Black & Decker Cordless Alligator Lopper

A clamp that bites through yard work

The first time I squeezed the handles on this battery-powered lopper, I immediately understood its appeal: it grabs, steadies, and cuts in a single motion. If you’ve ever tried to balance a wobbly limb with one hand while running a saw in the other, the clamping jaws on this lopper feel like a cheat code for yard work.

Design and build

This model pairs a short bar-and-chain inside scissor-like jaws. You lay the jaws over a branch, squeeze, and the tool both grips and severs the cut. The chain is well shielded by the upper and lower guards, so you’re rarely staring at exposed cutters, and the two-handed activation switches keep you honest. I can’t emphasize enough how reassuring it is to have to use both hands; there’s no one-finger fidgeting this into life.

At roughly 24 inches long and around 8–9.5 pounds depending on battery and SKU, the lopper is compact enough to maneuver around shrubs without feeling like you’re wielding a chainsaw. The bulk of the weight sits forward near the jaws, which actually helps—it sets the cut and reduces the tendency to bounce. The handles are typical Black & Decker ergonomics: grippy enough, not overly bulky, and easy to keep aligned when you’re reaching around odd angles.

Fit and finish are solid for a homeowner tool. The cutting bar and chain feel appropriately stout for the job, and the jaw assemblies have shrugged off brush and the occasional sandy cut without going out of square.

Cutting performance

The rated cutting capacity is up to 4 inches in diameter, and that’s a realistic ceiling for clean, repeatable work. On green limbs from fruit trees and ornamental shade trees, it cuts as if it’s taking bites—steady progress with minimal chatter. The clamping action is the secret; by anchoring the branch, the tool avoids the jumpiness you get with a small chainsaw on light material.

On dry hardwoods near that 4-inch mark, expect a slower feed and let the tool chew—forcing it bogs the chain and defeats the safety advantage of the jaws. I did push it into a couple of oversized limbs just past spec to see what would happen. It made it through with patience and repositioning, but I wouldn’t plan a day around cuts larger than 4 inches. For 1–3 inch material, which is most pruning and storm cleanup, the lopper is in its absolute comfort zone. Twigs and stubs get nipped off cleanly without the saw grabbing and flinging them.

Because the chain is enclosed on the sides, you can set the jaws directly on the ground to section logs without chewing dirt—a surprisingly big advantage when clearing brush piles. The flip side is that flush cuts at a trunk can be tricky; the jaw thickness can keep you a hair off the bark, so you may have a small nub to trim later if you’re particular about appearances.

Chain speed isn’t going to rival a compact chainsaw, but the overall pace is quicker than you’d expect because you’re not wrestling the work. The tool bites and stays planted. In tangled brush, that control matters more than outright speed.

Battery life and charging

The lopper runs on the 20V MAX lithium-ion platform, which is handy if you already own other Black & Decker tools. With a 1.5 Ah pack, the spec of roughly 150 cuts in 1.5-inch material tracks with my experience. On a mix of 1–3 inch limbs, I typically get around 30–45 minutes of intermittent cutting per 1.5 Ah battery. A larger capacity pack stretches that window and reduces the urge to sprint through a job.

Charging with the included kit charger takes about an hour from empty, and I recommend a second battery if you’re tackling more than light pruning. The tool sips power when nibbling twigs and smaller branches, but steady 3–4 inch cuts add up. The good news is the motor’s output remains consistent right up until the pack is ready for a recharge—no sluggish mid-pack funk.

Noise and vibration are modest compared with any gas saw and a bit lower than most compact electric chainsaws, which makes it much less fatiguing for longer sessions.

Safety and control

This is where the lopper shines for DIY users. The guarded chain, the dual-hand activation, and the clamping jaws collectively tame the sketchy dance that comes with cutting small, springy material. Kickback risk is dramatically reduced because the bar nose is inside the jaws and the work is captured. I still wear eye and hearing protection, gloves, and boots—wood chips fling, and batteries don’t make a tool toy—but this is as approachable as a chain-based cutter gets.

One limitation to note: two-handed operation means you can’t brace a branch with your off-hand while cutting. In practice, that’s the point; the jaws are the brace. It does mean you’ll occasionally reposition or pre-trim to create a clean bite.

Ergonomics and usability

The scissor-action is intuitive: you line up, squeeze, and the tool does the rest. There’s no need to nurse throttle or feather pressure beyond letting the jaws clamp before the chain engages. Over a long session, I find forearm fatigue shows up before shoulder strain—the handles promote a neutral wrist position, and the tool’s balance keeps you from overreaching. Expect to need breaks after 30 minutes of steady work, especially when working at odd heights.

The compact length is a plus for brush piles and low cuts. It’s not a pole lopper, so overhead work is limited. For anything above shoulder height, I switch to a pole saw.

Maintenance and oiling

You’ll need bar and chain oil, period. The reservoir is small—appropriate for the chain size—and it feeds reliably. The only annoyance is the fill port: it’s narrow and placed in a way that practically asks for a small funnel. Without one, it’s easy to dribble. Keep a rag handy, fill slowly, and you’ll be fine.

After each session, I brush out chips from the jaw area and wipe the guards. The chain has held its edge well on clean wood; hit dirt and it will dull quickly like any saw chain. Check chain tension periodically and top off oil before it runs dry. Consumables like replacement chains are common, which keeps the tool in service rather than on a shelf.

Where it excels (and where it doesn’t)

• Brush clearing and fire mitigation: Capturing small, springy limbs makes pile-making fast and safe.
• Storm cleanup: Great for sectioning downed limbs on the ground without grabbing or burying the bar.
• Routine pruning: Quick, clean cuts on 1–3 inch limbs with minimal fuss.
• Light log bucking: Useful for turning small logs into manageable chunks without wrestling a chainsaw.

Less ideal:
- Flush cuts right at the trunk: The jaws limit how tight you can get to the bark.
- Overhead pruning beyond shoulder height: Not the right tool—use a pole saw.
- Large diameter work: Anything consistently over 4 inches is outside its comfort zone.

Pros and cons

Pros
- Clamping jaws add control and reduce kickback on small, awkward material
- True one-squeeze operation: grip, steady, and cut in one motion
- Safer two-hand activation and well-shrouded chain
- Respectable runtime on the 20V platform; quick 60-minute recharge
- Compact and easy to maneuver around shrubs and brush piles
- Lower noise and vibration than a chainsaw

Cons
- Bar oil fill port is small and prone to mess without a funnel
- Not ideal for flush cuts against trunks
- Front-heavy feel can tire forearms over longer sessions
- Topped out at 4 inches; patience required near the limit

Warranty and platform

A two-year limited warranty backs the tool, and it runs on the widely available 20V MAX battery system. If you already own compatible batteries and a charger, the tool-only option makes sense; otherwise, pick up a kit and an extra battery to keep the work flowing.

Final thoughts

The lopper doesn’t replace a chainsaw for big jobs, but it absolutely replaces one for most routine yard work. Its clamp-and-cut approach solves the exact problem that makes small material awkward and risky with a saw: stabilizing the work. Add in the dual-hand safety, approachable noise level, and compatibility with a common 20V platform, and you have a tool that encourages safe, steady progress rather than heroics.

Recommendation: I recommend this tool for homeowners and property owners who manage brush, small limbs, and storm cleanup up to 4 inches in diameter. It’s faster and safer than a compact chainsaw in that range, easier to control, and less fatiguing over time. If your work routinely involves larger cuts or overhead pruning, pair it with a conventional or pole saw. For everything else on the ground and in the brush pile, this lopper earns its keep.