I purchased the pole prunner on 9-21-08 and it does everything the
product info said it would. The battery held its charge as it said,
all though I did buy an extra battery and would recomend you doing
the same..Free shipping was less than 1 week..DS North Carolina

Most of the reviews here fail to mention that this IS a chainsaw and therefore has a chain that must be sharpened periodically. Also, if you are trimming fruit trees, don't use regular oil to lube it - use spray cooking oil instead. Less harmful to the tree involved (easier too!). I find that when it is sharp and lubricated, the saw WILL cut 6-inch branches quite nicely.

I have been using mine for 3 years and have never had a problem with it until a power surge fried the battery charger. Go on eBay and get replacement batteries and chargers. They even make a charger that has a radio built in that will run off the rechargeable battery - VERY handy.

Highly recommend this saw.

I'll likely not recommned this for other than upright use. This is a very uncomfortable, awkward tool to handle when using the extension pole-insert in positions other than upright. At over 12 feet in length, the heavy parts are at each end of the tool (chain saw at one end with lightweight pole length in the middle, then the battery/handle at the other WITH the requirement to always have your finger on the trigger, no locking). I'm strong; however, I badly injured my elbow and forearm muscles and tendons upon the first use. I needed this tool to do lateral trimming across a large hedge top. Using it to hold upright, to cut a tree limb or similar is a much less awkward use and seems a better fit for the tool. I'll never again use the tool's 4-ft extension rod for later trimming--thus, for me an 8-ft tool and unhappy because I purchased it for the 12-ft. length/option.

This is a light-duty tool, but as such, it's terrific. I live in south Texas, where our ubiquitous brush is designed by Satan. You can't get close to it or it'll hurt you, but it grows up in fence lines and has to be cleaned out somehow. The Black and Decker pole saw is an ideal tool for this, better than a gas-powered brush cutter, which I also have. You can stick it way inside a clump of catclaw, for instance, saw the damn stuff off, and then pull it out and burn it. I've also used it to prune live oak trees, nearly hard as iron, and it does a decent job of that, too. You don't need a ladder (dangerous!), and it's true the battery doesn't last long, but after pruning enough in fifteen minutes to fill the bed of a pickup twice, that's all I want to do anyway. If I were younger and tougher I'd get two or three batteries and spend a whole morning or afternoon with it. It's an excellent tool and a good buy, in my opinion.

Works as advertised. I was quite surprised at the power considering it was cordless, but I was cutting limbs over 4" with no problem.

I have only used this with just the handle and chain sections, and it seemed to do very well, cutting 2" diameter limbs. The only two things I came across so far, was that you have to manually oil the chain, and the two sections seem to come a little loose from vibration, but never stopped running or fell apart.

This is a great tool, more than I expected. The saw has plenty of power for it's intended use. The weight is easily managed and the reach is great. I use this saw to cut downed limbs rather than fire up my gas chain saw.

Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Electric Pole Chain Saw, 8-Inch Bar #NPP2018..
Saw was easy to use and battery life was good. had no problems through limbs up to around saucer size. nice storage case, if cutting alot suggest second battery to keep on hand. My only complaint was no self oiling system, which was no problem but you had to remember to keep oil can handy and lube often.

Saw came with no instruction manual plus an allen wrench and a 2 inch empty plastic oil bottle probably worth about 30 cents. They sent the 2 tools by UPS. After 3 weeks the manual has'nt arrived yet. Guess I'll get on the phone again and see what the delay is.

My husband loves his new pole chain saw. The only recommendation I would make is to have another battery, for when you need to prune several trees at one time. Otherwise he is very happy with the performance of this little saw.

This tool does exacctly what I need it to do. Cultivates the garden without hurting the plants already in place. It saves my back!

