Handsaw vs pole saw on tight oaks, do you switch mid-climb?

Been climbing residential oaks around Austin for about 4 years now, and I keep going back and forth on my cut choice for deadwood in tight canopies. Last month, I had a huge water oak with branches all tangled together, and my handsaw was the only thing that made sense for about half the cuts. But then I hit a stretch where I could reach with my 10 foot pole saw from a better anchor point, and it went twice as fast, no question. The problem is the pole saw feels clumsy when you're balanced on a limb and need a precise flush cut, and the handsaw wears out my shoulder after a few hours. I tried switching mid-job on a live oak last week, using the pole saw for the big stuff and the handsaw for the cleanup, and it felt smoother, but I'm not sure if I was just having a good day. Does anyone else stick to one tool for whole removals, or do you mix it up based on the tree? I'm curious if there's a rule of thumb for when to put the pole saw down for good.

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1 Comment

finleyfox25d ago

Ha! Sounds like you're overthinking this more than the tree is. Just grab whichever tool is closest and quit second-guessing yourself, your shoulder will thank you either way.

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