[trav]

I have not seen more thorough reviews than Project Farm. His reviews are what Consumer Reports' reviews should be. He follows the scientific method and finds the unbiased truth about tool performance.

I agree.

 

[ridesdirt]

I didnt read through everything, someone may have mentioned this already. If you go gas powered... Stihl Professional Kombi is the cats meow!

I bought the most powerful power head, and it runs the chainsaw, scythe and hedge trimmer and never bogs down. This is not cheap but is the real deal, these tools work very good. I have literally trimmed miles of trails with it.

honestly, a machete or bush axe works good too, and you get free workout!!! keep the blade sharp and it is very effective on limbs up to about 1-1/2" or 2".

 

[NH0336]

I will proudly admit to still being in the internal combustion preference group. I use an Echo powerhead and its pole saw attachment. I also use multiple other attachments as port of Echo's P.A.S. system. One thing I like about the Echo that I have is I can add an extension and get greater reach.

That said (and admitted to), I do have a battery operated Stihl GTA 26 which is fantastic. I use it for cutting branches on their way into my chipper. If I did not have the Echo setup and had not already trimmed back everything for my 2025r ROPS, I would consider the GTA 26 along with a ladder for branches that are low enough to interfere with my ROPS.

 

[jeff_tractor]

I have a dewalt 20 volt pole saw and chain saw. They work well for me. The gas ones are a lot more powerful in my experience but the battery ones are so handy to grab from the SXS and just use them. I debated getting the gas with the various attachments but since I had Dewalt and extra batteries I just added the one tool. Should you just rent one every four to five years?

Rent?

When you can buy satisfaction?

Actually, I kinda hate shopping and stores and city traffic. So buying is well worth it, for me, to stay away from that stuff.

Strange, maybe, but I was doing social distancing before it became cool ☺

 

[jeff_tractor]

I have a dewalt 20 volt pole saw and chain saw. They work well for me. The gas ones are a lot more powerful in my experience but the battery ones are so handy to grab from the SXS and just use them. I debated getting the gas with the various attachments but since I had Dewalt and extra batteries I just added the one tool. Should you just rent one every four to five years?

Rent?

When you can buy satisfaction?

Actually, I kinda hate shopping and stores and city traffic. So buying is well worth it, for me, to stay away from that stuff.

Strange, maybe, but I was doing social distancing before it became cool ☺

I just got a DeWalt cordless pole saw and it works really well. I went with dewalt because I already had a 4ah battery that came with my cordless impact so I was able to save some money by getting it took only.

Now there's an idea. Some have suggested an impact wrench. I haven't priced them yet.

 

[jeff_tractor]

Just wanted to share another option to consider.

I have a large yard with big live oaks and Also spend a lot of time in the woods bow hunting…..., so I am always whacking branches. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries and cannot handle a gas pole saw anymore. A few years ago a lineman friend recommended a manual saw, and to be honest I thought he was crazy, but he insisted that I give one a try. I bought a 21’ Silky telescoping saw and I was blown away at how easy it is to use even when scoped out all the way. The blade is scary sharp and it cuts through 5-6” oak branches with very little effort. No need for batteries or bar oil. They are pricy, but you get what you pay for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a Silky pocket saw. Awesome blade and cutting power. They make a pole saw, if I recall costs $600.

But money aside, I just cannot envision manually cutting a lot of overhead branches. Maybe it works great, but just hard to wrap my head around that concept.

I have bar oil for my chainsaw.

 

[jeff_tractor]

I had a related question in this thread.

Looking for a Mini-Chainsaw

I am looking for a small chainsaw to use for those occasional limbs that are too big for loppers, but not large enough to make me want to get out my gasoline 16 inch chainsaw. The use would be manly on oaks with small lower branches that I can't get under with the 1025R and that end up hitting...

www.greentractortalk.com

Based on the recommendations, I bought both a Dewalt 20V 14 inch chain saw and a Dewalt 20V pole chain saw. I like the pole saw better. It cuts quickly through limbs. I even flip it over and use near the ground because it outclasses its 14 inch brother in performance.

Thanks, that is awesome to know.

If I had a pole saw, I bet I'd reach into some thorny hedge and laugh while getting them cut close to the root.

Then when the top half out of the way, I'd toothbar them out with the 1025r.

Something like that 🙂

 

[Gizmo2]

I bought a 21’ Silky telescoping saw and I was blown away at how easy it is to use even when scoped out all the way. The blade is scary sharp and it cuts through 5-6” oak branches with very little effort. No need for batteries or bar oil. They are pricy, but you get what you pay for.

I have the 21 ft, 3 telescoping sections, HAYAUCHI 390 21-Feet. Great tool.

