20V Max Pole Saw, 8-Inch, Cordless (LPP120)

About this item

BLACK plus DECKER electric lawn and garden equipment including electric pole saw releases zero emissions in your yard, helping to reduce your carbon footprint.
20V Max Lithium Ion battery of the electric pole saw has a long lifespan and retains its charge 5 times more than similar NICD batteries while idle.
20V Max Lithium Ion battery of the tree trimmer pole saw provides up to 100 cuts of 1 1/2-inch pine branches per charge.
8-inch cutting bar and chain allows for a maximum cutting diameter of 6 inch
Center extension allows for a useable Length of 6.5 feet or 10 feet and provides overhead reach of up to 14 feet.
In-line power-head allows easy maneuverability and visibility between branches
Unit disassembles for easy storage and transport
Lightweight design makes it easy to use
Replacement chain RC800
Part of the 20V Max System: A System that demands attention

• Nadir carter

  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.

• Steve

  This tool lets you easily trim tree branches that would be extremely difficult with just a simple tree saw. Battery life is great and the tool is easy to use. I highly recommend it if you have trees to trim.

• Lee

  I use this to trim branches from Crepe Myrtles, Willows, Pines, Cedars, Poplar and Oak trees on my property. This saw is able to cut medium branches quite well.Strengths:*Battery Life is excellent. I'm tired out before the battery (I'm using 2.0 ah batteries - 1.5 and 1.0ah batteries will not last as long)*Cutting hardwood branches. This is where this saw does its best - from 3/4" branches up to 3-4" Oak branches, this saw steadily slices right through for a mostly clean cut (tip: notch the bottom bark then cut from the top to keep the bark from tearing)*Cutting larger softwood branches. This saw does a pretty good job cutting branches bigger than 1.5" on most softwood trees such as pine, cedar and even crepe myrtles.*Comfort... all pole saws are a pain to use over time, but this one is light enough to use for an extended period compared to gas.Weaknesses:*Cutting small branches and "suckers"... The challenge is that the chain moves rather slowly compared to gas saws which allows the branch to flex more during the cut. The softer the wood, the more pronounced this weakness is. The result is a badly chewed up branch stub that is more prone to disease after cutting.*Pole flex... the benefit of a light saw comes at a price of more flex. The chain tip flex distance is several inches, causing the saw to flop downwards at the end of a cut or in the process of cutting smaller / softer branches. You get used to it, but the lack of rigidity causes it to be a little less maneuverable and a little trickier to use than gas.Conclusion - I think this saw will last a solid 5 years for my use, by which time battery technology will probably improve for a next-generation product. This is for household use ONLY - I would not consider using this commercially.That being said, I think it is a good value overall as a homeowner. I'd recommend it to other light-duty users, especially over other entry-level brand offerings. Compared to bigger-name competition and gas saws, it is much less expensive and will do relatively infrequent cuts just fine.

• Jim D.

