How to Use a Pole Saw Properly for Effective Performance (Step-by-Step Guide!)

Pole saw is the ideal tool for people who want to trim, style, or even prune their trees without the need of hiring professionals. This tool is quite easy to operate and requires little or no technical knowledge.

But no matter how easy it is to operate; you need to learn how to use it properly for effective performance. Unfortunately, there are limited resources out there on how to use a pole saw. To make the learning process easier and straightforward, we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to safely operate your pole saw.

This guide contains pole saw cutting techniques and safety tips while using the pole saw. Read on to find out how to properly make use of this tool safely and efficiently.

Pole Cutting Techniques: A Step-by-Step Guide of How to Use a Pole Saw

You need to learn the basics of pole cutting techniques to start cutting with the pole saw. Please follow each step of this guide to fully understand the techniques.

1. Clear the Working Area: consider the size of the tree

Things that could get damaged or injured like your property and people should be cleared of the area where you’re will to cut or remove limbs or branches. Take note of trip hazards around that area too, since you wouldn’t want to be obstructed while you’re at work. Lastly, try to keep people, most especially, kids away from the working area. You can easily do this by roping off the working area to keep them away.

2. Know Where You’re Making Cuts

You have to plan where you need to cut before putting the pole saw into the wood. Don’t just cut it imprecisely! Think through the process before starting the pole saw. Look around the tree, calculate the total numbers of branches you’re will bring down. You can only move to the next step after you’ve determined the amount of workload involved.

3. Start cutting with the Lower Branches

To access the high branches, you need to start your cutting with the lower branches and limbs. Doing this will give you easy access to the highest branches that need to be brought down.

4. Be in the Correct Position

When you’re using a pole saw, you have to stand in the correct position. Most people stand directly below the tree and this is just not right. The correct position is to stand off to the side of the branch. Standing this way will help lower your chances of getting injured as the branches and limbs fall off the tree. The pole saw must be at an angle as you go on with the cutting, so make sure the saw is held at chest level.

5. Adjust the Pole Saw Length

After positioning yourself correctly, the next thing to do is adjust the pole saw to your preferred height. If you don’t know how to go about it, you can easily make use of the user’s manual.

6. Place the Pole Saw Blade in Good Position on the Tree

Place the saw to the limb or branch you need to cut using your two hands. After placing the pole saw make sure you have complete control over the weight of the saw and its vibration. You can now move the pole saw against the weight of the branch.

7. Begin Cutting

You must have control over the pole saw as you start cutting, and your first cutting strokes should be slow as possible. Note that the cutting process may be a little bit harder when you start cutting at a full speed right off. Take a chill pill and try to create a groove in the wood while cutting a branch.

8. Finishing the Cut

Increase your stroke speed after securing the pole saw in the wood. To reduce the risk of having injuries, we recommend that you should be watchful as your cuts sink deeper into the wood. That’s mainly because branches fall in unpredictable ways even if you’re standing in the right position.

9. Clean Up the Working Area

It is just ideal to clean up the working area immediately after the branches and limbs have fallen to the ground. Littered branches and limbs are not good as they may even trip you as you reposition yourself around the tree.

10. Get Ready for the Next Cut

As soon as the first branch is brought down, you can now proceed to the next one. Don’t forget what we said about cutting the lower branches first before moving to the higher ones. Also, don’t forget to stay in the correct position. Follow these steps as you cut each branch until you cut down all the branches that need to be removed. With these few steps, learning how to use a pole saw is quite easy.

Safety Tips While Using Pole Saw

Now that you know the pole saw cutting techniques, you have to take note of some tips on how to use a pole saw safely. You need to pay attention to some “dos” and “don’ts” to avoid serious injuries or even a possible disaster. We all know that safety is crucial when it comes to dealing with a pole saw. Here are some safety tips to follow if you want to enjoy a great tree-cutting or pruning experience. Note: don’t even try to learn how to use a pole saw if you are underage.

• Use the right gear: make use of the right protective gear for chainsaw whenever you’re out there cutting as this gear helps to prevent or reduce the risk of fatal injuries. This protective gear includes boots, a helmet, eyeglasses, hand gloves, and snug-fitted wear. Make sure you’re wearing something to protect your eyes because some particles or small branches might find their way into it when you’re cutting. Furthermore, when you’re using a pole saw, make sure you’re wearing something at least. Unforeseen casualties will be lesser when you’re putting on some protective wears.
• Proper maintenance of the saw: learning how to use a pole saw is great but the proper maintenance of the saw shouldn’t be underemphasized. Make sure you oil the chain before and even after each cut. Avoid using an electric pole saw in wet conditions, especially in the rain. This might cause electrocution. Do not cut, prune, or even trim your trees at night when it’s difficult to see clearly. Instead, cut during the daytime.
• Follow good cutting etiquette: don’t play or try cutting different branches with the pole saw simultaneously. Try cutting a branch at a time for easy and effective performance. Clear out the fallen branches on the ground before down another one.
• Beware of wood spring back: trees under tension can snap back in unpredictable ways, that’s why you should be vigilant when cutting such trees. We recommend the undercutting method for a tree with pressured branches. This method is very good and efficient for reducing the spring back force from a limb or branch that’s under tension.
• Be a vigilant user: one of the reasons why you should be watchful when cutting with a pole saw is the kickback incident. Wondering what a kickback is? You’ll notice that the chain gets pinched sometimes or the tip of the blade cuts a hard object, sending the pole chainsaw flying backward. That’s what a kickback is! Be ready for anything, focus, and have good control over the tool when using it to cut.
• Know when to call a professional: when you’re battling with very hardwood or branches that are thicker than 7 inches, you’ll need the service of an expert! Also, professionals should be the ones to help you with some difficult clearings and removals like removing limbs or branches above or near the power lines.

Lastly, we’ll like to share with you some common injuries associated with using a pole chainsaw. Note that these injuries and real-life problems can be avoided if you follow the tips on how to use a pole saw safely.

• Injuries to workmates and onlookers
• Eye injuries
• Struck-by injury: this is the type of injuries that occur when cut branches fall on the operator
• Vibration (white finger) damage
• Electrocution

Closing Thought – wrapping it up!

The bottom line is that a pole chainsaw is the right tool for shaping, styling, and pruning your trees for fruits or cutting and trimming your tree. And with the help of this guide, you don’t necessarily have to employ a professional to help you trim or prune your tree branches. Just get your pole saw and understand the pole saw cutting techniques! Also, we advise that you make use of our guide on how to use a pole saw safely to avoid injuries and a possible disaster. We’ve reached the end of this informative article. We hope you were able to find good resources in your quest to know how to use a pole saw. If you have any questions or comments about the article topic, don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks!

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