What is the best battery operated chain saw

[fried1765]

Very impressive cost per chain...

But seems there is always a catch... the website states:

"We do not ship orders to California"

"We do not ship orders to California"
Of course!
No out of USA shipping!

 

[dragoneggs]

I think some of the lower end cordless are disappointment waiting to happen.

The $59 corded should provide years of occasional use...

Confident you will get your value.

I'm only on the Battery kick because we have made the investment for the tree farm... all I need is the shells... not batteries as not much cutting happens at the farm for 10 months of the year so I can use the farm batteries...

My neighbors son is a Tree guy in Santa Cruz mountains and was visiting last Sunday and saw all my Stihl stuff... he was impressed and very interested in what I thought of the Stihl AP300 battery stuff...

Sometimes they are doing work in town and get complaints from noise of trimming... he was thinking adding and electric saw might make sense... they sure run quiet... which is one of the reasons the tree farm bought one to start... noise ordinance kicks in at 9 and no longer an issue with the electrics...

I just pulled the trigger on a Stihl hedger, trimmer and blower and a AP300 with battery belt and cord for the trimmer and blower so I am now tied in to the Stihl AP line.

For a chainsaw, I think I want the MSA200C-BQ w/10 or 14in bar option... but I see there is a new MSA161T coming out now w/12in bar that seems much lighter in their 'professional' line. Need to do a little more research on the saws.

 

[JK22]

True enough... I bought a corded version of the pole saw at HF for under $60 before really thinking about going the battery route since I am already heavily invested in the Dewalt 20v tools. As far as I know there is no chainsaw options for Dewalt. Is this correct? I do have a 20v reciprocating saw I also use for pruning.

There is a Dewalt chainsaw. FLEXVOLT™ 6V MAX* Cordless Chainsaw - DCCS67X1 | DEWALT

 

[dragoneggs]

There is a Dewalt chainsaw. FLEXVOLT™ 6V MAX* Cordless Chainsaw - DCCS67X1 | DEWALT

Thanks JK, will have to compare with the Stihl. Actually $20 cheaper and is 16in vs 14in and comes with battery and charger. The Stihl is chainsaw only but I will have the charger and battery. Gonna look a little harder on this!

 

[ernemats]

My son bought a Dewalt flex volt 60 and it cuts real good and the battery seems to last a good while even cutting logs 10 or 12 inches.

 

[ultrarunner]

I just pulled the trigger on a Stihl hedger, trimmer and blower and a AP300 with battery belt and cord for the trimmer and blower so I am now tied in to the Stihl AP line.

For a chainsaw, I think I want the MSA200C-BQ w/10 or 14in bar option... but I see there is a new MSA161T coming out now w/12in bar that seems much lighter in their 'professional' line. Need to do a little more research on the saws.

I bought a Stihl Hedger, Pole Saw, Chain Saw and Blower today in the AP300 with 500 charger so I have fully committed... they did not have any info on the MSA161T...

It was not really planned but I put out a RFP to the local Dealers and one responded... done deal.

Mom went with me and they gave her a hat which was a nice touch...

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought a Stihl Hedger, Pole Saw, Chain Saw and Blower today in the AP300 with 500 charger so I have fully committed... they did not have any info on the MSA161T...

It was not really planned but I put out a RFP to the local Dealers and one responded... done deal.

Mom went with me and they gave her a hat which was a nice touch...

Wow Ultra! My credit card was dinged today too! Almost the same damages. 500 charger and belt pack for the trimmer and blower. Worried the hedger with the AP300 onboard is going to be too heavy for the wife. Might have to wimp out and get an AP100 specifically for her for the hedger.

Hate to do that looking at the specs.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think you will like the AP300 battery...

Smart move on getting "Family" tools both can use...

I brought my check book but the shop wanted my credit card... so can't complain.

Guess it was a cosmic pull or the planets aligned?

I don't like borrowing things and I have had my brothers for 3 weeks... not that he minds but it means he can't use it... the pole saw and trimmer are things when you need them nothing else really works as well... on the other hand they may sit around a lot and I don't want to deal with fuel problems...

The blower is luxury buy... I have some oaks that are always dropping leaves... rake doesn't quite do it... so broom and hose it down... the AP300 battery blower could end up the tool I use the most...

Did you buy local? Early Father's Day present?

PS... I was told if you cut sappy wood to lube the hedge trimmer blades and saw chain at start and again at end of day... I did not buy the Stihl product but non-stick PAM or WD40 is what some have used...

 

[dragoneggs]

ultra, which model numbers did you buy? Any requiring the cord and battery belt?

 

[ultrarunner]

Chain Saw MSA 200C-BQ
Blower BGA 85
Pole Pruner 10" bar HTA 65
Pole Hedge Trimmer HLA 65
Battery AP 300
High Speed Charger AL 500
replacement chains...

One thing I don't see is a car charger for the AP series...

I have used the cigarette lighter car charger for Makita since 1990 and sure is convenient.

Some of the chargers will work with my inverter and some don't.

Debated on whether to wait for the Pro AP Chainsaw but I do like the tool-less bar/chain change out of the 200...

 

[dragoneggs]

Chain Saw MSA 200C-BQ
Blower BGA 85
Pole Pruner 10" bar HTA 65
Pole Hedge Trimmer HLA 65
Battery AP 300
High Speed Charger AL 500
replacement chains...

One thing I don't see is a car charger for the AP series...

I have used the cigarette lighter car charger for Makita since 1990 and sure is convenient.

Some of the chargers will work with my inverter and some don't.

Debated on whether to wait for the Pro AP Chainsaw but I do like the tool-less bar/chain change out of the 200...