  I have to admit, my expectations for this tool were not sky-high when I purchased it. I decided to buy it for a number of reasons but mainly because I already owned two 20v B&D Li-Ion batteries which came with other B&D tools I already owned. The other reasons for the purchase were: 1) I could buy the tool bare, without the battery which cut about 40 bucks off the price and 2) B&D was offering a $10 discount at the time so all-in-all it seemed like a good time to make the purchase.From my experience with the B&D tools I already owned (leaf blower & hedge trimmer), I definitely went into this purchase with muted expectations. The 20v blower is good for blowing dry leaves and debris off the deck but that's about it, otherwise it's totally under-powered to perform more heavy duty leaf blowing (like when the leaves become a little wet). The hedge trimmer works well enough. So basically out of the two B&D 20v tools I already owned I was going into this with about 50% confidence that it would have enough power to do the job and then you have to wonder just how effective a cordless 20v electric pole saw could possibly be....Well let me tell you, pretty darn effective! When I received the package it arrived well intact and in good time considering the time of year the purchase was made so no complaints there. In the box were: instructions, the pole saw itself (which breaks down into three segments), a plastic bar/chain cover that has built in space for the bar oil container (small dropper container for the bar oil included) and the Allen wrench (also included). Again I went with the bare tool so no battery.After a brief overview of the instructions I put the saw together. The segments connect via heavy duty plastic twist-type connections which is one very small complaint that I have. If the connection could be a little more heavy duty it would be nice but the plastic seems heavy duty enough to hold up if you're careful when putting the tool together. You definitely have to be careful that you have the weight of whole thing under control somehow as you put it together. When you first insert the smaller plastic end into the larger plastic end (which only goes in one way as the power connection is made inside the joint) there could be a lot of stress on the connection if you're just trying to hold the saw without balancing the weight on something or have the unit laying on the ground while attempting to join the segments and tighten the joint at the same time. Once you get the connection completely tightened the joint becomes pretty strong. I'll definitely keep an eye on this as I use the saw this season and update my rating if the plastic connections fail me but otherwise no complaints after my trial run.We have a decent sized wooded lot with lots of small/medium sized trees so having something that doesn't require a plug-in is a must. We recently had a wet heavy snow bring a willow part way down. The trunk was split and the tree was hung up in a pine requiring a tool such as this to give me the reach to get up into the pine to alleviate the pressure. I found the 14' reach to be more than adequate for the job at hand. Once I got everything lined up, safety gear on, figured out where I was going to stand and bar/chain oiled and all that jive, it was time to cut.At first it felt like the saw was just bouncing on the limb, which I later measured to approximately 5 inches in diameter. Then I realized it was just the way I was holding the saw. Once I pushed it all the way to limb so that the grooved area of the saw body just below the bar was against the limb things totally stabilized and the saw did the rest. It sawed through the limb with ease much to my surprise. I really thought there would be some catching or motor slowing but there was not. I proceeded to cut the branch into more manageable pieces, then I but a couple of birch branches that needed to be cleared away, cut another willow branch about the size of the first one and cut that one up into smaller pieces. All this on one charge and no sign of the battery losing charge. It certainly appears that will two fully charged batteries I should be able to do all my summer cutting with ease.All-in-all I'm very happy with this tool. My only question is about the durability of the unit with the plastic connections but so far so good so not going to knock it until there's a reason to. I'll continue to be careful when I put the unit together and report any issues. I'm looking forward to a summer of pruning some of the higher trees we've been wanting to prune but could get to the limbs but now I have a tool that will help me accomplish this. I definitely recommend this saw to anyone looking for an inexpensive cutting tool that'll give you some reach. Given the price and performance of this tool I couldn't be happier.

• Treefr0g

  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!!!

• Nancy Coleman

  This pole saw is light weight and easy to use. It extends enough that I can cut lower branches without climbing. A 20v battery is required and lasts for a long time. I like it so much that this is the second saw I've purchased.

