Using Long Ground Pole Saw

[Treelicious]

I purchased a Notch 3 pole set with blade head and blade as well as a set of 2 Jameson FG poles, all hollow. The two brands fit together fine. So I have five 6' poles. It is awkward but manageable to use 4 lengths, 24'.

I had one pine branch that was about 34-35' up that I couldn't resist. I got it with the full 5 pole 30' but it felt two iffy to try it just holding the poles. So I cast a throw rope over a higher branch, pulled up a heavier rope, attached the saw end to the rope, pulled it up, and tied the bottom end of the rope to another tree. I also did this for safety. If I lost control of the poles the rope would support it. I left enough slack to cut the branch and it worked fine. Helps if you get the hang of when to raise or pull depending on the flexing.

I may get a saw blade with a hook end to keep from pulling the blade out of the kerf on the down stroke. Not easy to get it back in when it's higher up or to see where it is in the cut. Pretty sure Fanno blades will fit the Notch saw head. Not sure about Jameson.

Going to glue the rubber cover onto the end of the Notch base pole. Kept slipping off.

 

[Dan Cobb]

If you're already putting a rope in the tree to use the pole saw, does it save much time compared to climbing up there and cutting it with a handsaw or chainsaw?

 

[Treelicious]

Nope.

 

[Dan Cobb]

If I had a pole saw and 60 feet of poles, I'm sure I'd try cutting a 65 foot limb just to see if it was possible.

 

[flushcut]

Back in the dark ages I had a former business partner who used masonry bull float poles and put a pole saw head on the end. 40' was easily reached with minimal limp noodle but still a pain in the ass. Easier to climb to that height.

 

[Treelicious]

The higher it gets the harder it is to tell what is happening up there. Also, on heavier dead branches the bottom splits occasionally if I can't saw fast enough leaving the branch dangling. More difficult to cut the holding piece the higher it gets. 30' is enough for me!

 

[Reach]

If I had a pole saw and 60 feet of poles, I'm sure I'd try cutting a 65 foot limb just to see if it was possible.

We had about 40’ of pole together once to knock loose a stuck throwball. It was in a bad location, and no way to climb to it without spikes or a second throwline (not sure why there was no second line along that day). It was a very awkward setup, and the only way we managed to get it to function at all was by sliding it up the trunk to where we needed it to go.

 

[Stumpsprouts]

44’. Why do the things we do? We are a strange species indeed.

 

[Jonny]

Wonder if he’s trying to distance himself from wildlife or stinging insects.

 

[JD3000]

Wonder if he’s trying to distance himself from wildlife or stinging insects.

 

[Treelicious]

You get a trophy for a 40' trunk slide. Maybe not first place though.