Pole saws

[Don-Wi]

I'm considering buying a pole saw, but a Stihl unit just isn't in the budget for now. Looking on Amazon, I see the poulan model has some good reveiws, and you can get extentions for it to get more reach. It also comes with a string trimmer attatchment which I would probably never use because I already have a Stihl trimmer.

When I bought that I was considering a Stihl power head and trimmer head, but didn't think I'd have a use for anything but a trimmer. Now I'm wishing I bought that instead.... Then I could buy the pole saw head and go on my way.

What do you guys have? Any one have good luck with the cheaper models? As I said, I would love to head out right now to get a Stihl, but it just isn't in the budget right now.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[RGMartin]

I am in the same boat, Stihl saw, Stihl trimmer... $600 and up is ridiculous for what they are.

 

[Justin SE IOWA]

My work has an echo but it is an expensive model like a stihl. It is also heavy and gets hard to hold up after awhile

 

[Stephen Newell]

I can't say about the pole saw but I had a Poulan chain saw once. I never could find a mechanic that could make that saw reasonably easy to start. It would often take an hour of cranking on it to get it running. I finally threw it away and bought a Stihl. The Stihl wasn't near as good as the McCulloch chain saw I once had but its getting the job done.

 

[petermiddletn]

Long handle with saw blade and two sore arms. Brother has a stihl and after 2-3 trees I gots to rest me arms and neck anyway.

 

[Bill in IN]

I've got a couple of Poulans ones about 12 years, the other about 7. They aren't built for forever but then what is. Never had a starting problem with them except when older ones carb is on the fritz. For $100 they beat climbing a tree...

 

[Pair-a-dice farm]

I've got a Shindaiwa and a stihl. The Stihl is by far the best but it cost twice as much. The Shindaiwa has a fixed shaft but I also have a weed eater attachment for it. It gets the job done but it's not as powerful as the stihl. I would recommend either of them.

 

[550Doug]

I went electric. Went to Northern Tool and got the Remington pole saw that extends to 15 feet and is easy on the arms. For less than half the price of a Stihl, I've got the Remington, a small 1500W generator and a 100 ft extension cord as well as an extra 10 chain for the saw. The only downside is that the saw is a manual oiler.
Works for what I have to do

 

[BigMarv1085]

I have a poulan pro. It worked real good but know I need to adjust the carb and it has those stupid spline adjusting screws.

 

[J.Wondergem]

Don, I went looking for a pole saw last year. Checked the prices, and decided for the amount of times I'd use it for the money, I bought a pole saw with a saw on one side and a pruner with a pull rope on the other side. Not as fast as a power saw, but gets the job done.

 

[Dusty MI]

(quoted from post at 17:58:54 11/25/11) I went electric. Went to Northern Tool and got the Remington pole saw that extends to 15 feet and is easy on the arms. For less than half the price of a Stihl, I've got the Remington, a small 1500W generator and a 100 ft extension cord as well as an extra 10 chain for the saw. The only downside is that the saw is a manual oiler.
Works for what I have to do

I already have a 16" Remington electric saw. I'd like to get just the pole to use with may saw.

Dusty

 

[MSM]

Bought a hydraulic chain saw off of ebay. Made a pole mount for the corner of the skid steer bucket and plumbed it in to the auxillary hydraulics. We use it to trim back branches on the edge of the fields.

 

[kito 169]

I was in the same boat you are. I needed a pole saw and a Stihl wAs really expensive. I had a Stihl string trimmer already. I bit the bullet and got the $600 Stihl extendable pole saw and am really glad that I did now. It is so versatile. I had to to sell a few more things to get it but am really glad I did. I've only had about two months now.

 

[Don-Wi]

Sounds like you guys are basically saying go with the stihl or any other better (more expensive) model. Maybe I'll save up my pennies and try to buy one later on next year. It's not something I NEED, but it's something I really WANT right now.

Not as much use for it in my own yard, but I was looking at the trees in the fence rows this fall while plowing and some really need to be cut back again. A pole saw would really work great compared to a hand powered pole pruner (Dad already has one of those, but if you can't cut it with the shears on it, you're gona be there a while). I use Dad's lawnmower (JD 425 w/ 60" deck) to do my lawn and I keep it filled with gas & oil, sharp (new) blades, and any other maintnance on it, and I let him use my trimmer and push mower for the little bit they need them. I even end up doing the trimming most of the time, as I have it with me and need to take it back when done.

Maybe I'll buy the power head with the different attatchments, and give Dad my old trimmer some day.... Then I can use the power head as a trimmer, so it gets more use and doesn't sit for 6 months between use.

Donovan from Wisconsin

 

[glennster]

i have a ryobi trimmer with a quick attach chain saw head, the head is about 60 dollars or so. i also have a remington electric pole saw from farm and fleet. its basically a 10 inch hand held chain saw that clamps on to a telescoping pole. it was around 80 dollars. if you have a generator, the electric pole saw is really nice to work with for the money. i have an old van with a bucket on it, (about 28 ft lift) i toss my generator in the back, run an extension cord up to the bucket and trim away.