pole saw cut

6'. Looks pretty useless to me. It seems like most people on this site don't want to use a 12' pole saw in the tree why would they use a 6' pole saw that you have to deploy and then put away. You can always reposition and stretch to get 6'.
 
There is a 12' model as well, it packs down to 39" so you could leave it deployed anywhere between that and 12' and then further extend it if necessary.

I carry a pole saw on most pruning climbs, it is just routine. I like the 6' but dont love it, because it is too short. I am looking forward to trying the 12'.
 
I prefer to keep poles without blades on them.. Use them for setting lines beyond the reach of the bucket... Keep a hayuchi on the truck.. mostly used from the ground for making small cuts and pulling hangers... when needed I'll use a power pruner from the bucket... Generally find a good climber can get to the cuts on almost all trees...
 
I cut myself in a similar way around the time this thread was started. I was not a member then, but I am now.
I was deadwooding a pin oak and was double crotched about 60 feet up. I used the pole to make a cut to my left and it got hung up. So, I hung the saw to my right on a small limb. I then reached over to my left to pull on the cut piece to try and free it up, bumped into the saw with the piece and knocked it loose. I was hung up with the blade facing away from me, but it spun around and caught the backside of my right hand. I then told my coworker that I cut myself and that we had to go to the ER. I was able to untie one of my TIPs and exit the tree on my own.

I just came across pics I took today so I thought I would share.
 

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Mac, I commend you on baring your soul here and we are all learning from your unfortunate experience. 25 years of pole saw use in a tree and never an injury. I will sometimes tether one, but have never used the scabbard in a tree. I like Bonner's version and am going to play around with it. I have always said that pole saws made me a better climber, because I hate using them! From now on I am going to think of this thread and use a scabbard and tether more often. I hope your guy has a speedy recovery!
 
Never used one, I know they have there place but holding anything under power 6 to 10 feet away from me while it's running just always seemed like a bad iead fundamentally.
 
1adkarborist said:
Mac, I commend you on baring your soul here and we are all learning from your unfortunate experience. 25 years of pole saw use in a tree and never an injury. I will sometimes tether one, but have never used the scabbard in a tree. I like Bonner's version and am going to play around with it. I have always said that pole saws made me a better climber, because I hate using them! From now on I am going to think of this thread and use a scabbard and tether more often. I hope your guy has a speedy recovery!
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This was from a while ago, he just has a nasty scar... And some better work habit
 
macswan said:
Today a climber, who is new to my crew, walked out on a limb to cut the end off of it. He was lanyarded to the (skinny)limb above him. He tried to cut the end off of it with a pole saw, he dropped the scabbard accidentally. I walked up and saw him struggling to make the pole saw cut and suggested he make the cut with a chainsaw, within arms reach, he responded positively and began positioning himself to switch instruments. I walked away around the corner of the house to check in with another coworker. The climber hung his pole saw from the limb his lanyard was on. With the blade facing him. Started the saw and shifted his weight and the pole saw popped off the limb, fell and cut the back of his right hand, it required 5 internal stiches for the muscle and I think 7 for the skin. He became light headed, but before I could get my gear together from the climb I had just finished, he descended the tree himself. we had the first aid kit there and 911 was just waiting for send. The bleeding looked under control, we wrapped it and another employee drove him to the urgent care center.

I tried to write just the facts up there so hopefully I can get some input from the community about the scenario, rather than my viewpoint of it. It was not a terrible accident, but it could have been worse and I believe it was totally avoidable. We lost time and someone got hurt which I don't like happening on my crew. I'm trying to learn as much as I can from the small accidents so I can avoid making one of those curs-ed pyramids I always see in safety seminars.

This post is long, sorry.
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Years ago I sliced the top side of my hand open with a pole saw as well. Inner and outer stitches. Those blades are no joke. Thanks for the story and reminder Mac.
 
Polesaws are no joke. Happened to an employee of mine about 4 years ago. He tried grabbing the polesaw after he bumped it and as he saw it falling. (BTW don't try to do that). I've never been able to use the scabbard thing with polesaws--despite how much they might work. Too much of a pain to maneuver around a tree with a pole saw around the ankles. I encourage placing the saw on the other side of the branch away from the climber. Someone has to invent something better than nothing or better than the drag the scabbard into the tree. Maybe there is nothing.
 
ward said:
Polesaws are no joke. Happened to an employee of mine about 4 years ago. He tried grabbing the polesaw after he bumped it and as he saw it falling. (BTW don't try to do that). I've never been able to use the scabbard thing with polesaws--despite how much they might work. Too much of a pain to maneuver around a tree with a pole saw around the ankles. I encourage placing the saw on the other side of the branch away from the climber. Someone has to invent something better than nothing or better than the drag the scabbard into the tree. Maybe there is nothing.
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I think it's wise to always carry a sling a biner on the pole saw so you can secure it to a branch when not in use. I would hate the idea of it falling and dicing up a groundie as well.

It all depends on the tree and what kind of work you're doing but I try to never carry the pole saw in the tree with me (though I know it is helpful for those long and fragile Douglas fir limbs your lightening up Mr. Ward).
 
Good point about the danger to groundies, Mike. I make it policy to have groundspeople look upwards if there is a polesaw in the tree constantly if they are underneath.

On the other hand, I do have a preference for non-destructible polesaws that you can chuck out of the tree (after clearing the area). I like the octagonal poles for that reason and use the extendible poles by jameson. I would never by Silky polesaws for work in the tree. That stuff would just get wrecked.
 
I have a scar on my forearm from a bumped pole saw years ago, it is an inch long and half an inch wide, and it was just the last couple of teeth that got me. If it had been full blade I doubt I would have continued with this profession. That is enough to make me deal with the scabbard and a tether. I wedge the scabbard into a gear loop on my saddle while cutting. And clip the tether to my saddle between cuts. But I can count the annual number of times I have a pole saw in a tree on two hands.
 
polesaw1.webp Got 7 stitches in the scalp from this long ago. Scabbard use options and Joe Bones' safety piece are referred to in this review. 7 years on; time for an an update!

The jameson telescoper 7-14' goes up with me in most big trees, but the Hoochie Coochie tool can be very effective aloft. I only needed to make 1 cut on the adjacent pine, so the big silky saved me a climb here.
 

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I use a hayauchi. When not in use, I either sling it from butt end upside down by sling on branch or on saddle when repositioning. No scabbard in tree, just in truck. No injuries, twenty years. Polesaws are clumsy in trees, go there and cut it handsaw or chainsaw.
 
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