Pole Saw Recommendation - (Cordless Electric Not Petrol)

Pimpiticians 4 Life on 16/09/2023 - 23:40

Need to buy a pole saw for cutting branches mostly 3-4m high (from ground level) and a couple branches close to 5m.
Branches are about a fist, fist and a half thick.

Elderly family mentioned how expensive it was going to be (quoted $450-$550) to cut some high branches.
They said they will pay for the pole saw and I can keep it in exchange for cutting their trees.
They are on a budget so probably looking at about $200-$350.
Only interested in cordless and not petrol.

I already have Ozito, Dewalt, Ryobi batteries thanks to ozbargain posted deals.

Do you have a pole saw or use one you recommend?
Any good ones on sale worth purchasing?
Thanks

Home & Garden

Comments

  • Japius on 16/09/2023 - 23:57
    +2

    I use the ozito PXC pole saw, it’s come in very handy around our place but haven’t tried it at those heights. It says branches up to 17cm but I’ve managed to do a few a bit thicker just takes a little longer. Worst thing I find is the oil leaks if you don’t store it the right way up, but it’s a handy little unit. Neighbour has the actual pxc chainsaw and I borrow that for anything too thick as it’s fantastic too. Now I just need to find a decent woodchipper

    • Jaspa7 on 17/09/2023 - 00:41
      -1

      branches up to 17cm

      pole saw for ants treescaping a bonsai?

      edit: oh wait, girth.. not height (duh). height is the main issue for me - got the ones ~7m up, but most of the ones I need to get to are just above where I can get to when standing on a step stool on the roof

      • Nugs on 17/09/2023 - 07:00
        +3

        "standing on a step stool on the roof"
        Ive done silly stuff with a chainsaw, but that's dodgy as
        .

        • Jaspa7 on 17/09/2023 - 07:53

          I know, I know.. which is why I stopped after 1 branch. It's only a 200mm chain though and it has safety interlock incase you drop it.
          Biggest risk is the thing (or branches) falling on you, then falling off the roof (flat in my case at least)

          • Nugs on 17/09/2023 - 12:36

            @Jaspa7: I lopped a few gum branches a couple of days ago to avoid overhang of our shed. 10 seconds after assembling my 6m pole saw for the first time in a few years I realised that I wasn't going to stand on the flattish roof of the shed with it, ground cuts it was
            .

  • apsilon on 17/09/2023 - 06:33
    +3

    I have the Ryobi one and it's been good but it's only about 2m of reach which I believe it the average so if you're wanting to do up to 5m you're going to need a good ladder and balance as well because the pole saw feels heavier than it is as it acts like a lever when extended and reaching. You also shouldn't under estimate how heavy even a thin branch can be so it's usually best to cut small sections off at a time and obviously be aware of what they're going to fall on. Finally for the health of the tree you need to make sure the cut is as clean as possible.

    • bbinc on 17/09/2023 - 09:30
      +1

      Good luck if OP uses a ladder. It’s not always possible to predict how branches will swing. I’d call the money for a pro to do it “safety insurance”.

      • apsilon on 17/09/2023 - 09:42
        +1

        That's part of the reason I said to cut small sections at a time. Rather than trying to cut off the whole branch in one go, chop off ~30cm sections and let them drop. They're smaller and lighter and easier to manage in every way. Additionally as I pointed out you want clean cuts. If a branch is swinging then it's also tearing and it's unlikely to ever get new growth around that cut. That's easier to manage with small cuts and planning for a final finishing cut.

        • bbinc on 17/09/2023 - 10:03
          +1

          Agree totally! Small pieces are also easier to get rid off.

        • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 18/09/2023 - 21:03

          Good advice.
          Its their crappy neighbors tree hanging over though so the worse the cuts the better I guess.

      • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 18/09/2023 - 20:59

        Yeah I felt perfectly safe doing it with the manual pole saw on the ladder but would not have risked it with an electric saw thats for sure.

  • edrift on 17/09/2023 - 06:48

    I have the ozito polesaw.

    It's top heavy so using it full extension can be dangerous.

    Realistically you'll need to climb the tree to limb it first.

