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pole saw question


pt756

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Hello there, looking at getting a pole saw, cordless or gas powered, it would be used on just a few fence lines and when cut probably good for awhile, so cordless would probably have to be a dewalt just because thats what we have now, I see the Milwaukee has a 10 inch bar compared to Dewalts 8 inch, they claim 96 cuts , Just wondering how much you would be able to cut with a 5 amp battery? Or would gas be the way to go? I was wondering there size CC? we have an old 61 cc stihl weed trimmer would a gas pole saw be about that size?

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I have a Husqvarna gas pole saw. I don’t use as much as I used to. When I would custom combine I used it all the time because people would not trim trees to access a field. It is basically a trimmer with a pole saw attachment. It works good, but you want to keep a good sharp chain for that job. I wouldn’t mind a battery one, but for my purposes I would rather have the gas model. I liked just throwing it in the back of my truck during harvest along with my chainsaw and leaving it until done. They always started. These days though, I much prefer to send a guy in the skid steer ahead of the combine and shear, push out, or break off whatever is in the way. 

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I cannot say what the original Echo power pruners ran for size CC wise 35 years ago, but was a great time saver. But weed trimmers were almost new themselves back then. I have a battery chainsaw and the standard battery was not good for even a 1/2 hour. So I would guess other than a few limbs at time you would want biggest battery powered one they make, or lots of batteries.

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The biggest baddest one you can buy. Mine is a Husqvarna 535lK, i have the pole saw with 2 extensions i can add in, power broom, trimmer head, brush blade. That is all i have, but there are attachments like an edger, a little tiller, a blower, the list goes on and on. Pick your poison as far as brand but go as big as you can buy. 
https://www.husqvarna.com/us/combi-trimmers/535lk/

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1 hour ago, pt756 said:

Hello there, looking at getting a pole saw, cordless or gas powered, it would be used on just a few fence lines and when cut probably good for awhile, so cordless would probably have to be a dewalt just because thats what we have now, I see the Milwaukee has a 10 inch bar compared to Dewalts 8 inch, they claim 96 cuts , Just wondering how much you would be able to cut with a 5 amp battery? Or would gas be the way to go? I was wondering there size CC? we have an old 61 cc stihl weed trimmer would a gas pole saw be about that size?

I have the Dewalt.  Haven’t used any of the others so I can only tell you my experience.  It’s nice and light.  Ok power.  Not much to compare it to besides a gas saw.  With a sharp chain it rips thru 2-3 inch branches no problem.  I have cut a couple of 8 inch branches with it.  It did ok, but at that size continuously I’d look at a Stihl battery powered one or a gas.

if I’m going out to limb up trails or field edge, I usually take 2 - 4 amphr batteries with.  That is a good amount of cutting and I usually have some ground stuff to do also with a real saw.  And by the time you clean up all the branches it would be time for a break anyway.

for the price though (I think $150 ish without battery), it was a good investment in my opinion.  Probably better ones out there, but I already had the batteries.

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Weight is definitely a big consideration, especially as you get older. I have a husky that will go out to 15 ft, but it will really work on your shoulders. You don't want to use it that way for very long.

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My Stihl has a 12 inch bar, i didnt think i would use it very often when i got it but that changed real quick , its so  handy for small stuff i use it a lot. Im sure i cut bigger limbs with it then i should and one of these days im going to get hit in the head by one of those. 

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We purchased the Stihl Combi 130 last year and its been great

so far just 2 attachments, pole saw and 12'' hedge trimmer

the pole saw has extensions so if you need extra length just add it

most orchard pruning their not needed,, makes a nice clean cut

the hedge trimmer is used to keep electric fence lines cleared of grass and weeds.

it is a bit on the heavy side but worth the $ 

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I bought a Craftsman electric.  I know Craftsman isn't the best but I'll take it over a gas one anytime.  I take it apart and throw it in the cab with me while farming. 

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Stihl kombi. Have the smaller power head with straight shaft weed eater attachment.  Had a Pollan weed eater pole saw combo but it was finicky. The pole saw from that  fits on my kombi power head and works. The smaller power head isn't balanced as well as the next step up, or wasn't when I bought mine anyway. So I get more vibration in my hands. But it's time to take a break by the time it bothers me much. Or I'm done anyway.

