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Let me guess. As you’re on this article, you’re looking to deal with overhanging tree branches in your yard.
Pruning overhanging tree branches is an essential part of yard maintenance. This is for the safety of people and property around the tree. Furthermore, it also protects the tree from pests and diseases.
There is a wide variety of gardening tools that you can use to prune trees branches. But often these are expensive and hard to maintain. If you have a few trees, then a manual pole saw is all you need.
Below, we’ll explain the things to consider when buying the best manual pole saws and review the top 7 manual poles pruner on the market.
But, if you’re in a hurry, you can just check out our quick picks below.
Quick Picks
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Premium
Milliard Extendable Tree Pruner
This extendable manual pole saw can reach up to 16 feet high. The pruning saw comes with a non-stick coating for easy maintenance.
Best Overall
Hooyman Extendable Tree Saw
Highly portable pole saw that can extend up to 16 feet and collapse to 48 inches. Great for gardening, hunting, and camping.
Best Value
Fiskars Extendable Pole Saw
Quickly and easily cut high branches with a sturdy tree trimming system that can extend up to 12 feet. It comes with a full lifetime warranty.
Top Manual Pole Saw for your garden
Product
Name
Detail
Price
- 24 Foot Pole
- 12 Foot Pole
- 14 Foot Pole
- 16 Feet Pole
- 18 Feet Pole
- 12 Feet Pole
- 6 Feet Pole
Our Top Pick
Hooyman Extendable Tree Saw is our top pick. It’s an extendable pole saw and pruner that can cut through robust and high branches without needing any ladder.
The portable design allows you to use it not only to maintain your yard but also take it with you for hunting and other outdoor activities.
It comes with a carrying case that can be attached to the pole for safe and secure transport. The high carbon steel-made blade gives you a cleaner cut without needing frequent sharpening. The pole is very well designed and lightweight, you can extend it to 16 feet and collapse to 48 inches.
Manual Pole Saw: Why do you need one?
Manual pole saws are a straightforward gardening tool that has a saw attached to one end of the long pole. It helps you cut down tree branches or trim taller hedges without having to climb or use a ladder. The long pole offers you greater flexibility and safety in pruning.
Since this is a manual system, you can maintain a small size lawn and yard with ease. But, if you have a large size yard or have many trees, then you will be better off getting a powered pole saw that can be either gas-powered or electricity.
What to consider when buying Manual Pole Saw
Saw
The saw should be made of durable, and lightweight material that last longer and won’t snap while cutting
Pole Length
Choose a lightweight but stable pole that won’t wobble or shake while making a cut.
Weight
A lightweight pole saw makes it easy to work longer without getting tired.
Have a question about buying a manual pole saw? Contact us
Best Manual Pole Saws Reviews
1. DocaPole Pole Pruning Saw
Best Tree Pruner Saw
DocaPole Manual Pruning Saw is a handy pruning tool that’s suitable for high reach. The telescopic extension pole can extend from 6 to 24 feet.
It has a razor-sharp 13-inch bi-directional saw blade that makes a clean-cut with the least effort. If you don’t need an extension pole for trimming along the bush, then you can use the saw by hand.
When you need to cut the taller tree and bushy branches, you can mount it on the pole. The secure fit locking screw keeps the blade tightly mounted on the pole and won’t wobble while making a cut.
The saw has razor-sharp 3-side taper ground teeth that make a quick cut. For cutting fallen trees and limbs, you can use the saw by hand. The blade has rustproofed chrome plating that improves the life of the tool.
The telescopic extension is a nice feature, as you can extend it when needed. You can use the shorter pole size when the full extension isn’t required. The shorter size segment is thicker and stronger, which reduces the pole bend.
With this manual pole saw, you can trim branches that are up to 6 inches thick and 20 feet in the air. It only takes a few movements to make a cut.
