Shark Corporation 10-5206 6-Inch Root Cutter

I love this root saw - it's a replacement for one that was lost. Very useful in extracting overgrown plants from containers (I am a professional gardener who plants flowers spring and fall) as well as the more typical root sawing of shrubs in the ground. It's one tool I'll never be without.

This Shark 6" Root Cutter served its purpose well by helping me to cut small diameter tree and shrub roots. However I tried it on larger diameter (greater than 2") birch and ficus tree roots and it cut okay but it was tough on my hands after a while. Perhaps if the yellow handle incorporated some rubber material instead of hard plastic it would have been better to help absorb some of the vibrations/shock. You need to be careful not to apply too much force while cutting as the blade can bend a bit as it is the case with most long cutting instruments. I had this tool for over a year and used it extensively as I did some major landscape work at my house. Sometimes I needed a pruning clipper, lopper, saw, pick axe, hand held axe, and even a chisel to do the job in cutting roots but sometimes I needed this root cutter for certain situations such as tight spots and hard to reach places. Now the blades are starting to dull and rust most likely because of the inevitable encounter of small rocks, sand, and bits of concrete in the soil where the roots are being cut and because I didn't always clean the tool, oil it, and store it properly indoors. Another major factor might be because I didn't use it for its intended purposes of cutting "lawns, flowerbeds and over grown potted plants" as the product page suggests. I used it for more things than that. Anyway, the silver colored coating is wearing off more noticeably and exposing the brownish-copper coloring which looks to be more prone to rust. After most of my major root cutting work has been completed, I used it to cut and shape sod. However since the blade is now dull I need to get a new tool for the job. When I bought this tool I knew it wouldn't last forever but I am impressed that it lasted this long and it exceeded my expectations.Mine came with about a 16" long green chord (not shown on the product page picture) looped at the end of the handle but I didn't use it much to hang it on a hook in my garage. I certainly didn't want to hold the tool by the green chord because it might swing and cut me. Actually it was sort of a nuisance for me as I had to move it to the side while I was doing my cutting work. Probably I should have just snipped/untied the green chord and throw it away but it felt a bit wasteful so I never really got around to do it. Or maybe if the chord was shorter it would not have gotten in the way.

Works well for cutting limbs, roots and just about anything if you're not careful. I also used it to quickly cut a bunch of PVC pipe and it functioned well. The handle seems large but it does work well and is comfortable. My granddaughter used it to cut a dozen or so hot dog cooking sticks and she was impressed with it too.

Description says made in Japan, but is made in china.Ergonomics are poor, base of the handle is very sharp on your hand.Tool works.

Great tool to have on hand.

The corona clipper RC4060 is way superior

At last a cutting device suitable for going after weed roots

Works on small roots but not the larger ones I need to get rid of. Pretty sharp though and works for other things besides roots.