Gas Pole Saw vs Battery - Which is Best?

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

This channel is so jam-packed with useful information--it's like a college course on land management and solid work safety practices. BRAVO!

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

Coolest professor I ever had.

[@HubertofLiege]

This thread is starting to sound like an investment scam. Mr. Wilson has really helped me reach my retirement goals. Now I can help my children and church while living comfortably.🥴

[@jc26041]

I recently purchased a battery pole saw. I went with battery because I will only occasionally use it. I wouldn't want a gas powered saw to sit a round a couple years and then try and start it. My brushless battery powered saw is zero maintenance. This should also be a consideration when purchasing any power equipment. Furthermore I recently purchased a battery powered chain saw. I use a chain saw more frequently, every month or so, but sometimes go several months without using it. I think how often you use a saw important. If the battery saw can do what you need done and you aren't using it to the point you constantly need multiple batteries to get the job done battery powered as an excellent choice.

[@roland985]

My local rescue unit almost always reaches for the Makita electric chainsaws when it comes to tree work. We prefer less noise so more teams can work in an area at once, more safely. But when things get big, we still have the Sthils in the trailers ready to go. Electric stuff is getting there. It's good enough for a lot of people, but for professionals, petrol saws still have the edge in a few key aspects (size, duty cycle, cost) and don't have to worry about noise.

[@calebdoner]

Ive got a battery pole saw. Its not great, but it does the job. Doesn't get the chain speed of a gas saw, but i like how quiet it is. And it is just one less two-stroke engine i have to maintain.

[@greggerstner5599]

I use pole saws for part of my living. For most of those limbs you cut, I would use a manual (gatorade-powered) aluminum telescoping pole saw. I use a Japanese-made ARS, (sold at Stihl dealerships with that name on them). About a 17 inch blade which is re-sharpenable (some skill involved with this) and cuts like buttah. Actually less work than swinging around a full-size gas Stihl for the majority of limbs. I do have the Stihl power pole saw and it is invaluable for larger limbs, especially live oaks. Live oaks are probably the toughest thing we cut and that motorized pole saw might save 45 minutes of climbing for one limb. For work near primary wires, fiberglass is, of course, safer. I had one customer who wanted my opinion on the difference between the Stihl and Echo gas pole saws. His HOA was going to buy one online, never having used one. I put together the Stihl gas model and handed it to him. His arms stretched out towards the ground and immediately that was out of the question. I asked what he wanted to trim? Dead palm fronds. I showed him a manual pole saw and later found him a wooden version with a 10 foot pole. Happy camper. Whatever pole material you might want (wood is still available, and very lightweight), the blade should be the Asian-style curved pull-cut. Those blades leave western-style saws in the dust. Depending on what you get, they might be impulse-hardened or not, and the "not" will be re-sharpenable with a "feather" file. Something to consider and thanks again for great videos.

[@pfsmith01]

Dao of chainsaw. "Don't mess with another man's chain". Your wisdom should be written down for the generations...

[@scottalpine]

Usually given the choice the gas powered saw is my go to. However I’m really starting to like the battery saws more and more. They are fantastic for the really quick jobs like removing downed trees on forest roads and doing some quick home owner jobs. It’s so convenient just grabbing the battery saw and not having to worry about bringing mixed gas especially during the summer months.

[@JakeAho]

I have quite a few dewalt 20v tools, so this is why I got the dewalt pole saw and it has a hedge trimmer attachment. Lots of diseased beech sprouts here and the hedge trimmer gets the small ones and I use the pole saw for the ones the hedge trimmer can't get. Saves bending over with a chainsaw!

[@alittleofthisandalittleofthat]

This is what I do for bushes. I have a Sthil FS 110 trimmer with the bike handle. I’ve used their cutter blades but they are so so. Now the last few years I take a 7 1/4” circular saw blade. And drill out the hole of the blade with a step drill to fit the trimmer head. I then mount it and away I go cutting bushes close to the ground as not to puncture tractor tires.

[@kenbrown2808]

just keep in mind that modified circular saw blade is only rated to spin at half the RPMs your trimmer spins it at.

[@alittleofthisandalittleofthat]

@@kenbrown2808 thank you for the concern. I wear saw chaps and boots, and chainsaw hard hat with face shield. I don’t rev it too high. I cut mostly thorn bushes and newer growth the size of my thumb and smaller.

