Black & Decker LP1000 Alligator Lopper - Tool Review
Honeysuckle grows wild in Tennessee. Not that I’m an expert in gardening, but honeysuckle is one of those plants that takes on many forms… it’s a vine, but it can also grow in the form of a bush or a small tree. Most people consider it a weed, but I like the smell of honeysuckle, so as long as the trees or bushes stay manageable, they can stay. But, one of the small honeysuckle “trees” in my yard didn’t fare so well through the drought we’ve been having, so it was time to cut it down. Most of the branches of the honeysuckle tree are smaller than 4 inches in diameter, making it the perfect specimen to use the Black & Decker LP1000 Alligator Lopper.
The LP1000 is corded, so the hardest part of using the Alligator is dragging the cord through the yard. But the cord provides plenty of power to easily make the cuts. I’ve read several reviews of people buying this thinking that it would replace the “scary” standard chainsaw. That is not the case, and it’s not designed for that. It’s not going to take down a large tree, but it will take down large branches up to 4 inches in diameter, and it will take them down with ease.
The design of the tool is like that of hand loppers, but it’s power assisted with the chain (like a chainsaw) to make cutting comfortable and easy. If you just let the tool do the work, it’s a very simple tool to use. You have to push the triggers on both handles and then slightly push the two sides of the mouth of the tool together, but once the chain bites into the wood, it pulls itself together if you just don’t try too hard.
Some things to note:
1) A lot of reviews I read talked about the safety of the tool and how it felt so much safer than using a chain saw, and it is safer in many aspects, but please, please, please keep in mind that tool safety is all about how the user actually handles the tool. It’s still a chainsaw in many ways, so ALWAYS unplug the tool if you are working on the chain, or if you need to clear a jam. NEVER put your fingers or hand near the chain while the tool is plugged in.
2) The negative reviews I read talked about 2 things in particular. One was that the chain would get loose and you have to tighten it a lot. I have not found that to be the case as long as you don’t overwork the tool past it’s recommended capacity, but I have also found that adjusting the chain is VERY simple, so that should not stop you from using this tool.
3) Secondly, people complained about how often you have to oil the tool. You will need to oil the tool regularly to keep it running in tip-top shape. But that is also very simple and should NOT be a negative. The oil reservoir is clearly marked, and Black & Decker recommends using high quality bar and chain oil or SAE30 weight motor oil to lubricate the chain and bar.
Overall, I like this tool, and although I know I’m going to have to go back and clean up the larger base of the tree with a standard chainsaw, using this lighter, easier-to-use powered lopper to take the branches down made the job easier and quicker, which is really the point of having the right tool for the job, right?
To purchase the Black & Decker Alligator corded loppers on Amazon.com: CLICK HERE
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