Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45284 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Black & Decker
• Model: LP1000K

Features

• Powerful 4.5 Amp motor
• Innovative clamping jaws grab and cut in one easy motion
• Cuts branches and logs up to four inches in diameter
• Six inch bar length; weighs 6-1/2 pounds
• limited 2-year warranty; includes protective glasses and soft storage bag

Amazon.com Product Description
The Black & Decker LP1000K Alligator Lopper 4.5 Amp Electric Chain Saw Kit is an ideal tool for pruning tree branches up to four inches in diameter, cutting branches into manageable pieces, and cutting of fallen branches after storms. Its 4.5 Amp motor provides powerful, fast cutting and its innovative clamping jaws grab and cut in one easy motion. Also included is a heavy duty cutting bar and chain to deliver fast cutting of thick branches and logs. With a six-inch bar length and with a weight of 6-1/2 pounds, this electric chain saw comes backed by a limited 2-year warranty. This electric chain saw kit includes protective glasses and a soft storage bag.

From the Manufacturer
The LP1000K has innovative clamping jaws that grab and cut in one easy motion. The LP1000K has a 4" cutting capacity for cutting heavy branches too big for manual pruners and loppers. The LP1000K's heavy duty cutting bar and chain deliver fast cutting of thick branches and logs. The LP1000K has a 4.5 amp motor for powerful and fast cutting. The LP1000K is good for cutting branches up to 4" in diameters, cutting branches into manageable pieces and cutting fallen branches after storms.

Customer Reviews

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.

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.

What's in the kit?

I just received my lopper 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.