Overmont Reinforced-Type Pocket Chainsaw (56inch-48teeth) Hand Chainsaw 48 Teeth Portable Bidirectional Chain Tree Saw for Gardening Survival Outdoor Camping Wood Cutting

The 48 Tooth Overmont hand chainsaw is useful for the following ...1) For cutting tree roots or low limbs a few cm above the ground. You can dig under a root then thread the saw under the gap. In the past I had to use an axe for removing Spruce roots but it was like hitting rubber as they are tough. You can also blunt an axe by hitting rocks.2) Cutting high limbs. By attaching ropes to the handles I've cut a 10cm limb about 10 metres above ground but this is probably near the height limit. This was at a 45 degrees angle where the cut was always trying to open up. If you cut a vertical limb it will tend to increasingly pinch the chain during the cut. It also helps to use rope that doesn't stretch under tension much. An alternative to this product is a Pole Saw but for long poles these bend when applying the force needed to make the cut. The added bonus with ropes is you can put some distance between you and the cut. The downside is a potentially stuck saw out of reach unless you can snap the branch using the ropes.3) Where you don't want to carry a bulky bow saw :-)The downsides ...1) Much slower than a bow saw for cutting logs for the fire. This applies even more if using the extra sharp and hardened 'Swedish' brand bow saw blades.2) On most cuts the chain will get stuck, especially toward the end of the cut. This is because the cut shape is a U. If you start to cut on the side of a branch in tension such as on a horizontal limb, when you get well into the cut and the limb starts to bend the straight sides of the U shape will get compressed. It is best to change position as you cut as the radius of the U shape will decrease over time and the individual links will be forced to rotate through an ever increasing angle (the U shape gets narrower). It is best to cut fast with very light force.Final impressions ...The chain teeth are sharp and seem to stay sharp and have not rusted from 12 months in my unheated garage. The handles and chain are very strong and have taken my full body weight several times and seem undamaged. I had to snap a limb by cantilevering it when the chain was really, really stuck and the handles did not rip. I do find the edges of the strap type handles sharp and I would advise the use of rigger gloves and I quickly got blisters when I was in a rush once !Suggestions for improvements ...1) Padded straps with less sharp edges, more like a circular tubular rope than a band.2) The ability to mount weights at the end of the chain so it will land the right way up when throwing over a high branch. As supplied you have 50-50 chance of frustration / success. It would also be handy to be able to angle any weights rotationally about the axis of the stretched chain, to get a good bite on branches at awkward angles.I only use this hand chainsaw for cutting roots and really low or high branches. I wouldn't use it for chopping up small branches or firewood logs unless portability was a factor. It is an extra tool that adds extra capability.

I have a 6 foot high tree stump I need removing. It's about 2 foot diameter. Certainly not what this is made for. Nevertheless, rather than take my leg off with a chain saw I felt it worth buying this. Within maybe 10 minutes I'd taken it from 6 foot to 3 foot. I have tried cutting it at the base but due to it being against a wall it's tight and the bark and shrubbery get caught in it and it jams and can be a little awkward to pull it loose. This is in no way what it's made for but the fact that it took it to half it's size and I think with a bit of work and clearing the area it might take it down, it is fantastic. Using it as it should be used would be fabulous for anyone. I know for a fact that if it goes through about 2 foot it's easily going to go through 2, 3 or 4 inch like butter. I couldn't be happier with it and would certainly buy it again. It's great that it's so compact and comes in it's neat little case. I'd recommend it to anyone.

It’s ideal for the job I bought for. That is to cut tree stumps very close to a wall.

OK so I watched lots of reviews before choosing this item, and I was pretty keen to get to work with it, but as soon as I started to use it, I just wanted to put it away and use my trustee old bucksaw. Using it is hard work, and as the teeth are so aggressive it keeps sticking. This uses a lorra lorra calories and I wouldnt want to depend on it for too long. Don't get me wrong - as a back up or part of an emergency kit this is a great product, but that is almost 100 percent because it is so small and light (whilst still being able to do the job). But, there is no reason to want to use it instead of a proper saw.

Now retired I used to do a lot of professional forestry work. I needed to remove a 1ft diameter bough that was 20ft above ground. I'm to old and stiff for climbing and ropework these days! The hardest part was getting a line over the bough! With one person on one end of a rope tied to one handle and another on a similar rope the other end this went through the wood like a knife through butter! Nearly as fast as it would have been with a chainsaw. The important thing is to make sure the chain is running straight (not being pulled to one side or the other) and at as shallow an angle to the branch as possible. Superb piece of kit if used correctly.