2. Fiskars Extendable Pole Saw
Heavy Duty Pole Saw
The Fiskars Extendable Pole Saw works best to trim and cut branches up to 12 feet high. The build quality of the pole saw is outstanding, and it’s lightweight. This won’t get you tired while handling any cutting task.
The precision-ground steel pruner can cut small branches up to 1 inch thick. The 12-inch double grind saw can tackle thicker and larger branches. The round fiberglass pole is very lightweight and very comfortable to grip.
For stability and safety on using the pole saw, it comes with an advanced double-locking system. It combines the flip-lock and internal spring button lock techniques to keep extended poles stay put.
This is a beneficial feature as it allows you to extend only the size that’s required and ensures the pole won’t collapse while cutting.
Overall, the finishing of the product is very durable, and the plastic doesn’t feel cheap. The string mechanism used for the bypass pruner feels a bit flimsy, but it can handle small jobs.
For added peace of mind, it comes with a lifetime warranty.
3. Corona MAX RazorTooth
Corona Manual Tree Pruner
Corona Max Razor is an extendable saw and pruner to cut through high branches. The extendable pole can reach up to 14 feet high branches.
The compound action system provides you enough leverage to prune even thicker and stiff branches with ease. The manufacturer claims this unique design provides you with 3 times the cutting power over the regular pruning saw.
The pole saw is lightweight and easy to handle. The saw blade is made with durable high carbon steel and is quite sharp. The saw doesn’t feel flimsy when cutting through thick wooden branches and remains sharp after multiple uses.
The pole saw has a large 1.25-inch diameter cutting capacity. The exclusive Powerglide rope pull system and 12-inch-long, razor-sharp blade maximize pruning to the liking of personal and professional users.
The foam grip handle at the bottom of the pole makes it comfortable to hold the pole without getting tired quickly. It uses a plastic clutch lock mechanism on the extended pole that works fine except sometimes it comes loose.
The twist-lock adjustment feature for quick and safe pole adjustment works without any hitch. The manual pole saw comes with a limited lifetime warranty for added peace of mind.
4. Hooyman Extendable Tree Saw
Best Manual Pole Pruner
Hooyman Extendable Tree Saw with wrist lanyard and sling is the perfect combination of extendable and portable pole saw. This is great for not only gardening work but also outdoor activities such as hunting and camping.
The pole is very well designed and lightweight, you can extend it to 16 feet and collapse to 48 inches. The compact, ergonomic design makes it a very efficient portable manual pole saw. The steel blade is made from high carbon steel that remains sharp after repeated use.
You have the option to choose the extendable pole saw in a 5-foot, 10 foot, and 16-foot length. The I-beam aluminum construction gives you a lightweight pole with a stable and rigid design.
The Hooyman Extendable tree saw is a well-designed pole with a durable blade. The ability to fold it during travel and the locking system to extend the pole is very functional.
This makes storing and traveling easy. If you’re a hunter or camper, then you will love this portability functionality.
The ergonomically designed pole saw makes it easy to hold for an extended period without getting tired. The sharp blade quickly cuts through hard and thick branches with ease.
It also has a pruner attachment option, but that is sold separately. If you want more versatility with pruning flexibility, then you can buy Pruner Attachment.
5. Notch Pole Saw Set
Long Pole Saw
The Notch Pole Saw set comes with 3 pieces detachable pole set with an overall extendable length of 18 ft. Each pole is 6 feet long and you can attach it to the central pole.
The 15-inch sharp blade can cut through thick and hard branches with ease. It’s made of an SK4 steel blade and doesn’t flex while cutting. The fiberglass pole is lightweight, and you can hold it longer without getting tired.
The fast pull cutting tooth design allows you to hold the grip on the tree branch securely and provides you with a cleaner cut with a single pull. The impulse-hardened teeth stay to the edge longer, which gives you more time to make a cut.
It’s easy to put together and disassemble after you finished the job. The extension pole is sturdy and doesn’t require any effort to put together. Since each pole is 6 feet long, you can extend it to 6, 12, and 18 feet increments to cut branches.
