Scotts Outdoor Power Tools PS45010S 10-Inch 8-Amp Corded Electric Pole Saw, Adjustable Head & Oregon Bar and Chain

I was able to assemble this pole saw in about 20 minutes, although I didn't think the instructions were much help (too many boilerplate generic warnings and not enough assembly instructions). My biggest complaint about the manual was the tiny photographs and print that required a magnifying glass to read.I grew-up chopping wood for our family fireplace and I've got a lot experience with small to medium sized chainsaws. This is a real chainsaw and it was nice not to have to mess with a gas powered engine or a heavy battery. Even so, the saw is fairly heavy and fortunately, the extension rod is an 8-sided shaft that resists twisting and bending. It's sturdy and safe to use, but only for people with well developed fore-arms.The full extension was 10'. I would not think anything longer would be safe, but it might allow you to use it from the ground instead of going up on a ladder. I hate using it from a ladder, but I had no choice.However, it worked and I got about two hours of use out of it the first day. I found it to be quite heavy and difficult to manipulate while standing on a ladder. On the ground, it worked better and it quickly sliced through 1-2 inch branches without kick-back or jamming.Good features:Simple to opperate.Long cutting blade - should be fine for 6-8 inch limbs. (my largest limb was 5 inches)Self-oiling system worked without spraying oil everywhere and it did not leak on me.Strong pole - extends from about 6' to 10' with large easy to twist locking rings.Bad features:Manual was too small to read and not very helpfulThe pole can be assembled wrong to easily, which may damage the pins inside.Look very carefully for the embossed arrow and notice the pole only goes in one way.Look inside of the handle and the saw, to see which has pins and where they are located.Kit did NOT include chain oil (most any 30 weight oil will work fine. avoid synthetic oils)Note: The pole slides into place at each end about 5 inches and if you do it right, the detent pin will snap in the hole.

Works fine. It’s a little top heavy due to electric motor and cutting bar at end of maybe a nine foot pole but it cut quickly and adjusting the angle made to weight work for me. I’m old enough to have used manual pole saws—no more.

If you're looking for a good, easy to manage, corded electric pole saw -- this is it. There is a secret though you need to know when assembling the three main parts: the handle, the extension rod, and the cutter head. There are electrical pins inside the shrouds on the sections that fit into each other along with a spring-loaded bright silvery locking pin on each end of the extension rod, which must lock into a hole on the shroud. THE SECRET: the two ends of the extension pole shroud are NOT --repeat NOT-- interchangeable!! If you don't see the tip of the locking pin in the hole in the mating shroud, you've got the WRONG END. Turn the extension pole around to the opposite end and try again. I bet the locking pin will fully insert and you'll see the tip of the pin in the hole. If this is not done properly, electrical connections are not complete and the saw WILL NOT WORK. Without doing this, you may think the saw is flawed. That is unlikely. Just try the other end of the extension pole. You have a 50/50 chance of getting right the 1st time. But NOW you know the secret, if you get it wrong and will eliminate any assembly frustration.The 3 position adjustable tilt -- straight, 15 degrees up or 15 degrees down -- gives all the adjustment needed for cutting tree limbs.Two other items of note. 1) The guidebar for the chain now has "Scotts" name on it -- not the Oregon brand. 2) The chainsaw chain is by Kangxin (stamped on the chain) -- a Chinese manufacturer of guidebars and chainsaw chains. The description and photo for this listing should be updated to reflect this change. It is disappointing that Scotts has changed from the original Oregon brand components. Even on Scotts own website, they still describe this unit having an Oregon guidebar and chain. Not true.This unit is about as heavy as I would want to manage. I considered a "2 in 1" corded pole saw (the chainsaw can separate from the pole for hand operated work), but they are about one-third heavier. Ugh! That's more than I would want to control at the end of a 9ft pole.The unit DOES cut well and I am pleased with it. I removed one star since Scotts -- in my opinion -- cheapened the saw by going to a different, off-shore supplier for the cutting components. Better design would have also made the two ends of the extension pole OBVIOUSLY different through better markings, bright colors for matching, or a mechanical "block".

I would buy this again but probably will not have to - I used it after a Hurricane to clean up hard wood branches, softwood branches and Palm trimming. Its a bit top heavy but worth it - its built solid and strong cutting ( I got large gas chainsaws but its a lot of work dealing with getting into places with 4" inch hard thorns ) - this solved it and I am amazed cutting UP ( yea not suppose to do that with chainsaws) - but it cuts / cleans up side of Palms (PUNK / Palmetto trees) really great shaping them ( if you don't you get small rats in that area under the palms). It does not go through oil that much... and the long pole fully extended would be tuff for 55 and older as its top heavy (extremely easy to break down - who designed this is real great engineer ) I am older and you find out Plugging things in gets job done vs. storing gas hard machines ... or bad old batteries ... its way more cost-effective and easier to just get things done and get back to normal life not TREAMING your life away like lost time Pressure washing. I highly recommend it - I used it 10 times with no issues and easy to clean - it's built tough