Chain Saw vs. Pole Saw: Which One is Right for You

Two of the most popular tools for cutting trees are the chainsaw and the pole saw. While they’re both versatile power tools, choosing the most appropriate saw for the job is best determined by what you need to cut.

Brad Barthorpe, Sales Manager – Distributors Africa for Husqvarna South Africa, shares how to choose the perfect saw for the job. “Traditionally, chainsaws were only used by farmers and tree fellers, but today’s homeowners use them for anything from cutting firewood to felling trees and building wooden fences,” says Barthorpe. “While chainsaws and pole saws are both powerful, easy to handle, and will get the job done, you should select your saw based on what you plan to use it for most often. A chainsaw is best for heavy-duty work like cutting large trees and thick logs at eye level; a pole saw will do the trick for precision pruning, like cutting twigs, branches, or other vegetation in hard-to-reach, higher places,” he explains.

Similarities

• Single purpose: Unlike other types of saws, which have different blades that can be used for cutting a range of materials, chainsaws and pole saws are exclusively designed for cutting trees, branches, and vegetation.
• Energy sources: Both have motors and are either petrol, battery or electric-powered.

• Chains:Both use specialised chains with cutting teeth that rotate around a guide bar to cut through wood.

• Handheld: Both are handheld tools, meaning that they cannot be fixed to a table or any type of base when in use.

Differences

• Handle:A pole saw has a long handle, allowing the user to cut and trim branches in places that can’t be reached with a chainsaw. A chainsaw, on the other hand, has a short, fixed handle, making it ideal for tasks close to your body, such as cutting trees or logs at eye level.
• Weight:A chainsaw is much heavier, as it is designed to cut thicker pieces of wood. Pole saws need to be lightweight so operators can lift them to cut the branches above their heads. This means that pole saws are also longer than chainsaws.
• Blade:Generally, a chainsaw will have a larger/longer blade than a pole saw, which enables it to cut thicker pieces of wood. Choose a chainsaw for cutting down trees and a pole saw for trimming smaller branches between 25cm and 40cm thick.
• Power:A chainsaw is bigger and generally more powerful than a pole saw.
• Application:Chainsaws are versatile tools that can be used for tasks such as cutting down trees, slicing logs, and trimming branches at ground level. Pole saws, on the other hand, are specifically designed for superior reach, balance, and performance, making them ideal for cutting branches high up in trees.
• Safety:While cutting yourself is the biggest safety risk when operating a chainsaw, falling branches are the primary concern when using a pole saw.
• Price: Depending on the make and model you choose, chainsaws are slightly more cost-effective than pole saws.

“Regardless of whether you’re a farmer, forester or simply an avid gardener, when choosing which saw suits your needs best, it is important to look at the tasks you’ll tackle most frequently, and purchase a saw based on those,” Barthorpe concludes.

For more information, please visit https://www.husqvarna.com/zm/  or contact your local dealer.