[@hoogabooga9736]

i have a honda bicycle trimmer with factory saw blade attachment. the pole snapped at the connection of the gear box and the blade come falling down in full spin. the pole is too thin to support the weight and torque of using it like that.

[@michaelmckeag960]

This episode caught my attention and interest. For the past couple weeks or so I’ve been spending every morning (while it is cool and I’m still fired with ambition) pruning dead limbs (ladder fuels) in our forest with an electric chainsaw (Stihl MSA 120C) for lower limbs and pole saw (Stihl HTA50) for upper. It has turned out to be a productive combination. I would not use a gas-powered tool in our forest this time of year. The electric options make it possible, as well as quieter and more convenient. We likewise deal with Oregon white oak root and stump sprout brush. I’ve tried brush blades on our gas-powered trimmers with disappointing results. Getting down with the electric chainsaw has been more productive. I’ve tried with the pole saw. While working standing upright is easier on my body, it’s harder to keep the saw chain from biting dirt. A better brush blade for the weed trimmers would be preferred (our trimmers are bicycle handle style, hung from full shoulder harness). In any case, I’d rather work in the woods than work out in a gym any day.

[@HubertofLiege]

First thing I learned about the pole saw was the limbs slide down the saw right at you. Fires from chainsaws start from the muffler pressing against moss or duff when making felling cuts. It will smolder and then flame up later.

[@erlendgreulichfrontierbigw218]

Love your no nonsense style. I use circular clearing saw attachments for my weed whackers. They cut like butter.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Thanks Mr. Wilson and you’re right, I was on my couch doing exactly what you described. Top consideration for using battery power may be reducing your exposure to the portable ICE exhaust. Good idea to minimize exposure to the benzene, carbon monoxide, etc, etc produced by those little engines.

[@rogerjustice8835]

I have a 120 volt plug in pole saw I use around my property, I’ve had it for several years now with no issues. To use it I set my 2000 watt generator in my cushman truckster and carry a cord to plug it in . The saw telescopes to 15 feet to reach tall branches. I bought it around 10 years ago and I use it a couple times a year to trim back low hanging limbs and scrub brush. I’ve also used it to cut down multi floral rose bushes and thick black berry briers. It also gives me a chance to exercise my generator to keep it in top shape, when I bought it ti was on sale for $69. It’s definitely been money well spent. Love your channel

[@saltymofo5870]

Try the stihl round blade with the teeth that you file with a round saw file, best I’ve ever used. They will lop off a 2” diameter bush instantly. Keep it wide open and swing it pretty fast on stuff less than 2”, and you can saw down bigger stuff as well

[@CharlesJones-wi7tz]

I bought a cheapy Greenworks battery polesaw a few years back. It has been reliable, tough and paid for itself a dozen times over.

[@350zcoug]

Look at the mulching bars for the ground stuff. They work slick.

[@SimonHergott]

The Stihl HT 56c is a really decent pole saw. Far lighter than that one you have there and is a fixed 9 feet long. I use it for fire-safe work, pruning large treatment units. You can go all day cutting hundreds of trees and it's not all that draining compared to using those heavier ones.

[@almightykaroshi]

where i live we don't usually use a chainsaw for clearing brush but use a strimmer with a circular or triangular blade wich are decided for the type of strimmer.

[@keithwhittington1322]

Putting all the comparisons aside, the woods sure look nice afterwards.

[@changingground]

As an arborist, I use a battery Husqvarna pole saw nearly every day. Infinitely better than the Stihl gas powered version we also have. And it extends to twice its length. Since we also run Husky battery powered top-handled chainsaws, we’ve already invested in the battery platform. I suspect the saw you were testing is more of the homeowner version, as the lack of extension and delay is not evident in the tools I use.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Good eye! It is just a homeowner class Combi unit, with the pole-saw attachment on it that I wanted to use to help introduce Mr. Wilson to battery power, since he has such a big following. I’m working my way up to the class of saws you’re running, as I have been surprised by how productive and convenient battery power can be, even with the cheapo versions. I have my eye on the 542i XP for my next saw. Have you ever used one?

