Tree Pruning Power Tools
If you have trees on your property, chances are you’re probably going to need to prune them from time to time. Sometimes this is because the branches are blocking sunlight from reaching other parts of your garden, spoiling a view, or just starting to look a bit untidy, but there are also more serious problems that can arise from overgrown trees: for example they have the potential to cause property damage or to pose a safety risk to people in the vicinity. Therefore if you have trees near buildings or public access routes its advisable to try and keep them from getting too big and out of control.
This might be easy enough when you have a few small saplings, but many trees are capable of reaching impressive heights and the larger they get, the more difficult it becomes to keep them trimmed. Thankfully however there are a wide variety of tree pruning tools on the market which might save you from having to call a tree surgeon out, and we’ll go through some of the options in this buyers guide. We’ve already covered some of the most common tree pruning hand tools in part 1 of this series and in part 2 we take a look at powered options.
Tree Pruning Tools: Power Tools
With the right power tool, you can make much lighter work of physically demanding and time consuming tree pruning jobs. Outdoor power tools can be powered via mains sockets, power tool batteries, or petrol. As a general rule, petrol delivers the most powerful performance but is becoming less common on the domestic market these days. Corded electric power tools tend to be the most affordable choice, and will usually just need to be plugged into a suitable extension lead. Battery power is becoming more and more popular since it offers the go-anywhere portability of petrol but without the inconveniences of regularly buying, transporting, storing and mixing fuel. Today’s cordless electric tools are more than capable of tackling most jobs that a homeowner might take on, and the convenience of battery power is augmented by the fact that most of these machines are part of larger battery platforms and share battery compatibility with other tools too.
Tree Pruning PPE
While power tools can help make much shorter work of tree pruning in comparison with hand tools, they can also be a lot more hazardous. Eye protection and ear protection is generally required and you may also want a good pair of safety boots, work gloves and a hard hat, along with any specialist PPE related to the tool being used. If using corded electric tools, care should be taken not to use them with an extension reel which isn’t rated for the load, and always be aware of where the power cable is – tripping over it or cutting through it are both accidents you want avoid, and likewise you don’t want to run a power cable through wet grass or other damp areas. It is always a good idea to make sure there is an RCD in the circuit when using corded outdoor power tools – this is designed to instantly cut the power in the event of a fault and therefore helps to reduce the risk of getting a harmful electric shock if anything goes wrong.
Chainsaws
The chainsaw is the workhorse of the tree surgeon’s tool kit, and these powerful machines are capable of sawing through trees with incredible speed. It should be noted that they are also amongst the most dangerous of power tools, and not everyone will feel comfortable using one. If you are using a chainsaw for the first time, it is essential to make sure you familiarise yourself with proper technique and thoroughly read the manual so that you have an understanding of common hazards which may arise. To give yourself best possible protection, it is also advisable to invest in some chainsaw clothing as well as a forestry helmet with safety visor .
Chainsaws are classed by the length of the bar, which determines the maximum cut capacity. Bear in mind that whether they are corded electric, cordless or petrol powered, all chainsaws need oil too, and it’s worth checking if any is supplied with the machine when you buy one. This oil is necessary to keep the chain lubricated and is usually sold as chain oil or chainsaw oil.
The UNIVERSALCHAIN 18 is a cordless chainsaw which runs on 18v PowerForAll batteries. It has a 20cm bar and is suitable for sawing through branches up to 135mm in diameter. The tip guard on the bar is designed to prevent kickback and helps make it a safer option for less experienced users.
Mini Chainsaws
Regular chainsaws have been used for heavy duty pruning and tree felling for a long time, but recently there has been a proliferation of much smaller types on the market too and these compact machines pack the powerful punch of a chainsaw into an especially handy and lightweight form factor. Obviously they can only take on smaller branches but the reduced size means they are ideal for more fiddly jobs where larger machines won’t have the same access. Often known as pruning chainsaws or pruning saws, these mini chainsaws usually have bars of 150mm (6″) or under, and are commonly battery powered devices.
The Einhell GE-PS 18/15 Li BL Mini Chainsaw is part of the Power X-Change battery platform and will work with any Power X-Change battery. The 15cm bar has a folding guard on the top side for user safety and the tool is equipped with an energy efficient brushless motor.
