Black+Decker LPP120 Pole Saw Review

Buyers on Amazon most often praise how the saw cuts, and the spec sheet backs up the shape of that praise: an 8-inch bar with a 6-inch maximum cutting diameter covers the limbs most homeowners actually want gone.

Light and balanced for overhead work

The in-line powerhead puts the battery at the butt end of the pole, so the saw stays manageable up high and you can see along the bar between branches. Buyers on Amazon are divided on weight: some call it fairly light, others say it gets heavy quickly. Both are true at once, because a light saw held out at full extension still works against your shoulders.

Clean cuts on small and medium limbs

Buyers on Amazon describe the saw cutting branches with plenty of power, and the 8-inch bar and 6-inch maximum cut suit typical pruning rather than firewood work. Keep the bar longer than the branch is thick and the cut stays clean.

Reach without a ladder

The three-piece pole gives 6.5 ft of usable length, or 10 ft with the center extension, for an overhead reach of up to 14 ft. That covers most homeowner pruning from the ground.

Cordless convenience and no emissions

There is no cord to drag across the yard and no gas to mix, and the saw releases zero emissions while it runs. The battery also holds its charge well when the tool sits idle between jobs.

Battery-system value

The LPP120 is part of the 20V MAX system, so its battery and charger work with other tools on that platform. For a buyer already on it, that is the strongest argument for this saw.

Easy storage and a two-year warranty

The unit disassembles for storage and transport, which matters if the saw lives on a garage shelf between seasons. The warranty is a 2-year limited one.

Most ratings on Amazon are four or five stars, and the topics buyers raise most are quality, cutting performance and value for money, all leaning positive.

The trade-offs are the price of a light, simple occasional-use tool, and they show up in daily ownership more than in the first cut.

Manual oiling only

There is no oil tank and no automatic oiler. You oil the bar and chain by hand from the included bottle before use and again at each battery swap. This is the main chore of owning the saw.

The pole does not telescope

It is a fixed three-piece design with an extension, so you get 6.5 ft or 10 ft, not a length you can dial in.

A small 1.5 Ah battery

The 1.5 Ah battery is rated for up to 100 cuts of 1.5-in. pine branches on a single charge. Buyers on Amazon are divided on battery life, and the complaint that comes up most among them is short runtime in real cutting. Charge time with the included charger is long.

Chain durability and chain throwing

Chain durability is the topic buyers on Amazon raise most negatively, with reports of the chain coming off. That ties back to the manual tensioning routine, which has to be kept up.

Not convertible

The head does not detach, so the LPP120 cannot be used as a standalone chainsaw. It is a pole saw only.

None of this makes it a bad saw. It makes it a light-duty one, and each limit is manageable with the right habits.

These are the figures that decide whether the saw fits your trees and your battery drawer.

The item weight is listed at 10.1 lb. Weight figures vary between listings, because some give the tool alone and others the boxed kit, so check which one you are reading before you compare.

The 6-inch maximum cut is the number to hold on to: it sets the biggest limb the saw is meant for, and it is why the bar is 8 inches long.

Two habits keep this saw cutting well: oil before every session and check the chain often.

Oiling the bar and chain

Oil the bar and chain before each use and again at every battery change, using the bottle that comes in the box. There is no automatic oiler, and a dry chain wears the bar and chain faster and makes the cut drag.

Chain tension

Check tension regularly, especially in the first hours of use while a new chain stretches. Check the chain tension after a job.

Replacement chain

The saw takes the RC800 replacement chain. Buy that chain when the old one wears out or breaks.

Battery care

The 1.5 Ah lithium-ion battery holds its charge well while the saw sits idle, so it is ready between jobs, and it fits other tools on the 20V MAX system. Charge it with the included Smart charger before a session, since charging takes a while. Expect shorter runtime in real cutting than the 100-cut figure suggests, and plan your work in sessions rather than one long pass.

Warranty and first checks

Register the 2-year limited warranty and check the battery and charger early, so any fault shows up inside the warranty window.

The LPP120 is the kit: one 20V MAX lithium-ion battery, a Smart charger, the center extension, blade guard, oil bottle and wrench are all in the box. The LPP120B is the same pole saw sold as a bare tool, with the extension, blade guard, oil bottle and wrench but no battery and no charger. Choose the LPP120B if you already own 20V MAX batteries and a charger, and the LPP120 if you do not.

A pole saw puts the cut above your head, so where you stand matters as much as how you cut.

• Never stand under the branch you are cutting. Work from the side and at an angle, so a falling limb drops clear of you.
• Keep the work area clear. Keep people and pets well back, and look for anything below the branch that a falling limb could hit.
• Stay well away from power lines. Never cut near overhead lines. A 10 ft pole with up to 14 ft of reach can easily come within contact distance.
• Wear protection. Use eye protection, gloves, a hard hat and sturdy footwear, because sawdust and bark fall straight toward your face.
• Keep both feet on the ground and use both hands. The saw is meant to replace the ladder, so do not climb with it. Take long limbs off in smaller pieces from the tip inward, and fit the blade guard when you finish.
• It is a pruning and limbing tool. Stay within the 6-inch maximum cutting diameter and leave large limbs, trunks and storm damage to a professional.