Works nice for 1" branches and smaller

Reviews: Fiskars 9240 Telescoping Pruning Stik

WARNING: beware the first time you use this product, you will have so much fun cutting branches that you'll overwhelm yourself when it comes time to pick-up everything you lopped off. Be sure to have the kids standing by for clean-up. For the price, I had more fun using this product than I have had with the last several video games I purchased. It is a must have if you have several trees in your yard with long, drooping branches that you simply can't reach with a ladder propped on the trunk of the tree. Excellent for use on mature cedars and elm trees where the ends of the branches are 10 to 20 feet lower than where they originate from the trunk of the tree.

Very smooth operation on smaller branches. I would guess that larger branches on softer wood trees like pine would be possible without the "rotate around the branch while you cut" dance. Haven't tried the saw option yet since the pruning feature was the main draw to this product, but I can guess that the saw on the end of a pole won't be nearly as much fun as the pick and snip function.

Packaging was really bad ... a bag, really? But, it came from within my state so I guess they took a gamble.

I would have given this product 5 stars except for the lack of a manual. Most of the use instructions were printed on the blister pack insert, but there's nothing about cleaning, lubrication or adjustment of the cord, etc... I'm shocked at the lack of warnings and moronic safety advice, at least that's one good thing about no manual.

If you're lucky enough to find this item on sale, buy it. It's a pretty good bargain at list price if you've ever roamed the yard with an extension ladder and hand-held pruner.