BLACK+DECKER20V MAX Cordless Pole Saw Kit with Battery and Charger Included, 8-Inch (LPP120)

Not perfect but it does the job it was designed for efficiently and easily. I have found it very easy to use in most situations and able to cut some pretty big limbs if you do some judicious manuevering. Also per my reading this tool has about the longest reach of any of the consumer class pole saws which is precisely why I bought it. It is not overpowered, to be sure, but more than adequate and like the tortoise it keeps at it til the chosen limb falls. I have cut quite a few limbs in the 4 to 5" range with no problems. Like with a regular chain saw you have to plan your cut with the larger limbs to insure you don't end up with the blade getting pinched. But with patience you can undercut the large limbs before making the final cut. The 20-volt Li-Ion batteries work very well and unlike Ni-Cads, have a longer run-time and are not prone to pooping out midway through their cycle. The Li-Ions run at or near full power right up to the point of exhaustion. I have three batteries for mine and can keep cutting throughout most of the morning. My B & D quick charger can recharge all three batteries in not much more than an hour and I can be back cutting for most of the afternoon. I have trimmed dead and live limbs off of countless trees since acquiring this pole saw about 4 months ago and to date I have not yet had to sharpen the chain. Only thing to remember is to oil the bar before each use. They provide a little plastic bottle with a small tip for this task which makes it easy. And I like that the pruner can be disassembled . . . makes it easy to load behind the seat of my pick-up when commuting to and from a job site. Also handy that you can leave out the middle extension when you don't need the long reach for your cutting.Now, the not perfect part. These are minor points that do not effect the utility of this tool but can be annoying. One, the fully assembled tool has a fair amount of flex in the pole which can make it a bit more challenging to accurately connect with the target of your intended cut. But you will soon get used to that. And two, the assembled pole is top heavy thanks to the weight of the saw's electric motor. So it can take some muscle when you're reach to cut a limb is more horizonal than vertical.All in all a good tool and I am not a big fan of most Black & Decker offerings. It is the Li-Ion battery that really makes this tool shine.If you are planning to do a lot of cutting with this I would recommend you get B & D's fast charger and one or two extra batteries. The charger that comes with the tool is lame and mine quit the 2nd time I used it. To B & D's credit they did replace it under warranty but it took a couple of weeks. But with my fast charger I don't need it anymore anyway.

There were a few different brands and systems available for limb trimming at between 12 and 20 feet from the ground. I chose the Black & Decker Pole Saw because I have several other power tools from B & D. I have found them reliable, and...all of the tools take the same 20v lithium battery, including the pole saw.I found that I can cut 20 to 30 limbs between 1/2" and 4 " with a single battery charge. I started by cutting about 25 limbs from some spruce trees. They tend to die off at the bottom and continue to go upward with the die off. Dead limbs can be found two thirds of the way up the trees. I then cut several branches from an oak including a 4' limb. I had not run out of power at that point. Since I have 5 other batteries which will also fit this unit, I can work as long as I like. I used to bring over a ladder and a chain saw and balance as I cut, it always made me nervous. This is really the answer; no cord, it's very light and cuts easily and quickly; and I'm safely on the firm ground.I was very surprised at how well this saw works and the battery life is great.I also learned something interesting. It was recommended that I use vegetable oil when cutting limbs on live trees. The mineral oil (bar and chain oil) I would normally use in my chain saws can harm a live tree. I use olive oil from the kitchen with this saw, it was handy. This pole saw does not have an automatic chain/bar oil feed. I was concerned about this at first. Since the saw does not go as fast as a gas powered saw and I will seldom cut hour after hour as I might cutting fire wood, the auto oil feed is not needed. After every 15-20 limbs that I cut, I use the oil bottle supplied by B &D to add a bit of oil to the chain. The oil container and an Allen wrench to set the chain tension, fit into a clip on the saws chain/bar cover. This is good design and very handy. I highly recommend the Black & Decker Pole saw.