Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[newbury]

Ahem, that's why I carry my Stihl 660 with me wherever I go.

Times have changed my friend, batteries have far surpassed corded saws. As a wild guess I bet a modern battery saw would cut a 10" log half the speed of my MS201T which is a pro-grade gas saw. But the time is "made up" in other ways that end up as superior. I see it time and time again. I think only a fool would cut firewood with an electric saw. Or go after a large number of logs. But doing other work, it competes cuz it's "always on" and "instant off".

So often I have to start the gas saw to cut one peice of wood (sometimes firewood that's too long etc) and it seems absolutley silly in comparison to a battery saw which you just pull the trigger then set it back down. Or on the ATV, or tractor, pull, pull, pull, braap braap braap to cut ONE branch or log in the way.

I think the jobs where you never set the saw down, gas wins big. If you set the saw down after every cut, the Battery saw wins just as big. To claim that one is better than the other, ignoring the vast difference between the types of jobs that are done with a chainsaw, is a non-sensical tool comparison and thus useless information.

And up in a bucket.....no comparison.

It makes sense it has to be whatever brand my NEXT BATCH of battery tools are, such as Makita, or DeWalt. At least that's my current thought. But I have to buy into a whole line of new power tools. Main problem is my 18V Dewalts are still going strong (since 2006). I'm getting tired of the NiCad batteries though.

I can't afford a bucket truck, but I've over a dozen trees on 3 residential properties that I need to "prune" from the top down because they are in locations that a large falling branch would damage the neighbors or my houses. Previously I used my little Stihl 021 while up on a ladder. Then I used my DeWalt 20V max "sawzall". Both work "ok" but the Stihl needs starting and the DeWalt isn't great when the limbs get up to 4" and bigger. The B&D LCS1240 weighs about 8 lbs (so it's sort of like holding a gallon of milk). It cuts through larger limbs like butter and starts easily.
And note that DeWalt produces an adapter to use 20V Max batteries with the 18V tools.

Aren't the cordless chainsaws a much higher voltage battery than cordless handtools? Is one of your goals to use the same battery back in all the tools?

That was my goal but DeWalt refused to build a powerful one that would use my present battery collection.

Makita and DeWalt (and others) are addressing that specifically. For example the Makita saw is a two-holer. If 18v is enough power, you put a battery in one hole. If you want 36V you put in 2 batteries.

DeWalt does it a different way. The battery and the tool have a little conversation and the battery connects its cells up (series or parallel etc) to put out whatever voltage the tool wants. They have a jobsite chopsaw that takes up to 120V DC. And they can run on a 120VAC cord too.

Times they are a changing.

And DeWalt has just come out with the DCCS670X1 FLEXVOLT 60V MAX* BRUSHLESS CHAINSAW FINALLY.

I still prefer my 021 for on the ground small jobs, my 088 for big jobs, my 660's for CSM and overall making trees lie down, but a $120 electric is a sweet spot for cutting limbs above ground.

 

[Piston]

but battery technology has a LONG way to come before I'll park my 372XP. The blower is nearly useless IMO. As far as I know not even corded tools exist to compete with pro saws. .

The technology is already here??? It's just not cost effective to put it into a chainsaw yet.

 

[4570Man]

The technology is already here??? It's just not cost effective to put it into a chainsaw yet.

I've yet to see a battery powered saw of similar weight that can touch a 70 cc pro saw. That isn't even that big, there's way bigger saws. Even if it exist how long can it run with it. IMO big saws are pretty safe although I wouldn't be surprised to see low end homeowner saws go extinct.

 

[MossRoad]

Makita and DeWalt (and others) are addressing that specifically. For example the Makita saw is a two-holer. If 18v is enough power, you put a battery in one hole. If you want 36V you put in 2 batteries.

DeWalt does it a different way. The battery and the tool have a little conversation and the battery connects its cells up (series or parallel etc) to put out whatever voltage the tool wants. They have a jobsite chopsaw that takes up to 120V DC. And they can run on a 120VAC cord too.

