Time to convert from small engine to battery tools?

[dragoneggs]

Update... now I have a fourth Stihl battery tool in the stable. Two (chainsaw, hedger) the battery is on board. The other two (blower and string trimmer), the battery rides on a belt around my waist. I am loving the light weight of all the tools but especially those without battery on board for extended use. Not to mention squeeze the trigger and go. Plug it in to recharge when you are done!

Wife is doing more chores now as well! :thumbsup: Don't have to start her engines. :laughing: Tee'd that one up for you.

 

[ernemats]

I also love my battery powered tools (chainsaws, leaf blowers, string trimmers push mower), have not got the wife to use anything but the string trimmer and mower yet. My grandson is helping me and he likes the string trimmer and blower. I have not left him use the chainsaw much yet but he is wanting to use it.

 

[JPRambo]

I am at my Georgia property now. I brought my echo chainsaw because a neighbor told me of a storm dropped tree. I used my echo for the last two weeks while my wife used her ryobi 18 volt 10 inch saw. Well I broke the handle on my saw. She said 'you can use mine' sarcasticly. I am impressed with it. I was cutting 6 inch limbs with it. Albeit a little slower. But to cut 6 inch limbs 5 or 6 times with the same battery is pretty good.

 

[ernemats]

I also have an 18 volt Black and decker which is or for small limbs but is very slow compared to my 40 volt Ryobi or my 120 volt Redback. The Redback will probably equal a mid range gas saw in cutting speed and ability. Have used it to cut trees up to 16 inches in diameter with good results.

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm finding I grab my battery powered tools without hesitation for the smallest job. Seems I have to work up an appetite/attitude to power up my gassers these days.

My latest tool... Stihl battery chainsaw impresses me more every time I use it.

 

[Oaktree]

Kind of curious about the used cranky oil in the saw. We did that many years ago.

But, if the oil was good enough to protect the pistons and other parts in an expensive engine, in a VERY hostile environment, until the moment it was drained, can't it be good enough to lubricate a saw chain?

I tried that maybe 40 years ago thinking I was saving money. Big mistake. All the guck in suspension in the oil didn't take long to clog up the passages between the resevoir in the saw and the bar. MAJOR PITA to clean it all out.

I suppose CLEAN motor oil could be used in a pinch, but as someone else mentioned it probably won't stick to the chain as well.

 

[Oaktree]

Pickup trucks outsell cars by 2:1 in the U.S. I don稚 see EVs taking over anytime soon.

Huge difference between a drill and a vehicle. I will die well before the ICE is displaced.

How Internal Combustion Engines Will Die Out in Eurasia | Greentech Media

Keep in mind the ICE going away is not for practical reasons only but the change over to EV's initially is mainly a political issue.

New electrical motors and new battery technology will make the EV's better and at a lower cost year by year like with all electronics.

When gas and diesel drops to a $1 a gallon that will extend the practical life of the ICE machines plus the glut of them on the market may make them too cheap to pass up.

EV's will displace the ICE's faster than the ICE's displaced the horse and buggy. China alone plans to add 1.5 million EV's on their roads in 2020. ICE's will be banned city wide faster than most expect I expect.

I have no doubt that EVs will become more practical (and popular) as time goes by, but I agree with shooterdon and jk22 that it will be a long time before they're the norm. North America is not Asia (or Europe for that matter).

The fact that the government is trying to force us into those vehicles is quite telling in that it's more political than practical.

 

[jjp8182]

Speaking of battery tools, had a chance to try out my new Milwaukee cordless reciprocating saw over the last weekend.

Between the battery life (at least with the 12AH battery), the orbital action turned on, and a pruning blade it may actually have become my superior/preferred tool over my cordless chainsaws for most trimming uses. ....though it felt heavier in the hand.

 

[AchingBack]

This EGO 18" chainsaw is#!. I have the 16" model as well, but there is a huge difference, and well worth purchasing the larger saw which will operate at 11,00 rpm. 18" Cordless Chain Saw by EGO POWER+

Details

Introducing the all new EGO POWER + 18 Chain Saw. Everything on this saw screams innovation and power. The re-imagined chain tensioning system, tightens your chain with the twist of a dial, no need to take anything apart to get your chain set properly. An aggressive 18 bar and chain for taking down large branches, stumps and tall trees. The bright LED lights illuminate your cut when you are cutting at dusk or in an emergency and there is no access to lights.

 

[4get gto]

I'm finding I grab my battery powered tools without hesitation for the smallest job.

That's my mindset too. I have the Ego chain saw, hedge trimmer and blower. So easy to go out and cut that one little 2" limb that bugged you everyday. See a couple shoots coming up from the hedges that I missed. Slap a battery in, hit the trigger, done. Put away till next time.
God I hate gas powered hand tools..!

 

[4570Man]

Speaking of battery tools, had a chance to try out my new Milwaukee cordless reciprocating saw over the last weekend.

Between the battery life (at least with the 12AH battery), the orbital action turned on, and a pruning blade it may actually have become my superior/preferred tool over my cordless chainsaws for most trimming uses. ....though it felt heavier in the hand.

I have a pretty complete line of cordless hand tools use them frequently but I don’t think my gas chainsaw and weed eater is going anywhere any time soon. I could see using a cordless blower to do with I usually do with my 400 Stihl blower but my Redmax8500 isn’t going anywhere.

