BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX* Alligator Lopper Cordless Chainsaw, Tool Only (LLP120B)

Truth be told, I'd never heard of gator loppers until I stumbled across these while looking for a replacement 40v battery charger & spare battery for my B&D chainsaw.[Skip this next graf if you're in a hurry....Backstory: I first tried a B&D cordless drill 15 years ago; then bought a B&D cordless string trimmer on a whim maybe 8 or 9? years ago. (That thing is so awesome ... still going and still chomping thru some pretty heavy going like poke, ragweed, etc. along my fencelines ... I love that wee beastie!). After that came the B&D circular saw, the 12" chainsaw, and a happy hoard of batteries. So while I could try other purported "heavier-duty" makes like DeWalt or Stihl, I'm not convinced I need to, especially for the B&D prices ... And of course, there's my stable of B&D batteries!]Okay, back to the loppers. In short, they are the **business!!!** I was worried at first because I'm a legit female senior citizen and they seemed heavy on first grasp, but once I got to using them to cut up limbs after a storm, I never gave it a second thought. I can't get over the capacity ... The 4" cut claim is true, though pretty slow going, with a tendency to bite/bind on big green stuff ... Not sure I'd push my luck there too much, and standard chainsaw common sense applies. But the jaws and double handle cutoffs feel miles safer than the chainsaw, and for working overhead they are vastly superior. Now I carry them in the tractor bucket while mowing and cheerfully lop off those old headwhacker/ROPS-grabber limbs with abandon, and I'm starting in on some annoying fenceline growth. Honestly, I don't know how I got along without them!As other reviews have mentioned, they go through the bar & chain oil, and the refill bottle is merely decorative, so get an oil can or syringe to refill the reservoir. Also, the "scrench" is flimsy, so get out your socket set for chain adjustments ... But in my experience so far for lopping, pruning, and cutting up to 3 1/2" limbs in relative (to a chainsaw) safety, these gator loppers are the best things since sliced bread. Love them!!!

I've owned the corded version of this tool for a decade. So it was an easy decision to pick up this cordless version for my property which has a lot of land too far from an outlet to safely run an extension cord. As a bonus, closer to my house and barn, no more dragging a contractor's cord around! Just like it's older brother, it cuts fast and is easy to use. Brush, limbs, etc. if it fits in the jaws, it cuts. Just be aware that this is an electric chain saw at heart, and use common sense and safety precautions.The only real drawback is the battery life and charging time. While it's great for small jobs, those of us who need a longer run time for large jobs are going to need a larger battery and a spare. The battery that ships with it is just not up to long cutting jobs, and takes a while to recharge. If you're like me and need this for bigger jobs, I'd recommend ordering a spare battery while you're ordering this.Still highly recommended over a full chain saw for cutting the lighter stuff, much less risk and hassle!

This cordless lopper using a short chain saw design is a surprisingly effective and versatile tool. After three years of moderate use, mine is still in excellent condition and still using the original chain. If you put a larger battery on it, such as 4 AH, it will cut branches for hours with no problem, just add a bit of oil occasionally while using as per the instructions. I keep a 2 oz. dropper bottle of EWL with the tool, and a bit of that works just great. This tool is much better and more useful than I expected it to be. Kudos to B&D for selling a quality product. Yeah I know that a big 20v lithium battery costs as much as the tool does, but the battery can be used on any compatible B&D tool and will last for years if given reasonable care. Important tips for long life of lithium batteries - Do not expose to extremely high or extremely low temperatures, both will permanently damage the battery. Do not always run the battery down to zero, this will shorten battery life, it's better to recharge it while it still has some charge if possible.