[Path-list] Grant Money - Weedeaters & Pole Saw?

[Greg Weaver]

Steve certainly does good homework! I Always learn something when Steve gets ahold of something new. Thanks, Mr. Lund !!!!
OR, alternatively ...... buy a couple of good quality hand operated pole saws (with lopper and saw blades) and use them from a distance on hawthorne trees. Same result as a powered pole pruner at less cost with negligible maintenance and a lighter tool for carrying around. The first few cuts on a hawthorne tree can be frustrating because the saw seems to get hung up quite easily. But, once a few branches are gone, it gets easier. 
We seem to have annual discussions about power equipment maintenance challenges for tools (saws and weedeaters) that are not personally maintained by an individual. Adding more power tools to the PATH inventory? Hmmm ..... not my decision.
Until we have a person dedicated to tool barn operations and equipment and tool maintenance (Chris is the closest we have to that - Thanks !!!, Chris), that will be a never-ending challenge. It is a thankless assignment with lots of gnashing of teeth while working on  tools that are used and abused by occasional users.
My $0.02 cents as well ......

====================
Greg S. WeaverMocksville, NC 27028EMA = nchome at aol.com
Cell = 336-918-3455
(Sent from my Laptop)====================

-----Original Message-----
From: steve lund via Path-list <path-list at path-at.org>
To: PATH List <path-list at path-at.org>
Sent: Tue, Oct 12, 2021 4:37 pm
Subject: [Path-list] Grant Money - Weedeaters & Pole Saw?

Hello,
I think that PATH is planning on purchasing a couple of FS131 (bike handlebar) weedeaters with the grant funds.
PATH may also want to consider adding a pole pruner/saw to its arsenal. I can see that one of these could be useful in clearing overhead hanging limbs along the trail. However, they may be more useful in helping to eradicate hawthorne from fields and places like Chestnut Ridge. Hawthorne is just NASTY with thorny limbs all the way to the ground effectively blocking a sawyer. A pole saw could be used to limb the tree from a distance to allow the sawyer access to the trunk. Josh bought one of these for ATC and had it up on Chestnut last October. You might contact him to see what he thinks about the usefulness of having one of these in the tool arsenal.
There are several ways to get one of these in PATHs arsenal with varying cost as follows:
1. Buy a dedicated pole pruner HT131.
2. Buy the pole saw gearbox and swap it out on one of the FS131 weedeaters as required. I am pretty sure that you can do this but have not verified. This worked with the older series of weedeaters. The cheapest way to get the saw head may be to just buy the Konbi tool and remove the Kombi shaft. You'll have to check the pricing. This was true with the older series. Swapping tools will require a T27 torx wrench which you should get with the tool anyway.
3. Buy a Kombi KM131 and a separate weedeater head and a separate pole saw head. This may be the most expensive option but you get 2 tools. The drawback is that without the bike handlebars Stihl doesn't recommend metal blades on the weedeater attachment. The Kombi quick connect system also adds some weight to the package which isn't there on the other two options.

All of these tools use basically the same powerhead, the 131 engine, with varying attachments and attachment systems. 

My $.02,Steve-- 
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