Looks like a pair of shears with an electric chainsaw built into, & guarded by, the jaws. Just got one of these as it looked like a handy addition to the armoury. Not dissapointed. If you have loads of branches (up to 4 inchs thick) to cut, then this is ideal. The jaws hold the wood firmly while the chain does the cutting; none of that nasty flicking of branches that you get when you try to take a regular chainsaw to loose wood of this size. No, I don't work for Black & Decker If you cut very thin twigs with it, they tend to get jammed in the hinge area & are a pain to hook out. Time will tell how tough it is in the long run.
Been thinking about one of these Tortuosa as they look like they bridge the gap between loppers and the chainsaw. What sort of price are they? Want to use them for branches that come off the trees at work.
I rented one to cut thinnish wood (1-4"), but it dodn't have the jaws you mention, just the reciprocating saw blades. It was completely useless,quite heavy, and was made by Bosch.
Cant beat a good bowsaw, uses a bit of muscle, but its light, and if sharp cuts quickly. Just keep a new blade handy.
Beefy, there's already something that bridges that gap - a good pruning saw!! I have a really nice one http://www.silkysaws.com/zubat330lt.htm I don't fancy the idea of an electric near-chainsaw, Tortuosa, as I don't even like to use electric hedge-clippers. I appreciate they may well be lighter than the petrol-driven alternatives, but I don't like blades and cables near each other.
Does that cut on the back stroke Dendy? Those pruning saws that cut backwards always seem a bit alien to me, the effort tends to go into the forward stroke I think. Pulling is not so easy.
Yes! It was Lady Gardener who recommended them to me. A really nice one to use, and the sheath is very practical, with a belt attachment that unclips very conveniently too. I keep it hung up in my van by this attachment, and unclip it to use as and when needed.
Agree with Dendy (again). Love pruning saws, I have used ARS felco ones, Husqvarna, and now a sliding Wilkinson Sword effort. All are great. Pete, you have to cut on the backstroke otherwise the blade will snap on a snag or a twist. Its like hacksaw blades; they're great on the hacksaw, but if you need to poke the blade through a hole and do some fiddly stuff, you have to take it off the frame and use it as a pull saw or your blade is immediately bent. Actually I find it easier on the backstroke as well...
If the blade is ridgid enough it will cut on the forward stroke, most handsaws for cutting timber cut on the forward stroke, and dry timber is harder than green timber. The reason a hacksaw blade has to be used the wrong way round is because its not designed to be used out of the frame. The Japanese seem to do most things different to how we do, although I must admit pruning saws have always been backwards, just never could understand why.
Yes that is exactly what it does, cost about �£100. I'll still use a hand saw for for most pruning but when one has a pile of light branches on the ground, this is much quicker & easier than either a hand saw or a larger chainsaw.
Thats exactly what I want it for Tortuosa.As the wind snaps the smaller branches off the trees I use the loppers to remove the small bits and then put them in a pile . Now that I have a good size pile it sounds like the job for cutting them up. Thanks for the info Have a pruning saw but not the easiest to use when one end of the branch isn't in the ground :D
Long armed one!! That's what you need, Beefy! http://www.carryongardening.org.uk/page02_1_3.asp#Extending_tree_pruner_systems or a ladder.....