[@KarelDusik]

A powerful brush cutter with a blade is best for young trees and bushes. A brush cutter is faster than a saw and you don't have to worry about cleaning the chain and saw, and if you hit a stone or a metal post, nothing bad usually happens. I use a Stihl FS461

[@ronaldrhatigan7652]

I like the hedge trimmer attachment of my Stihl string trimmer for cutting blackberries and hardwood sprouts.

[@andysmith8544]

Interesting Stihl set ups you have. We're using the Stihl KM131R (Kombi) with the pole saw attachment and an extension if necessary. It's heavy, and not well balanced, and even more unbalanced if the extension is on. Your set ups look more balanced. The Kombi's versatility is beneficial for us, but I can see the benefit of a tool designed for one purpose. That being said, I'm using the Kombi at the orchard, mostly as a string trimmer to control weeds in the rows. The pole saw is too crude for pruning the orchard, that requires hand work with bypass loppers and secateurs.

[@mikeparker556]

Thanks!

[@WilsonForestLands]

👍

[@BJ-hh1tk]

Cool video. I hate the fat chain that husqvarna puts on the pole saws. The stihl chains are way better in my opinion. I swapped my pole saw over to a 1/4 in pitch chain and like it much better.

[@Northland11899]

That gas powered rig is nice. I went with the Milwaukee m18 with 4' extention. There's lots one can say about battery power but I found the speed/torque on an m18 to be instantaneous. Like I've seen on yours and other sites, there's no need to Rev the electric with every cut. Just pull the trigger and have it. Plus the brush cutter attachment with carbide blade is great for brush removal up to 2-3" at grade.

[@googacct]

I have had a big echo gas pruner for several years. It does the job, but is a bit heavy. A few years ago I had bought a Dewalt electric pruner. It was okay for cutting green branches, but pretty much useless for cutting dry dead branches similar to what was being cut in this video. The saw would continually stall out. So I want back to the gas pruner. Thought I will try the trick of turning the blade sideways to see if the saw is any more useful for trimming scrub brush.

[@kenbrown2808]

I have a saw bladed wheel for my brush cutter, and it has the advantage that it won't throw the chain when it's cutting brushy stuff, but I'm not pleased with how it cuts in heavier stuff. I think it's the way the teeth are sharpened, but I haven't had time to customize the grind. in the interim, I've gone back to the classic wheel.

[@arnoldpraesent174]

I use a mulching blade for a brush cutter - works like a charm for almost everything which grows on ground up to a diameter for 1,5cm - if it gets to grassy a 3 star blade is better. Mulching blade is incresible fast and it cuts things down as well so it decomposes better/faster. Just my experience...

[@wildandliving]

Milwaukee makes a power head that does pole saw brush cutter string trimmer ect. I used the 3 inch brush cutter it worked well for stuff up to a pinky thickness. String works better for grass stuff

[@phoenixsawyer9796]

Looks like it's my next purchase, I've needed one of these for a long time.

[@waterbourne9282]

I've got the Stihl Combi system with the KM94 engine. It's the commercial quality 2-Mix 50:1 premix stratified combustion one as opposed to the 4-Mix 131 you have there. It is lower power but quite adequate but importantly 0.4kg lighter which is one of my criteria, economical, and simpler without the 4 stroke valve train etc which can be problematic. The last one ran for ten years looking after five domestic properties using the many attachments I have and it never missed a beat- original plug, air cleaner etc. I replaced it with the same. With the Combi I have the pole saw attachment and the one metre carbon fibre extension which makes it a lighter unit also when I don't need the length. While I see other brands offering in these systems have some advantages over the Combi, overall I am very happy with it. and the flexibility of one only engine takes up less space and less cost.

[@romanstingler435]

You should definitely give STIHL Brush cut blade a try. There is a video on KZbin called "Best Brush Cutter Blades for String Trimmers - Complete Guide - Review, Tests and Demonstration!"

[@lostmoose9994]

There is a powertool in Europe which climbs up the tree (*spiraling up). You wrap it around the tree, press start and it cuts off the limbs until it comes back down Forgot the name of it, but its been on the market since the 90ies

[@shanemillard608]

Do you ever treat your stumps to prevent sprouting? I'm not crazy about using herbicide. Do you have any information on managing invasive plants like honeysuckle, autumn olive, etc?