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thanks for all the replies, I am nearing 67, so besides still milking cows most of my work projects are only a couple of hours, as an example last week while it was 90 degrees plus I thought I would try to pick some rocks in a corn field , 2 hours was enough, so most projects are inbetween  and short lived for now, probably would not survive on a 8 to 9 hour a day real job,

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13 hours ago, edwardporter1 said:

I would think it maybe as big .Had a stihl and if i remember it had a 10 or 12"bar. Very handy especiallly to the guy i lent it to and never got back

Maybe he misunderstood it being a present. If he is your son then that's okay, mine gets lotsa my stuff 

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I own a stihl pole saw. Dont remember the cc but it's the biggest one they made. It extends to probably 12 or 14'. I wouldnt want one much smaller. I find I'm still reaching on my tippy toes trying to get that next limb. This one you can just lay it on top the limb and cut. Works even better if you can undercut the limb first so it will fall straight down instead of hinge down and then the butt end chases you around on the ground. I used one of those smaller ones that converts to a pole saw. It worked fine but wasnt long enough. 

The last thing I'll tell you. Mine came with a shoulder strap. USE IT!  After 2 hrs of cutting without it you'll wake up the next day soar as heck. Its muscles in your back and arms you dont use too much that it goes after. Ask me how I know 

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We have a corded pole saw running off the AC mains or an inverter or generator in the work truck. I have never had a run-time or dead battery issue.

It is mostly used on utility power.  The little saw has no real oiling system, oil just drips from the oiling tank onto the chain. Believe it is a normal 9" bar and have used oregon   chains from Lowes. Very awkward to use on a long pole, real test of strength!  BUT I believe a battery powered one would be the same without the power or duty cycle.

Our  chain saw also is corded. It is a full size Oregon brand no noise and an infinite run time, with power and mass to cut using a 16 inch normal bar and chain with a real oiling system. 

 

 

 

 

 

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8 hours ago, supermechanic said:

Electric.

 My gas saw always needs too much fiddling to get it going . it sits a few years between use. same with hedge trimmers.

empty the gas out of them or put in STABILT in the gas when useing.

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9 hours ago, supermechanic said:

Electric.

 My gas saw always needs too much fiddling to get it going . it sits a few years between use. same with hedge trimmers.

This is all i use in my saws. Five year shelf life, starting, running and storage issues all become non existent. 90F324A4-AB6C-4900-A602-EAF0DA275C20.thumb.jpeg.9197f941132f8c473ce52bb220264762.jpeg

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I have a STIHL combo unit with a pole saw attachment and a strait shaft string trimmer head that will also take a blade and the paddle broom it works good but it is hard on your shoulders but rather than just have a pole saw it gets used other times of the year. I just bought one of those little cordless saws to try for the occasional branch and brush seems to cut pretty good. My girlfriend bought a ryobi string trimmer and leaf blower they have worked good for 5 years only had to buy one replacement 40v battery the leaf blower 

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56 minutes ago, lorenzo said:

This is all i use in my saws. Five year shelf life, starting, running and storage issues all become non existent. 90F324A4-AB6C-4900-A602-EAF0DA275C20.thumb.jpeg.9197f941132f8c473ce52bb220264762.jpeg

That stuff works. Pricey but worth it

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I bought the Dewalt 20 v pole saw and hedge trimmer set up. It has two extensions you can add on it. The hedge trimmer is 18", I use it to clean up along the driveway, things too big for it get the pole saw head. I am very satisfied with it so far. We have Echo and Stihl gas units at work and they are heavy. My Dewalt gets heavy after a couple of hours also.

I wish Dewalt would come out with a grass shear head for it, I only need to do a little trimming along the brick wall below my patio, I really don't want to mess with a string trimmer.

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I've got one of the old Echo extendable 11' units with a 10" bar. I bought it for trimming the low hanging branches on the pasture edges and have used it for a lot more than that. It is a lot lighter than the Stihl we have at work. As mentioned, it will work muscles you didn't know you had, especially if you're over 60 😃

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I sell Stihl products at work and their pole pruners are awesome, but man are they expensive for an occasional use tool. I ended up going with a Milwaukee pole trimmer that came with an extra extension battery and rapid charger for less than the Stihl HT-56CE pole pruner which is the el cheapo model. With the 8 amp hour battery it will cut until you are tired and ready to quit for the day. 

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7 hours ago, littlered166 said:
16 hours ago, supermechanic said:

Electric.

 My gas saw always needs too much fiddling to get it going . it sits a few years between use. same with hedge trimmers.

empty the gas out of them or put in STABILT in the gas when useing.

Never use ethanol gas in any two stroke engine or for that matter, anything with a carburetor. Ethanol is death to everything with rubber seals.

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