The broken Redbud limb was the longest "session" I've had with the DF. The limb was about 6 inches through at the 5 or 6 places I chopped it into at. And SEVERAL other places it was from 1-3 inches. In all I probably chopped off and on for about 20 minutes. AT first I though oh oh Gonna get a blister on my thumb. But nope, didn't happen. It's a really comfortable handle design/size, at least for me.