You can reach and cut through taller tree branches, including palms, without needing to have a ladder. This is a great pole for personal and professional use.
6. Jameson Manual Pole Saw
Wicked Tree Saw For Yard
Jameson Manual Pole Saw can be extended up to 12 feet high to trim and prune branches of tall trees. The 16-inch Barracuda Tri-Cut saw blade has impulse-hardened teeth for reduced blade wear and higher cutting efficiency.
The pruning head can cut through branches up to 1.25 inches thick. It’s quite functional and complements the saw to make a cleaner cut of a wide range of branch thickness.
The non-stick coating on the blade prevents dirt and sap from sticking around the edge. This makes cutting more comfortable and improves the life of the saw.
The ergonomically designed pole saw is lightweight. It doesn’t feel bulky, and you can use it in a wide range of conditions. We like the fact that the pruner and saw came pre-assembled that saves the hassle of putting it correctly together.
The non-fiberglass pole surface prevents the fiber blooming that happens in some poles after extended use. The aircraft-grade aluminum with the exterior leaf spring locking button provides a secure connection when attaching multiple poles.
7. Milliard Extendable Tree Pruner
Manual Telescopic Pole Saw
Millard 16-foot Extendable Pruner and pole saw come with a 3-sided blade for precise pruning and cutting jobs. The saw blade is made from high carbon steel and is sharpened on 3 sides for smooth cutting.
The blade is 14 inches long and 1.2 mm thick that can handle thicker and stiff branches without flexing during the cut. The non-stick coating on the blade prevents the sap and debris from sticking around the edge.
This prevents the blade from getting rust and extends the life while reducing the maintenance required to upkeep the pole saw. The double tackle compound pulley system cut through thick and stiff branches with the least effort.
The extendable telescopic pole is made with fiberglass material. It allows the pole to remain lightweight while enabling you to extend the length securely.
When fully extended it can reach up to 16 feet long, while the lowest it can go is 6 feet. It comes with an adjustable handle for a comfortable grip that prevents the rope burn while pulling on the full-length pulley rope.
This tool works great for pruning tree branches in your yard without spending a fortune on a powered pole saw.
Things To Know When Buying A Manual Pole Saw
It’s essential to understand what to look for when choosing a manual pole saw. We’ve prepared this buying guide to help you get started in finding the pole saw that fits your gardening needs.
Types of Pole Saw
The pole saw is mainly three different types, electric pole saw, gas pole saw, and manual pole saw. The electric pole saw can be further divided into two kinds, corded pole saw, and cordless pole saw.
The electric pole saw is the best option when you have a small to medium size yard with several mature trees. These are lightweight and quieter than gas-powered saws. The battery-powered electric pole saw can cut branches that are two to five inches in diameter.
The gas-powered pole saw is suitable for medium to large size lawns with several mature trees. These are often heavier than electric pole saws and are commonly used by professionals. The gas-powered engine can be anywhere in the range of 20 cc to 40 cc, but these are noisy, heavier, and generate smoke.
The manual pole saw is best for residential use and small yard work. These pole pruners have a long extension pole that provides absolute control of the blade direction. These are lightweight and don’t produce any smoke.
Read More: 5 Best Gas Pole Saw For Long and Matured Trees
Why Should You Choose A Manual Pole Saw?
For a small task, the manual pole saw is a better option. But it has two limitations. First, you have to use physical force to make a cut. So, you will get tired if you have to cut a large number of trees.
Second, it’s a slow and time-consuming process and takes a longer time than the powered pole saw. You should only choose it if you have a small pruning job.
If you can overcome those two limitations, then here are some of the reasons to pick the manual pole saw.
It Weight Less
Manual pole saw weight far less than powered saw. This is because it doesn’t require any heavier motor or battery attachment. The pole is made of very light material with a saw attached at the end.
The lightweight pole pruner allows you to get a job done quickly and with more precision without getting too tired.
