Every one of us has heard of chainsaws. They are popular woodcutting tools for home and commercial use. But do you know there exists a tool that offers powerful performance and enhanced control while cutting limbs and branches? The tool is called a lopper or alligator lopper chainsaw. And the tool gets its name from its design and function.
The Aligator lopper chainsaw uses clamps on the side to hold the thick tree branch. And while the clamp holds the branch, a sharp cutting bar slides right through the wood. Thus, providing more control over the cut.
The biggest advantage of using a lopper saw is zero kickbacks. Even with the utmost care, there are a few times when you might have accidentally touched an electric chainsaw to the ground while cutting firewood and experienced a vigorous kickback. But this will not happen with a good lopper chainsaw in hand. So after analyzing various products we’ve come down to the 4 best lopper chainsaws of 2022.
Table of Contents
1) CRAFTSMAN V20* Cordless Lopper Chainsaw
Clean up your backyard like a pro with Craftsman cordless lopper saw. First of all, it is a cordless saw, therefore, eliminating the tension of long cords and refilling gas. Besides, the tool comes with a compatible battery and charger for use right after unboxing.
Fueled by a high-performance 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery, you can clear your small backyard of 1/2 acre in a single charge.
Featuring a 4-inch cutting diameter, the alligator saw is perfect to clean up your yard after a storm.
It is equipped with a 6-inch bar chain that provides a maximum 4″ cutting diameter. Therefore, the tool is good for shaping bushes and cutting thick limbs hanging off the tree.
And what we love the most about Craftsman cordless lopper saw is its scissor action clamping jaws.
The sharp, patented clamping jaws grab and hold branches of various thicknesses firmly for better cutting. And scissor-type cutting action only makes it convenient to cut down firewood in a single go.
It is important to remember that trigger of both the handles must be engaged while cutting to prevent accidental starting. Plus, it also provides maximum control.
Pros:
- Fast cutting scissor-type action with patented clamping jaws
- Compact design for pruning shrubs and trees
- Integrated hook to hang the tool safety after use
- Minimal maintenance with automatic oiling
- Includes battery and charger
- Best-in-class cordless lopper chainsaw for storm cleanup and home use
Cons:
- Feels a bit on the heavier side with a slightly unbalanced design
- Oil tank design should be better
Key Features:
- 6″ bar and chain
- 4-in cutting diameter
- Patented clamping jaws
- Auto oiling
- Weighs 9.48 pounds
- 3-year warranty
- 90-day money-back guarantee
2) BLACK+DECKER Alligator Lopper Cordless Chainsaw (Battery Powered)
Spending a hefty amount on a tree-cutting tool that you’ll only use once in a while doesn’t sound right. And actually, you don’t need a high-end tool for landscaping small to mid-size backyards.
So we’ve picked a budget alligator lopper chainsaw that is compact, lightweight, and powerful for home use. The tool comes with a heavy-duty cutting bar and chain that provides a cutting diameter of 4 inches. Thus, perfect for thick branches and logs.
And the performance of the tool is not limited to long cords. Yes, it is a battery-powered alligator saw that works with a 20-volt MAX lithium-ion battery system. However, you need to buy the battery and charger separately.
By attaching the right battery, the tool retains its charge 5x longer than similar 18-volt NiCad batteries. In short, you can expect up to 150 cuts of 1-1/2-inch branches per charge. Thus, enough to beautify your garden or clear up limbs after a bad storm.
Instead of cutting from top to bottom, the Black and Decker lopper saw cuts from side to side. This improves cutting efficiency and prevents the bar from hitting the dirt. Thus, resulting in no kickbacks.
In addition to safety, side-by-side cutting maintains the sharpness of the chainsaw for a long time. Thus, no additional costs to replace the chain after a few uses.
Pros:
- The box includes the main tool, wrench, bar and chain, oil bottle, and operating instructions
- Capable of cutting branches and limbs up to 4 inches thick
- Both the triggers must be actuated for operating the tool, thus, preventing accidental startups
- Energy star rated
- CSA listed
- Best budget Aligator chainsaw for beginners
Cons:
- Does not come with a battery or charger
- Overhead work is a bit difficult as it involves the use of both hands
Key Features:
- 6-in bar length
- 4-inch cutting diameter
- Dual-hand switches
- Patented clamping jaws
- 1/4-in chain pitch
- Weighs 6.80 lbs
- 2-year limited warranty
3) BLACK+DECKER Lopper Chain Saw
Experience uninterrupted power with the Black and Decker electric lopper chainsaw. This little yet powerful 4.5-amp alligator saw is perfect for home use.