[@snort455]

I have a commercial hand powered pole saw. Sometimes power is better, but mostly I prefer the light weight of my hand saw.

[@ratfarmers]

I can use my stihl pole saw all day long with the full harness holding all the weight of the tool. You should try one of the mulch blades in your wacker that looks like like a wing because they whoop everything like saplings and blackberries.

[@Sawbucs]

I'll stick with my forester brush blade on my stihl MS 91 for cutting brush. Works like a chainsaw. Only time it wont cut is when the cutters are dull like a normal chainsaw.

[@chowtimewithruss1411]

Once again a info packed and highly entertaining video. Great job!

[@DutchBatNL]

like your funny story telling flavour in your videos 😀👍🏻

[@CharlesJones-wi7tz]

August Hunicke swears by the Milwaukee one.

[@gregorymacneil2836]

Would a proper Clearing Saw be interesting to try against the pole saw? My best guess is that cordless power tools will become the standard in North America.

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

Please Wood-Mizer get him the right parts fast! 😁🤣 Just kidding Michael. I've always thought the sparks from the bar/chain were more of the hazard too. I am also careful about putting a hot gas chainsaw down on the dry leaf litter, especially my 'little' saws that have the muffler tip practically on the bottom of the saw.

[@richardbrowne1679]

For me- Gas because I already own a Stihl Kombi system head.

[@c0rr4nh0rn]

perhaps it is just me, but I always feel like the current state of battery vs. gas is mostly going to be about how much you need/want the tool to run. Batteries seem ideal for occasional use saws where you are doing occasional project work (taking down a couple trees or cleaning out brush). This would be doubly true for tools that can share batteries with other power tools (you can choose your own color, but getting extra batteries for "free" with your new saw matters a lot in my opinion for cases where I am dealing with my own trees. I don't want to deal with getting/mixing gas and dealing with a noisy vibration heavy tool to deal with the random tree that fell over.

[@Mike40M]

I use a clearing saw many days a year clearing bushes. To me, using a pole saw for that sounds stupid. Both for efficiency and ergonomics. For me, branch cutting with a battery pole saw works well. If not used in freezing temperatures. Here in Sweden, early branch cutting gives better price for timber used for plywood. They can use more of the log.

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Pole saws are great until they get pinched way up in the canopy. We’ve got big gnarly limbs here on the east cost. Doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’ll leave you cussing.

[@PaulHodgson-gm6lg]

The wood that acrues after is clear

[@LiveFreeOrRIP]

You are awesome man... A true woodsmen one day I hope to be. And you are doing a great job at making videos!!

[@hobbyfarmer62]

Wish my pole saw was cordless like yours, been wondering if the battery ones were heavier or liter than the gas ones. Thanks for the info, looked like the battery one is slower than the gas.. Hate the polesaws over all though the make my shoulders and back hurt after a bit.. "better balanced" ?. Making coasters there at the end were you?

[@lawrencelewis1036]

The round chisel blade will work much better on those sprouts, and even bigger stuff.

[@Token_Civilian]

From what I could tell, either looks like a perfectly good pole saw. I could see advantages to either, depending on circumstances. In re those oak suckers, we've found on the trail crew that a Stihl brush cutter with the limit stop kit and 7 1/4" blade (a real carbide equipped circular saw blade, not the house brand chisel tooth, triangle brush blade or grass blade)) does wonders on huckleberry and small trees along side the trail here in the PNW. Up to 1" fir saplings are cut in short order (fraction of a second) when one has the saw spooled up to full power, especially with a mid range saw like a 240 vs a smaller saw like a 110 which is only slightly slower. The inertia of a full speed blade and power train carries the cut out very quickly. Slightly larger trees will take a bit more time as the engine has to power through the second half of the cut. For stuff from above thumb size and down, it's just a buzzing or zipping sound as you swing the blade through the material to cut. The full harness and bicycle handlebars make for comfortable operation.

[@DanielAtkinsFirewood]

Every tool has a purpose.😉👍

[@stephenstarr6388]

For battery powered saws .. remember that the saw uses almost no power when it is spinning freely without the load of cutting. Just hold down the switch between cuts cause you are using very little of the battery charge. The battery discharges the most when accelerating up to speed from zero and when doing actual cutting.

