Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[dfkrug]

Electrics tend to last forever but batteries have a shelf life...

My Bosch 12 volt drills required battery rebuilding since Bosch told me there are no longer available.

These newer Li-ion tools are great. Battery life? 5 years or so?

I have lots of tools that work fine, but the batteries need replacing, mostly Ni-Cd, and NiMH. I used
to repack some of my own, but that takes some work, and the good ones (e.g. Makita) are glued together.
I just bought an aftermarket Makita 12V pack for about $16....aftermarket NiMH made in China.

I would love to try out the HF Lynxx Li-Ion pole saw that ERICM reports on above. I still use an 18v
B&D pole saw since the gas ones are just too heavy for me. The HF tool lists for $149.

 

[Sodo]

Electrics tend to last forever but batteries have a shelf life...

Yes that is a clear and present danger of battery tools. The mfr has to make the tool tough enough to survive commercial use. If you don't see a tool brand used in construction worker's hands all day every day then it's prob not good enough. For example Makita, DeWalt, MilWaulkie are all quality tools. In normal TBN use they'd last forever. The merchandising solution to this is to make a good quality tool, but fail the batteries after a reasonable time, then discontinue the battery style, so the consumer has to buy new tools even though the old are still servicable. Older gas saws can win this battle for awhile, but new saws prob have a "time failure" in the electronic ignition, and the plastics have a time-out. They're not like paint-buckets. The Battery tools would have a time-out as well, an integrated circuit, or insulation with a shelf-life.

This is where we need a gov't mandate - that to offer battery products for sale, to US citizens, the tool ___must __accept a standard, open-market replacement battery. Or the battery pack can be easily rebuilt. Like you can use ANY brand gasoline in a saw. And standardized like AA,C, D-cells. Then the consumer can search out quality replacements, and decline the garbage.

Thats a downside to being in such a wealthy society, so much money flyin' around nobody cares about the waste. Modern tools are fantastically better, but there are many things I liked about the old system...and the old days.

 

[RoyJackson]

Of course I have NO experience with battery powered chainsaws; however, in view of my experience with my 56 volt EGO self-propelled lawnmower, EGO string trimmer, and EGO leaf blower, I'd be buying the EGO chainsaw. Before EGO, we had a small storm that knocked a little tree down right in front of my tool storage building, so I went to Home Depot and bought the cheapest 120 volt corded chainsaw they had; a 14" Homelite for $49.97 plus tax. I've not needed it recently, but still have it, so I haven't bought one of the battery powered ones yet.

Got the EGO chainsaw, Bird...and for those little trimming jobs, it's great!

I bought it mostly for sawing low branches before and during the mowing season...I have dropped a few small (5-7 inch trunks) trees too. The battery is pretty long lasting.

 

[Sodo]

Oh yeah thanks for reminding me sometimes I forget TBN protocol and forgot to clarify my Makita battery saw is only for little tiny trimming jobs while mowing too! Mostly for under 7 inches but if any bigger I carry a 660 Stihl in the F450 in case a branch falls in the driveway and we have to rush to the hospital, or if the power goes out ya know. I start them every week and change the gas too, and the 880 too that I keep in the F550. Since I am retired, and honestly speaking rarely get out of the yard anymore I've been thinking of downsizing to a 20" Powergrit, if only they'd come out with a 10GPM version. :rotfl: OK back to the normal programming.

 

[ultrarunner]

Should be able to give a Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ review after the Christmas Tree Season...

Brother is picking one up this year and the Stihl Battery run times range from 1/4 hour to more than 3 hours on a single charge.

Part of the reason is pulling the rope cord on the gas 1500 times plus there have been a few noise complaints from running the gas saw... so will see how the Stihl does in the expectation department...

No idea what the package costs... but not cheap is all I could get out of him.

MSA 2 C-BQ | Lithium-Ion Powered Chainsaw | STIHL USA

 

[Sodo]

Should be able to give a Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ review after the Christmas Tree Season...

Brother is picking one up this year and the Stihl Battery run times range from 1/4 hour to more than 3 hours on a single charge.

Part of the reason is pulling the rope cord on the gas 1500 times plus there have been a few noise complaints from running the gas saw... so will see how the Stihl does in the expectation department...

No idea what the package costs... but not cheap is all I could get out of him.

