I bought the bigmouth pruner..i undo the compound action , the way the rope wraps the pulleys , to just normal for small pruning. As in over the top, tie off ,like most pruners. When it comes to big prune jobs you can get some big branches with the 1 3/4 throat. I may pickup a smaller pruner because of fine ornamentals but if i could only have one it would be the big mouth. I did notice the bolt that holds the pivot points are quite short and the nyloc nut did back out on one occassion and after being really loose popped the aluminumbolthole. It was replaced locally..gratis..and i am loctiting this one perhaps if it moves again. Poles are really good quality. the poles end with the butt cap you gotta keep protected or it will get thrased. I bought the FG yellow poles. there heavy but it's the strongest man, the green ones suck there like a noodle. After using the HT 101 power pruner you'll appriecaite the quaility and sturdyness of Jameson it'll feel like a feather. Forestry Suppliers had the combo for 149 after 10% off. You know jamesons good they make the hotsticks for high voltage tree pruning
