Every type of cut differs in the type of instrument that does the job best. For example, when cutting pieces of wood you can use the table saw or circular saw depending on the size of the wood and the type of cut to be made. What if you want to cut branches off a tree? Can a circular saw be used for this purpose?
You can’t use a circular saw to cut off tree branches. This is because there are no dedicated circular saw blades that can fulfill the purpose, and the regular blades can’t do it. Also, circular saws lack the balance needed to cut tree branches.
There are many other tools you can use to cut tree branches and the most suitable will depend on the size of the branches. We’ll look at this in detail
Can You Cut Trees Branches With A Circular Saw?
The circular saw is not made for a task
like cutting off tree branches. In contrast, it is perfect for cutting wood, ceramics, and even metals. There are quite a few reasons you can’t use a circular saw to cut tree branches. One of the major reasons is that circular saws aren’t very mobile and you need mobility in any tool you’ll use to cut tree branches.
Furthermore, the blades on circular saws are meant for cutting relatively soft materials like softwood in tree branches.
Tools You Can Use To Cut Tree Branches
There are so many different tools out there that you can use to cut tree branches. The size of the branches of the tree you want to cut will determine the tool that is ideal for the task. Also, the tree height will be quite crucial as not all the tools can be conveniently used to trim tree branches that are raised far up.
Chainsaw
A chain saw is an engine-powered cutting tool that typically features a chain with teeth on it. The cutting chain is attached to a guide bar and the engine powers it to spin. This rotation is what cuts the wood.
The chainsaw is one of the fastest tools you can use for any wood cutting operation, be it trimming branches or even felling trees. There are also electric-powered chainsaws that are even more portable and convenient to use than gas-powered engines.
Reciprocating Saw
Unlike the chainsaw, the reciprocating saw is powered only by electricity. It features a thin saw blade that works by moving back and forth at a fast speed. They are very lightweight and are ideal for cutting slim tree branches as you can easily move up and down the tree with a reciprocating saw.
There are also reciprocating saw blades specifically designed for pruning tree branches. The only issues you could run involve the electric cord that connects the saw to electricity. This might make it quite difficult to use it if there is no electric outlet near the tree. You can overcome this issue by getting a battery-powered reciprocating saw.
Pruning saw
As the name suggests, the pruning saw is made specifically for pruning tree branches. It is the most commonly used tool by arborists, landscapers, gardeners, and the like for trimming dead and live tree branches.
A pruning saw has a curved blade between six to twelve inches long and it is also quite convenient to carry around. Pruning saws are solely hand-powered as you’ll use your effort to cut whatever you want to cut.
The number of teeth on the pruning saw blade, measured in teeth per inch (TPI), varies quite wildly. It ranges from coarse blades which have between 5 to 10 TPI and fine blades which typically have above 11 TP1. Coarse blades are best for trimming fresh branches while fine blades are best for cutting hardwood.
Bow Saw
The bow Saw is another handheld tool that is very good for trimming and pruning tree branches. It features a saw blade that is stretched taut between a bow-like handle.
Nuts and bolts hold the blade in place and the handle can be folded back and forth to tighten and loosen the blade. It, therefore, is quite easy to replace the blade on a bow Saw.
Bow saws are often faster than pruning saws for cutting tree branches because they can cut both when you are pulling and pushing the blade. However, they are not as convenient, especially in tight spaces.
Pole Saw
The best description of a pole saw is that it is a trimming saw that is attached to the end of a pole like a phone is attached to a selfie stick. They are great for trimming tree branches that are far up without requiring the help of a ladder.
There are manual, gas-powered, and electric-powered pole saws available in hardware and online stores. You should consider getting one if you often work on trimming branches of tall trees.
Rope Chain Saw
A rope chain saw features a chain with teeth that do the cutting and a rope with a weight on either end of the chain. It is manually powered unlike the normal chainsaw and it is very easy to use. The rope chain saw is also convenient for trimming tree branches that are far up.
You use the weight behind the rope to throw the chain over the tree branch and hold both ends. Pushing and pulling both ends of the rope repeatedly will be enough to cut the tree branch. However, using the rope chain saw can be quite tedious if the branches you want to trim are thick
Conclusion
You should never use a circular saw to cut tree branches. One of the most important things you need when cutting tree branches is the saw balance and the circular saw lacks this. Some of the instruments you can employ rather than the circular saw are chainsaw, reciprocating saw, pole saw, rope chain saw, etc. These all have their benefits and downsides when cutting tree branches and you should try and use the most befitting tool for the job.
I have always loved sawing and cutting. I started doing it when I was a kid and never stopped. I love the feel of the wood beneath my hands, the smell of the sawdust, and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful.
I’ve been writing for quite some time now and thoroughly enjoy sharing my passion with others. I’ve written for both online and offline publications – such as Amazon and Medium.