 

[tr87]

I have a Stihl Kombi system with the pole saw attachment and the extension attachment. I use it not only for reaching tree limbs. But also along my creek that has trees that grow along the bank that I can not reach any other way without falling in the creek. I also have a few thorny bushes that you mention. Works great on them without getting stuck with thorns. I also have the brush cutter attachment that works good. But I never use the extension with the brush cutter blade. The pole saw with extension can be cumbersom will tire you out fast. I have considered a Dewalt 20 volt pole saw I like how the chain saw runs on a angle rather then straight out. Only thing about the Dewalt when there extended out they seem flimsy like they could break easily.

 

[snowdoggie]

I have the Milwaukee cordless and I'm pretty darn happy with it. I bought the extension too. Was just using yesterday, was really impress with it's cutting power. As with any branch cutting, it's best to under cut it a bit first so you don't get bound up.

 

[robwheeler]

I have the Oregon pole saw. The power transfer system REALLY Sucks. I have had mine apart 3 or 4 times. If I have to take it apart again, I am going to weld it.
Buyers be aware.

I have an Oregon Blower and Weed Eater both great.

rob

 

[Old Machinist]

I have the 20v Dewalt. It's a little weak on power but gets the job done. I already had some Dewalt tools and batteries so it was a no brainer for me. I bought the pole saw hedge trimmer kit from Acme Tools. It came with a 4 or 5 AH battery. $300.

I haven't done any limbing yet that caused me to exceed the time one 5 ah battery would run.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

The Dewalt 20v is nice but I find the head is a little on the heavy side. Any more than a few cuts and it gets noticeable.

 

[thatguy2]

Just wanted to share another option to consider.

I have a large yard with big live oaks and Also spend a lot of time in the woods bow hunting…..., so I am always whacking branches. I have had 2 shoulder surgeries and cannot handle a gas pole saw anymore. A few years ago a lineman friend recommended a manual saw, and to be honest I thought he was crazy, but he insisted that I give one a try. I bought a 21’ Silky telescoping saw and I was blown away at how easy it is to use even when scoped out all the way. The blade is scary sharp and it cuts through 5-6” oak branches with very little effort. No need for batteries or bar oil. They are pricy, but you get what you pay for.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Silky's are the cats meow. I would not hesitate to buy it. I have the Ryobi as I got it as a combo with a leaf blower. Ive used it and Ive loaned it to 4 other people. So far so good. I havent seen the issues others have.

 

[Treefarmer]

I have a Silky pocket saw. Awesome blade and cutting power. They make a pole saw, if I recall costs $600.

But money aside, I just cannot envision manually cutting a lot of overhead branches. Maybe it works great, but just hard to wrap my head around that concept.

I have bar oil for my chainsaw.

We cut limbs that way for years before powered pole saws were common. The secret is the saw must be sharp.

 

[puckett_jw]

I am very heavily invested in Sthil stuff. I bought into their Kombi line several years back. This past summer I bought one of their smaller battery chain saws & loved how you can just set it down between uses without having to listen to it run or shut it off & start it back up. Anyhow, that got me to look into the battery head for the Kombi stuff, so I bought a KMA 135 R Kombi & I love it. For use with attachments like the pole saw, the battery last forever as you are generally not running it wide open long periods of time.

I highly recommend it, but i would still want a gas head for heavy jobs that run long periods of time.

 

[jeff_tractor]

I have the Oregon pole saw. The power transfer system REALLY Sucks. I have had mine apart 3 or 4 times. If I have to take it apart again, I amn going to weld it.
Buyers be aware.

I have an Iregon Blower and Weed Eater both great.

rob

In that youtube review, the Oregon looked good, fast, cut well. But it appears to mechanically drive the saw from the handle. Whereas the others just send the current up the handle. So my guess is more to go wrong with the Oregon?

 

[tr87]

I am very heavily invested in Sthil stuff. I bought into their Kombi line several years back. This past summer I bought one of their smaller battery chain saws & loved how you can just set it down between uses without having to listen to it run or shut it off & start it back up. Anyhow, that got me to look into the battery head for the Kombi stuff, so I bought a KMA 135 R Kombi & I love it. For use with attachments like the pole saw, the battery last forever as you are generally not running it wide open long periods of time.

I highly recommend it, but i would still want a gas head for heavy jobs that run long periods of time.

Wow I took a look at that KMA 135 R Stihl is sure proud of that with a price tag of $649.00

 

[puckett_jw]

Wow I took a look at that KMA 135 R Stihl is sure proud of that with a price tag of $649.00

ya, but like most of us that bought JD stuff, I’m a firm believer that yiu get what you pay for.

I think that the key to the prices of the Kombi stuff is that you need to get all the attachments so that yiu can spread the cost of the head out & make yourself see the great deal you got ;-)

 

[Treefarmer]

Wow I took a look at that KMA 135 R Stihl is sure proud of that with a price tag of $649.00

I think we paid over $400 for our gas pole saw quite a few years ago. I don't remember exactly as it's not new but it was high enough to make us think twice about it. It had cut a lot of limbs since then.