June 11, 2021
If you have trees with branches that are hard to reach, you surely need an electric pole saw. What is it? An electric pole saw is a kind of electric saw with a pole to allow you to reach and cut hard-to-reach branches. It is undoubtedly a great option since you can use it without the need for the use of gas as fuel for your saw. Moreover, it is eco-friendly. It also has a powerful motor that could cut easily through the different limbs of the tree.
As a portable electric saw, it features a set of cutting teeth that are attached to the rotating chain. These teeth are definitely very powerful in cutting far-flung branches of trees. It is also used for many purposes. It can also be used for pruning, bucking, lambing, and filling.
Since there are many types and brands on the market today, it is undoubtedly difficult to find the best one for your own use. Moreover, if you are not cognizant of the importance it should have, you may end up buying something that may frustrate you along the way. Hence, it is important for you to know the salient features that an electric pole saw should have before zeroing in on a particular brand.
Salient Features to Look for in an Electric Pole Saw
The wide range of brands on the market today posits a significant problem to a prospective buyer. Hence, before buying, it is essential that you know which features to consider when purchasing one. It is also important to figure out how you are going to use it so that you can align with what you are going to buy with your needs. Here are the salient features that you must consider:
1) Overall Weight
Since the electric pole must be carried around when it is used, it must be lightweight. The good thing is that they are definitely lighter than their gas-powered counterparts. The lighter the electric pole saw is, the longer you can carry it around. If you are only going to use it in your backyard to cut a few branches, its weight would surely not be a significant problem. But if you are using it to cut branches of several trees, then it would surely be cumbersome to carry it around for a longer time. Hence, ideally, the lighter the electric chainsaw, the better it would be.
2) Maximum Reach
Another salient feature you should take into consideration is its maximum reach range. Most models carry a maximum working height of 10 to 15 feet that includes the reach of your arms and body. If you intend to use it with taller trees, you would surely need a longer one. Hence, before buying one, you need to figure out the trees on which you are going to use it. Most models are designed to tackle branches with 4 to 5 inches in diameter. For this reason, it is good to buy a powerful pole saw with the longer reach.
3) Brand
There are many brands that are available on the market today. However, some brands are known to deliver tools with sterling durability and functionalities. Hence, you should know which brands are known to provide high-quality and durable products. Since known brands have a name to protect, they generally provide quality saws to their loyal consumers.
4) Power to Weight Ratio
Furthermore, you should look for one that has an excellent power-to-weight ratio. Since you will be cutting branches that are difficult to reach, you need to have a powerful tool. If it is not powerful, chances are, your machine may get out of control, and your work will be significantly affected. Hence, it is advisable that you consider this feature before shelling out your hard-earned money on a particular model or brand.
5) Consider the Price Range
Different brands and models also come at different prices. Some brands are costlier than the other brands. The prices, however, it could range from $100 to $200. If budget is not an issue, you can settle for high-end brands. But if you’re on a budget, you can definitely select a less expensive one.
6) Check If It Is a Detachable Pole Saw
Since pole saw can also be used for ground sawing, it is therefore too good to buy something that is detachable from the pole. A detachable electric pole saw can afford you a lot of versatile uses. Some pole saws have their engine or motor at the lower end of the pole. They are not detachable, but they provide better balance and ease of use. So, if you opt for this type of pole saw, you may get the abovementioned advantages, but could not detach the saw from the pole.
7) Safety Factors
Just like any other chainsaws, produce kickback, and this kickback can cause a problem when using them. You can quickly lose handle of it if the kickback goes out of hand. Although you should have your safety equipment with you like those safety glasses, hard hat, and a pair of gloves, you still must consider the aspect of kickback. You should also check out the other safety features before buying one.
8) Cordless or Corded
You have a choice of opting for a cordless or something with a cord. If you intend to use it for smaller types of cutting, you can go for the corded ones. But if you are going for more difficult cutting tasks, you should opt for the cordless because the cords can posit a problem along the way. However, the cordless requires charging the batteries, and the charging process may take time.
9) Warranty
Another aspect that you should look into is the warranty that comes along with a particular machine. Top brands are known to provide limited or full warranties for their machines and products. It would surely be advantageous to opt for a brand that offers more comprehensive warranties.
10) Other Important Points to Consider
There are other features that you must consider. One such feature concerns whether you can convert it into a working chainsaw. Another feature is whether it has an auto-oiling system. Additionally, you should also consider whether it has an extendable pole. You should also check if it comes with an instant start, safety clamps rotational head, and auto lock features. However, the abovementioned general features of overall weight, maximum reach, brand, power-to-weight ratio, prices, safety feature, self-lubricating chains, detachable pole and etc.
Final Thought:
Based on my previous experience on using, repairing and maintaining different types and brands of electric pole saw, I personally found that you should buy a pole saw based on two major usage factors that will guide you through the buying decision, they are:
- Home garden or back-yard with smaller trees
- Bigger home garden with tall and large trees
For the purposes of cutting trees in your small home garden or back-yard tree, I would suggest you get a light-weight and possible a telescopic pole chainsaw to handle almost all small to medium sizes of the tree on your garden. This kind of pole chaninsaws will be sufficient for those occasional and light-weight usages.
But, if you plan to use it on the garden that filled with almost different sizes of trees that you can’t even imagine, then I would suggest you get an industrial-grade, and heavy-duty electric pole saw for that purposes. In some cases, the electric powered models will not suitable for you at all, if your garden is too big or the tree branches are too tall and big.