MSA 2 C-BQ | Lithium-Ion Powered Chainsaw | STIHL USA

Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ $379.95 Chainsaw
AK300 Battery $169 (the biggest one) Note: you need 2 batteries
500 fast charger $119

= $837

If all he's doing is clipping off a fresh inch so the tree can draw water, that Stihl is like using a hammer to swat flies. He should get a Makita first ($178), and maybe the 36v Makita leaf blower. And a few angle grinders, drills drivers, blower, a farm can make good use of those tools. But some guys like to buy orange or need to avoid looking like like a homeowner or something.

What will actually happen though, is they'll use the electric saw at the retail area first, then after the customers are gone they'll use it everywhere so that Stihl won't go to waste.

I didn't see any video where they used the saw dogs. Two other vids they didn't even install it on the saw. Anyway it has a lot of torque, on a ~4" christmas tree you can bear down on it with the dogs it goes thru as fast as you can rotate it prob 4 or 5 seconds.

My 36v leaf blower has become a star tool, I never had a blower before. I use it to blow out my truck cab. It cleans in a fraction of the time of a vacuum. And the bed too (with canopy) it blows the dust out. It blows the leaves out of my gutters, blows all the spiderwebs out of the eaves. I use it to clear off the slab to work on stuff, another awesome battery tool.

I bought these kits cuz they each came with 2 batteries, dual charger and a free angle grinder so I got 4 batteries.
36v blower kit
36v chainsaw kit (top handle)

Repeating this,,,,,,,,,,, don't get the rear-handle Makita battery saw, it has a much faster chain speed (& less torque), but the worst part is an infuriating button you hafta hold down for a little while before the saw will start (every frickin' time!). My buddy bought that one and he's sorry. It's almost like a pull-rope.

 

[California]

I bought these kits cuz they each came with 2 batteries, dual charger and a free angle grinder so I got 4 batteries.
36v blower kit
36v chainsaw kit (top handle)

Good point to buy a combo kit to get the additional batteries and charger.

At least for Ryobi, the combo kits are by far the cheapest way to get a second battery and charger compared to buying each separately.

 

[ultrarunner]

My practical suggestion was ignored...

I said let's get the Ryobi from Home Depot and give it a real test for a couple of weeks... if it fails... send it back. Note: I rarely take anything back but it is nice to know if it fails the test there are options.

Not sure what the Stihl package is costing... but he is on good terms with the saw shop owner and I think there is a Christmas Tree of two involved.

In all honesty... I'm more worried about it walking away!

Thanks for the Makita Tip... I've had good service from Makita.

 

[Bird]

My 36v leaf blower has become a star tool

I'd say the same for my EGO leaf blower. It's so convenient, light weight, and easy to use that it gets used a lot.

 

[ericm979]

I have a Stihl FS250 brush cutter and blades. It's good on widely spaced small brush. But most of what I'm working on is very dense. That's why I have to stop every few cuts and pull stuff out of the way. The brush cutter is not good for that because it's more effort to disconnect from the harness and put it down/pick it up and reconnect than it is to put down a saw. Also a lot of my brush is 2-5" diameter and it's not happy on those larger stems. I realize this is extreme for what most people consider brush but the plants really are bushes and not trees (though there's some tree species too).

I was doing some brush cutting yesterday and thinking about my work flow. My favorite Echo brush cutting saw takes one easy pull to start, but I still have to take a moment to brace the saw against my leg. The battery saw would save that step, which is a couple seconds every few minutes. OTOH it's heavier- the Echo is nice and light.

I learned how to run saws in the Forest Service where we were required to wear chaps. I'm used to them and feel naked running a saw without them. I also use steel toe boots- one of my FS co workers was known as nine toes.

 

[Sodo]

A straight-shaft brush cutter with a 7 1/4 carbide skilsaw blade will cut everything from grass to 2” and it (can) leave no stump, without bending over. There is no faster way to clear brush other than hydraulics.

I have the 36v Makita “string trimmer” with a carbide blade & use it a lot. And an echo commercial gas unit. Same comparisons to the chainsaws. Smaller jobs are much easier and more pleasant with electric. You know when you need the gas unit but it does sit un-used a lot. I don’t even remember where my loppers are.... why bend over or climb a ladder? The extended reach is a big timesaver, and the cut is instant (TING!).

I got the trimmer too in a kit with 2batteries & chgr & free grinder. I like having a 3 grinders. I’ve got 12 batteries now. And a vacuum, 36v skilsaw, 18v metal-cutting skilsaw, orbital sander, die grinder, multitool, and eyes on a few others.

