Pole Saw Use

E

Eric_E

Location
USA
How many routinely use a polesaw while climbing? I've heard it said that climbing every limb takes too much time and that 2 sections of pole is much faster.

How many have been cut by a polesaw?

I know where many here stand on this issue but I'd like to hear both sides from everyone here at TB.
 
I use a polesaw in the tree frequently-it helps compensate for being a heavy, slow, climber. It all depends upon species and situation of course-There are trees that I can easily limb walk to all cuts and there are trees that I cannot safely or efficiently climb to the proper cut location(particularly when dressing up storm damage) The latter are polesaw trees.
 
I use a pole saw to avoid climbing. my zubat two extension and my 14 foot orchard ladder gets most stuff I need to get without climbing. when I get better at climbing and such I dont think I will use my saw when I am up a tree much but while I can stay on the ground, why not? I can get most branches out before a climber has ascended his line. Of course it depends on the size of tree involved, dont get me wrong.. :) The few times I have scurried up and tried to use the pole saw I find it awkward, first off to get itup with me, then its so hard to get the right angle on a branch when tied in, from the ground i is so much easier to reposition, probably just my inexperience in working aloft.
 
I don't use one much. I hate dragging the damn thing through a tree. Also, in TX, we have to paint oak wounds. If I can't get to it to cut it, I can't paint it (not quite true, but carrying around a paint head and string along with a pole saw is a nightmare). Not to mention, it's rare to see a proper cut that has been made with a pole (and I include myself in that, despite my best efforts to make good cuts). That said, I sometimes use a pole in elms or pecans, or similar trees that need weight reduction at the tips but tend to lack a good, high, central TIP. I stick a pruner head on it instead of a saw in these cases most of the time. And you can't beat a pole for pruning a section that looks questionable to climb but needs to be saved to keep a client happy.

As for injury, my worst cut ever came from a falling pole (I have a scar from a chainsaw, but it was coasting to a stop at the time and didn't go deep). I was descending, bumped the pole, and it came loose. As it fell, it snagged the back of my hand. It sliced through the skin and severed about 95% of the extensor tendon of my middle finger. For two months, I wore a brooklyn-bridge-like apparatus to hold my finger up so it wouldn't heal with the tendon stretched. I'm happy to say I have regained full use and range of the finger. But you better believe I'm a lot more aware of where my saw is, which direction it's hanging, and how I can stay out from under it. And I cringe every time I hear something bump into the pole.

I still think pole saws are useful and always have one around, but they have specific purposes and should not be used to compensate for poor climbing skills, IMO.

k
 
I read somewhere where a red stripe was painted the length of the polesaw on the "hot" side. I've always thought that was a good idea.
 
rarely use one in a tree- pain in the butt to lug around up the tree. we have to do so much tip work here, to prevent snow load damage etc., you really have to climb out there to get to smaller cuts- and make them propper without dog ears or ripping the bark. I use one on the ground, to reach lower deadwood etc. If i have to use something in a tree,I perfer a pruner.
 
Rarely use one myself. But sometimes you need it, but mostly not.
Ive said it before, polesaws have their place and its usually on the ground. In the tree, it is a crutch.

Too bad many trainee climbers are taught to use one regularly. Get rid of it and your climbing skills will improve 10 fold!

Ive never been cut by one falling, but years back I was cut open in my forearm from a careless groundie handing it up to me to pull a lodged hanger.

They mostly suck trying to carry it around with you, if only they had one that collapsed down to about 2 ft and extended to 20. Just think of all the great cuts we'd see then.
 
The safety stripe? Hey, MB, that was my idea! Why you trying to steal my glory! /forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif Click to see that old thread on AS

When I first started climbing, poles were given to all climbers. My climbing style was sorta built around moving with the pole saw. When I moved from there and got a new job elsewhere, the first thing I did was put together a proper polesaw (with safety stripe). After about a month some dutz dropped an entire tree on it and shattered it. I never bothered making another.

Now I don't know how I bothered to lug it around with me. Occasionally I'll ask for it, and usually I'll just figure out how to deal without it, under the precept that the time it takes to haul it up is just not worth it.

love
nick
 
I use a pole saw a lot, for all sorts of things. And I am very keen on neat cuts too although I don't get too fussed if the occasional small cuts (say less than 1.5" or about 40mm) are 80-90% perfect especially on trees which can easily cope with it.
The pruning work I do would commonly not be done by anyone else in my area to an equivalent standard, especially in high value trees of the 10 to 15m range.
A good pole saw (I'm talking about say a Barnel or ARS saw head adapted to a relatively cheap Wolf pole or more recently for me the heavier, longer Barnel) in good condition and used well will do a brilliant job, and save me time and energy and the client's money. On Eucalyptus species lots of older deadwood will snap off to almost a perfect collar.
I will often only have a saw sent up when I need it.
Sometimes when I want to put a climbing rope way up directly above me in a cluttered situation I feed a rope up with the saw head although I'm going to make a special hook for the purpose to keep the teeth away from my rope. But again it comes down to whether or not you take care in how you do things. You've gotta be pretty careless to damage a rope with a pole saw.
 
I like them around the wires. Anything to give me a little more distance from them. Toss a m-fist out where ya want it, bring it back to ya with the pole. Beautiful thing. Otherwise, I don't like to haul it around in the tree. Too bulky.
 
Nope! Only a Pole Pruner if necessary. Don't like the idea of making crappy cuts with a pole saw. It is difficult to make proper cuts with them. /forum/images/graemlins/pbj.gif
 
What you are all trying to say can be boiled down to this: A pole saw is a tool. A rope is a tool and a bucket truck as well.

Just as I would question an auto mechanic who only used screwdrivers and a hammer to fix everything, so too do I question tree guys who use a pole saw for almost everything.

The key then becomes knowing when and how to use the proper tool for the job no matter what the tool is. Success in this aspect is what seperates the professional from the hack.
 
rarely use a pole saw. used it more when i fisrt started but if you want to become a better climber challenge yourself to get out to those cuts. in the long run you will become faster than waiting for a groundie to send up the saw. but i agree with masterblaster, when i use a pole saw nothing else will do
 
I don`t use them either just prefer to use a corona large mouth. If I can`t get to the cut I just usually take a little bit more. Of course I mainly do line clearance,but I do a few side jobs.Mainly removals and shaping small tree`s with ladders.
 
Chad lets be honest its hard for you to even use a pole saw when your wearing full spray PPE in the Coastal VA 105 heat/humidity. You can barely get a grip on the Jameson pole there is so much sweat pouring out of those pretty aquamarine gloves of yours.

Hollering at you from Cottonwood purgatory Denver, CO.

Stevie OUT /forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
I agree with chad ,i was traing a new climber the other day he asked for a polesaw,but limb was 3ft away and made him limb walk it and he got it.
whats up estebandito in colo!sweating with the youth camp in va.stick
 
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