Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[AchingBack]

Put them in the freezer for an hour or so and please tell me how well they work. I would be curious.

Probably as well as you would if you came out alive.

 

[RalphVa]

Any current opinions what's the best battery powered chainsaw? I have to trim some trees from a 40 foot man-lift. I have a hotrodded Stihl MS201T that cuts like h*ll - but after trying the 36volt Makita & the 40V Husqv .... there's no turning back :thumbsup:
.... Gotta have one, more work & less effort, no hearing protection required I can hear my guys on the ground. And the neighbors won't complain.

So who has a modern battery powered chainsaw and what brand model? Not interested versions from a few years back, unless you're happy with it. Wanna hear about the new ones that rival a small gas saw.

Don't remember whether I replied. Will do now whether I did or not. We wore out the brushes on a 40v 12" cut Kobalt one this last spring. Bought another brushed 40v one same as what we have, as the new brushless ones have a different 24v battery. If buying new, I'd buy a brushless one. Kobalt is good.

We've also a couple 18v B&D ones, a regular "straight" one and another alligator one. Love the alligator one, but it requires you to have an oil squirt gun to give it a shot every so often. Neither of these are near as powerful nor last as long as the Kobalt one but are great for having around.

We cleared out a debris pile about 100 yards long and about 6 or 8 ft high filled with all kinds and sizes of wood left by the May, 2018 storm. The Kobalt champed through it all. Only some of the big bases of some trees had to be pushed into a pile we made alongside the creek via the tractor bucket. The Kobalt sometimes had to be used on both sides to get through some of that stuff.

Ralph

 

[bridge4]

Put them in the freezer for an hour or so and please tell me how well they work. I would be curious.

The batteries are obviously not meant to be in freezing weather for long and the run time will probably be reduced a bit. The stihl batteries won't charge if they are too cold and need to get back to room temp or close before charging. I've run into this before and so has my father.

I keep my electric saw in the basement and bring it out when I need it.

Is this a limitation of the tech, for sure, just like you might not to use them on a really wet day.

The idea though isn't that these saws are ready to replace the big boys or "serious" land owner. This is for small use and home owner applications really. Some of us just push them a little further is all.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The thinking is, that these electric saws WILL replace the gas ones, sooner rather than later.

 

[AchingBack]

The thinking is, that these electric saws WILL replace the gas ones, sooner rather than later.

I see it as a vital tool for arborists. Battery Chainsaw review - YouTube

 

[bridge4]

The thinking is, that these electric saws WILL replace the gas ones, sooner rather than later.

Yes I agree, but they have a ways to go until they get there. I would say 5-10 years until we see a true commercial saw.

Stihl already upgraded their batteries to work in light rain, before they wouldn't work in any wet conditions. But we need to see something that can meet the TQ that gassers can put out. Where a battery saw might slow down, usually a gas would power through.

As I do mostly smaller things, I'm happy 95% of the time with my electric. Call up the cousin for big trees as he has a monster gasser.

 

[Industrial Toys]

When Ontario Hydro came out here in the summer, they had a Stihl Cordless saw . They also came with a small FORD mounted bucket truck, that I am told by people in the industry is horrible.

When lawnmowers and ZTs are going battery, you know that is the trend.

 

[Looking4new]

I've got a Huskavarna battery one and I like it for the ease of use. It is a lot lighter than a gasser. The big tree in the back yard that came down last winter all got cut up this past spring with it. My shoulders thanked me profusely for buying it rather than a gasser.
Would I buy another one? In a heartbeat.

 

[Industrial Toys]

For the size and capability of the saw, the Oregon is hardly lightweight.

 

[AchingBack]

For the size and capability of the saw, the Oregon is hardly lightweight.

With battery installed, my EGO saws are close in weight to gas saws I've owned: Husqvarna 36, Stihl 290.

 

[Industrial Toys]

In a way it makes sense. The gas saw gets it power from an empty aluminium cylinder and plastic tank of lightweight gasoline. An electric, from a heavy metal motor and heavy battery.

 

[bridge4]

When Ontario Hydro came out here in the summer, they had a Stihl Cordless saw . They also came with a small FORD mounted bucket truck, that I am told by people in the industry is horrible.

When lawnmowers and ZTs are going battery, you know that is the trend.

The ZT mowers have already started coming out. There are a few companies that do them, one of them seems to be making some pretty big strides. I have a scag that isn't gonna die anytime soon, but I figure in 5+ years when I get a new mower, I will be all battery.

My weed eater and leaf blower are battery and the weed eater is almost as good as the gas FS90 I had before. Same head and everything, went through high grass, prickers etc... with it and the battery lasts a long time. The leaf blower isn't even close to a powerful gas one, but it works for what I need.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I too love my Oregon battery string trimmer. Actually much more than the saw. Just because it sees more application. And I got it for FREE, because the scrapers weren't buying them. Love the pole saw, also more than the hand saw, and why I got into the battery equipment.

 

[RalphVa]

Just think, if your gas powered chain saw is putting out the same level as contaminates as those mentioned in this picture, it's bad news for you. I checked this stuff online. Lots of data out there. They outlawed 2 cycle engines from walkbehind mowers (even though I loved my Lawnboy) but kept them for chain saws, grass whips and maybe other portable uses. My doctor said I cannot use an ignition source that close to the ICD in my chest. So, I've been on battery use for chain saws, grass whips, blowers for the last 7 years. The battery power is good now. I highly recommend your getting away from that polluting and unhealthy exhaust of 2 cycle engines.

Ralph

 

[Molalla1]

Just think, if your gas powered chain saw is putting out the same level as contaminates as those mentioned in this picture, it's bad news for you. I checked this stuff online. Lots of data out there. They outlawed 2 cycle engines from walkbehind mowers (even though I loved my Lawnboy) but kept them for chain saws, grass whips and maybe other portable uses. My doctor said I cannot use an ignition source that close to the ICD in my chest. So, I've been on battery use for chain saws, grass whips, blowers for the last 7 years. The battery power is good now. I highly recommend your getting away from that polluting and unhealthy exhaust of 2 cycle engines.

Ralph

Very interesting Ralph . . . thanks. :thumbsup:

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would ban any motor sports before picking on the poor leaf blowers just trying to do their job. Then ban any ICE used in recreational pursuits.

 

[davisgary2]

I live on 2 acres and heat with wood. I buy my wood log length cut and split right in the yard. I wanted to try a battery saw but if i didn't like it money wasted. I bought a B&D corded saw 18 inch bar. I cut 5 cord last spring and loved it. I paid around $80.00 on an amazon warehouse deal.

 

[AchingBack]

I live on 2 acres and heat with wood. I buy my wood log length cut and split right in the yard. I wanted to try a battery saw but if i didn't like it money wasted. I bought a B&D corded saw 18 inch bar. I cut 5 cord last spring and loved it. I paid around $80.00 on an amazon warehouse deal.

You must have been close to an outlet, using a short, heavy gauge extension cord.

 

[davisgary2]

I figured i would need a 12 gauge HD cord but it ran fine on a 50 foot 14 gauge cord. I imagine because it is not a constant draw. Make a cut reposition make another cut.

 

[Molalla1]

I figured i would need a 12 gauge HD cord but it ran fine on a 50 foot 14 gauge cord. I imagine because it is not a constant draw. Make a cut reposition make another cut.

Ummm, did the cord get hot?