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The best tools for clearing fallen trees
During a violent storm any tree—even a healthy one—can be imperiled by wind,rain, snow, or hail. To improve your odds of nothaving one go down, monitor all of your trees for health during fine weather. If you’re unlucky enough to have one fall, know that arborists will be in demand and slow to arrive after a storm. If you decide to pull out a chain saw and tackle the job yourself, follow this advice:
Wear proper gear
That includes snug clothing, sturdy boots, Kevlar chaps, protective gloves, a helmet with a face shield, and hearing protection.
Look for power lines
“You won’t hear things or see smoke,” says Mark Chisholm of Aspen Tree Expert in Jackson, N.J., “but there’s often current running under or in a tree you’re cutting.” Always treat any downed line as live and wait for the utility crew’s OK.
Examine the tree for bent branches
“Rarely does a tree fall flat,” says Scott Jamieson, a vice president of the Bartlett Tree Experts location in Stamford, Conn. “When one comes down in an unnatural position and you start cutting, some of that could spring back and throw wood right at you.”
Stay safe
Have someone with you who can help in case of emergency.
Top chain saws
Consumer Reports’ chain saw Ratings of more than 40 models include heavy-duty gas models such as the Echo CS-590-20, $400; lighter-duty gas models including the Stihl MS 180 C-BE, $230; the corded-electric Worx WG303.1, $100; and the battery-powered Ego CS1401, $300.
3 handy tools
Reciprocating saw
Suitable for cutting branches and roots too close to the ground for safe chainsawing.
Cost: $50 for the Ryobi 18-volt cordless P154, $50 for the battery and charger, and $7 for a 12-inch pruning blade.
Loppers
With longhandles and pincers, they’re great for snipping off small branches and twigs.
Cost: About $30 for the Fiskars 91416966J, a typical hand-operated model.
Bow saw
A bow saw can handle many of the same cuts as a chain saw. At minimum, choose one with a 30-inch blade.
Cost: About $40 for a Bahco model with a 30-inch blade and a sturdy blade guard. Extra blades cost about $10.
 
This article also appeared in the October 2015 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.
Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.
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