Craftsman V20 CMCCSP20M1 Cordless Pole Saw Review

Craftsman lists this tool as a pole chainsaw, and that name causes confusion. It is a saw head mounted on a pole, not a handheld chainsaw, and the model number sits in a V20 line with several similar-looking numbers, so check you are on the right one before you order.

With the handle and head you get about 6 ft of tool, and about 9 ft once the extension is fitted. The head is angled, with an angled blade, and a branch-removal hook sits on the housing. The handle carries a hook that fits the VERSATRACK wall system.

The manual sets the intended use: limbs up to 8 inches in diameter.

The maximum reach with the extension pole is up to 14 feet. It is a reach figure, not a length.

In practice, a standing user can get the blade to roughly 14 ft up. Anyone expecting a 14-ft pole will be disappointed, and that gap between the claim and the tool is the most common complaint among buyers on Amazon, where opinion on reach is split. The tool itself measures about 9 ft with the extension and about 6 ft without it.

The manual requires the threaded sleeves to be fully seated, with no red threads visible.

The bare tool weighs 6 lb. Buyers on Amazon are divided on weight: some call it lightweight, others find it too heavy to hold out on the pole. The balance point matters more than the number, so hold one at arm's length if you can before buying.

Sturdiness draws the clearest criticism. Buyers on Amazon most often describe the pole as flimsy and wobbly, and the flex is most noticeable at full extension.

The 8-inch bar sets the working range. A limb close to the bar length needs a two-sided cut: make the first cut on the underside about 6 inches from the trunk, using the top of the bar, about a third of the way through, then finish from the top.

Buyers on Amazon back the capability. Their reviews most often praise cutting performance, with four-inch branches going quickly and limbs from 2 to 6 inches handled with ease. That is the comfortable range: stay at or below 6 inches for clean, quick work.

The chain dulls immediately if it touches ground, stones, masonry or nails. An auto-stop chain braking system stops the chain when you release the trigger or on kickback.

The kit includes the CMCB204 4.0Ah battery and a V20 charger. The voltage is 20 volts.

The figure of up to 325 cuts per charge comes with its basis: 2x2 pine with the 4.0Ah battery. That is a small-wood count, not a count of 6-inch limbs, and real runtime on green hardwood will be lower. Buyers on Amazon most often praise battery life, so the 4.0Ah pack holds up for the pruning most owners do.

The battery is shared with the rest of the V20 outdoor and power tool range, which is the practical argument for the kit over the tool-only version: one set of packs covers the trimmer, the blower and the drill as well.

There is no oil tank and no automatic oiler. Lubricate the whole chain evenly before each use, and again whenever a discharged battery is swapped for a charged one.

Replacement parts are chain CMZCSC8 and bar CMZCSB8: 8-inch, 3/8-inch low-profile pitch, .043-inch gauge, 34 drive links.

• Cuts 2- to 6-inch limbs quickly and cleanly within its intended range.
• Good battery life for the class, with a 4.0Ah battery and a charger in the box.
• Easy for a homeowner to run: light enough to handle, simple controls, a clear manual.
• Reaches overhead work without a ladder, which is the whole point of the tool.
• Shares the V20 battery platform with the rest of the range.
• 3-year limited warranty.

• The reach is up to 14 feet with the extension pole.
• The pole feels flimsy and wobbly at full extension, and buyers on Amazon are mostly negative on sturdiness.
• Weight on the pole divides opinion: fine for short sessions, tiring held out at full reach.
• No oil tank, so the chain must be oiled by hand before every use and at every battery swap.
• The 8-inch bar and the manual's limb limit put thick limbs out of scope.
• Brushless motor.
• Not for felling, not for ladder use, not one-handed.

Craftsman also sells the CMCCSP20B, the same pole saw sold as a bare tool with no battery and no charger. It comes with the saw, an extension pole and a wrench. Choose the CMCCSP20B if you already own V20 batteries and a charger. Choose the CMCCSP20M1 kit if you need a battery and charger in the box.