Times they are a changing.

No kiddin? That's pretty slick.

 

[Rustyiron]

No action on this thread? Methinks TBN is a little "behind the times...."

My first reaction to your OP was that you were a suburban homeowner that wasn't serious about cutting (with a real saw). Well reading your saw list...... not so much:laughing: I had NO idea battery saws would interest or satisfy a guy with your fine "taste" for saw's. Sorry, I obviously can't help but am subscribed here now.:thumbsup:
Does the Makita use the same battery as the rest of their line? I would have to wonder about battery availability in 5-10 years, Husky or Makita. That would suck to have a $800 saw that was worthless (with no batteries available) in the not to far future.:confused3:

 

[RalphVa]

I like my 40v Kobalt.

Ralph

 

[Piston]

I've yet to see a battery powered saw of similar weight that can touch a 70 cc pro saw. That isn't even that big, there's way bigger saws. Even if it exist how long can it run with it.

I don't think one does exist, simply because of the expense of it all. The technology is there for it though, just needs to come down in price to make it commercially viable.

 

[MossRoad]

A friend of mine and I were just discussin this last Saturday. He said he knew someone that had a battery operated chainsaw, he was very skeptical, but it cut way faster and way longer than he expected. I'll drop him a line and see if he remembers what brand it was.

He said it was a greenworks 40V. They make an 80v now.

 

[Bird]

I have an EGO brand chainsaw. Good for minor trimming and such, but it's definitely not something I'd want to use for any kind of heavy work.

I have a corded cheap electric chainsaw, and don't know anything about the battery powered ones, but if I were going to buy one, it would be the EGO because of how much I like my 56volt EGO self-propelled lawnmower, string trimmer, and leaf blower.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have a corded cheap electric chainsaw, and don't know anything about the battery powered ones, but if I were going to buy one, it would be the EGO because of how much I like my 56volt EGO self-propelled lawnmower, string trimmer, and leaf blower.

And you wouldn't be making a mistake, Bird! I have the EGO chainsaw and for my needs (mostly trimming and such), it's outstanding! Just have a couple batteries charged.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like the auto sharpening feature of my Oregon 40 Volt. It's what pushed this impulse purchase. Although I have not used it much. I carry it around in the back of my Electric Gator, pretending I'm GREEN, but more for the odd limb or fallen tree I come across.

 

[MossRoad]

That's one thing about gas chainsaws that I've always not been pleased about.... you're not supposed to leave gas in them for extended periods of time, and many of them the oil will dripple out over several months. So I always run them out of gas before I put them away. But if there's just a couple branches down that I want to trim up, I don't want to fill the chainsaw with even half a tank of gas and oil. I'd rather just pull out a cordless model and do it in the time it would take to fuel the gas saw.

So, it may be nice to have for just such an occasion. However, I can buy a lot of gas and oil for the price of a cordless saw and battery. I suppose if I just needed one for yard work, I'd have it instead of a gas model. But since I heat with wood, have 20 acres of forest to maintain, and a couple miles of trails to clear, its not for me.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have the cordless trimmer as well which I REALLY like and the two tools together work better for keeping batteries charged.

 

[klm]

I have a 40v Greenworks 16" that I bought for light trimming and a backup saw, it has turned into my main light duty saw, works much better than expected and will wear me out before the battery dies. The saw is guaranteed 4 years and the battery 2 years. I also have 3 Stihl's, a 024, 170 and a 031, I only use the 031 now. It's just so handy to throw it in when running fences or doing any other chores around the farm, its always ready to go. I also have a Greenworks pole saw that I like even better , they use the same battery. I have nothing to gain by recommending this company and two years from now I may not recommend them, but right now I think they are great.

 

[dfkrug]

I have a 40v Greenworks 16" that I bought for light trimming and a backup saw...

My neighbor has the 80V Greenworks saw with 18" bar, the biggest battery-powered chainsaw I have yet seen.