[@geneplummer-jg4en]

wonder what the ratio of fires is for gas versus battery tools , i been using a gas saw my whole life and aint never 1 time had a fire started by one at the same time i've had several battery tools catch fire from dropping them or overloading them at work

[@roland985]

I would say it depends on the vendor of the battery tools. A good brand like Makita or Husky have well protected batteries. Chinese garbage won't be a safe.

[@tree_carcass_mangler]

That's a good point.

[@geneplummer-jg4en]

@@roland985 i dont use chinesium , just smoked a dewalt drill 3 weeks ago , got so hot i dropped it in a bucket of water , salvaged the battery tho

[@16m49x3]

​@@roland985 You sure their batteries aren't made in China too?

[@roland985]

@@16m49x3 Generally South Korea, Japan, Vietnam are where quality cells are made. But I'm sure there are decent fabs in china too, but I'm talking about the fire rate for crap chinese garbage batteries in e-scooters, temu drills, and in counterfeit tools.

[@xxsebaxx2018]

i notice you hit the branches like if you using a machete is ok to hit the branches that way ?

[@robintaylor-mockingeemill8223]

I use a brush saw with a three pronged cutter . Looks like a big throwing star . The thing is very thick steel and is not sharp , however it destroys woody brush , raspberry cane and tall grass like its nobody's business . It is a stihl product .

[@WillamWeaver]

8 have both, find the gas one has better balance

[@Mightycaptain]

Brush hog is what you may need. Not sure if you have something that has a pto.

[@paintnamer6403]

i have the EGO with 3' extebsion and it is great.

[@kenwinschel5785]

Why don't you like white oak?

[@dougdinsmore9751]

Blacktail love forage in that oak shortbrush. Just saying.

[@Gordon_L]

There's a video on August Hunickes' channel called Pole saw race ! Who will win . It compares a Stihl and a Husky both gas and a Milwaukee battery powered , the battery unit was way faster . I'll reply with a link , sometimes they are allowed , other times not , we'll see . I have a DeWalt homeowner grade Pole saw , it's sufficient for my needs , I have other tools as well to share batteries.

[@phoenixsawyer9796]

Thanks for the Demo....

[@littlehills]

15:00 coz no battery catches fire and in a rush over heating it in summer rushing to get the job done running it dead flat 1/2 charging running skeptic

[@rg86er]

The most important thing about a pole saw is that it is near impossible to cut yourself.

[@davidedwards3734]

One of the thing i really dislike about battery-operated equipment, if we forget to put them away after each use, yes, it happens. They don't like getting wet!!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day

[@daniellassander]

I will say that for me the biggest difference is how easy it is to pick up the electric one for a quick fix compared to the gas powered one, and i dont mean that it weighs less. For the gas powered one you need infrastructure around it, you need gas and a place to store it because they tend to stink a bit. The elctrical one not to the same degree, you can keep it indoors in a closet leaning against the wall for a year and then when summer comes around again just charge the battery and go out cutting things down that needs cutting down. For the gas powered one you have to check the gasoline and the oil and maybe the sparkplug too, and the pull may have deteriorated so you need to fix that one as well, and because it sat at an angle the carborator and cyliner is flooded with gas so it wont start easily. So the major difference between them is maintenance and ease of use after a season when it havent been in use and you can store it under the bed and it wont stink up your bedroom, and it doesnt stink up your clothes either but whichever you use you will need a shower. Its the everything around the saw that is the major difference.

[@patrickjoy9551]

I would really like to see the stats on fires started by gas powered tools. This seems to be a governmental caused problem so they can come up with more government regs to "fix" the problems they have caused.

[@pleinairbarnettoutdoors]

Thank you for sharing

[@MA-ti5gl]

I sure prefer not having the exhaust pointing at my face when holding the pole saw from the rear handle.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

To me that’s the #1 issue. Very unhealthy compounds in exhaust. Especially small engine exhaust.

[@bennichols1113]

Gas. But if you have an EPV the hydraulic saws are great. And they keep your hands warm.

