Thread: Pole Saw for use around wires?

Some may call me stupid for asking, but do some arborist retailers sell pole saws for work around wires? As in non conductive, liek you could potentially take a branch directly off a hot wire?

They sell hollow and core filled fiberglass poles but it is definetally not recomended to use them to take limbs off hot lines. There is a tool called a hot stick that the power linemen use that would be better suited. Or even using fiberglass pruners would be better then a saw. When working in line clearence we used our pruners. but were still writen up any time we came into contact with the lines. Even if what was cut just grazed the lines. it was a potential write up.This is a super dangerous situation. what size is the line? is it coated? Is it a service drop. There are minimum working distances with all the different voltages. Be aware also any moisture will conduct. damp rope or pruners will still zap you. I use jameson core filled batch tested poles. I have about a twelve foot core filled pruner pole and an eight foot pole saw one. Plus I have two that are four foot that came with the big shot.

Better make sure that the pole saw is insulated and call the electric company and ask if they will do a temp service disconnect if the line you are working around is not a primary that serves alot of people. And if a limb falls on a power line you might want to call the electric company better safe than sorry.

Originally Posted by Thillmaine

Some may call me stupid for asking, but do some arborist retailers sell pole saws for work around wires? As in non conductive, liek you could potentially take a branch directly off a hot wire?

dont go near the wires minimum safe distance is 10ft

not telling you to get near any wires at all.

huge difference between pole to pole wiring and pole to house wiring. could be same or not.

pole to pole wiring can be high voltage. regardless if you've got a rated pole or not. call the utility boys...

So, with this Jameson pole, you can actually cut a branch and have contact with yourself and the pole, while the pole is in contact with the branch, and or wires and not be zapped? Pole to house I am talking about.

sorry I even mentioned a insulated pole. if you have to ask, call for a service drop. don't go near any wire!

If you have to ask, you've got no business being near electrical conductors.

Go and get some training in electrical hazards (TCIA's EHAP is a good start)
so you can at least recognize the hardware you're dealing with.

Don't become another statistic-way too many people in our industry have died from contact with electricity.

Originally Posted by Thillmaine

So, with this Jameson pole, you can actually cut a branch and have contact with yourself and the pole, while the pole is in contact with the branch, and or wires and not be zapped? Pole to house I am talking about.

once more dont go near the wires with jameson, home depot, your garden weasel, seymour or an old wood one you borrowed from a guy in islesboro.

DO NOT TOUCH WIRES OR ANYTHING TOUCHING WIRES!!! Got it yet?
This means don't climb a tree that is touching wires at all unless you are qualified to do so. If you don't understand step potential, Minimum Approach Distances, Line Voltage, Line Clearance, etc., YOU ARE NOT QUALIFIED! Or maybe dead...

It doesn't take much electricity at all to stop your heart or create severe health problems even later down the road if you survive getting "bitten".
A good Friend of mine lost all his teeth within a week of each other about two months after being electrocuted while doing a hot stick job while wearing a full rubber suit, and he wrote the Safety Manual for the City Electricians where he lived (large unamed city).

Have power company shut down lines or find qualified line clearance tree trimmer to get second opinion from or help with job.

lie every one else saidDO NOt go nearcth wires . c if you do want ot take a tree dpow n near wire call he power comany . ask them to take the wires down and away from thh hose as well as makingsure the are niot live all the wire.. . I see ple prung near wires altoghte too often get aqualified ptree guy to look at it . It you want ot save money just ask them to drop it andyou can pick upthe mess . a chipper runsfrom 150 and up fo 24 hpurs depending size or if it is buranble and you brun just keep the suff asn use the bush as kindleing or getrid of it how evrypou are lehgally able.

I hav wantedconduitfor yearsgotmybwhis no clijets freak out if you eve comclose to the man hole that should withstanda falliong tree. . but ...

mtnman...spell check

I agree with the baove statements, lear what your woring around first.

CUTIS JAMES....you said that even if it was a cut that grazed the lines. Are you dumb? You are lucky to be alive. If I was a foreman and saw you "knick" the lines I would fire you while you were still in the air. I work around 25KV most days and couldnt imagine the flash/burn that would happen I made contact, that is very unsafe!! What if you made a "knick" in a big count fiber...like a 432 ct, or even a 1200 loose tube? I was a linesman for 5 years before doing tree work. This makes me angry and ashamed that our industry doesnt offer better training.

Be safe out there!


And fot the record, the Yellow Jameson poles that are filled with the foam are rated to 100,000 volts when they are clean and dry. Jameson also offers a little Orange rod with brass loops on each end. This is made to be tied into your pruner pole cord, and thus insulating the cord to 100,000 volts.
*I am not advocatng this to the average person with no hot stick training/maintenance training.*

Originally Posted by climb it

mtnman...spell check

Climb it this post is about using a pole pruner , pole saw or other tools to cut limbs near wires not my poor typing

If you must know iwas in a accidnmet not thnaks to a groundy lighting up a butt instead of paying attention to the rope .

Yeah I am dumb. I was refering to what I cut grazing the lines. Not my person, saw, pruner or any other tool. . I did not bounce the lines at all but yes occasionally what I clipped did graze the lines as it fell. I am one of the safest people you will ever meet so don't jump all over me over a little miss understanding. I was not holding what grazed the lines either I am talking about the twig falling free from my pruner cut. I was never fired written up or any of the above. And I too worked and cleared transmission lines coming out of sub stations and lines coming straight out of the plant. I am well versed in all my minimum working distance and proper techniques. We were doing our weekly tailgating training. There is no luck to my being alive at all, it is gods will. I appreciate your concern just relax with the foolish name calling.