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Bosch chainsaw for pruning

Updated: 22 October 2026

Loppers stop at wrist-thick apple wood, but the limb is still six feet up and you are tempted to climb with a hand saw. Pruning with a Bosch chainsaw in the UK starts with a diameter limit and a rule about feet on the ground, not with the highest amazon star rating. The [Bosch chainsaw comparison](/hub/forestry-tools/bosch-chainsaw) lists every kept model with stated cuts and battery platform. This page covers branches and reach only. Peter F. read the saved listings and Bosch’s GB pages. This is not a laboratory test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Loppers stop at wrist-thick apple wood, but the limb is still six feet up and you are tempted to climb with a hand saw.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare

Best overall

Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare
9.4/10about £104.94
View offer
Bosch Bosch UniversalChain 18 with 2.5 Ah

Rank 2

Bosch Bosch UniversalChain 18 with 2.5 Ah
8.8/10about £143.00
View offer
Bosch Bosch UniversalChainPole 18 kit

Rank 3

Bosch Bosch UniversalChainPole 18 kit
8.4/10about £143.98
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Branches you can reach
  2. 2.Undercuts
  3. 3.Branches you cannot reach
  4. 4.The blue pruner

Branches you can reach

Stay at or below the stated cut on the GB pages: about 13 cm for the EasyChain on a 15 cm bar, and about 13.5 cm for the UniversalChain 18 on a 20 cm bar. Those are manufacturer figures. UK EasyChain owners often describe comfortable work around 75–100 mm. Thicker claims are user reports, not an upgraded spec. Choose the bare EasyChain at £104.94 if you own green 18 V and want the 1.28 kg body at 6.95 m/s. Choose the UniversalChain 18 kit at £143.00 with 2.5 Ah if you need a first pack, automatic oiling and the tip protector. Skip both for log rounds above that diameter. That step-up is on the Bosch chainsaw buying guide.

Undercuts

The UniversalChain 18 lists a tip protector with gripping teeth for undercuts. UK reviewers describe learning the stop hook for cuts from below. Do not remove it because a video shows a bare nose. Screwfix and Bosch list these saws without a chain brake, so the guard is part of the safety story you still have. You still need stable footing, a clear escape path and a diameter inside the stated cut. A limb under tension will move when it drops. The EasyChain skips that hardware and trades it for weight. Tension and oil are on how to use a Bosch chainsaw.
Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare
9.4/10about £104.94
View offer

Branches you cannot reach

Above safe reach from the ground, the kept option is the UniversalChainPole 18 kit at £143.98 with 2.5 Ah, listed at 3.19 kg and 102.4 cm. Reviewers mention Bramley limbs and four- to five-inch wood. Overhead complaints dominate: heavy, poorly balanced, shorter reach than hoped, a tilting head of little use, high oil use and clogged heads. Shoulder-strap clips fail in problem reports. Plan short sessions and keep people out of the drop zone. Skip the pole as a ground hand saw, and do not swap it for a ladder plus EasyChain. Large overhead removals near structures are a tree surgeon’s job.

The blue pruner

The bare GKE 18V-20 at £204.98 is for AMPShare or Professional 18 V, not green POWER FOR ALL. The title claims up to 18 cm, a gyrosensor chain brake, automatic oiling and about 1.83 kg. It is the pruner above the green 13 cm saws only if you already own blue packs. Green 18 V is the wrong mount even though both labels say 18 V. Kitchen Garden’s July 2024 note put EasyChain work at up to 13 cm in magazine language, not a lab protocol. HSE’s PPE list does not exempt a short bar. A 2.5 Ah kit starts a pruning session. A whole hedge often wants a second pack. Mixing the three battery systems does not help.

Common questions

Can the EasyChain prune a fruit tree?
Yes for limbs within the stated cut of about 13 cm, with stable footing and the manual’s oil steps. The bare tool is £104.94 and lists 1.28 kg. It is the wrong saw for large removals, for ladder work, and for rounds above that stated diameter.
What diameter should I stop at?
Bosch’s stated cut for your model: about 13 cm on the EasyChain, 13.5 cm on the UniversalChain 18, 14.5 cm on the pole saw, and up to 18 cm as the GKE title claim. Those figures are smaller than the bar length. Reviewer reports of thicker cuts are not an upgraded spec.
Is the tip protector a help or a nuisance when undercutting?
It is listed to support undercuts on the UniversalChain, with gripping teeth and a stop hook for cuts from below. Removing it trades a listed feature for convenience. Screwfix and Bosch materials list these saws without a chain brake, so the guard is part of the safety story you still have.
When is the pole saw the right pruner?
When branches are out of reach from the ground and you accept overhead fatigue limits. The UniversalChainPole 18 kit is £143.98, listed at 3.19 kg and 102.4 cm. It is not an all-day canopy tool, and it is not a hand saw you detach for ground cuts.
Is the GKE a better pruner than the EasyChain?
It cuts a larger stated diameter, up to 18 cm in the title, with a listed gyro chain brake, but only if you own Professional 18 V or AMPShare batteries. The bare GKE is £204.98. A green 18 V garden pack does not fit that mount.
Can I stand on a ladder with the hand saw instead of buying the pole?
No. Stay on the ground with both feet planted. Use the pole in short sessions, or hire a competent climber or surgeon. A ladder plus an EasyChain is not safer at all. Large removals near structures belong with a tree surgeon.
Do I still need chainsaw trousers for pruning?
HSE expects leg protection for chainsaw ground work in the UK. A short bar and a few branches do not remove that risk class. The list also covers helmet, hearing, eyes or face, gloves, and boots to the cited standards.

Related pages

Best Bosch cordless chainsaw

Bosch chainsaw: 18 V or 36 V

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Bosch chainsaw buying guide: your job, battery and kit

How to use a Bosch chainsaw: cold tension, oil and PPE

Sources

Manufacturer pages and UK public sources first. Listing prices, stars and review counts are amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test.

  1. Bosch DIY GB chainsaw range (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. Bosch UniversalChain 18 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Bosch PKE18V-30-28 manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Bosch Professional GKE 18V-20 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. HSE chainsaw PPE (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)