I recieved and unpacked the item..assembeled and charged the battery according to the instructions. Would not start, the switch had a rattle.I returned the saw to Amazon and still have not recieved a refund,its been over a month.. The box was banged up I should have suspected something wrong [ups is not a favorite delivery of mine]. I do own the black and decker string trimmer battery powered and am very happy with its performance. I did not purchase that from Amazon.. I am doubtful I will make any more purchases...I had a hard time just trying to find out how to return the item, could not even find phone number..All in all a dissapointing experience I am not anxious to repeat..

The Black and Decker cordless pole saw is a very good product. Works well and is easy to use.Black & Decker 18-Volt Cordless Electric Pole Chain Saw, 8-Inch Bar (Bare Tool) #NPP2018B

It was just what I wanted. A saw to cut palm fronds from my many palm trees, and to reach high enough to clear out my 15 foot Queen Palms which are hard to get to. The chain saw worked well, and I am very happy with the results. The carry bag that comes with it makes it easy to store and keep all three piece together nicely.

This is perfect for trimming fast-growing palm trees. Light enough to handle and long enough to reach.

I have trimmed limbs from 1" to more than 4" in diameter without any problem. It is lightweight and cuts fast. Not having to drag a cord around is a big plus. Like all cordless tools the battery does go down, but I can cut a lot of limbs before it does.

I'm using this to cut my Queen Palms...much cheaper than paying someone. This pole saw works out very well. It cuts through the branches like butter. The saw is not too heavy, although you have to pay attention to the weight imbalance when the pole is extended. The only reason I didn't rate 5 stars is this binds up too easy. Strands from the branches wrap, binding up the saw.

Followed instructions and charged battery (did so for 12 hrs) before use. Put together, oiled chain, pulled trigger and NOTHING. Checked connections and even put battery in charger again, but never would run. Sending back but now Amazon is out of stock so cannot get a replacement now when I need to use it.

This is a really neat tool, it definitely takes care of unwanted branches efficiently. Unfortunately its difficult to handle with all 3 pieces assembled. I feel that this limits its use to people with a lot of upper body strength. I am an average size woman and like the independence of doing my own chores, if I use only 2 pieces I can handle it okay but then it is not effective in reaching upper branches and I have to get on a ladder. I really like the cordless tools from Black & Decker and am accumulating quite an assortment, this one is good for a limited audience.

Very pleased with the pole saw. Does everything I wanted it to do with out having to pull an electric cord around or putting mixgas in a little 2-cycle engine. The only draw back is the battery life. If purchased buy an extra battery.

I bought this to cut up a dead cypress tree in my yard. A 40ft tree -and the pole saw did a good job with it. I had to charge the battery twice, but it worked darn well.It only took an hour and a half of continious use to finish the job.Also, I trimmed some Ash trees -heavy branches more than 6inch dia. It did well.I should get another battery so I can finish what I start without having to stop to recharge. I recomend this to the avareage homeowner.As long as you do not abuse it , it will do a good job for you.

Have used gas pole saw (pain in a**)also electric (would need 200ft cord)of course non powered (what a work out)and last B&D cordless.
Just finished 45min cutting maple,oak,locust,others(1 to 4in dia).This pole saw is AWESOME.Ihave no complaints (make sure u follow instructions)
GOT THE JOB DONE !

Another great product from Black & Decker. It is well made, easy to use, and does an amazing job. An extra battery is a must if you have much cutting to do; however, if you already own Black & Decker tools with interchangable batteries, you are good to go.

Able to get to difficult branches for the first time without having to get up on a ladder. Powerful enough to do the job.

I am very pleased with this great tool. I have used it fully extended and at it shortest length, on thicknesses to 7 inches. The little rascal just chews its way through effortlessly. Perhaps a younger man would outlast the battery, but it suits me perfectly and I get plenty of work done. With the free shipping this tool is worth every penny.

For battery operated chain saw, I was quite surprised. I'm 65 and can handle it easily in the shortened position and with a little effort fully extended.

You need to exercise caution when working overhead, it's easy to become careless and find things not falling the way you expected.

