Question: tree branch trimmer
 

I have a trimmer from Home Depot, which was ok for a while. Then handles break. I weld 2 metal pipe to it. Then later the bushing (shock?) smashed. Then the nut to hold the blades smashed .

Then I got the one from Harborfreight. It has the click click while cutting, which sounds great. Everything bent on the first used (I was trying to cut the palm leave/branch).

Which one do you guys get that can last?

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pro...13873f_400.jpg

Chainsaw. If a lopper won't cut it, it is in the range of a chainsaw.

I've used the same pair for over 20 years. Green plastic coated aluminum handles, extendable, anvil (replaceable) type.
Can't find a name on them, only made in Taiwan, and the patent # for the extension locking mechanism.

fwiw, all the ratchet types are toys, both the pruning shears and the loping shears.
Bill K

Sawzall.....

Felco.

Carter

I'm sold on this also. Sawzall with a pruning blade is branch trimming weapon.

Ars and Corona make a good line of loppers.

Some pruning jobs require a different approach though and a saw is also very handy, as has been mentioned. I used all kinds but for a hand saw it's hard to beat a fixed handle Corona razortooth saw.

Löwe Curved Anvil Loppers - Lee Valley Tools

Professional Bypass Loppers - Lee Valley Tools

I finally said the heck wid loppers, plus I needed a pole saw to prune higher up, and around the pond where the bank is craggy and hard to get to. I went straight to the top of the heap and bought a Stihl HT 131. You gotta eat your Wheaties before you fire that monster up. Major upper body workout due to the weight. Very nice saw though.

Fiskers used to make a good pair of loppers.

I use a pruning blade in my Ryobi ONE+ 18V reciprocating saw:

Ryobi 18-Volt One+ Cordless Reciprocating Saw (Tool-Only)-P514 - The Home Depot

It's light, reasonably powerful, and no cords = easier to use overhead & while on a ladder.

A quick tip: pruning many types of palm (especially those with narrower frond stalks like sago and fan palms) can be done with a lopper if you attempt it while the fronds are still green/live. Trimming palms once the fronds have died/dried/hardened is nearly impossible without a saw.

I use a pole chainsaw.

I always laughed at electric chainsaws until I bought one. It snaps onto the pole if you want to extend it. POS for a hundred bucks but great for the couple of times a year that I need it.

I have a Fiskars loper. Got it on sale for about $22. Has the handle extensions. Anything over 1.5 inches I use a saw.

Fiskars, several nice models. If you figure out how to break it, there is a warranty. Nice tools.

Thanks for lot of info guys. I have the battery reciprocating was but for branches (on the tree) and queen palm branch/leaves already down on the floor, I thought/hope to cut it with the hand trimmer (pic above). It's much easy because you have to jam/hold the branches tight to use saw.
Anyway, I will try home depot and lowes Fiskar and airsoch before I change my trimming/cutting style.
Thanks guys.

i bought one of those manual saw trimmers on a pole from home depot. thats the cats A$$ for hi limbs. they sell 2, one with a whimpy blade and one that is pretty radical looking. get the more expensive one.

i think my cutter like the the one in the pic had more of a curve to the blade. it works really well and i have had it a long time.

I buy old tools at yard sales
so likely these are not made any more

I have a chain geared ratchet cutter very heavy duty and heavy weight
but it will cut anything inc oak with a few strokes

another tool I mis-use is a cable/heavy wire cutter
f/g handles and curved blades opens to about 2'' gap
likely a power co lineman tool
but anything that can fit in the 2''gap gets cut

+1....probably overkill for the OP, but I wouldn't take 2x what I paid for mine if I couldn't replace it. It's the 4th Stihl in my arsenal and simply a beast...how I ever lived without it is a head scratcher now ;)

+2
I still have my HT75 - the earlier version of the HT131.
I use it to keep orange tree branches off my roof, etc. Priceless tool!
.
When cutting Palm trees or their branches be certain to thoroughly wash the tool after.
Palm tree juice will eat anything if left on the tool...including chainsaw cases.
Ask me how I know. :(