Marvin Bull Pruner with Adapter, Double Pulley and Rope

The Marvin bull pruner is a heavy pole pruner head for cutting thicker limbs from the ground or a bucket. This version comes with a pole adapter, a double pulley for extra pulling power, and the rope, ready to mount on a pole.

Why a bull pruner

Light pole pruners stall on bigger wood. A bull pruner head has heavier jaws and blade, and the double pulley multiplies the force from your pull on the rope, so you can make clean cuts on limbs that would otherwise need a pole saw.

It works well for clearance pruning, deadwooding, and line-of-sight work where a clean pruning cut matters. Mount it on a pole that matches the adapter and has the reach you need. See more pruners and loppers.

A bull pruner is also handy for deadwood that is too brittle to saw cleanly from a pole, since one decisive cut avoids the bouncing and bark tearing of a long sawing stroke.

Setup, cutting, and care

Run the rope as shown in the pulley's instructions, and keep it clear of the pole joints so it doesn't bind. Get the hook fully over the limb before pulling, and pull smoothly instead of yanking.

Keep the blade sharp and the pivot clean and lightly oiled. Stay out from under the cut, and never use pole tools near energized lines unless you are a qualified line-clearance worker with a properly rated insulated pole.

Replace a frayed rope right away. A rope that breaks mid-cut leaves the head stuck in the limb, and getting it down can be awkward and risky. Check the pulley wheels turn freely, and clean sap off the blade at the end of the day.