Cheaper Than Powered Saw
The manual pole saw is a straightforward tool and is usually cheaper than the powered pole saw. Moreover, it doesn’t require any ongoing expense of fuel, changing batteries, or replacing parts. It’s a simple saw optimized for taller pruning jobs, thus significantly reducing the operating cost.
Easy To Maintain
Maintaining a manual pole saw is quite easy. You have to keep the pole and saw clean from any dirt and debris. There are no complex moving parts, so maintenance is easy. Just keep the saw blade sharp, and you can use the tool whenever you need it.
Highly Portable.
The manual pole saw is very portable, as there is no cumbersome attachment at the bottom. you’re not limited to the power outlet or need any kind of fuel to operate the pole saw. You can take it wherever you need it.
Low Noise and Silent
The manual pole pruner is very silent as there is no motor or chain saw blade to make a noise.
Good For Environment
Unlike the gas pole saw that generates smoke and batteries that require disposal, the manual pole saw doesn’t have any impact on the environment.
Can Be Operated In Any Weather
You may be limited to using a powered pole saw in extreme weather conditions such as during rain or low temperature. There is no weather restriction on using the manual pruner and can be used at any time when needed.
Safer Than Other Pole Saws
Manual pole saw is safe to use as you don’t have a high-powered chain saw above your head that can fall on your head.
Things To Look For In A Manual Pole Saw
When choosing a manual pole saw, consider the following characteristics.
Saw
The saw makes a cut, and you want it to be sharp and be able to cut through hard and thick branches.
The saw made from durable, and lightweight material lasts longer and doesn’t snap while cutting. The high-performance saw blade is made from carbon steel with additional coating on it to prevent rust, resin, and lower friction when cutting.
The option to detach the saw from the pole provides you greater flexibility in case of replacing a broken or old saw or for storage purposes.
Pole
Manual pole saw comes with a wide range of pole lengths. If you have taller and mature trees, then pick a longer pole length. You have the option to buy different pole lengths saw, so look at the trees and plants that you want to trim and determine how tall they are.
The second consideration regarding the pole is the shape and material used in the construction of the pole. A right pole should be made of lightweight and robust material that doesn’t wobble or shake when making a cut.
You can buy poles that are made from aluminum, fiberglass, or steel. These are often lightweight and last longer than a wooden pole.
Cutting Capacity
The cutting capacity depends on the type and length of the saw blade. A longer saw blade can cut through thicker tree branches. Most saw blades come in the range of 6 inches to 12 inches. Choose the saw that’s at least a couple of inches longer than the diameter of the branch.
Weight
You want to choose a lightweight pole saw so you can work longer without getting tired. The weight depends on the length, build quality, and size of the pole. These can weigh anywhere from 3 pounds to 6 pounds and start to feel heavy when you have to work overhead.
The weight should be distributed evenly and well balanced when you have it in the extended position. This allows you far greater precision when cutting without getting tired.
Pruner
This is an optional feature you may find in some manual pole saw models, but we find it quite useful. The pruner is attached to the cutting head that helps you to prune small branches. This is helpful if you’re cutting fruit trees.
Cutting Action
For sturdier and thick branches, you want to choose a pole saw that has a lever cutting action. The gear is attached to the handle of the pole saw that you pull to move the blade back and forth. This distributes the cutting power and makes the cutting easier. However, it takes longer to make a cut.
Durability
The good build quality and the durability of the pole saw are essential. The pole saw that is lightweight and made from quality material with a simple design usually lasts longer.
High-quality products may cost a bit more, but if you’re going to use the pole saw more than a few times in a year, then buying a little bit pricey but durable pole saw will be a better choice.
Warranty
The warranty gives you peace of mind that you will get your tool fixed or replaced if anything goes wrong during the warranty period. The manufacturer provides a different warranty period often one year or more.
Tree Pruner Assembly Instructions
The tree pruner assembly depends on the make and model of the pruner. You should start by reading the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer.