I recently decided to get back out in the yard and really get it in shape.
I love to prune trees and I have a lot of them. I borrowed an electric pole saw from my cousin last year and was very impressed with it - I was going to borrow it again this year , but my wife said "why don't you buy your own" Great Idea! I thought . So I began researching - as I mentioned I liked my cousins -however I did not like the fact that it was corded.
So I looked into te cordless world and turned to Black and Decker - I recently purchased the B& D cordless string trimmer and was very impressed - I liked the fact that the 18V battries were interchangable as well (no down time)

I received the pole saw when I got home from work and couldn't wait to use it , I had a late appoinment the following morning so I was out at 7:00Am pruning my beloved Japanses maple on the front lawn - try with a gas powered
chain saw- the pole saw was quiet and very powerful. in no time I had a HUGE pile of branches on the front lawn-(good thing I have a chipper /Shredder)
I love this tool - it is very easy to use - well balanced It has an extension pole for a reach of 14'- the extension pole is very easy to install- the whole design is well thought out. The only problem that I have had is that the saftey switch sticks in the on position after a cut somtimes- you have to really be aware of that and click the saftey off

other than that this is a winner


Pros-
Good Balance
reasonable price
Quiet
Powerful
good battery life
easy to assemble
came with carring case

Cons-
saftey switch sticks sometimes

I'm not sure how I lived without this tool. In the past I've cut so many extension cords off while pruning. This is a wonderful invention and a very sturdy product and it has been put to good use in my fruit tree orchard.

We used 10 minutes cut couple six inch cuts and where done for six hours while charging batteries.**** TOOK THIS BACK **** Got the 10" Remmington 1.4 HP Electric pole saw it WORKS GREAT. Used up ladder, ground work and took off pole cut two stumps ground level. Used 5 hours cut stacked pick up load of wood. Did sharpen once about middle of day two pass on each tooth with file, great improvement.

Overall, I liked the electric pole chain saw until my blade got dull. I figured it would be easy to find a replacement blade, but I can't find any place that sells it. I checked the Black & Decker website, other websites, major stores like Lowes and Home Depot, etc. Basically, the pole saw is now worthless to me if I can't find replacement blades.

I'd give it a 4-5 if it wasn't for the difficulty finding a replacement blade.

Actually this is my second one of these. My first one was stolen from my garage, and so I bought another. I used the first saw only a few times, but it worked well. I do suggest that you get a second recharging unit so you can have plenty of recharged power packs.
Bill

I bought it to trim trees off my house and my neighbors branches that are dropping onto my privacy fence. The unit did a good job.

I took it out of the box, no oil, no chain tightening and went to work for about one hour. I'll get around to the oil and adjustments. Point is: It was ready to go!

It is well designed, adjustable for two lengths: 78 inches or 116 inches, measured end to end of the entire assembled unit. Battery easily clicks into place. Battery staying power was good for my 1 hour of on and off light use. If two batteries are needed....my advice....recharge the one that came with it and finish the job tomorrow.

I recommend this unit for light use around your home......I doubt it would do well for a commercial yard person. Although well made and should last a long time if taken care of, it doesn't seem heavy duty.

Length is ample and unit is not overly top heavy. However, if one were to use it on a ladder they should possess ample upper body strength to insure unit stability. You want to be able to wave it around; not have it wave you right off of the ladder! If you weigh 110 Lbs, it's going to wave you around at it's full length. I'm 61 years old at 160 Lbs and in average shape for my age...I had no trouble controlling it with strength to spare.

We have 2 acres of heavily rustic landscaping with several shade trees of various sizes, among other trees that have never been pruned or lopped. This Pole Saw will not replace the standard chain saw as we have gas and electric chain saws, but it is a most valuable resource for the homeowner.