[@adamhauskins6407]

Battery for light and easy work Gas for real work

[@christopherleblanc9599]

i have a whole line of tools with the same battery , trimmer, chain saw and lawn mower, so when i go help friends on their property management play time, i get to play too, that said they always ask me to bring my battery's x3 and the chain saw, ,,, we use a stihl gas to drop the trees, and buck the log, then we break out the electric battery saw to limb the rest for fire wood , electric beats gas hands down for limbing , so much lighter and the instant off on feature and low noise lets close in work as a team , rather then needing to wait till the cutter are done limbing with a gas model , the secret too battery saws is let the chain do the work and do not try pushing the blade through the log, you just bog the saw and drain the battery with out any progress , , we regularly cut 10" or better with the electric in very hard woods as well as soft woods ,,, and by the time you run down a battery ,your due for a break already any how , so saw gets too cool for 5 min too , then swap out battery and repeat, while the dead one is put too charge a new , ,,, really only need 2 , but i prefer to allow the battery too cool after charging before use, they seem to shut off due to over heating (safety feature) if you don't ,thus the 3 battery's , , ,, add you do not need gas or mix oil ,,, they are cheap too run , and i prefer the thick winter style chain lube , as the oilier seems to leak with the thinner chain oil when not in use, ,,, we cut atleast 30 full cords with my saw and the blade is like new still, while the chain got sharpened and replaced several times while clearing due to rock and barbed wire strike or dirty logs ,on my second chain only because a friend tried to file it and changed the geometry of the teeth , so it was a bugger to resharpen and it left uneven teeth ware , so i opted for a new chain , so i can feel your aggeny of do i touch another mans chain , 🤓🥸,Canada

[@snort455]

you can reach a lot higher with a hand powered pole saw

[@lpeterman]

I enjoy telling folks who visit our property about being an "Electric Tree Farm"; but I do find the attacks from the entrenched gasoline-users to be wearing. There are so many reasons to go Battery/Electric, but, for me, it's all about noise and fumes: Gasoline power has both, Battery, not so much. ('m sure the thumbs-down crowd will launch immediately.) Cheers from (a currently misty) Linn County

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Sounds like my cup of tea 👍

[@lpeterman]

@@ElectricDanielBoone 😁

[@jeanvaljohn3921]

Thanks Dan from dlw oregon

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Thank you for the acknowledgment 👍

[@hosocat1410]

I personally like battery equipment. But if the envirocrats are worried about fires, I've never heard of an unattended gas powered saw spontaneously combusting. You can't say the same about li-on battery equipment.

[@jefff6167]

😂

[@archstanton_live]

So, perhaps, If you are partial to 2-strokes, (there is more beef there). If you are partial to the benefits of electrics (less carbon emissions, less oil pollution, less maintenance, easier storage in the winter, and if you don't use it much) you might prefer the electric if you can afford it.

[@rochrich1223]

You'd be lucky if the battery would still hold a charge after three years and it just hurts my cheap soul to spend another $150-200 on a replacement. A new carburetor on the gas saw might go $75-$100 with good odds you won't need a new one. The cost of gas might be a factor, but using the battery continuously would require having a second battery.

[@71cromag]

English is tuff!

[@saltrock9642]

We spend 12 years of our young lives learning how to speak our own language. Takes 2 years to learn French or Spanish. I ain’t understanding all I know about dat.

[@sydrider6023]

😁

[@ChitFromChinola]

I’ve gone all-in electric. I find that when I replace gas stuff with electric, my life gets better.

[@msg4141]

So the battery powered one is more balanced than the other one? 😂😂

[@bard44]

You're gonna be all day clearing brush that way. Better use the tractor.

[@shangrilaladeda]

Whichever has the longest reach

[@thesurfboard602]

Come on my

[@allon33]

My electric Makita 18" pole saw is way better.

[@winstonsizemore2385]

Gas is better because you can keep working all day, batteries are going to die unless you have an infinite amount of batteries charged you can't work all day. Clickbait completely

[@christopherleblanc9599]

another great option is a hand held electric pruning chain saw , for hand work it just requires more bending , great for rocky areas ,vines , alders ,or even fruit tree pruning , easier to reach the in facing branches , made like i silkivk hand pull saw but it a rotary chain instead of the pull blade on a similar handle , while these are deigned for small diameter cuts there lightness and ease of use make up for their small size 🥸🤓,Canada