What are your preferances in poles?

At this time I buy 8ft basswood sections, because their cheap (UPS won't ship longer sections) and when they break i can cut 'em down more often, and reuse the feruls.

I have a few fiberglass peices, but their heavier and dont seem much stiffer. and their a pain to repair (if at all possible) so the get kept for when the dielectric is a necessity.

Reply to post by John S, on February 27, 1999 at 15:47:07:

I like to use 6 ft. sections. I gave up making 8 ft. or longer out of closet pole stock because I am tired. I like the wood poles for aerial pruning, like you, due to light weight.
I buy yellow glass poles now also. Again, 6 footers. For use from the ground. Also, I love the 16 ft. glass pole, to which I attach either heavy duty saw, heavy duty pruner, or lighter duty pruner.
Also, I have a pike pole end (from Buckingham catalogue) to snap in when I want to push trees over.
I stow the 6 ft. stuff in a plastic pipe stuck to the truck, with drain holes, behind the cab.
The long pole is bungeed onto the extension ladder.
I believe it is no longer worth changing ferrules onto poles like you mentioned, because I ran out of that sort of energy about one year ago. If I had a mechanic type person, it would still make sense.
In New Mexico we used to use telescoping aluminum poles made for putting nets on the end and (I assume) cleaning swimming pools. Stay away from wires, and it is an excellent tool. Just have to adapt the heads onto it. I see there are fiberglass poles made for painters. Have thought about the adaptation. I know there are homeowner grade telescopics already, but as a child I found they were not up to it. Maybe some are now, have you noticed? I mean, there is the Power Pruner, right?
Peter

Reply to post by John S, on February 27, 1999 at 15:47:07:

It's been 15 years (tomorrow!) since we sold our tree care operation, but we equipeed our crews with the tools they felt most productive with. As I recall they almost all preferred single piece, 12 or 14 ft, wooden poles with the head (saw or pruner) permanently attached to the pole.

1) wood is lighter than fiberglass.
2) the sectional poles tend to wobble at the joint when making saw cuts (same for snap in heads).
3) if the pole is used at arm's length it often helps to support the weight of the pole by resting it on a limb or in a crotch. The sectional ferrules tend to catch and use up energy otherwise going to the cut.

This was in NY & CT w/ most of the work done in large, spreading trees. We did have sectional poles (or sawed off broken ones) available for crews working on ornamentals when the long poles would be cumbersome. We tried a switch to fiberglass, thinking there would be less breakage and found they sat in the shop unused if wood was available because of the weight issue. It was cheaper just to buy and use wood, replacing as needed.

Reply to post by Peter Torres, on February 27, 1999 at 15:47:07:

Ya'll confirmed/reenforced my veiws, wood is best. I like 'em longer too, like Scott said, less flex, but UPS only ships to 8ft.

I used a PowerPruner today, rental unit. Big condo job, raising abnd building clearance. It is a labor saver, if your not too particular about rough cuts. Alot more frayed edges than if I pulled a saw or climed up with the 20T.

Reply to post by John S, on February 27, 1999 at 15:47:07:

What's the best wood for poles? Is hemlock beter than basswood....