Pocketech’s Back-to-Basics Kit: 48 Inch High Tree Limb Hand Chain Saw- Upgraded Chain with 50% More Blades- 62 Teeth- Blades on Both Sides so it Doesn't Matter How it Lands

When it cuts it cuts great. It does bind up though. Can't imagine using one with teeth only on one side either. Absolutely works better with two people, but will still bind up. No way any kind of throwing sack was going to work in the wooded area I was working in so attached a thin line to the pulling rope, then shot the thin line over the high branch with a cheap kid's bow and dull tip arrow. Bow didn't have enough power to directly shot the puling rope over, hence the thin line. Binds up tight at times, my nephew and I, good sized guys, had to both pull on one side of the rope with all or effort to free the chain on a number of occasions. You better stock up on some patience before using this, but it will work with some thought, patience and effort. Think the product itself is 5 star, gave a 3 star review for the overall use.

Let me start my saying that this type of tool can do things no other can and help the homeowner to avoid hiring a professional who would change megabucks for use of a bucket truck. Every cut takes considerable time, mostly in preparation, but it can be time well spent.There are a number of brands and styles of a chainsaw style limb/rope saw. I have no experience with others but from what I've read this one is one of the best because of tits two-sided cutting ability and high count of cutters. My experience with this one has been positive overall but mixed. As some others have posted, it's probably best used by two people to enhance safety and help avoid binding. After getting a feel of using it this saw cuts well and quickly, at least at the beginning of a cut, even with just one person. The saw inherently cuts on three sides so it does have a tendency to bind after cutting about 2/3 through a branch. The tendency to bind increases near the end of cut. My best luck was with large branches, long ones with a base over 5 inches in diameter, they tend to break-off early before the saw starts to bind frequently. The saw is freed and typically drops when limbs break. Smaller branches are more difficult and I've had the saw bind so badly that it couldn't be freed by ropes. In this case it must be dislodged somehow or the branch broken-off by another means. I had one three-inch branch that cut mostly through when the chain jammed tightly, leaving about a 1 inch diameter connection. I was able to connect a heavy rope to that branch, pull if off with my truck and the chain and lines dropped to the ground. My experience was all with maples in the fall after the leaves had dropped. I suspect things would go better with softwood trees or hardwoods with leaves in-place, that would make the branch much heavier and help it to break-off earlier without such a deep cut.

This is not heaven sent or a miracle cure. But it does present a solution for some situations. It gets bound up pretty easily, at least in a 4-5" white pine branch (several of them, multiple times). But the double teeth in the version "2", closer spaced means it probably cuts faster than the alternatives. and being 48" L means you can see-saw farther on each cut. I don't have the older one to compare. I have two large pine trees right next to our propane tank that I'm de-limbing so I can eventually drop them in the Spring. This is a workout, unless you're a body builder and don't expect to zip, zip zip your way all day long. And I'm working over 30' up from the ground, so long cords. Paracord is expensive but doesn't stretch like most of the nylon cord you get at the home improvement stores. But as this is the alternative to hiring an arborist with a bucket truck to the tune of over a grand I will be patient. Product within its practical limitations seems to be an OK design.

This is my second hand chainsaw. The first had fewer teeth and on only one side. You've probably seen those. Having cutting teeth on both sides is a big plus. Ditto on commenters regarding the use of a slingshot, large hex nut, fishing line. I wrapped the nut with red tape to help me keep an eye on it. Also, wear safety glasses. Slingshots and falling sawdust are eye hazards. It helps to have 2 people for larger branches (5" and greater). Cuts best when a slight resistance is applied on the slack side. Too much and you can't pull the chain through--too little and it doesn't cut well. You'll get the feel for it.

This product works phenomenally well!I bought it to cut a widow-maker oak limb over my driveway. The limb was 30 feet up, and 8" diameter.I bought this and 100' paracord, and cut through the limb (OAK!) in 10 minutes.Some advice:1. Paracord makes a great "rope" for this. The smaller diameter paracord (3/16") fits the holes, but is hard on the hands. I wrapped the ends around some PVC pipe (will use wood blocks next time) and created a handle. I bought the bright orange cord so I could spot it easily.2. Don't pause during cutting. I stopped for a minute to take a break and the wind shifted the limb and bound the saw. I was able to get it dislodged and cut through.

Ok, so I've good and bad about these types of saws. So I made sure I got this one because it is a double sided blade so no matter which sided it landed on when i threw it over the branch, it started cutting. I was very surprised at how well it cut. It was easy, not streneous, and I was able to cut through 6 or so 2" to 4" thick branches about 20' feet up. I would suggest that when you start cutting you make sure you are standing in front of the branch several feet, keeping the bladed at about a 15 degree angle to the branch, so that it won't get jammed. If you do this, the weight of the branch will pull it away from the blade as it seperates. Otherwise, if you cut straight up and down, it may tend to jam alot. Great product, highly reommend!

Does not work well on large branches. Because of the large radius it tends to lay down on its side and then gets bent. On smaller branches it should work fine because the small radius will force it to stand up correctly. I did like the fact that it has teeth on both sides.. By the way, a slingshot and fishing line works well to get it up over high branches. Tie the fishing line to parachute cord and then pull it over.

Amazing tool ,hard work but saves a lot of ladder climbing so your feet are always on the ground.