Customer Rating: - good chain saw, poor ergonomics
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.

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Customer Rating: - Well-made & simple to use: a winner
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.

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

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Customer Rating: - very handy, does what it's supposed to
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.