I have the 86 gas blower (the largest handheld) and was hoping it would blow a little harder. I am assuming that the power of the battery vs. gasser tools are close when the model numbers are the same and the counter guy where I was ordering the Stihls seemed to concur.

I know this is a difficult question to gage, but how is the air power of your blower? Are you happy with it? I opted for the 100 battery blower after looking at the specs, but will need to carry the battery on my hip. Needed the battery belt and cord anyways for the 130R string trimmer as I have the 130 gasser and expect the same performance.

I wasn't aware of the tooless bar/chain change on the 200. Need to look at that too!

 

[ultrarunner]

The Pros don't like the tool-less chain replacement from comments I have heard but it sure is convenient occasional use..

Can't comment yet on the blower... won't have it until next weekend... I have a specific chore in mind... and quiet operation means I can use it just about anytime...

 

[dragoneggs]

The Pros don't like the tool-less chain replacement from comments I have heard but it sure is convenient occasional use..

Can't comment yet on the blower... won't have it until next weekend... I have a specific chore in mind... and quiet operation means I can use it just about anytime...

My dealer told me the most powerful battery backpack blower was specifically made for the California market due to environmental laws.

 

[ultrarunner]

My dealer told me the most powerful battery backpack blower was specifically made for the California market due to environmental laws.

Yes... many exclusive areas with multi million dollar homes outright banned blowers citing noise ordinance violation… some simply didn't like them and found noise complaints convenient.

It is most definitely a concern so keeping things quiet can be lucrative.

I have had a similar problem with mom's property... if I start a chainsaw/run the tractor there is a good chance the police will show up and ask me who I am and what am I doing...

Most everyone thinks her property is city owned so it is an ongoing issue... her backyard is 8 acres including my 1.5 that is surrounded on 3 sides by city open space... at one time Mom and Dad owned almost 20 acres but Dad thinned it down... the weed control of steep canyons and ridges became a second job...

Just last week, people that walk their dogs/trespass were calling in to the city saying a tree had fallen blocking their access... making it difficult for many to walk the trail...

In the old days... like the 70's friends would be lining up to cut and removed old fallen Oaks... but not anymore.

So anything that lets me avoid problems is one less thing I have to deal with...

 

[Professor Marvel]

We have the Ryobi quick change pole saw (a $7 yardsale find) on a Kobalt 80v power head and it works very well. We limbed out a 60 foot maple tree last summer (cut anything smaller than 4" to drag to the burn pile) and it did the whole tree with 2 bars of battery left.

Aaron Z

So Aaron could I get a 80v power head from Kobalt and add a riobi pole saw attachment? Or could I use the oregon attachment? Are those pole saws really universal? Stihl wants 450 for the battery power head and 200 for the pole saw. Not sure I want it that much. I already have the Kobalt 80v blower so it looks like maybe I could get the power head with a weedeater(150) and add a oregon pole saw attachment(99) ? Really I just want a short battery pole saw and the smallest stihl is a little over 8 ft. Looking to put together about a 5 ft one for not too much money

 

[aczlan]

So Aaron could I get a 80v power head from Kobalt and add a riobi pole saw attachment? Or could I use the oregon attachment? Are those pole saws really universal? Stihl wants 450 for the battery power head and 200 for the pole saw. Not sure I want it that much. I already have the Kobalt 80v blower so it looks like maybe I could get the power head with a weedeater(150) and add a oregon pole saw attachment(99) ? Really I just want a short battery pole saw and the smallest stihl is a little over 8 ft. Looking to put together about a 5 ft one for not too much money

That is what I did, we had the 80 volt Kobalt and I happened to stop at a yard sale where they were selling a 8in Ryobi quick-change pole saw attachment for $7
If I remember next time I am over there, I will get a picture and part number.
As I recall, the quick-change is just a tube with a push in connector and a square connector on the drive shaft to transmit power down.
It looked like it was the same size and I figured for the price I wasn't out much if it didn't fit but it fit perfectly.

Aaron Z

 

[Professor Marvel]

That is what I did, we had the 80 volt Kobalt and I happened to stop at a yard sale where they were selling a 8in Ryobi quick-change pole saw attachment for $7
If I remember next time I am over there, I will get a picture and part number.
As I recall, the quick-change is just a tube with a push in connector and a square connector on the drive shaft to transmit power down.
It looked like it was the same size and I figured for the price I wasn't out much if it didn't fit but it fit perfectly.

Aaron Z

Thanks
Was the set up pretty short?

 

[fried1765]

I am old enough to remember when the first battery powered drills hit the market. They were expensive and weak. We have come a long way. No, I could not have imagined a battery powered chainsaw a back a few decades ago. I am predicting that they will rapidly become the norm for homeowner use. There are just too many positives to their use for a homeowner, and the negatives are becoming less and less as time goes by.

I am old enough to remember when the first battery powered watches hit the market.
Now I realize that I am VERY old!

 

[k0ua]

I remember when in the 60's the very first battery powered drills hit the market. They were very underpowered and had short run times. You rented them from lumber yards for jobs you really really needed a cordless drill/driver. Soon in the 70's even I owned and could afford one. They just got better and better each year. More power, less price.

 

[Oaktree]

I've never had anything bad Makita... it was my first cordless back around 1983 and still have it...

Just the opposite here. First cordless drill I had was Makita, I'm thinking some time in the 90s. It was a wimpy, underpowered toy IMHO. Batteries were not easily replaceable, and you had to plug a wall-wart into the drill to recharge them, so you were SOL if you ran them down mid-project. I'm sure they're greatly improved today, but it gave me a bad image of cordless tools (and the Makita brand) for a long time.
Pro's around here seem to mostly use Milwaukee.