Advice sought from experience Yamadori hunters

[bonsai barry]

I have a few trees with substantial trunks (and roots!) that I plan to take out of my garden this year and put into pots. I'm looking for power tools to cut through the roots. On previous posts, I've seen some people raving about a tool, but I can't recall its name.

Any suggestions?

 

[Poink88]

Sawzall = reciprocating saw

 

[PaulH]

I use one of these.

Milwaukee Hackzall smaller and more maneuverable than a Sawzall but takes the same blades. Also, it is cordless.

 

[Poink88]

I use one of these.
View attachment 30004
Milwaukee Hackzall smaller and more maneuverable than a Sawzall but takes the same blades. Also, it is cordless.

True.

I went with this...View attachment 30005
Gives me enough power to collect 6 big trees w/ one charge.

It is nice to have power when going in blind doing an undercut for big taproot. Not to mention strength to use longer blades w/o fear of bogging down.

Of course a cheaper and more reliable piece is a corded one....but only if you have receptacle near by.

It really depends on what your intended use (and budget).

 

[GrimLore]

Oh my, I guess I should think about uprading from a plasterboard hand saw

 

[Poink88]

Oh my, I guess I should think about uprading from a plasterboard hand saw

For a while, I used a pruning saw (and it worked well)...but it gets old fast when collecting several big trees. Esp at my age and size. LOL

 

[Dan W.]

You might be thinking about the Makita die grinder... but that's more for carving. (It's the one I allways hear everyone raving about)

 

[yenling83]

You could go to Harbor Freight and find something inexpensive. Good luck! If you want some help let me know.

 

[PaulH]

You could go to Harbor Freight and find something inexpensive. Good luck! If you want some help let me know.

I had a cordless "Sawzall" type saw from Harbor Freight and it was worthless. No power and very short battery charge life. I gave it to Goodwill.
I love shopping at Harbor Freight, I just won't buy power tools there again.

 

[JudyB]

I have a milwaukee hackzall that I'm pretty happy with, I would suggest you get something that you can buy/or already have, lots of batteries for. Nothing worse than running out of juice....
halfway thru.

 

[Bill S]

not to mention, the price of those batteries.

 

[yenling83]

I had a cordless "Sawzall" type saw from Harbor Freight and it was worthless. No power and very short battery charge life. I gave it to Goodwill.
I love shopping at Harbor Freight, I just won't buy power tools there again.

Well just joking then. But Jeff if you want some help, just let me know. I don't have this type of power tool, but i have shovels, digging bars, a pick, saws and some other stuff which will probably work.

 

[bonsai barry]

You could go to Harbor Freight and find something inexpensive. Good luck! If you want some help let me know.

Yeah, I was thinking about Harbor Frieght. I'll probably go there tomorrow and check it out. I have an elm with about a four inch trunk (and roots probably as thick), an olive and an oak that I'll need to cut some major roots. I'm taking about five or six trees out of my growing gardens and putting them into pots this year.

Thanks for the offer of help, if I'm organized enough to plan ahead, I'll give you a call.

 

[bonsai barry]

I don't have this type of power tool, but i have shovels, digging bars, a pick, saws and some other stuff which will probably work.

Ah... the tools of the tree wilderness yamadori scout!

 

[bonsai barry]

I had a cordless "Sawzall" type saw from Harbor Freight and it was worthless. No power and very short battery charge life. I gave it to Goodwill.
I love shopping at Harbor Freight, I just won't buy power tools there again.

Just saved me a trip to Harbor Freight. Thanks.

You know the old adage, You get what you pay for.

 

[Poink88]

Just saved me a trip to Harbor Freight. Thanks.

You know the old adage, You get what you pay for.

I agree but if you change your mind, you can use this 20% coupon
View attachment 30038
...check their corded saw and get an extension cord
http://www.harborfreight.com/75-amp-reciprocating-saw-69067.html

 

[Dan W.]

I'm going to have to join the big boys one of these days...lol... I just use a little folding hand saw. I fits in my pack better though.

 

[GrimLore]

I'm going to have to join the big boys one of these days...lol... I just use a little folding hand saw. I fits in my pack better though.

Actually Fiskars makes a real nice one, very sturdy wood handle. Santa dropped it off for me and was using a plasterboard saw before that. I avoid battery powered tools because I have plenty of heavy cords for when we go camping.

 

[drew33998]

Being in the construction trade I can tell you don't waste your money on any power tools from harbor freight. I would start out with a ryobi sawzall. They are inexpensive and durable.

 

[NewWorldBonsai]

I like that one or a good pony. Totally pointless for collecting in the mountains though... It's perfect for Florida however.