The B&D Pole Saw met our expectations; as last week we loaded three full-sized debris service truckloads of tree limbs and branches hauled away using the Pole Saw. We also used it in the adjoining woods removing invasive over-hanging tree limbs and branches that created a nuisance and otherwise. It did well pruning the fruit orchard peach, apple, plum trees this alone was worth the money for the saw. This saw paid for itself just from completing the basic tasks we desired, then extending onto increased formable tasks.

To remedy the issue of battery usage and slow recharge. We purchased the B&D FSMVC quick charger 90 minutes for $23.95 to accommodate a much faster charging of the 18 volt batteries. This helps maintain fresh batteries at all times by rotating them out. We now have 4 of the batteries which is sufficient to operate the B&D 18 volt system for the Pole Saw, Grass Trimmer, and Hedge Trimmer on the property for our projects. You will find the Quick charger greatly improves the availably of a fresh battery and is worth the purchase.

A tremendous advantage of this tool is there are no electrical extension cords to entangle, and there is no pull-starting a noisy messy gas unit. The Pole Saw is sufficient to function with our lopping and pruning needs thus, we can do this ourselves without hiring someone. The saw disassembles for storage in the B&D padded bag; The saw is lightweight allowing for most persons to use it. Has the plastic oil bottle to keep the chain oiled as we oiled more frequently during larger branches and hardwoods; and has the chain guard cover for when not in use.

It did cut the larger dimension limbs/branches as well, this includes hardwoods as Oak, Hickory, Sycamore and Popular Trees without any difficulty. When trimming hardwoods having additionally charged batteries is a benefit. We avoided the huge limbs that common-sense implied required a full-size chain saw or beyond our skills. When dealing with trees possessing undergrowth containing tangled vines it is best not to engage the saw with this. Also, small very flexible limbs such as softwoods may not cut well can result in deminished cutting something you might not want to cut with this saw. After tending to the White Pines removing everything up to 14' experiencing "Dieback" from last years drought it seemed to be "gummy" and the saw chain needs to be wiped off after this.

Overall, this is a nice tool for the homeowner in need of accomplishing "Do It Yourself" basic tree maintenance. We are pleased with the results from the Pole Saw. It is nice to be able to open-up some overly shaded areas to access sunlight in locations in the yard as well this will assist in reseeding certain portions of the lawn. We are pleased with the results for the property boundaries where trees providing privacy but needed pruning. We managed to remove limbs over house guttering thereby, reducing leaves in the gutters. The Pole Saw also vastly improved the areas surrounding the front porch and rear deck and fish ponds that have large trees; along with the driveway too. We may borrow or rent a cherry-picker bucket to access some branches over the driveway that are too high to reach on the oak tree. In retrospect, we wish this Cordless Pole Saw had been available years ago, as this is a tool we enjoy using and working with.

Furthermore, we live in the South with the threats of severe storms with significant wind gusts or at times straight line winds which are common here. I am sure it will come in handy when a strong wind storm passes leaving limbs to be removed. In the aftermath of severe storms; it appears this Pole Saw will compliment the chain saw for dealing with any unfortunate damaged trees.

I have gas chain saws through 18 inch for large tree work but needed one for lower branch work. Did not want to operate gas chain saw at end of pole for safety. This pole saw only runs when you press the trigger which suits me. Pleased with all other features of saw.

Got it today and was just going to give it a quick test. Put an Extended (Silver) 18 volt battery in and oiled bar and 50 minutes later had trimmed everything on the 1 acre I have and still had battery left! I even trimmed back some 5 inch diameter limbs and small trees. I was amazed at how well and quickly it cut. Some overhead stuff that I had to stretch to reach was a small strain but it cut right thru it when I got it there. Oiled bar about every 5 minutes and after the 50 minutes adjusted chain but feel like it could have went even longer but I figured adjust it now because the allen wrench was in my pocket. Battery was still strong but I put it back on charge. This device is worth every penny. My last cut was a 3 inch limb and it cut it without any problem. By the way I am 62 and no spring chicken and it was very manageable.