Time to convert from small engine to battery 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.