• Kansas Coast

  I have owned this for over two years and find it has worked well for trimming the dead palm fronds from my trees. I have had to adjust the chain a few times - but it still cuts well. My tallest tree became difficult to trim because it has grown so tall that the last time I cut it with the pole saw, as it came, I had to stand on the second or third step of my ladder. To remedy that I went looking into the questions and answers here just last month and found that another extension could be purchased at https://www.ereplacementparts.com/middle-ext-pole-p-1803807.html; and that it would require that the orange rib on one end be removed and the opposite side of that connector would need to be flattened. Several people indicated that having a pole that long would also be difficult to maneuverer and that you would probably need to keep it as vertical as possible while using it.I decided to follow those suggestions as I'm too old to be falling off ladders with a pole saw in my hands. I bought the extension and installed it as suggested. I found that the shaft needed support and was afraid that it might flex too much and possibly break with a whiplash after cutting a limb. I decided to provide more support to the shaft by clamping on a 1-in x 10-ft 450-PSI Schedule 40 White PVC Pipe. I bought two swivel clamps here at Amazon, Global Truss Jr Swivel Clamps. The outside diameter of that one-inch pipe and the diameter of the pole for the saw are both around 35mm - so these clamps worked. They allow me to quickly remove the support from the saw when In need a shorter saw. I also used three velcro straps to better secure the pipe to the pole where the extensions connect. See the picture. If you do this you may want to buy cheaper clamps (but these swivel clamps and Velcro allow me to easily dissemble it) as my reinforcement including the price of the extension costs me around $80. Place the pipe so the it supports the shaft in the plane of the chain saw blade - I believe it's preferable to have it on the bottom side of the saw, which I use to make the cut.What I will say is that the combination is difficult to maneuver with five or so pounds of chain saw on the end of an almost 11 foot pole. After completing this reinforcement and extension I cut 12 palm fronds which were from 16 to 17 feet above the ground. I found that I could best prepare to cut one by holding the saw vertical and resting the blade on the trunk of the palm. After sighting where I wanted to cut I would slowly raise it to where the frond joined the trunk and then step to the side a little to allow the weight of the saw to assist in the cut by holding it less vertical. That was the reason I reinforced it with the pipe - because after it cuts through - there's a need to pull the saw back causing the pole to flex if it's not reinforced.Modifying the extra extension was easy - I ground off the rib using a bench grinder and also used it to flattened the opposite side. In conclusion - try this at your own risk - but it has worked for me. Being long in the tooth - I was tired after wielding that long pole saw for 12 cuts though.I've found no issues with this saw in more than 2 years and therefore gave it a 5 star rating.

• Michael A. Lee

  I have owned this for several years, using it regularly. To the positive, is does cut branches and small logs very very well. It has a standard chain and can be resharpened as with any normal chain saw to keep it in tip top shape. Do keep it lubricated and clean and it will do its job. It is very handy when cutting tree limbs and gives you the reach that you need to simplify an otherwise awkward task. It is so convenient that I find myself grabbing it from the garage for a quick trim whenever I decide a small branch or limb needs cut. I even use when I could use a regular chain saw just because it is quick and easy.Now, the negatives are two primary issues. First, the plastic chain guard is constantly getting clogged with leaves and branches. It seems like the folks in the testing lab must have brought in wood logs and buzzed away without ever taking it outside to a real tree. In a real tree, you are reaching up into small branches and leaves and they get grabbed by the chain and pulled into the chain guard and you have to stop and clean it often. It is a simple design flaw that is irritating. The second consideration is the battery and charger. The 20 V battery is really quite solid and provides more than enough power for about 15 minutes or real use. The problem that develops is the charger is so weak that it takes 4 to 6 hours to recharge. This is exactly the same battery used in other B&D 20 volt tools (B&D MAX and some of those tools are the same as the Craftsman Bolt-On tools, all use the same battery with a different name. The Craftsman tools (that I own) come with a charger that is much faster; under 2 hours for a charge. (I have three batteries and two weak B&D chargers and the Craftsman charger.) So, if you want to use this more than 15 minutes a day, consider extra batteries and maybe the Black & Decker L2ACF-OPE 20V MAX Lithium Ion Fast Charger that comes with the B&D MAX and Matrix tools. On the plus side, the charger that comes with it works well over night and knows to turn itself off when the charging is done.All said and done, I would buy this again because it is just so convenient but I would go for at least one extra battery, probably the high capacity 4 Amp-hour version.

• Brian L.

  After Day #1 of use, had the pole saw broken, i would have immediately bought another one. i had gotten so much done with it, that it essentially paid for itself. battery gives you about 30- 45 minutes of solid sawing. luckily i have 5 spares. i love this saw and will eventually buy another just like it

• Chris S.

  Saw works good . The chain isn't very good. Any saw built with out an automatic oiler isn't worth any deal the manufacturer puts on their equipment to get you to buy it. Plastic pole isn't sturdy enough for you to use as guide to help keep limbs from swinging towards you when they start to break loose and swing towards you .