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Cutting trees and logs of wood on the ground with a normal chainsaw is easy. But what if you don’t want to cut the tree down completely? What if you only want to shave off that branch that seems to be extending closer to your garage?
This is where a pole saw sneaks into the picture. Considering the fact that there are tons of pole saws on the market, it suffices to say that you need a guide to help you sieve through the entire list.
Fortunately, we’ve put this one together to guide you. We listed our guiding factors below.
#1. Best Pole Saw – Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-Inch Pole Saw
The Sun Joe saw is an electrically powered pole saw with a plethora of features all for an affordable price.
It is designed to extend beyond normal reach, thanks to its telescoping handle that helps facilitate an overhead reach of up to 15ft.
With respect to weight, it weighs about 7.7lbs – that’s lightweight although it may not be the lightest.
The Sun Joe SWJ800E pole saw is designed to cut hanging branches up to 7.5-inches thick. Is it worth it? In all honesty, yes, it’s worth it.
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Buying a Pole Saw: What to Consider
Pole saws aren’t just like the regular saws. They belong to a class of their own and this explains why certain rules and factors must be considered before buying them. We’ve listed them below. Don’t quickly scroll down… C’mon, have a look.
Power Source
With respect to the power source, you should be able to determine if you want a gas-powered or electric pole saw. And if you eventually choose an electric pole saw, you’ll need to choose between a cordless or corded model.
In our opinion, if you intend to work for longer periods, have more power, and can tolerate the noise, emissions and extra weight associated with gas-powered pole saws, you should go for it.
Electric powered pole saws, on the other hand, run quietly, are lighter with respect to weight, and don’t give off emissions. Of course, there are drawbacks and runtime is the chief drawback. Battery runtime is often abysmal – hovering at a little over an hour.
Reach
It is also important to take note of the length of the pole and how long it can reach. Many of the pole saws on the market have telescoping poles that extend further. Most extend the pole’s length up to 15ft.
Weight
For gas-powered pole saws, weight is one very important factor you cannot joke with. This stems from the fact that the gas tank, oil tank, etc. add to the overall weight of the pole saw. On the other hand, the electric pole saws tend to be much lighter, but again, this is a simple generalization.
The thickness of What You Will Cut
Pole saws are often designed to cut branches and things below a certain thickness level.
For the most part, a general thickness of 7.5 inches is the standard for most pole saws.
Any branch thicker than that will damage the saw.
Gas-powered models may be able to get by with cutting a branch more than 7.5 inches. But it’ll weaken the motor within a short while. The bar length sometimes determines the thickness of a branch your pole saw will be able to cut.
Safety Features
The pole saw you’ve selected should be one that comes with as many safety features as possible. Safety is a priority you shouldn’t joke with. There should be an emergency stop button that ceases power from the engine immediately the button is pressed.
Pole Saw Reviews
Now that you’ve taken note of a few factors worth considering when shopping for a pole saw, let’s see which pole saws made it to our final list.
#1. Best Pole Saw – Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-Inch Pole Saw
Length: 8.7ft
Weight: 7.7lbs
Type: Corded
Features: lightweight, the overhead reach of up to 15ft, 8-inch bar length, corded with a 6.5amp electric motor, auto oiling, plastic blade cover, ergonomic handle, foam grip points, instant start button.
The Sun Joe SWJ800E pole saw is a corded electric pole saw backed by a 6.5amp electric motor. It features a robust design and sports a ton of features including an 8-inch bar and chain. The bar and chain also feature an automatic oiler to keep the chain and bar lubricated during use.
There’s also a chain tensioning feature although this is not automatic. You’d have to lower the saw first and turn set the tensioning with a screw before you continue working. With respect to weight, the Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-Inch Pole Saw is lightweight. It weighs just about 7.7lbs and has a pole length of about 5.6ft which can extend to 8.7ft.
The Sun Joe pole saw also features a quick start button that sends power to the electric motor at once. Let’s not forget to mention that the saw also features an ergonomic handle and good grip points that give you great holding angles and firm grip.
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#2. Best Gas Pole Saw – Remington RM25PS Maverick Gas Pole Saw
Length: 7ft
Weight: 13.9lbs
Type: Gas-powered
Features: 25cc 2-cycle gas engine, extends to 12ft, attachment capable, automatic oiler, compact blade design, quick start capable, etc.
