BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Cordless Pole Saw Kit with Battery and Charger Included, 14-Inch Battery Pole Saw, Includes Oil Bottle, Wrench and Blade Guard (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.

I bought this recently and have used it a few times. It is just great. I have sawed through some branches that were at least 4 inches in diameter with ease. The battery life seems more than adequate to me. I have yet to run out of power and I have used this for over an hour, not constantly of course, but no problem with battery dropping out. I also have the 20 volt weed trimmer which comes with two more batteries and one more charger that is interchangeable with the pole saw. Love that. I have used it mostly in just two sections instead of all three sections together. When all three are connected it does become more difficult to manage and the weight becomes a factor. The poles do slightly curve under the weight when all three are connected which of course changes how you wield the pole to make a cut. The actual cutting of a branch is rather straight forward but you must remain focused. I have found in a few instances probably due to being on an angle and such that when you make the top cut on a branch the blade will dance and bob around a bit...it helps to tighten your grip on the pole with both hands to steady it...like others have said you sort of have to lay the weight of the saw on top the branch without pulling downward too much just let the weight of the saw/pole dig in at its own pace. Once it starts to go down into the branch it will finish cutting pretty quickly and with little assistance from you on the other end other than keeping a firm grip on the poles with both arms. I found that making the undercut is essential for a simplified cutting...read the directions...I also found that the undercut is more stable and there is less dancing and bobbing for whatever reason...I go about a third of the way through the branch with the undercut like the directions advise then finish with the top cut. The instructions that come with it are good and I would advise to get familiar with them especially regarding tightening the tension on the chain and tightening the guide to the housing. The chain guide screws will loosen up with use, so you need to keep that tool nearby to retighten when needed. You also need that tool to tighten the tension of the chain itself the way the directions tell you to do it. I was cutting through an oak branch. Oak is very hard wood. I must have become complacent on checking the chain tension because when I started to make an undercut the chain made an unusual grinding noise. I stopped and found the chain all loose and on further inspection saw that the blade was stuck to the plastic housing behind the sprocket. I thought it was completely ruined but I read the directions on installing the chain and was able to get it back in working order. This likely would not have happened if I had double checked the blade tension more often....cannot stress enough to check that tension every few cuts or so. Just keep the tool handy and it will be a cinch. You all might be interested to know that I am using Canola oil to oil the chain and guide. Yes, the cooking oil. It is working fine with it, does not smell all oily, like petroleum does, is easy on your trees in an eco-friendly way, and if you get any splatter on your clothes it is easy to wash out (honestly have not noticed any splatter with it at all). I was reluctant to use it at first and was prepared to get a petroleum based bar and chain oil but am glad I decided to try the Canola oil. No problems so far. So it is easy to use, quiet (no ear plugs required with this), great battery life, and makes my life so much easier. I would have never gotten as much trimmed this spring if I hadn't bought this. I needed to remove some branches that were encroaching on the side of my house before the summer storms hit. I would have never been able to even reach them without this pole saw. Not to mention manual saws wear you out after a couple of branches. This is a wonderful tool. Love the tote bag that comes with it for storage and for taking it all with me as I walk around the property. Just great! 2/21/13 update - I sawed through a tree that was lying horizontally across my yard that was nearly 10 inches in diameter at its widest part. It is a Locust which is rather soft wood, but anyhow the blade went through it well, not like butter, but well enough to get the job done. I had to work from both sides of the trunk at the widest point but hey I got it done. I am so impressed with this tool.

Bought the Black & Decker pole saw after returning a gas powered saw that I received for Christmas that had carburetor problems. I got about 15 minutes use out of the Poulan gas trimmer and was familiar to the power of the gas trimmer before it quit. I didn't expect the B & D pole saw to be anything near the gas saw but was pleasantly surprised how well it works. I wouldn't recommend the electric saw for commercial use but my needs were to trim back the branches of about 20 Virginia Pine trees (full of branches from top to bottom) which have been inflicting pain and suffering when I bush hogged my fields. The trees are mature and many of the branches were pushing 5" in diameter - the B & D saw pruned them fine. Not quite as fast as the gas trimmer but the saw was lighter and ran when I wanted it to run! Battery life was excellent and lasted for about 9 trees with about eight cuts (2" - 5") per tree. I have a B & D 20v weed trimmer and the batteries worked on the pole saw although slightly less amps that the battery that comes with the saw. Armed with the 2 batteries I wore out before I went through the second battery. Unlike a gas trimmer which oils the cutting chain continuously you must be aware to oil the chain occasionally, I was oiling the chain as I went to the next tree. Suggestion - when cutting a limb, don't try to make the cut into the limb until the saw is running full speed and as soon as possible push the saw up flush to the limb. If you try to cut mid blade the saw will jump all over the limb. Don't forget to make an undercut prior to making the final cut. For occasional yard use I would highly recommend the B & D LPP120 20v Pole Saw. I don't think it is realistic to expect this saw to handle daily use. For half the price of the gas saw that was returned to the box store I couldn't be more satisfied.

