Choosing the Right Equipment

Thu, 03 May 2012 00:03:40 GMT

Choosing the Right Equipment

As a homeowner, you need to make sure you have the right tools to perform your job correctly and safely. Of course, you want to keep the trees healthy and looking good. Pruning trees not only tidies up their appearance but also encourages new growth and aids in controlling pests and disease. There are a range of pruning tools available and all have their purpose, some are designed to cut thick branches while others will only cut small stems. Choosing a pruning tool is fairly easy if you know their capabilities and how they work. Over the years, blade design has moved forward and has given rise to more efficient cutting. That means you need to get your hands on the best pole saw and tree trimming equipment. After all, the difference between doing a good job and a great job not only requires a bit of education and skills, but also your tool selection. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Let's discuss pole saws.

The difference between types of pole saw blade(s) each have their own functional purpose. Here is a quick breakdown to guide you in selecting the right saw for your job:

Curved blade - You need control when cutting branches in tight areas. A hooked tip design helps keep the blade in the cut so you can cut quickly and speed up the job

Straight blade - A smooth cut results at a slower pace cut than the curved blade. Hey you have to give a little to get a little right? Well, with the straight blade you also get the ultimate control, however, should it slip from the cut, sometimes it is next to impossible to resume if deep into the cut. This blade can be a huge waste of your energy and create excess fatigue on the body.

Blades with gullets - Need something for bind free cutting? This is your ticket.

Fine teeth - Delicate cuts for smaller pieces of wood require smaller teeth. They will give you that beautiful, manicured look.

Large teeth - Obviously, these teeth come in handy when cutting larger branches. They work faster as you are not as concerned about making the cut perfect for the eye to see.

As you use your tree saw, keep in mind that you aren't using a traditional hand saw. The term "saw" may imply that you move the piece of equipment back and forth to cut the wood. Not quite the case here. Instead, our push/pull blade permits cutting both ways, but, we admit it is better on the down. Keeping your blade sharp is imperative! Impulse hardened blades cannot be re-sharpened; they last longer, but when tired, must be replaced.

There are excellent videos on how to re-sharpen a blade; we will be providing links to the YouTube channel soon.

There are two main types of pruners called a bypass lopper and anvil lopper. Bypass loppers are the most popular choice as they are better for pruning live whatever due to their cutting action which produces a cleaner cut and will limit disease. Anvil loppers have a cutting action where the blade moves forward to meet a bar similar to cutting vegetables on a kitchen chopping board. Bypass loppers are suitable for cutting live branches up to 1-3/4” inches thick. Because of their shaped blades bypass loppers are better for close trunk work and they leave hardly any stub. This lopper works very well when the branch “wags like a dogs tail” when trying to cut it with the blade. You exert extra work and potentially harm the tree. We offer a very large 1-3/4”dia. opening on our by-pass lopper.

Pruning equipment necessary:
1) Pole(s)
2) Saw-head with blade.
3) By-pass lopper.
4) Device Protection Accessories

The pole(s) obviously allows you to reach branches at various heights. Pruner poles come in a variety of materials. We believe that inter-locking aluminum poles are the strongest and most rigid at heights up to 33ft or more. That means you then choose the head, and add middle sections for more height as necessary if you have an interlocking design. The advantage to an interlocking design is that should middle section get damaged, it’s easily and inexpensively replaced, and, you can probably keep right on going. The type that collapses are telescopic, and once damaged, you will most probably need a new saw. There are some models that have the by-pass lopper and saw head blade combined as one unit. This writers’ opinion is that it has many shortcomings, regardless of price. With a long rigid pole saw and by-pass lopper built for the professional in your hand, cutting can be easily carried out without using a ladder. These tools are not only great for the professional arborist and landscaper but general gardeners and homeowners will appreciate their performance and lasting quality. Remember, you need to make sure you have high quality arborist equipment for safety and ease of use. There are a number of free proper pruning and trimming techniques available through links on this site as well as others. All products sold on our site are of professional grade. They are for people who want an easier tool to use with continued performance year after year.

American Tree Service Supply

Choosing the Right Equipment