 

[crazyal]

My biggest problem with cordless tools is that when one part breaks the cost forces you to decide if it's worth fixing. For example if the trigger dies it'll cost you about $70. If you know the batteries are getting near the end of their life then it's usually cheaper to just buy a new one. If the battery can be used on multiple tools then it changes the decision since you probably have several spare batteries and now it comes down to would you rather buy a replacement so you get more batteries. With corded and gas powered tools they usually last a very long time so you just need the one part. Or you've done enough damage (say forgot to mix oil into the fuel on your chainsaw) and it's going to cost too much to repair. I would be much more willing to buy a 40v cordless chainsaw that used 2 20v battery packs that could also be used in a drill (or another tool).

 

[ultrarunner]

Update... with Christmas Tree season in full swing the early reports have the Stihl Battery 200 Chainsaw (Big One) as a winner...

At the Fresh Cut station... 155 trees passed through yesterday... never needed to charge the saw and has the charge from earlier in the week.

I realize short cuts through 99% 6" dia or less is not a hard test but it is so much nicer not have to pull the rope start hundreds of times each day... plus the noise factor has been eliminated... previous years neighbors had complained of hearing the gas saws after dark... the guys don't need hearing protection to be compliant.

The saw is not light but feels and looks like any other saw...

The chain is narrow and so far has not lost it's sharpness...

Only about a week of use so time will tell... the three gas Stihls never left the shed except to make a few cuts up the mountain.

MSA 2 C-BQ | Lithium-Ion Powered Chainsaw | STIHL USA

Battery Operated Chainsaws | STIHL USA

 

[fried1765]

A straight-shaft brush cutter with a 7 1/4 carbide skilsaw blade will cut everything from grass to 2” and it (can) leave no stump, without bending over. There is no faster way to clear brush other than hydraulics.

I have the 36v Makita “string trimmer” with a carbide blade & use it a lot. And an echo commercial gas unit. Same comparisons to the chainsaws. Smaller jobs are much easier and more pleasant with electric. You know when you need the gas unit but it does sit un-used a lot. I don’t even remember where my loppers are.... why bend over or climb a ladder? The extended reach is a big timesaver, and the cut is instant (TING!).

I got the trimmer too in a kit with 2batteries & chgr & free grinder. I like having a 3 grinders. I’ve got 12 batteries now. And a vacuum, 36v skilsaw, 18v metal-cutting skilsaw, orbital sander, die grinder, multitool, and eyes on a few others.

I like battery stuff too.
Have a new 40V Black & Decker hedge trimmer, and I do not generally like B&D stuff, but it works great.
I plan to buy a 16 inch "GreenWorks" 40V battery chain saw in the Spring.
My brush saw though, is a new gas powered Honda HHT35SUKA four stroke, with 10" blade.
I will NEVER give that up!
It is an amazing piece of machinery!

 

[RichM752]

Did a job a few weeks ago. Customer had an EGO chainsaw, grey in color, set on top of a pile of branches, also grey in color. Heard a crunch as I was backing our of a corner. I thought, gee thats a funny sounding branch.

 

[RoyJackson]

Did a job a few weeks ago. Customer had an EGO chainsaw, grey in color, set on top of a pile of branches, also grey in color. Heard a crunch as I was backing our of a corner. I thought, gee thats a funny sounding branch.

Well, there's two or three hundred bucks out of your profit....

 

[downsizingnow48]

I also have the makita 36v leaf blower amazing tool use it for everything. Based on that thinking about the chainsaw. Good to know about the two models.

 

[ultrarunner]

My biggest reservation with battery tools is will I use it enough to justify the cost of battery replacement and to a lesser degree will it work well enough should I need to spend a day out in the field.

At least with some manufacturers the interchangeability of power units helps a lot... two batteries and a charger fit lots of equipment.

When I bought my first Makita 33 years ago the only way it worked for me was to have a 12v charger mounted in my truck... this way a fresh battery was never farther than my truck... still have that drill/flashlight combo by the way.

 

[RoyJackson]

My biggest reservation with battery tools is will I use it enough to justify the cost of battery replacement and to a lesser degree will it work well enough should I need to spend a day out in the field.

At least with some manufacturers the interchangeability of power units helps a lot... two batteries and a charger fit lots of equipment.

Good points!
Fortunately, EGO batteries fit all of their products...very handy.

My personal opinion is battery powered units are best used around the property...trimming, dropping smaller trees and branches . I don't think they're really designed for heavy duty field work

 

[RichM752]

Well, there's two or three hundred bucks out of your profit....

200 for a new one, only the casing was cracked, still works if you hold everything together. Called EGO, and they said take it back to Home Depot for service/repairs. Neither one of us has gone to the city as of yet, so it sits on the workbench until someone makes the 65 mile trip each way.