When I decided to purchase this item, there were no reviews for it, and I was of course hesitant. I also looked on the Black & Decker site, and it didn't exist...only the battery. However, I read the reviews for the 18v model...over 250 reviews...and I decided to take a chance and order it. And I must say, I'm very happy with it. I'm a 50 yr old lady with 2 neck fusions, and some strength issues due to them. I also have many trees on my 1.5 acres that need what seems like constant pruning...previously by a manual pole saw...very hard for me. When it arrived, I was impressed with the ease of putting it together, and how light weight it is. The included instructions are very detailed and easy to understand. You can use it as 2 pieces or as 3. 2 pieces give you 6', and 3 give you 9'. It can reach 14' which includes 5' of your own height. The battery charges in a couple hours from dead, and can be left on the charger after charging...indefinitely per the instructions. This eliminates the possibility of damaging the battery by forgetting it on the charger...unlike the 18v model which had several complaints about frying the battery if it's not removed when charged. The battery is feather light...hard to believe it has the power it does. I did purchase a 2nd battery from another site for $56 including shipping. ...so my pruning wouldn't be cut short by a dead battery. As for using it... It works very well, easily cutting through 1-2" branches with no bogging down, etc. Just let the saw's weight do the work. I pruned for about 45 minutes the other day and didn't notice any drop in power...oak, palm fronds, etc. I'm VERY happy with it and glad I ordered it. It's not intended for super heavy pruning like log size branches, but I'm sure it would work if given enough time. It doesn't have the same power of a gas or elec. pole saw, but makes up for this by being light weight and easily moved around ones yard...and easy to store! It's more difficult for me to use with all 3 sections being used, mainly due to the weight being shift out farther. But for someone with normal arm strength, it wouldn't be a problem. The heaviest part is the cutting head, and it's not really very heavy at all. The saw comes with an awesome good quality storage bag that everything fits easily into with tons of extra space. I hang it by the handles on the wall. It also has a blade/chain cover that has a place for the included small bottle (for oil), and the chain adjustment tool...this way you have both with you at all times should you need them. I thought it was a great idea! Recommended oiling is when the battery is changed...or before each use. The chain is extremely easy to adjust, which needs to be done somewhat often during the first 2hrs of use, as the chain stretches a bit. It also has a 2 yr warranty...saw and battery. Over all, this is an easy to use, light weight pole saw that can easily handle light to medium pruning...and possibly heavy with more cutting time. It's easy to put together and take apart, has a storage bag, good instructions, and conveniently stored oil and adjustment tool. I'm VERY happy with it, and hope it keeps working for many years to come! UPDATE: 9/03/23. It's been 12 years since I posted this review. I just wanted to add that it's still working!!! My biggest issue now is replacing the batteries. Definitely worth my initial investment. It's probably pruned 1000 miles worth of branches. LOL!!!

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.

Right out of the box, I cut about 12 limbs. Some up to 4” diameter. Cut great. The pole itself may be a little “weak”. I could feel the bend in it, and realized I may need to baby it some. Overall, very pleased.

First off I'm not very experienced with chain saws, and have never used a pole saw. We had a lot of damage from a freak October storm and the canopy over our dirt driveway was hanging down very low. In addition a few other limbs on trees were broken and hanging down. The battery: It didn't last very long, but long enough to get a lot of work done. It actually overheated and didn't run out, so an hour on the charger to cool down and it worked for a little while longer. I don't know why it overheated as I was not running it long or hard. All in all the battery life was better than many of the other reviewers said, but still not long. If I had a ton of work to do I'd buy extra batteries, but I was pretty tired anyway and didn't mind putting off finishing the job the next day. Probably got about an hour and half of work (not of sawing) done. Maybe 15 or 20 cuts made. It is very quiet and cuts very well. You do need to be sure to make an undercut and it did bind on the top cut a couple of times, but I was able to free it without climbing a ladder, by pulling down on the end of the branch and then starting it up. For 1-2" branches it is awesome, just cuts through them effortlessly. I was able to cut a small pine tree down, maybe about a 6" diameter, and a few other things of 3-5" so it does the job. Leaving the center section out was of course easier to use, but when I had to use the full length it was not that hard to handle. Hard to see up to what you're cutting at times of course. Assembly was nothing, just screw the three pieces together and pop in the battery (after charging it in the external charger.) Carrying bag is great for storage. Tightening the blade is very easy too with the included tool. All in all I like it very much and for the price was better than hiring someone to do the work. I don't think I could have done this job with a manual pole saw, this tool made it easy. I will say that I will be very resistant to loaning it to anyone as it is not a very heavy duty tool, it does get bound up during cuts and someone else may not take as good care of it, so if I want it to last I want to be in control of it's usage. If my yard wasn't so large I might prefer one with a cord so not to have to worry about the battery, but it's nice to just bring it to the area you want without a cord running behind you. I'm a 60 year old male in good shape.