Reciprocating Saws
To a certain extent, reciprocating saws can be used in place of a chainsaw. There is a smaller limit to the diameter of branch they can cut through, and they lag behind in terms of speed too. However, they are more versatile since they can be fitted with a wide variety of blades for multiple material types, making them suitable for lots of other jobs too. Due to the fact that they use replaceable blades which are relatively inexpensive, reciprocating saws tend to be one of the best options for cutting through roots since accidental contact with stones and dirt will quickly take the edge off most cutting tools. They are also much safer than chainsaws, which is going to make them an attractive alternative for many.
A standard builders or DIY grade reciprocating saw will be fine – for best performance, you’ll probably want to use purpose designed tree pruning blades, like the Makita P-05072. Alternatively you can get specialised tree pruning reciprocating saws which come with branch hooks fitted on to them. These are designed to grip onto tree branches and prevent them from wobbling around as you try to saw through them, making the process quicker and easier, as well as leaving a cleaner cut.
The Bosch KEO series has been around for quite a while and until recently these tools were fitted with integrated batteries – however the latest generation KEO 18 Li is part of the PowerForAll 18v Alliance and uses the more powerful 18v batteries as used in the standard 18v range. As well as being more powerful, these detachable batteries mean you no longer have to stop and recharge the whole tool when the battery goes flat – simply swap the battery out and carry on. You can also use the saw with larger capacity batteries for longer continuous runtimes. The KEO has a detachable branch hook and is compatible with standard reciprocating saw blades.
Pole & Tree Pruners
Powered Pole & Tree Pruners are much like their similar hand tool counterparts in that they feature different types of cutting heads. Commonly they will be either a small chainsaw, or a pair of lopper style jaws, fitted onto the end of a long handle which enables them to cut through branches above head height. In some cases you can also get optional extensions which enable the length to be increased further if required. These long reach pruning tools are great for tackling high branches without the hazards of climbing up to reach them, and the advantage of a simple push button operation means that you can cut through them quickly and efficiently, with minimal physical exertion. Just be aware that these tools can be fairly heavy and this might limit the amount of time you’ll want to spend using one.
The PS7525 from Black and Decker is an 800 watt chainsaw on a pole which gives you over 2.4 metres of reach. Powered from a standard mains socket, this corded tool has a 25cm bar and comes with a low kickback chain for smoother cuts whether you’re cutting dry, dead wood or greener material.
Garden Multi Tools
Tree pruning tools can be on the large side, and once you add them on to hedge trimmers, grass trimmers and assorted other outdoor power equipment, you might be struggling to find a place to store everything. To help save on storage space, many manufacturers offer a garden multi tool system which allows you to swap different tool heads in and out of a central power unit. This means you can tackle a variety of different jobs using the one machine, and is also handy if you need to travel between locations.
These tools are often sold as split shaft machines, since the shaft can be disassembled into two or more sections, but be aware that not every split shaft garden tool is compatible with different attachments – in some cases this is purely a feature that helps with storing and transporting the tool itself, and doesn’t allow it to be used with any other type of tool head.
The GE-LM 36 4 In 1 Li from Einhell is a battery powered tool which is part of the Power X-Change system. It can be used as a tree pruner, brush cutter, grass trimmer and hedge trimmer: the standard retail package includes everything needed to swap between these four functions so it comes as a complete tool kit in a box.
Other Options
You can also find tree pruning power tools that don’t quite fit into a standard category; for example the Black and Decker GK1000 Alligator Lopper and the GKC1000 18v Cordless Alligator Lopper. Not to be confused with the Alligator saws which are used for cutting lightweight building materials, these unique garden tools have a pair of jaws for securely gripping onto tree bark, combined with a chainsaw which is enclosed inside them. This design is an excellent choice for people who aren’t completely comfortable with using a standard chainsaw as the enclosed jaws make it a lot safer to use.
The GKC1000 runs on the standard Black & Decker 18v lithium ion batteries which are used in their cordless DIY and garden power tools. It has a large cutting capacity and is suitable for branches up to 100mm in diameter. The two handed safety switch helps to ensure safe operation at all times and the tool is ideal for breaking down offcuts as well as removing branches from trees.
Conclusion
Hopefully with this two part buyers guide we’ve covered most of the options available for anyone thinking of tackling some tree pruning. You can find a huge range of tree pruning hand tools and power tools on the Tooled Up website, as well all the accessories and safety equipment you’ll need to get yourself fully set up. To see our complete range of outdoor power equipment, hand tools and garden products, simply follow the link to our Garden Tools section here.
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