 

[aczlan]

I tried that maybe 40 years ago thinking I was saving money. Big mistake. All the guck in suspension in the oil didn't take long to clog up the passages between the resevoir in the saw and the bar. MAJOR PITA to clean it all out.

I suppose CLEAN motor oil could be used in a pinch, but as someone else mentioned it probably won't stick to the chain as well.

Our neighbor growing up always used old hydraulic fluid as bar oil with good results.
Less gunk, soot, etc to deal with.

Aaron Z

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I have no doubt that EVs will become more practical (and popular) as time goes by, but I agree with shooterdon and jk22 that it will be a long time before they're the norm. North America is not Asia (or Europe for that matter).

The fact that the government is trying to force us into those vehicles is quite telling in that it's more political than practical.

Oaktree there was no one from the government forcing me into the 2016 Nissan Leaf a few weeks ago. In fact today was the first time any government offices was aware that I had bought one. I do not think the government has forced us into buying lithium ion powered chain saws either or at least I was not in my experience at Harbor Freight.

I am old enough to remember farmers saying diesel tractors would never catch on for this reason or that. Some of those farmers lived for many more years and never owned a diesel tractor. The same will be the case of the EV and gas powered vehicles of yesterday.

Major car companies state they have designed their last ICE so when no gas cars are being sold I doubt is the masses will give up vehicle ownership overnight but only time will tell.

I can say after owning a EV for a couple weeks I plan to by more EV's in the future. I guess it is a little like the lithium ion chain saw being coming the pick of the litter for some people.

 

[jjp8182]

I have a pretty complete line of cordless hand tools use them frequently but I don’t think my gas chainsaw and weed eater is going anywhere any time soon. I could see using a cordless blower to do with I usually do with my 400 Stihl blower but my Redmax8500 isn’t going anywhere.

Actually bought a new Stihl MS 261 C-M a year or so ago, and I wouldn't part with it as it's about the only thing I've found suitable for felling (or bucking) trees/limbs over 12 inches in diameter. However, anything under 6 inches I think I'm now more likely to grab a cordless reciprocating saw (or possibly a cordless chainsaw). For anything in that 6"-12" range I'd probably go with a cordless chainsaw for felling (unless it's going to be a lot of cutting), and the cordless recip would still be my preferred choice for trimming/bucking in that size range.

With trimmers and blowers I'm finding myself going one way or another depending on the total run time I expect I'll need. When it comes to trimming around sign posts while mowing a cordless trimmer is indispensable, on the other hand trimming a few thousand feet of fence line I'm going for the gas trimmer hands down.

All depends on the task at hand, and what it entails.

For example: for my uses/needs a pure EV for transportation won't make sense (by multiple metrics to include economics) until it can go 1000+ miles in a 16 hour period (in any weather/temp) hauling a 1000lb-2000lb load. Odds are that's probably going to require a whole lot of advances in technology ...or a hybrid. However, having said that some of the compact electric tractors, and electric equipment (for example: stand-on skidsteers, mini-excavators) catch my interest ....especially when they can also fit through a standard doorway.

Different needs/constraints require different solutions/tools -- and even when one is found it's usually worth checking to see if anything better has come along..... (of course for some things I'm not sure hand tools will ever be replaced ... like trimming around the gas filled lines running from my propane tank).

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought the Stihl AP battery pole mounted hedge trimmer since I already had the charger and battery.

My tenants and neighbors have commented on how nice things are looking... a couple of minutes and done... no cords are starting up the gas hedge trimmer which is a very good commercial one...

The Battery one is extremely quiet too...

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought the Stihl AP battery pole mounted hedge trimmer since I already had the charger and battery.

My tenants and neighbors have commented on how nice things are looking... a couple of minutes and done... no cords are starting up the gas hedge trimmer which is a very good commercial one...

The Battery one is extremely quiet too...

In addition to their excellent performance, the AP tools are indeed pleasingly quiet!

 

[ultrarunner]

No regrets... so far about 2 years in counting using the AP saws at the Christmas Tree Farm.

It was a little hard to swallow the initial cost but after buying the AP battery and Fast Charger the incremental costs to add tools is not bad.

I should really get serious and do what you are doing... sell off some of the gas tools... but I think I will always keep my Stihl 250 and little Echo Saw... the Echo has served me very well for many years and it doesn't leak like other brands so perfect for keeping on the truck.

Need to see if my truck inverter is compatible with the Stihl Fast charger...

 

[dragoneggs]

No regrets... so far about 2 years in counting using the AP saws at the Christmas Tree Farm.

It was a little hard to swallow the initial cost but after buying the AP battery and Fast Charger the incremental costs to add tools is not bad.

I should really get serious and do what you are doing... sell off some of the gas tools... but I think I will always keep my Stihl 250 and little Echo Saw... the Echo has served me very well for many years and it doesn't leak like other brands so perfect for keeping on the truck.

Need to see if my truck inverter is compatible with the Stihl Fast charger...

The AP fast charger works great! Wondering the same off of a small inverter. Haven't tried that yet.

 

[ernemats]

Used my cordless chain saws to cut 90% of my firewood this year, much nicer than using the gas ones, maybe not as fast but neither am I.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I can't imagine that. I have an Oregon cordless and a Stihl 110Volt chainsaw, but the chain pitch on either is such that it would tax me to do any kind of volume work for firewood.