Jameson FG-6PKG-1 FG-Series Manual Pole Saw and Tree Pruner with Two 6-Foot Fiberglass Poles

I purchased FG-6PKG-1 along with the 6 foot extension poles, FG-6-2PK. I ordered on a Monday and arrived in NY by Thursday, evening shipped directly from mfg in SC. I still have a very capable Fiskars 16' telescoping aluminum pruner but needed a longer reach saw. A big reason I chose Jameson was because it was made in USA. Yes, it's 2.5x the cost for an equivalent made in China version but this was my decision based on patriotism, positive reviews, and specs. I had tree limbs over the roof line and extremely high up. I attached both extensions (2.5lbs/each) to the two pole saw (5.6lbs) totaling 10.6lbs and measuring 25' (~30' reach). As shown on pic, I needed about 27' out of the 30'. It was heavy and manipulating the saw into position was a bit struggle for a normal person. Once the saw was in position, the effort to cut was very easy. Let the sharp blade do all the work. There was no way to perform an undercut so there will be peeling when the limb starts to fall. I could hear the fiberglass pole creaking and moaning during cut and just prey the blade doesn't get wedged or pinched. Also, the pole saw with no support as the limb falls will need to be guided simultaneously as to not break the head as it comes down too. Everything worked and assembled well and appeared to be of sturdy quality with just a minor tweek to remove some metal burrs from tool head drilled hole. I did not use the pruner attachment so no comments other than the two pole pruner config weighed 7.8lbs. Very happy and a professional arborist would have been very expensive so I made the right choice based on this limited experience.

We had some storms roll through recently with 75mph+ straightline winds, and my large maple broke a branch (among others), apparently, about 11ft up, with it sitting on top of another branch that is about 8ft up; basically out of reach and where it's at...I was looking at calling in someone and letting them figure it out.Bought this guy to see if I can manage this, if I can get to it and cut it down. This is a whole different level of workout!I remember something said many years ago about letting the saw do the work for you, rather than forcing it, this is clearly the case here, as the teeth are strong and sharp but will bite into the wood firmly if you apply any pressure over what the assembly applies on it's own. In fact, at some angles, you may need to help lighten the assembly's weight so the saw moves! There's a rhythm and method to it one needs to feel out, too much bite and it gets difficult to work with, and you can't plan to use the whole blade/stroke...and...changing your angles so the blade works near or far side will help it cut faster. Also, sawdust in the face isn't fun ;)But, it does the job very well. In fact, it inspired me to attack some other branches on trees nearby and I also got 2 more extension poles to give me more reach so I might lighten the wind load on these trees to help survive Oklahoma wind. In all, created a lot more work for myself, but it did exactly what I was aiming to do.I do wish it was a bit stiffer overall, but TBH, the bounce kind of helps with the rhythm. It's not terribly heavy, but it is fatiguing if one isn't used to using something like this. I found my rhythm and zen with it...and only had to stop because it's also hot in Oklahoma! Come fall/winter, I might be thinning out my trees a bit :D

Ok. So like me, you read all the reviews on the various tree trimmers and are now trying to decide if this one is worth the extra cost. After trimming the 40 maples lining my 600 ft driveway, I can emphatically say , DO NOT BUY THE CHEAPO!This trimmer is incredibly sharp and heavy duty, but not without some minor flaws. The pull rope detached from the eyebolt on the second pull. No big deal, just tie it back on. And speaking of the rope, trying to get a good grip on it , especially for larger branches, is a pain, and forget about using the small wooden handle. Tying double knots about every 2 ft pretty much solved this issue.I also found that for my trimming project, 6 ft was too short and 12ft too long. So, yes, I actually cut the second pole in half and reattached the rubber cup on the cut end. Perfect.After trimming about 15 trees, the cutter would stick in the closed position and not retract. Again, not a problem but be sure to have some sort of spray lube handy because you will need it.The saw is incredibly sharp and cuts on the backstroke, but I’m not sure how effective it would be on large limbs at the end of a 12 ft fiberglass pole. Speaking of which, don’t expect to cut branches much over 3/4” to 7/8” with the cutter head. At least I couldn’t.All in all, this is a great trimmer which should last for years, and well worth the extra cost, but be prepared to tweak it a bit for your needs.

Purchased this set to maintain some large mesquite trees in my yard. The set isn't exactly light-weight, but the poles are well-built and feel durable. The pruner has a tendency to get locked in the closed position, which can be a bit painful to reset if you are reaching up between many branches. I'm sure that problem will go away with a little more use. I find the saw blade to bee too thin. It has a tendency to spring too much while in use. While it's folded significantly several times during use, so far it's springy enough to straighten back out. I just wish it was a stiffer saw blade. Anyways, it works well enough for my needs.