With heavy-duty clamping jaws and a sharp chainsaw, it becomes a breeze to clean the yard with the tool. Apart from regular landscaping of your yard, you can also use the tool for storm cleanup. Or simply, collect firewood for barbecue season.
Instead of a cheap plastic cover, the Black + Decker lopper saw features a metal guard. This cover sits nicely just over the top of the chainsaw preventing the chain from an accidental cut. Besides, it also enhances user safety.
Just like a majority of home alligator saw, the Black & Decker LP1000 also features a 6-inch bar. Therefore, providing a cutting capacity of 4 inches.
You’ll never run out of power with this tool as it is a corded lopper chainsaw. However, you’ll have to deal with extension cords which is no biggie especially if you’re collecting firewood.
Plus, there are dual safety switches that make it easy and safe to operate the saw in a side-by-side cutting action.
Pros:
- Includes oil bottle and wrench
- Metal guards for added protection
- The grab-and-cut scissor-like cutting action
- UL listed
- Low VOC
- Best rated corded electric alligator saw under $100
Cons:
- Poorly designed oiling system
- You have to deal with long cords
Key Features:
- 6″ bar
- 4″ cutting capacity
- Clamping jaws
- Metal guards
- 1/4-in chain pitch
- Weighs 6.50 lbs
- 2-year limited warranty
4) WORX WG320 20V Power Share JawSaw Cordless Chainsaw
Cutting firewood when the log is laying down is quite risky, also with an alligator saw. So does that mean you’ll have to lift the lof before cutting?
However, you don’t actually have the log and metal clamps on the sides hold the log for proper cutting. But what if we say that now you can hassle-free cut a thick branch directly on the ground.
Sounds like someone took a bag of stones off your back. And now it is possible with Worx Power Share JawSaw cordless chainsaw.
This JawSaw is the only chainsaw with a full protective guard. Therefore, which aids in direct cutting from the ground. Also, the metal guards retract into the base when the tool is not in use.
Just like the above lopper saws, Worx WG320 also saws through material up to 4 inches in diameter. So clearing up your backyard after a storm or simply landscaping your garden would not be an issue with this tool.
For better efficiency, the Worx cordless Aligator lopper saw features an automatic chain oiler. This helps to keep the chain well lubricated at all times for better chopping.
Unlike a majority of lopper saws, Worx WG320 offers an oil-level indicator. This helps you keep the oil level to the mark for smoother operation.
Pros:
- Evenly balanced design eases maneuvering around overhead branches
- Automatic chain oiler with oil level indicator
- Auto-tension system ensures optimal tension at all times
- It is the only chainsaw with a fully covered guard
- This tool is compatible with Worx’s 5-foot pole attachment for easy trimming of high branches
- Best power lopper saw for direct cuts on the ground
Cons:
- Charging battery takes time
Key Features:
- 6-in guide bar length
- 1/4-in chain pitch
- No-load speed: 1350/min
- Auto oiling system
- Auto chain tensioning
- Weighs 7.1 lbs
- 3-year warranty
What is an Alligator Lopper?
An alligator lopper is a lightweight electric/cordless tool that is used for cutting thick tree branches of up to 4 inches. Lopper chainsaws are popular for residential use as they are highly safe.
Instead of an exposed chainsaw, the bar is enclosed by metal guards. And these guards have a spike-like design on one side that helps to grab the tree branch or limb properly.
While the sharp teeth hold the branch, the chainsaw cuts it in a side-by-side cutting action. Such scissor-type cutting action avoids the contact of the chainsaw with the ground resulting in zero kickbacks.
What is a lopper chainsaw used for?
Lopper chainsaws just like regular saws are good for multi-purpose use. These include,
- Limb/brach cutting
- Trimming long branches for firewood
- Landscaping garden
- Clearing up after a storm
- Pruning
Can you cut branches with alligator loppers?
Yes, you can easily cut branches with an alligator lopper. Any lopper saw with a bar length of 6-inch can cut through a branch measuring 4 inches in diameter.
Thus, this is enough to for most backyard trees. Besides, there are some large alligator loppers in the market that offers a cutting capacity of up to 8-inches.
These are generally used for commercial applications and are quite heavy to lift. In short, alligator lopper saws are best for cutting thick tree branches easily and safely.
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Bottom Line
Lopper chainsaws are perfect for homeowners to prune thick tree branches safely.
Thanks to the design of the tool that resembles the jaws of an alligator. While the sharp metal spikes take hold of the branch, a sharp running chainsaw cuts through it.
Thus, you can collect firewood for bbq season without having to worry about brutal kickbacks.
An alligator saw offers better control over the tool for precise cutting of wood. And now that you’ve got the best lopper saws list, it will be easy for you to pick the best one for your yard.