If you intend to cut tougher branches and work for longer periods, then you should consider this gas-powered pole saw. It offers almost the same advantage as the corded Sun Joe SWJ800E 8-Inch Pole Saw.
The Remington RM25PS Maverick Gas Pole Saw is powered by a 25cc 2-cycle gas engine with a small gasoline tank. Surprisingly, it weighs a lot less than we expected, coming in at about 14lbs, to be exact.
It features an attachment pole that helps elongate the pole to reach heights of up to 12ft. This is definitely shorter than the extended length supported by our top pick. But nevertheless, it’s still high enough to reach some high branches.
One thing makes the Remington RM25PS Maverick Gas Pole Saw to stand out; it accepts attachments. This simply means you can add attachments for a hedge trimmer, for instance, and be able to trim high hedges on your property.
To make starting easy, Remington fitted this saw with a quick start function. One tug at it and you’re good to go.
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#3. Greenworks 8.5′ 40V Cordless Pole Saw
Length: 8ft
Weight: 8.3lbs
Type: cordless electric
Features: 40V G-Max 2Ah interchangeable battery, lightweight, automatic oiling, 3 piece shaft, good handle and comfortable grip points, smooth operation, electric start option.
The Greenworks 8.5′ 40V Cordless Pole Saw is a cordless electric pole saw fitted with a 40V G-Max 2Ah battery that has a runtime of about 40 minutes. This is definitely a small runtime, however, Greenworks makes up for it by allowing interchange with certain G-Max batteries from other Greenworks power tools.
With respect to design, the pole saw looks great, feels sturdy, and is lightweight. It weighs just about 8.3lbs thus making it portable enough for many.
As we expected, it features an automatic oiler as well as a manual chain tensioning system. An automatic tensioning system would have been a better idea even though it would slightly increase the cost of the unit. And take note of the translucent oil tank that gives you a peek into the saw’s oil levels.
The only complaint we have about the Greenworks 8.5′ 40V Cordless Pole Saw is the length of the pole which is under 8ft even when extended.
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#4. Sun Joe SWJ803E-CMO 10 inch Pole Saw
Length: up to 14ft.
Weight: 7.9lbs
Type: Corded electric
Features: lightweight, 10-inch bar and chain, cuts branches up to 9.5 inches, multi-angle head, variety of colors, automatic oiling.
The Sun Joe SWJ803E-CMO 10 inch Pole Saw is the bigger version of the SWJ800E we reviewed at the beginning of this article. A few things set it apart from the other pole saws in this article.
First, it features a 10-inch Oregon cutting bar and chain. There is an automatic oiler that ensures oil is delivered to the chain as at when due. With the 10-inch cutting bar, you get to cut through branches up to 9.5-inches thick. This is against the 7.5-inches other pole saws can cut through.
Additionally, it features an 8-amp electric motor that draws its power from an electric cord. It’s as efficient as possible and runs smoothly.
With respect to the length and reach of the pole, it is able to extend up to 14ft. Stability is assured when extended as it features comfortable rubber grip points in the right places. And if you’re concerned about colors, there are 4 different colors to choose from.
Still doubting?
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#5. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Pole Saw
Length: up to 14ft
Weight: 9lbs
Type: Cordless
Features: adjustable length reaches up to 14ft, 8-inch cutting bar and chain, cuts up to 6-inch branches, battery-powered by a 20V Max battery, lightweight, automatic oiling.
The Black+Decker saw is the last saw we’re reviewing. It’s a battery-powered saw with a runtime of about 40mins, no thanks to the 20V rechargeable lithium battery it comes with. We like how smooth it runs when in use. The battery, however, is interchangeable.
It has an 8-inch cutting bar and chain that, unfortunately, is only able to cut through branches that are 6-inches thick. We least expected this from such a fine-looking saw.
To assuage our disappointment, the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Saw features an extendable pole that can reach heights up to 14ft. As expected, it features good grip points and a comfortable handle.
Unlike the Sun Joe SWJ803E-CMO 10 inch Saw, it lacks a multi-angle head but it makes up for that by weighing just about 9lbs and offering automatic oiling. The chain tensioning is manually done.
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Conclusion
There’s no better way to trim the protruding branches of trees on your property than using good pole saws. It’ll save you money in the long run and allow you to do a little bit of neck and arm exercises while you’re cutting those branches.
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