Keith]

  On 3/24/2014 at 3:08 PM, redant said:

I need a very long pole say for my palms silky pole saws are awesome

http://www.amazon.com/Silky-179-39-Telescoping-Landscaping-HAYAUCHI/dp/B0014CC4WK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395673607&sr=8-1&keywords=silky+pole+saws

I have a similar saw, made by Corona, and I really like it. But with the cold damage this year, I have an easy 500 fronds to cut, so I need to turn the process into a production line.

[grant b.]

does anybody have any experience with weed wackers that have pole saw attachment capability?

[_Keith]

Picked up my Stihl HT-101 today. You guys didn't tell me about the weight. I am gonna have forearms and biceps like Arnold in no time.

[trioderob]

that's brutal

[_Keith]

  On 3/24/2014 at 6:24 PM, 1000shadesOFgreen said:

does anybody have any experience with weed wackers that have pole saw attachment capability?

I have two friends that have tried these, both abandoned them in favor of dedicated tools citing that they don't hold up well. But they both do semi-commercial scale work and one is known to be very rough on things, so take that for what its worth.

[grant b.]

haha. alright. that leaves me a bit curious still. maybe I take the leap and report back one of these days

[Pando]

I bought a Mr. LongArm 23ft fiberglass extension pole for $40 from Home Depot, and Gilmour Replacement saw and head 507 from Amazon for $20. Attach the saw head to the pole with a $6 Mr Longarm 0203 Squegee Adapter (a bit of tape and two set screws make it tight). So, for $70 I can trim my palm trees 30 feet high up...

Compare that to the $250 Silky poles and it's nearly the same thing.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Pando

[Umbrae]

good chain saws are not cheap and cheap chain saws are not good.

[Alicehunter2000]

Keith when you are finished in your yard maybe you can swing by and do mine too. Just a suggestion.

[_Keith]

  On 4/4/2014 at 9:26 PM, Alicehunter2000 said:

Keith when you are finished in your yard maybe you can swing by and do mine too. Just a suggestion.

I'll see how much a flatbed will charge me to get it there. Might be over the 75 pound UPS and Keith weight limit. And a a cozy 7 feet retracted length it might not fit that criteria either.

[tropicbreeze]

I'm not worried about the fronds, but I'd like to get rid of the inflorescences before they shower my place with seeds. I do spend a lot of time weeding out palm seedlings which is a losing battle. Trouble is the "problem" palms are over 20m metres tall, haven't found anything with that reach commercially available (that I could afford). Tried tieing a pruning saw to a long bamboo pole about that length, could barely lift it into place, and then found there was no weight behind it so it wouldn't cut. If there was a pole saw that length I doubt I'd ever lift it. Probably have to invest in a fireman's ladder but I don't really like to work at those heights. Growing palms isn't easy.