On Mon, 3 May 2021 22:19:05 +0100, newshound
wrote:

snip

I find bow saws pretty hard work,

If they are sharp enough and with the right blade for the job, I have
found them to be very effective. Ok, still not as 'easy' as a chainsaw
but a lot quieter, cheaper and still work straight away after being
used underwater. ;-)

but the folding curved pruning saws
are pretty fast and easy at the two inch level.

I've watched daughter use her 'Silky' on some limbs that looked like
they would be way too big / hard work for such a small saw but I was
always very surprised. Few seconds of undercut then a couple more on
top and down it went.

I just dropped the saw onto my hand once and it *was* very very sharp.
;-(

It's also interesting to
find that a decent machete will cut 20mm in one cut for some timbers.
(This is not for "neat" pruning of course, but I sometimes have to cut
back rough scrub as it encroaches on my horse paddock)

We had one and did use it for those sorts of things but the
'brushcutter' (steel) blade on the, erm, brushcutter worked even
better or even a chainsaw for the heavier bits.

Cheers, T i m