    Buy a mini chainsaw off eBay or Kogan for the job. You can climb and the cut with one hand

  • Japius on 17/09/2023 - 07:05
    +1

    Sounds like a pole saw won’t be suitable as others have said they are top heavy and difficult to wield when fully extended. The heights you’re dealing with are the issue, you’ll need a good ladder or climbing ability whatever you choose but personally I’d go the chainsaw route over a polesaw for that job

  • Prong on 17/09/2023 - 07:07
    +2

    For those heights you could look at manual pole saws. With a sharp blade, cutting branches that thick is faster and easier than you'd think.

    Fiskars gear is nice and they have a saw that does 20mm branches at up to 4.5m reach. So 6m when holding it. They show pics of cutting branches thicker than 20mm.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/fiskars-2-2-4-5m-quikfit-telesco…

    I have the Ozito 36v 4 in 1 kit that has a pole saw, but it's pretty heavy. It's also a seasonal promo product not sold currently.

    The two Ozito 18v pole saws do 2.77m reach and 2.9m reach. That does appear to be the total length of the saw unit.

    So if you are tall and can hold it fully above your head you might have just enough reach for the 5m. It won't be easy though and is probably not practical. 3m and 4m branches should be fine.

    They have a 200mm bar so should cut your branches fine.

    The 2.77m reach model has an adjustable angle head, and has a hedge trimmer attachment you can buy too.

    The 2.9m model is a bit more basic, but only $179 for the kit that includes another battery for your collection.

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-pxc-18v-200mm-pole-pruner-…

    https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-pxc-18v-cordless-pole-prun…

    Ryobi has a model that does 2.9m reach. And DeWalt has one that does 3m. DeWalt appear to include the operators height and call it 4.5m reach.

    • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 18/09/2023 - 20:54

      Thanks very much.
      I went for the manual Fiskars you linked and it got the job done.

      Turned out the highest branches were right about 6m and I found reducing the pole 1 notch and using the ladder worked well.
      If it was for lower heights only and the branches are thick an electric would be the way to go.

      • Prong on 22/09/2023 - 14:05

        Yeah great to hear. I had been eyeballing that Fiskars saw for myself but have not quite had enough of an excuse to buy it.

    • bbinc on 24/09/2023 - 16:46
      +1

      I just stumped up for the long reach Fiskars. Hesitated in store with the shorter version that works the same, but settled for the big’un. Unbelievable! So beats my 10 yr old Fiskars with a seperate rope pull.
      Did a major property cull in just an hour using the Fiskars, and a Ryobi pole saw for the few thicker bits.
      Snip, snip!

  • Euphemistic on 17/09/2023 - 13:25
    +1

    I’ve got a Ryobi pole saw. Has extension sections that can be added to make it longer. Somehow I’ve ended up with two extensions so it’ll reach quite high, but is pretty unwieldy at full length. Not sure if it would get to 5m, maybe 4 in total.

    As far as the saw goes, it’s a little slower than a petrol chainsaw. I often use it in preference to a petrol chainsaw even when cutting items at ground level. It is so much more convenient as it is quiet, lightweight and take no effort or fuel to start it.

    Had the opportunity to use a makita 2x18v pole saw at work and it was brilliant. Part of an expand it pack. So much more powerful and quicker. But it’s a lot more $.

    • bbinc on 24/09/2023 - 16:48

      It’s also safer as the second you lose control it shuts off. Not that I’ve needed that feature.

  • coronafire on 18/09/2023 - 10:23
    +1

    I've got the ozito PXC pole saw and it's useful, but as others have mentioned at full length quite top heavy and unweildy.
    It's useful for many jobs for sure, but for a tree at home a bit too high, near powerlines, I paid for professionals. They arrived as a team and mostly watched while one guy threw up their pole saw and easily, neatly trimmed brnaches a couple of meters higher than I could. On one hand, this is why you get professionals for somewhat risky jobs, they make hard work look easy. On the other hand…

    I'm pretty sure their pole saw was an electric Stihl one.
    The way it was held, it was clearly designed such that the battery & motor hangs below / past the hands like a counterweight, and the saw head looks a lot slimmer and lightweight.

    If you google image search "STIHL HTA 50" you'll see some of them certainly have the handle up above the motor etc.

    This looks a tad above your target price, but maybe some other other brands have this counterbalance style to make it easier to use?

    • Pimpiticians 4 Life on 18/09/2023 - 21:14

      Yeah you don't want to mess around near powerlines.
      The electric would have saved some leg work but up higher the manual pole saw worked pretty good.
      If the branches are too thick (for a manual saw) and too high I guess you have to pay up.

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