Handtools for Trail Work

Tools for Sawing, Continued

Pole Saws (Pole Pruners)

This saw has a curved blade attached to a long extension handle and is used to prune high protruding limbs. The teeth face backward on the underside of the blade, so the cut is made on the pull stroke. The curved blade helps prevent binding and transfers the weight of the tool to the branch to aid cutting. Handles typically extend from 4 to 16 feet.

When using a pole saw, be aware of other workers nearby. Cut only those limbs whose ends you can see. Clear an area for dropping limbs. When cutting larger limbs, make two cuts. Begin with a slight cut on the underside of the branch to prevent bark from tearing when the limb is severed from the top.

Carry pole saws by your side. Grip the handle near the blade and point it away from your body and down. Long handles may require another worker to carry the tool farther back on the handle. Don't let the end of the handle drag on the ground.

Sharpen these saws with a slim taper file. Pole saws have alternately offset teeth that are beveled on both edges. Clamp the blade so the gullets are exposed about 1/8-inch to minimize chatter during sharpening. Align the file in the first gullet against the front and trailing edges of two adjacent teeth. The file should form an angle of about 65° with the blade. File every other gullet, then reverse direction and file alternate gullets at the same angle. Four or five strokes per tooth should suffice. File teeth equally; unevenly filed teeth will differ in height. The shorter teeth will be ineffective while cutting.

When transporting blades, provide a small protective box that holds approximately 10 to 15 blades vertically. Each blade should be separated by a ¼-inch plywood partition.

Examples:

The telescoping fiberglass tree pruner has a blade that cuts
limbs up to 1¼ inches in diameter. The multipower pulley design
and gear-driven lever give three times more cutting power. The 16-inch
needle-point saw blade cuts on the pull stroke to reduce binding.
Telescoping fiberglass pole adjusts from 6 feet to 12 feet. Weight is 7 pounds.

The 16-inch blade on this pole pruning saw adjusts to three different
positions on the aluminum head. It has a large hook for pushing branches,
raising ropes, etc. The built-in paint brush holder applies tree wound paint.
The poles are 5 to 12 feet long. Weight is from 2 to 4 pounds

The strong, malleable iron pruner on this tree trimmer has a steel chain
working through a ballbearing pulley for a powerful "center-cut" action.
It cuts 1-inch diameter limbs. Poles vary from 5 to 12 feet. Weight is about 3 lbs.

The cord-actuated pruner blade on this 15-foot long pruner cuts limbs
up to 1 1/8 inches in diameter. A multipower leverage system increases your
pull on the cord 15 times for quick, easy cuts. The 16-inch needle point,
Teflon-coated saw blade cuts on pull strokes to reduce binding. The three 5-foot
wooden poles may be quickly assembled and taken apart. Weight is 7 lbs.

The head of this tree trimmer cuts limbs 1½ inches in diameter.
This heavy-duty, malleable, iron pruner head has a steel cable chain that works
through a ballbearing pulley for a powerful, "center-cut" action. The poles
are 5 to 6 feet long. Weight is up to 4 pounds.

Wedges

Use wedges as levers to prevent the sides of a cut from pinching a saw blade before the cut is finished. Most jobs require soft wedges that will not damage saw teeth. ABS plastic wedges are available in different lengths, widths, and weights. Some have metal inserts in the heads. Other types of wedges are designed to be used in combinations for felling. Wooden wedges are no longer used by the Forest Service.

Select the correct wedge for the job. Replace wedges when they become chipped or broken.

Using one or more wedges keeps a saw blade from being pinched.