GoodFellers
ArboristSite Lurker
Looking for feature suggestions as well as general insights into increasing efficiency specifically in the task of lifts and removals.
Like every other tree company, I encounter a lot of EAB removals where climbing is either out of the questions or limited. This often mean working from a lift. Unfortunately, in my area what is available and significantly less cost is a tow behind lift. Sometime availability is limited to shorter lifts as well. These tow behind lifts need to be hitched and unhitched to move, I often feel they adjust/move around slowly, reach diminishes when having to articulate around obstacles...etc. I have used a manual pole saw when in a pinch and that has worked great but I am thinking that I can greatly increase productivity with adding a power pole saw. I am likely to increase the amount of cuts I can make for each adjustment, more cuts and in some cases completely eliminate the need to lower, hitch/unhitch, move the lift, add a few feet to the capabilities of whatever lift is available... and that is in addition to its benefits of what I can reach from the ground, increasing distances from more hazardous cuts (storm damage, hang ups and the like).
I feel like a gas saw might be better to start with since it would be lower initial investment. I am not on a battery platform for any arborist equipment which means I'm open to any platform but also want to be in a lift all day cutting which means if I go battery, I'll probably need at least 1 extra battery and buy a charger too. (However, I do have a lot of 18v makita batteries from my construction business). I also am in a cold climate and in rare occasions where I have banged up a tooth or two with my electric makita chainsaw I use around the house, I end up just flying through 5ah batteries.
That being said if people have experience with the battery pole saws where they use them all day on big removals, Id love to hear how many batteries they go through, how they are when starting to need to sharpen but you just have a few more cuts...etc.
I also have no problem fixing and/or maintaining my gas equipment and will always have gas/oil on site for other saws or my skid...etc.
Either battery or gas, I am kind of leaning toward the Echo options but I'm sure they're all great saws. Echo's battery saw has 16' reach or 20' with a 4' extension which is quite a bit more than husqvarna or stihl's. Haven't had much luck finding good used options in my area for any of the brands (which would be my first choice).
Anyway, thanks to everyone. I don't know what I don't know, so I'm really looking forward to insights from those with more experience!
Like every other tree company, I encounter a lot of EAB removals where climbing is either out of the questions or limited. This often mean working from a lift. Unfortunately, in my area what is available and significantly less cost is a tow behind lift. Sometime availability is limited to shorter lifts as well. These tow behind lifts need to be hitched and unhitched to move, I often feel they adjust/move around slowly, reach diminishes when having to articulate around obstacles...etc. I have used a manual pole saw when in a pinch and that has worked great but I am thinking that I can greatly increase productivity with adding a power pole saw. I am likely to increase the amount of cuts I can make for each adjustment, more cuts and in some cases completely eliminate the need to lower, hitch/unhitch, move the lift, add a few feet to the capabilities of whatever lift is available... and that is in addition to its benefits of what I can reach from the ground, increasing distances from more hazardous cuts (storm damage, hang ups and the like).
I feel like a gas saw might be better to start with since it would be lower initial investment. I am not on a battery platform for any arborist equipment which means I'm open to any platform but also want to be in a lift all day cutting which means if I go battery, I'll probably need at least 1 extra battery and buy a charger too. (However, I do have a lot of 18v makita batteries from my construction business). I also am in a cold climate and in rare occasions where I have banged up a tooth or two with my electric makita chainsaw I use around the house, I end up just flying through 5ah batteries.
That being said if people have experience with the battery pole saws where they use them all day on big removals, Id love to hear how many batteries they go through, how they are when starting to need to sharpen but you just have a few more cuts...etc.
I also have no problem fixing and/or maintaining my gas equipment and will always have gas/oil on site for other saws or my skid...etc.
Either battery or gas, I am kind of leaning toward the Echo options but I'm sure they're all great saws. Echo's battery saw has 16' reach or 20' with a 4' extension which is quite a bit more than husqvarna or stihl's. Haven't had much luck finding good used options in my area for any of the brands (which would be my first choice).
Anyway, thanks to everyone. I don't know what I don't know, so I'm really looking forward to insights from those with more experience!