After reading reviews of how this cuts thru stuff like cutting thru butter, I decided to get it. It does NOT cut smooth like butter, it does more like chew thru stuff. It has a lot of kick back so you need to hold on tight. I have only used one extension pole so far - it is very heavy at the cutting end and hard to balance for high cuts. I am almost afraid to add the other extension bar to get high cuts. This will be a good and handy tool for small jobs. The battery only lasted about one hour (NOT 8 like it says it will) - so small short jobs is all you can do. I gave 3 stars because it is a good chain saw - just has a few things that they could improve upon. After using this for a month now - I can say it does the job, but I will say again, it does not cut thru brush like butter. I have had the chain fall off a few times, and the twigs get stuck between the case and chain, but I am getting my money worth. Its very easy to maintain compared to other gas powered chain saws. This one only requires a few drops of oil to the chain itself before use. I LOVE the storage bag that came with it too.

El producto llegó 6 días antes de lo anunciado y eso me ayudó mucho pues tenía urgencia de podar dos árboles, un laurel y una jacaranda. Apenas desempaqué la máquina la armé (es muy sencillo) le puse aceite a la cadena y una batería que ya tenía cargada de mi desbrozadora- gran ventaja que esta línea de productos B&D usen el mismo tipo de baterías. La maquina trabaja muy bien. Los cortes no son tan rápidos como con otras maquinas más caras pero no es algo significativo. Estamos hablando de que una rama de 3 pulgadas se lleva 3 o 4 segundos más que una máquina más cara. En total corté como 20 ramas con calma en 30 minutos y la batería ni se inmutó. había usado otras maquinas eléctricas y es una diferencia abismal de comodidad el no tener que estar cuidando el cable. Excelente producto, lo único malo es que pregunté en Black and Decker México y me dijeron que esta maquina no esta en su catálogo de productos para México y por tanto no tendría soporte de servicio con ellos. Punto malo para Black and Decker México. Deberían incluir este tipo de productos localmente.

I'm normally a Ryobi cordless tool guy. But I needed a cordless pole saw, and Home Depot had no Ryobis available for me. I saw this B&D pole saw with battery for $130 CDN on Amazon and thought I would give it a try. I have mostly had a negative perception of B&D after buying some lousy small kitchen appliances that were poorly designed and built. However, I found this pole saw to be well constructed, and it has performed to expectations on the 2 separate jobs I have used it on thus far. I think it is a great value at this price point, and would recommend it. Be aware that, as it advises in the manual, you need to adjust the chain tension as required. This is an easy task that is managed with the tool provided in the box. I am using Canola oil as a chain and bar lube as I didn't have petroleum based bar oil in my home, and canola oil does a great job. If you have an average IQ or higher, are capable of reading an instruction manual or watching youtube howto videos, then this pole saw should be a good choice for you. This kit includes both a battery and charger.

Se ve de muy buena calidad, y alcanza muy buena distancia

Excellent tool for pruning and general tree and shrubbery maintenance. Far faster and easier then using loppers, saws, or other manual devices. I've become a B&D fanboy for their 20V Max line and have plenty of batteries now (check out their grass trimmer for an inexpensive way to get two batteries), though rarely need to switch more than once. I've cut through both small branches and hardwood 4-5" thick with no problem. The middle pole is 'optional', in that you can insert it or leave it out -- depending on what you're looking to tackle. Before buying I read a few reviews that mentioned the weight of the head but in my experience it's well balanced and what you would expect when placing a saw at the long end of a pole. The benefit of the weight is you can place the saw above the branch, start, let the saw touch the branch to cut and let gravity do the rest. Do be sure to check the tightness of the chain and the guard at regular intervals. There is no automatic oiler -- you need to apply it manually -- so you'll have plenty of opportunities to bring the saw back down and check everything. On the oil front, I've been using grapeseed oil as opposed to petro-based bar oil. So far the environmentally-minded choice has been working fine and I've been noticing no excessive wear or heat build-up -- though I'll admit I do apply it liberally and often. Whether my trees appreciate it or not I can't say, but at least now if I spill some on the ground I don't feel bad.

I think it works great. I got some decent size tree branches down and it works well for even those larger ones. I would suggest a second battery. This battery doesnt last super long and it takes a while for it to recharge. Other than that though I would really recommend this.