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Had to pick between a pole pruner and a handsaw for clearing backyard oaks | Arborists - Guest Forum

Had to pick between a pole pruner and a handsaw for clearing backyard oaks

I was helping a buddy clear out some dead oak branches in his backyard near Austin, and I had to decide whether to use his 12 foot pole pruner or just stick with a folding handsaw. Ngl, I went with the pole pruner at first because it seemed faster for reaching up high, but the branches were twisted and the thing kept binding on the cut. After the third jam I just switched to climbing up a step ladder with the handsaw and cutting clean through each one. Tbh, the handsaw took longer but I had way more control and didnt leave any torn bark behind. My buddy even said the pole pruner was a waste for that job. Has anyone else found that a simple handsaw beats power tools for tight canopy work?

2 comments

2 Comments

perry.jessica5mo ago

So why is it that we always reach for the tool that looks faster instead of the one that actually works better? I notice this same thing when I'm cooking - everyone grabs a food processor to chop vegetables but sometimes a good knife is quicker because you don't have to clean a million parts. My uncle is a mechanic and he says the same thing about air tools versus hand wrenches on old cars. There's something about a simple tool that forces you to slow down and pay attention to what you're doing. I think we've all been trained to believe that any power tool is automatically better, but real control comes from having a direct feel for the cut. Your buddy was right, the pole pruner was just getting in the way of the actual job.

taylor_mitchell805mo ago

Man, you nailed it. I used to be one of those guys who grabbed the power tools first every time. A few years ago I probably wouldve laughed at someone suggesting a handsaw over a pole pruner. But after enough jams and messed up cuts I started to see things different. Now I keep a folding handsaw in my truck for most tight jobs and only pull out the power stuff when I really need the speed. @perry.jessica you hit the nail on the head about control coming from feeling the cut. There's no substitute for knowing exactly where your blade is and what its doing. I still use power tools plenty but I stopped pretending theyre always better.