The pole saw is such kind of saw which has the saw attached at the end of the pole. The pole saw is used when you need to cut or prune branches or limbs of a tree form high above the ground. When you cannot reach a high branch of wood you need a pole saw. A pole saw can be used for pruning even at 14 feet above the ground. If you know how to use a pole saw then you can do the pruning work all by yourself. But if you do not know how to use a pole saw then you should consider calling a professional to do this work for you. Most of the people do not know how to use a pole saw as it is only necessary for one job. If you have a very large tree inside your property which is spreading its branches too much, only then you need a pole saw. Otherwise, it is just another useless power tool for a single person who is not a professional. But if you think that you need to clean the lateral limbs of trees regularly then it would be better for you if you just learn how to use a pole saw instead of using a professional.
Quick Overview
Various types of pole saws
Cordless pole saw
Cordless pole saws run on rechargeable batteries. That is why they are cordless. They are a great choice if you have fewer trees with large or small branches to work on. I said fewer trees because they are not as powerful as electric or gas-operated pole saws but still they can do a great job for light works.
A great advantage of cordless saw is that you do not have to deal with the annoying cable which could be very disturbing sometimes.
if you need a cordless pole saw, click here to find some best cordless electric pole saws.
Manual pole saw
Manual action pole saws are the most primitive type of pole saws. They are also the most reliable and controllable pole saws. This type of pole saws has a long pole (which is obvious), a long hacksaw like blade which has longer teeth than normal. If you do not know about a hacksaw then here is an article about what is a hacksaw used for which might help you. Some of these have clippers at the end of the blade. These clippers work just like hand pruners or normal garden clippers. They also have a pull cord in the saw to use the clipper.
Manual action pole saws need to be operated by hand. It is like using a handsaw. You can know about how to use a handsaw from here. To use it, the user has to hold the pole saw and start sawing small branches by using the hand. To use the clipper, the user has to choose much smaller branches that the clipper can cut easily.
Gas-operated pole saw
The gas-powered pole saws are the most powerful and heavy duty pole saws. They are the best choice for the professional pole saw users. They do not have any cord as they are powered by gas; thus they are also mobile, very easy to use and most importantly, they offer a versatile, high amount of cutting power which is useful for cutting in different types of situations.
Gas pole saws have an engine at one end and a chainsaw blade at the other end. This is why they are more powerful than other pole saws. The minimum length of the gas-powered pole saws is 6 feet. The length varies from brands to brands. Some of them also provide an extendable feature in the pole.
If you are interested in a chainsaw then you should know how to cut wood slices with a chainsaw.
Electric pole saws
Electric pole saws or in this case, the corded pole saws are just anti-gas pole saws. They are powered by electricity. The supply of electricity is carried out by an electric cord. The cordless electric pole saws are powered by a battery. Which I have already discussed earlier. The difference between a cordless electric pole saw and a corded pole saw is that the corded pole saws have an unlimited supply of power and the cordless ones need a new battery when the old one runs out or recharging the old battery.
if you are looking for an electric pole saw, here is an article on the best electric pole saws
if you need to know about using an electric pole saw, click here to find out how to use an electric pole saw.
Hydraulic pole saw
All of the hydraulic tools are for heavy duty work. They use hydraulics and can be installed on compatible skid steers. As they are very powerful, they are only used for brush clearing or for cleaning up after any natural disasters.
Pole saw safety
There is a very big risk factor in using a pole saw. You will be cutting and dropping wood branches from a tall height. When you drop a wood branch from high above the ground, the projectile can become very dangerous. It can damage or hurt or even kill when it falls. Professionals use a pulley to drop the wood branches they cut decently. But you cannot do that. However, if you can then there is no problem. It is a better option. But if you cannot, you should be more careful about what you are doing.
- Pole saws are for cutting branches and limbs up to a few inches thick. It is more dangerous, harder, slower, and tiring to cut thick to thicker woods.
- Pole saws with extensions are for getting over 8 inches and are heavy and tiring to work with.
- You cannot work with a pole saw anywhere near a power line or on a branch which has any of its part above the power line.
- You have to ensure a large working area where no one is around.
- You also have to make sure that no one will enter inside your working area.
- You also have to clean the ground around your working area so that you can move quickly and do not stumble or do not get your legs or anything get stuck in any roots or something like that. You need this room around yourself to move quickly to a safe area just in case something does not go according to the plan.
- Do not use a pole saw when it is raining.
- And you should also know that the pole saw should be used when there is sufficient sunlight.
- The working area that I have told you to secure before, should be of at least 15 meters of safe zone.
Safety gears
If you are willing to use a pole saw then you should wear everything. By everything, I meant every other type of safety gears available. This includes hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, gloves, boots, dust mask, etc. you should also wear fitting clothes which are not very independent from the body. Again, not that much tight that you cannot work and move around easily.
Using a pole saw
When you are using a pole saw try making the cuts on horizontal surfaces. Not horizontally, on horizontal surfaces. This is for your convenience while working. It requires many jump cuts to cut a branch, so try to make your work less tiring by making the cuts on horizontal surfaces.
Hold it with both of your hands and balance it at first. Then position it for cutting at the cutting spot. Now hold the end of the pole saw at your chest level for gaining more balance and control.
Stand away from the cutting limb. Never stand just below the cutting limb. Adjust the height of the pole saw according to the height of the limb you want to cut.
Cut a groove at first to start cutting with the machine. Then make the first strokes slowly and gently. When the groove is made, you can increase the strokes. The groove will act as a guide to the cut. The same thing applies to automatic saws. Cut a groove at first and then keep the blade on the groove for cutting. You do not have to force the pole saw too hard for cutting. The saw blade will do all the hard work of cutting. You just have to make sure that you are placing it on the right spot. In case of manual pole saw, cut in the pull strokes. Cutting in the pull strokes will be easier for you because pull strokes use the help of gravity.
Keep attention to the branch or the limb you are cutting. Now finish the cut carefully. When the saw blade has cut through the wood and come to the extreme edge, get ready to move away from there to a safe place; not anywhere near the place where the branch is dropping.
Clean the area where you have felled the limb before you start to work in that same place again.
Remember that the pole saw is only for cutting lateral branches and limbs. You should not use a pole saw cut any thick branch.
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