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* 4.5 amp motor for powerful and fast cutting * Innovative clamping jaws grab and cut in one easy motion * Heavy duty cutting bar and chain deliver fast cutting of thick branches and logs * 4" cutting capacity for cutting heavy branches to big for manual pruners * Includes protective glasses and soft storage bag Not A Toy -- By chance, my Alligator Lopper arrived two days before a big ice storm. Lots of tree branches on the ground. The lopper made quick work of all but the largest branches. The machine held up very well. I especially enjoy the kit accessories, which include a carrying bag, extension cord, and safety glasses. Great Idea, Really Poor Design -- This tool is a great idea, but poorly designed, engineered, and executed. When using the tool, the turning blade throws chips back into the closed "jaws" that clamp onto a branch when cutting; result is that chips collect behind, over, and under the turning chain and quickly throw the chain off its spinning oval wheel. I've never gotten more than 10 minutes of work out of it without having to take it all apart, clean out the chain area, and reinstall the chain!! Hours later you realize that you haven't accomplished much on your project because you've spent at least as much time taking apart, cleaning out, and reinstalling the chain. (It's like riding a bicycle and the chain falls off every 10 minutes. But there is no fix.) I have examined the chain, and it is the right length/not too long. The tool continually throws chips into the back of the jaws and sooner rather than later forces the chain off its mount. You would think that the Black and Decker engineers would have figured this out ahead and at least designed jaws that were a metal open frame, or some other designe, so that some chips could fall through at least, rather than the closed bucket for incoming chips. And by the way, the tool is not designed with a lever or clamp to keep these jaws open when it's unplugged and disengaged (see above) when you're working on it; consequently, it's really enjoyable to be trying to spring the jaws open at the same time that you're trying to clean out chips and remount the chain. Your hands get gouged in the process as the jaws have sharp enough teeth to hold onto a branch and they're spring-loaded to stay closed. Possibly you could keep the handles open at the same time, which might help, with that fifth hand? A lever or lock to keep it open would have been simple. To get the job done, a tool like this doesn't need 2 jaws anyway; one is enough to hold the branch against the blade, the other is just in the way. Oh, did I mention oil? The manual basically says to keep adding oil all the time--so even if the chain didn't continually get forced off, you would still be stopping your work to add oil. And, do you think like most tools there would be some way to gauge how much oil is in the oil tank? No way. No clear reservoir so that you can see how much you filled it, when you do, and how much remains in the reservoir. The bottle of oil sent with the unit is ridiculous; you have to use the nose of the bottle to press through a plastic opening on the unit and squeeze the bottle. While doing this, the bottle spout pushes closed; and again, you can't tell how much might have gone into the reservoir, how much it holds, or if it needs any at the time. The whole deal is just bad design, engineering and execution. Thank you for wasting my money, B & D. The other 2 favorable reviews must be from company hires. Wait for Stihl or some other company to come out with something that's designed for real work, not just marketing. I Love My 'Gator! -- Great tool. Easy to use, not like a regular chain saw, which I am afraid of. Great for DIY females, your hubby doesn't have to hover over you when using to be sure you don't cut off a body part! Have to have both hands on the tool to run, shielded chain - so decreases your chance of injury. I run it from a generator when out in the woods for quick trail clearing and cleanup. Makes short work of understory trees when clearing land. It is a bit heavy trying to hold it at shoulder height and I had sore neck muscles the next few days because I was able to get SO much done that I overdid it. I didn't get an accessories kit when I bought mine but I wish I had! A bargain at the current $90 price with extra chain and bag. What'S In The Kit? -- Urgent update. I paid $99 and just noticed its been reduced to $65. Since I purchased this wonderful item within the last 30 days, I called Amazon and received an immediate credit. Great service. No waiting on line. I just received my lopper today (may 16). I was very surprised and pleased with the kit. It contains: Black and Decker workgloves, safety glasses, a long outdoor extension cord, and a very high quality bag. I was expecting a cheap cloth bag. This looks like a high quality canvas or nylon denier bag with the Black and Decker name. Bag is worth $20-25. 50 ft 16 Gauge extension-$8, glasses and gloves - $5.00. Why would anyone buy the Lopper itself, instead of the kit? Go to the Lopper kit-sold on Amazon. Must be an item specially made for Amazon. Doesn't exist elsewhere. Kit is not well described in description. One extra point on the bag. It is so useful for organizing tools and keeping them clean, I wanted to buy more and googled it. Apparently it's not available separately. It is on EBAY, but bags are smaller and shipping is high. Makes this kit an especially good value. I have quite a few low growing shrubs I needed to remove. They are very mature and thick. The woody thick stems are too low and bunched for a chain saw, and my hand lopper wore me out. This is a perfect tool for this use. As others have commented, lube system is stupid. It is gravity fed, so you need to hold the jaws toward the ground and slowly add oil. I did that, but also generously hand (paper towel) oiled the chain and bar before each use, as you do for manual oiled chainsaws. Lopper works great. Doesn't replace a hedge cutter. Works best for thicker (1/2-4 inch wood). I needed to cut 6 inch bases, and had to go around in a circle-worked great. The very thin woody stems kept catching in the Lopper, but I could keep cutting, and removed them after the cutting. You really need separate tools for each task. I have this lopper, a hedge trimmer, an electric chain saw, a gas chain saw, and a Fiskar pruner. Stay away from tools that claim to do it all. My preferred order of use is: 1. Hedge trimmer when possible. 2. Lopper (for safety). 3. Electric chainsaw (for safety. 4. Gas chain saw (when all else fails). I would best describe this as a safe kickback free chainsaw, that does work no chainsaw can do. I was lying on the ground cutting in a circle, just above ground level. Wow-It really worked great. I Love This Alligator! -- I've owned one of these for about a year now and have used it about 5 times. I just replaced the chain (I kind of abused the first one). I have had zero problems with my Alligator and am glad I saw a review for it in a magazine last year. I don't know why B and D does not advertise it better. I do take good care of it and clean it after each use with an old toothbrush, canned air and a bit of oil before storing it. My problem is that I get started cutting and just can't stop myself. This weekend I cut down two trees and turned another into a Bonsai!! With some persistence you can cut branches (wink, wink) that are greater in diameter than the 4". I just make several cuts in different directions and cut my way through. I have never had the chain come off the track and I keep it filled with oil. Don't hesitate to get one of these. It is in my personal top 5 power tools. This "kit" was not offered when I got mine but I would have gotten it if it had been cause this is a great price since you get a chain and bag too. (I paid about $105 on Amazon last year for mine). Binding : Tools & Hardware EAN : 0028877529547 Model : LP1000K UPC : 028877529547 See also:
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