To get started, you need to have all the attachments and mounting gears that came with the tree pruner. As a general instruction to assemble the tree pruner, take out all the parts and place it on the ground or on a workbench.
If you have a telescopic pole, then make sure it’s not fully extended. Remove the cover from the blade and find the location of the mounting holes. Position the holes in the module with the locking pin at the end of the pruner.
Place the clamp over the pin and blade and put the lock washer over the screw. Insert the screw into the clamp and tighten it with an Allen wrench.
Be careful when assembling the pruner, and don’t cut yourself from the sharp blade. If you’re using Troy-Bilt pruner, then make sure the pruner faces the small foot at the end of the pruner.
How Do You Trim A Tree With A Pole Saw?
There are specific techniques that you can use when trimming a tree with a pole saw. Before you get started, make sure that the pole length is long enough to reach the height of the branch.
Extend the pole length and make sure it can extend a couple of inches above the branch that you want to cut. Check the saw to make sure it’s attached securely and isn’t loose. Find a stable base to position yourself and hold the pole firmly in your hand.
For smaller and thin branches, place the saw on it and pull the pole back and forth to cut the branch.
For a thicker and bigger branch, you have to cut it down in steps. First, place the saw under the tree branch and make an angled cut to guide the fall. Then place the saw above the tree branch and start moving the saw back and forth by pulling the pole.
For a cleaner cut, always let the saw do the cutting. You can apply slight downward pressure to make the cut. Don’t pull it too hard; otherwise, it will break the branch. Then you will have a hanging branch spike left on the tree that won’t look good.
Maintain proper control of the saw position, and keep a firm grip on the pole not to let it wobble. Keep your hand lower than your head; otherwise, you will get quickly tired. Always wear safety gear such as a hard hat and eyeglasses to prevent injury.
When you’re finished cutting, bring the saw safely down and place the protective cover back on the blade.
How To Properly Maintain Manual Pole Saw
An adequately maintained pole saw lasts longer and provides the best possible cut every time. The manual pole saw doesn’t require much maintenance, and that’s one of the benefits of using it.
Make sure that before you use the pole saw, there are no loose screws or parts. Check for any crack in the saw blade or if it needs sharpening.
If needed, you should sharpen the blade to make an efficient and cleaner cut. A sharp edge extends saw life as you don’t have to apply too much pressure to make a cut.
When you have finished the job, make sure to clean the pole and saw blade with a clean damp cloth. Remove any resins or fluids sticking to the saw.
Place the protective cover back on to blade to prevent any injury or damage to the blade. Store it in a safe place away from the reach of pets and children.
Precautions When Using A Manual Pole Saw
Safety is vital to prevent any injury or damage to the property. Always start by reading the manufacturer’s instruction manual to get to know more about the tool. This helps you get familiar with operating the device.
Here are some precautions you need to take when using a manual pole saw:
- Always wear protective equipment such as hand gloves, hard hat, and face shield. Also, wear protective footwear.
- Check the ground area first, and it should be free from obstruction and not slippery. Inspect the ground, so you know the layout before you start pruning.
- Make sure there is no areal obstruction such as power line or overhanging wires.
- Maintain a safe distance when cutting the branch and don’t stand directly below it.
- When cutting longer and thicker branches, don’t cut it from the source but cut in small chunks a couple of feet long.
- Make a small undercut on thicker branches. The undercut guides the branch falling direction. It also prevents saw to get stuck and gives the cleaner cut.
- Make sure to clean up the area afterward to prevent any tripping hazards.
How Thick Can A Pole Saw Cut
The cutting thickness depends on the blade length, blade type, and whether the pole saw is manual or self-powered.
Manual pole saw with 15-inch-long blades can cut through 1.25 inches to 1.5-inch-thick branches. The powered pole saw with a chain blade of 8-inches long can cut tree branches up to 7.5 inches thick.
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