I got this to take down some dead branches that I could not reach with my pole saw. Being dead branches I expected them to be a bit harder to cut with the chain but it cuts rather well. It can be a real struggle doing the task by yourself though. It went much smoother once I got help and we spread way apart (like 20+ feet) and sawed back and forth. I think doing it yourself binds the chain much quicker as it is wrapping around the whole branch instead of cutting down through it. As mentioned in other reviews it will bind and possibly get stuck when the branch begins to fall. Have some extra rope to toss around the branch and pull it the rest of the way out of the tree. Do not think you are going to do a lot with this in one day (especially in the summer) as it is pretty tiring after a few! Overall it works, you just need a helper and some extra rope on hand to be happy.

Very good saw chain. Might need to upgrade the metal hooks eventually.

Works as expected. I was able to remove a 5 inch oak limb and an 8 inch pine limb. Like any manual saw, effort and persistence is required. I encountered a problem with binding, but the saw was strong enough to withstand the tension needed to break it loose. To avoid pinching I attached a second rope to the end of the limb and applied tension with a come-along, keeping the cut open, preventing binding. This saw is longer than most, allowing the ideal back and forth play. The package includes rope of sufficient length to reach any limb within a safe height. However, I had to slide the pull grips up the rope and tie a stop knot underneath each to set the needed pull length. There were no instructions on either the need or method of doing this. I have used the saw on two limbs, with no noticeable blade dulling. Overall, I was satisfied with the performance. Safety note: the hardwood limb fell quickly, rather than slowly cracking and breaking as expected. Fortunately, I was sawing at an angle away from the limb, rather than standing directly underneath. Someone with less experience may encounter problems using this type of saw. It comes with little instruction, guidance, and helpful hints.

The first and so far only job was to cut excess trunk of avocado tree, about 4-5 inches diameter. The saw cut nicely, but bound up after a while. It could, I think, behave differently on different kind of wood. I might have done better with two people on opposite sides of tree, rather than one person where the chain formed a U shape. Make sure the S-hooks are well closed so you don't lose one rope connection as I did. Getting the first rope end over the trunk to be cut required a long pole and some experimentation. I tied a 1/2 inch shackle to the rope end for its weight and as something easy to grab with my pole.

I read numerous reviews regarding this product and many had merit however if you take some basic precautions, it can be a very effective tool. What is good about this one lies in it having the cutting teeth on both sides of the chain...that is essential. The blade is very effective and can cut through thick branches quickly. I used it on branches that were up to 10" in diameter on limbs about 15' up. I can't speak to how long the tool will last but I will say that without it, my only option was to pay someone to come out and cut the high branches I need removed and that would have been costly...as in, at least 20x the cost of this tool. What I found to be important was to have two people, one on either side, pulling the cord. Also, the chain needs to be keep straight...in other words, the other person pulling needs to be pulling with the cord and chain in a straight line in relation to the other person. If you are pulling it at an angle, the chain is almost certainly going to get lodged and you can bend it. Further, you need to make best efforts to have the chain as flat/straight as possible versus curved into the wood as you cut. To do so, you want to step back as much as you can versus standing right under the limb you are cutting...again, this helps prevent the chain from being pulled tightly into the branch you are cutting and subsequently jammed into the cutting groove. Even in the best of circumstances, it can and will get stuck but we were able to get it out with a little pulling back and forth. We cut about 6 big branches in no time. You actually spend more time tossing the line over the branch than cutting it. Which leads me to my last piece of advice...I took the bag that holds the kit and placed a rock in it and attached on side of the cord to the bag...I then used the weighted bag to toss over the branch I wanted to cut...that helped us more effectively get the line over...versus trying to toss the handle over which can get stuck and doesn't have enough weight to naturally pull it down...the cord and handle are too light and thus can get stuck just on the bark of the limb.