Silky Pole

Mark Chisholm

Mark Chisholm

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Anyone have one of these?
hayate420_20_large_teeth_3ext_pole02.jpg


I have been using one for a couple of weeks and am impressed by it. It extends to 20' and is very sturdy. The one thing that impressed me most was how well it cut smaler branches. I knew that it would be agressive on the larger ones, but I thought that it might rip the small stuff. Not so. Anyone agree/disagree?
 
Everyone who picks mine up says, "Wow, that's heavy" But when I show them how it telescopes and how long it is, their minds change. It isn't something that I use a lot but for a pole saw, its working out well. Since it can be used from 6-20' it is nice. Even at full extension it is stiff. With polesaw sections they get a little sloppy after two six footers. With three, it's like pushing a noodle.

There have been some jobs that I've looked at where the tops of cottonwoods have died back and the bark is gone. Too weak to climb. I've recommended getting a chainsaw on a stick but it isn't there yet. Using this saw will keep the climber from having to go into harm's way. Nibble the ends off until all that's left is big wood. The pole can then be used to set a rigging rope.

The tooth configuration is just like the large Silky. The Zubat's big bro. But the pole saw has a hook tip and the knife edge hook on the bottom. Even with the coarser teeth it sure does a nice job.

I've got a 6' PVC tool tube on my truck. The polesaw won't go in becaues of the curve. The solution will be to get some t-head thumbscrews so that I can take the head off for storage. I hate having such a nice tool laying in the open bed of a pickup.
 
I have a Zubat polesaw on my truck. It was buried in the corner of the tool crib. No one must have liked it. Since it doesn't have a hanging hook it would be hard to use in the tree. I like it since it's light and telescopes. I have no clue how well it would hold up to in-tree use. The latches are similar but the yellow ones on the big pole are larger.

My observation of these saws is that they need a bit more care than the 6' fiberglass/wood poles. Like most high-performance tools they need care to get the performance. More fragile but in the right hands they will perform well.
 
those latches are pretty poor tom, the constant sawing action wears away the holes that the sping button fits into.
also the slightest bend in one of those poles makes it a pig to extend.
i always choked a small sling just below the blade on my so i could hang it from a biner
the more time i spend contemplating pole saws for tree work though the more i think you'll never find a decent setup.
perhaps some sort of carbon composite pole which is 2ft long and extends to 20ft at the push of a button like a switchblade would work
anyone know where i can get one?
 
This mondo polesaw wouldn't leave the ground very often. In the tree it'll be a single-use tool. On the ground might be another story. I could see it's use for trunk-stripping deadwood.

The poles on the big saw are much more robust than the Zubat size poles.

Like I said, they are more fragile than fiber/wood poles. If I ever use it in a place where it might get kinked I'll change my plans.

YOu mention that the sawing action wears the hole for the spring button. I wouldn't consider sawing without the cams locked down. Doesn't that take the strain off the buttons?
 
if i remember rightly they wear too tom.
its been a while since i used one. i got one when they first came out and it didn't last long enough at that time to be worth the money.
i use wolf pole now, they are good value for money and have the simplest of locking mechanisms
 
having said that.....it looks pretty good, i might consider buying one and taking 2 poles out with me each day...the wolf for pulling hangers and other stuff and the silky for more precision work
 
Mark;

Is that the same as the four section Hayauchi, but with yellow instead of black trim? It's great for a ground saw, but I don't use it in a tree.

Tom;

I agree with the whittling down idea, but I don't think I would use this pole saw to set a rope. As you mention, the bottom 'hook' has a knife edge and could damage the rope when it is being set; and the tip of the blade also has an edge which could damage the rope when it is pulled down.

There are gas powered chain saws. They can be very helpful for storm damage, but I can't remember using one in a tree. Have you?

Mahk
 
Mahk,

If I were going to use it for setting and retrieving ropes I'd build or buy a hook for the side. The tip hook doesn't have a knife edge I don't think, but it might. I thought that I looked at it a couple of days ago and saw a flat edge.

I've used a Power Pruner in a tree to whittle. It's awkward but it was the best way to work. When I used the PP I held it by hand. In hindsight I probably should have used a line to support the PP. After all, I'll bet it exceeds the ANSI weight limit for chainsaws in trees without a seperate line.
 
[ QUOTE ]

the more time i spend contemplating pole saws for tree work though the more i think you'll never find a decent setup.
perhaps some sort of carbon composite pole which is 2ft long and extends to 20ft at the push of a button like a switchblade would work
anyone know where i can get one?

[/ QUOTE ]



I'm waiting for the development of an extendable length light sabre myself! (think Star Wars /forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)
 
It looks the same as the original?
Hopefully the locking clips have been heavily reinforced.
I would never use a silky in a tree (aside from a rare cut), to me they are valuable on the ground though.
An example, I have a job scheduled for my municipality, it is basically raising trees and low limbs over a rural road. Way too many trees to climb, 95% is pole saw work. The ablity to extend and collapse is priceless here, otherwise with a tradional polesaw, youd be dragging along with you an extra pole and continuallsly adding and removing for the additional reach needed as working down the road. being able to telescope saves much time and hassle.

Ill have to consider the new silky since my old one only half works.
 
Just put togeather a killer polesaw. extends anywhere between 10-20', and cost under $60. I'll do a how-to when I get my roll of film back.
 
Just bought a 21' Hayauchi polesaw about three weeks ago and got a chance to use it yesterday (sat). Used it on a pear tree in the back yard and a crab apple in the front. Night & day differance form my old Home Depot pole saw. I can go on & on about how much I like my hayauchi pole saw and the time and energy it saves, etc. Just wish I bought one a couple of years earlier! HC
 
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