There is much debate among professional arborists about the top handle chainsaw. Working at height, balance, performance and reliability are critical factors for the highly trained and qualified arborist and they need the right chainsaw.

“Having the right gear to do the work quickly, efficiently and safely is imperative,” says Niall Campbell, a Lead Climber for Special Branch Tree & Hedge Surgery in St. Andrews, Fife. “Nowhere is the gear debate more hotly contested amongst arborists than that of the top handle chainsaw. I was lucky enough to win an ECHO CS-360TES at the 2014 Confor APF Fair. I have been so impressed with this chainsaw.”

ECHO, part of the Yamabiko Corporation, has been a leading Japanese manufacturer of professional outdoor power tools for over thirty years. In designing the latest generation top handle chainsaws it’s clear Yamabiko are aware of what arborists really need. They haven’t just looked at one part of the chainsaw, they have looked at everything and started from scratch. This begins with maximum control over the machine to work in the safest possible way. ECHO began by creating excellent balance and made the saws light enough to be used throughout the day, without causing excessive user fatigue. Arborists want a clean running saw that accumulates very little debris and that was built in. The ECHO G-Force engine air pre-cleaner reduces the chainsaw’s maintenance for less downtime and safer operation.

Next, the chain brake was slimmed down to allow the operator a clear view of what they are cutting. The ECHO Stage 2 Low Emission engines with Easy Start offer effortless starting, which is what arborists really want, while a patented palm rest and larger thumb space ensure greater control and operator comfort. The contoured handle is designed to fit comfortably in the operator’s hand to reduce fatigue. All of which adds up to a combination of productivity with less downtime for maintenance and the ECHO promise of being tough, durable and dependable. Qualities that are borne out by Niall Campbell who says,

“having used all of the popular arborist chainsaws I am extremely happy with this saw, having given it hard use in a professional environment for ten months. In an industry dominated by two ‘big boys’, ECHO have stepped out of the shadows with an excellent product.” ECHO have two models of top handle chainsaws, the CS-280TES and CS-360TES and with demand high the range is expanding with a new model, the CS-2510TES arriving in October 2015 following its first showing at the 2015 ARB Fair. There is no doubt arborists are talking about the top handle chainsaws and can’t wait to get their hands on them. Tim Kirk, Managing Director of TFK Training, one of the country’s leading independent training providers, product tested the CS-2510TES and says, “I love this top handle chainsaw and I expect it will sell like hot cakes when it’s available.” The warranty on ECHO chainsaws is 2-years in professional use. You can find out more from your ECHO dealer. You can also visit www.echo-tools.co.uk or call 0800 597 7777 for more information.