It works OK for limbing and smaller logs, but it is heavy. I would put it at about the power of a 38cc gas saw.
A good pro 38-40cc saw will be less weight, so that may be a consideration for larger jobs. I have not used
it long enough to have an opinion about the vibration.

Batteries run $110 or so each for the 2Ah (lower energy) version.

 

[Sodo]

, it has turned into my main light duty saw, works much better than expected..... It's just so handy to throw it in when running fences or doing any other chores around the farm, its always ready to go.

It's impossible to imagine this change. But when you have a quick cut or two, and all you have is a gas saw, it's so odd to catch yourself "wondering" if its worth putting down the gas saw & going after the battery saw. You will....

It's not possible to realize how much time you waste checking gas, pulling a choke, the rope a few times, the warm-up blips......until its no longer required. Then you know.

 

[Garandman]

Just ran through this decision as we gave our Backup chainsaw to my nephew. He, and we need something to cut branches that fall, or to cut the way out of the neighborhood after a storm.

We have n 18V LiFe Dewalt reciprocating saw, but purchased a small gas Stihl because when needed, there probably will not be power.

We buy MOGAS at an airport or ethanol free gas at a station that has it for small engines to minimize storage problems.

 

[Piston]

I’ve been using a Milwaukee cordless “Hackzall” with 9” pruning blade. It works great for trimming branches when using the wood chipper. However I’m very intrigued by the electric saws, and will likely purchase an electric pole saw in the near future.

I like the battery backpack idea that husqvarna has, but it’s too expensive at this point.

 

[newbury]

It's impossible to imagine this change. But when you have a quick cut or two, and all you have is a gas saw, it's so odd to catch yourself "wondering" if its worth putting down the gas saw & going after the battery saw. You will....

It's not possible to realize how much time you waste checking gas, pulling a choke, the rope a few times, the warm-up blips......until its no longer required. Then you know.

Well since you brought it up again -
Just like other things how often you do it may be as important as how long you do it.
In my situation -
In Virginia I've a 1/4 acre lot with 5 "mature" red maples. All so mature that almost every storm they drop a branch or two that is well over 2" diameter where I've got to cut it to get it short enough to put in the yard waste (no burning allowed). I used to pile them up until I got enough that it was worth mixing up some fuel for my 021, starting the saw sawing them up. And the saw needed to be kept outside the main house due to fumes (SWMBO is sensitive). With the battery powered B&D ($120) it sits anywhere in the house (right now it's in the living room near the front door). I'll see a limb down after a storm, grab the saw, walk out do a few cuts, dispose of the limb. All done.
But it really shines when I've got to go up a ladder to trim a limb brushing against the house. Not having to pull start a saw is a great safety feature.

Similar situation with leaf blowers. I've two Stihl leaf blowers, one's an almost new 550, I've two corded Toro leaf blowers that require 12 gauge cord. But I bought a DeWalt 20vMax leaf blower, DCBL720P1, that gets the most FREQUENT use. This time of year it's kept at the front door to grab and clear sidewalks and the porch. Down in Mississippi I use it for the driveway and inside the workshops. Previously I used the corded leaf blowers but now they are reserved for standby. If I need to do a major leaf blowing I use the 550 and may spend an hour and 2 tanks of fuel. But that's a one time use versus probably 10 "grab it and blow" uses of the DeWalt.

Power tools come in a wide range of power. I find the relatively low power battery operated tools, with the advent of the 20 and 40 volt LITHIUM ION batteries to be replacing most of my small gas/oil fueled tools.

 

[jeff9366]

I've been using a Milwaukee cordless 'hackzall' with 9 pruning blade. It works great for trimming branches when using the wood chipper.

I keep the same compact reciprocating saw on my Kubota L3560 tractor. It takes only a single bungee cord to hold the saw securely. Saw is ready-to-hand when I am standing on the ground.

Try Milwaukee's THE AXE blades, which are much more rigid than pruning blades. THE AXE is easy to find in 5" length, more difficult to find in 9" length which I prefer. You will not return to pruning blades.

I have a Stihl MS261 always in the bed of my utility vehicle, along with two sizes of loppers.