UKTC Archive

As both old and North American, the term 'pole saw' does not immediately 
bring to mind a power tool.  The power tool you all seem to be describing is 
indeed most often used here from an aerial lift (MEWP to you) and is more 
often powered from the lift's hydraulic system than a gas engine.

Generations of climbers here used a "pole saw" as an essential part of kit.  
A curved saw blade, cutting on the pull stroke and attached to a long pole.  
This could indeed be used from the ground, but was as or more often used by 
the climber throughout the tree.

In latter days, with "tree climbing competitions" elevated to a sport and 
work climbing elevated to a mystical/ethical/extreme exercise by "climber 
jocks" who revel in clambering out to the end of each and every branch like a 
squirrel to make a small hand saw cut.... pole saws may have become less 
common.  

But the point is you can make many cuts from the ground with an old fashioned 
pole saw.  The problem is somewhat reversed from the powered version.  The 
curved blade allows you to make the top cut quite easily, but the undercut is 
difficult which leads no to binding but to ripping of the underside.

I guess what is most foreign to me is the culture or regulatory environment 
that makes working off the ground so difficult.  A certain German 
manufacturer of self propelled MEWPs would have the world believe that 
Germany or even the EU has outlawed climbing altogether!

So what's the problem with just getting in the tree?

--
Scott Cullen


-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Ian Brewster" <Ian.Brewster@xxxxx.gov.uk>

Thanks Anthony,

< That is what leads to the saw getting jammed in the cut, not the lack
of power. >

I understand what you say but this is not the case. The model used still
lacked power even with a simple back cut without the compression of
wood, the branch sitting back etc. So I feel it is perhaps a fault with
the design and not the user, making a future purchase less likely.  
 

-----Original Message-----
From: anthony mills [mailto:anthony.j.mills@xxxxxx.com] 
Sent: 01 October 2007 11:01
To: UK Tree Care
Subject: Re: Pole Saw

Mr. Brewster
                   In my experience it is not so much the lack of power,
which with a 25 or 30 cc engine and a 10" or 12" bar is usually more or
just slightly less proportionate to larger saws, as that, unless working
from above or to the side with a MEWP, it is very difficult to place
your cuts at the correct angles, especially for the first two. So the
branch twists instead of hingeing.  That is what leads to the saw
getting jammed in the cut, not the lack of power. The stub cut-off is
usually easier, but it is also more likely, because of the difficulty of
precise control at that distance, that the tree will be wounded when
making the final 'clean' target cut.  That is if you haven't been
whacked by the lump sliding down the pole instead of falling
straight....
  I have to say that I do prefer them for work from a MEWP as I really
do not like working with a saw that close to the metal cage, especially
starting it up.  The advantage of all "long-arm" machines, and even more
so with hedgecutters, is that the moving parts and cutting edges are
well away from the operator.
                                         Regards, Anthony Mills


On 10/1/07, Ian Brewster <Ian.Brewster@xxxxx.gov.uk> wrote:

Working At Height Regulations don't apply to Pole saws, the machine 
that allow you to cut branches from the ground without venturing into 
the trees .

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The UKTC is supported by The Arbor Centre
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To unsubscribe send mailto:uktc-unsubscribe@xxxxxx.tree-care.info

The UKTC is supported by The Arbor Centre
http://www.arborcentre.co.uk/