Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[Grumpycat]

The wife finally ran a battery down today. Seems they run for about 2 1/2 hours on the battery. We've run lithiums dead many many times. Sometimes, if tried to charge when still warm, they won't go. Just let them sit and cool.

Running the battery until the tool stops is not the same thing as running the battery until it is completely depleted. Lithium tools must cut off when the battery still has something in it else the chemistry destroys the cells.

NiCAD and NiMH tools didn't bother to try. Is hard on NiCAD and NiMH to be run until little comes out but is not the certain death as it is for lithium chemistries.

 

[terryknight]

I've been looking at a battery powered top handled saw for several months. I have been doing more and more tree work as of late and last Monday I bought a Stihl 161T. Its 36v weighs under five pounds without the battery 8.5 ish with the battery, has a 12" bar and 1/4" picco chain. I bought one battery and the slow 300 charger; out the door with tax $684, yes that's a chunk of change, but I am getting paid to cut tress down. The biggest pain I had with the 201T I am comparing it too was starting the saw while in a tree and/or in the bucket. I can use this saw completely one handed, though I may shave the plastic down around the safety button you have to push in to get the saw to run, so that it is easier to use one handed. I like that i don't have to start and stop the saw in order to hear the guys on the ground. While cutting I still like to use muffs since it is a little louder than I like while cutting, but no where near as bad as a gas saw. The battery lasts a long time. I did recharge it between jobs, but I'm not sure I really needed to. It has 4 bars and I ave only gotten down to two. The biggest draw back is the lack of power. It's great up to 4-5" but doing lots of 6" or bigger is SLOW. I changed out to the gas 201T at that point.

It is also strange the first time you stall the chain the saw just stops where a gas one the clutch slips and the motor runs this doesn't, its strange, I will get use to it eventually.

I think it will be nice for my father when he needs a small saw, he's been using my 201T.

overall 3.5 stars

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Our 40 volt HF chain saw is still doing fine. The daughter has been giving their pole saw a work out. I saw a 60 volt saw the other day that looked nice. It have have been a Green Works. Stihl makes awesome saws.

 

[bridge4]

I've been looking at a battery powered top handled saw for several months. I have been doing more and more tree work as of late and last Monday I bought a Stihl 161T. Its 36v weighs under five pounds without the battery 8.5 ish with the battery, has a 12" bar and 1/4" picco chain. I bought one battery and the slow 300 charger; out the door with tax $684, yes that's a chunk of change, but I am getting paid to cut tress down. The biggest pain I had with the 201T I am comparing it too was starting the saw while in a tree and/or in the bucket. I can use this saw completely one handed, though I may shave the plastic down around the safety button you have to push in to get the saw to run, so that it is easier to use one handed. I like that i don't have to start and stop the saw in order to hear the guys on the ground. While cutting I still like to use muffs since it is a little louder than I like while cutting, but no where near as bad as a gas saw. The battery lasts a long time. I did recharge it between jobs, but I'm not sure I really needed to. It has 4 bars and I ave only gotten down to two. The biggest draw back is the lack of power. It's great up to 4-5" but doing lots of 6" or bigger is SLOW. I changed out to the gas 201T at that point.

It is also strange the first time you stall the chain the saw just stops where a gas one the clutch slips and the motor runs this doesn't, its strange, I will get use to it eventually.

I think it will be nice for my father when he needs a small saw, he's been using my 201T.

overall 3.5 stars

should have went with the MSA200 or MSA220. 14 and 16" bars. Not much heavier and the price isn't really much different either, but somewhat significant upgrade IMO.

 

[terryknight]

should have went with the MSA200 or MSA220. 14 and 16" bars. Not much heavier and the price isn't really much different either, but somewhat significant upgrade IMO.

maybe i wsan't clear..... i wanted a top handle

 

[RalphVa]

For limbing, you cannot beat the Stihl MSA-120. For cutting logs, you might want to look at a Stihl model that takes a regular chain.

Stihl hogs the bar oil, and the bar oil indicator is not very good. Best to keep an oil container handy and put more in at each battery change.


Ralp

 

[ernemats]

Does anyone have the 60 volt Craftsman battery chain saw that Lowes sold.. My neighbor has one and it stopped working, they no longer sell it.

 

[bcp]

HF 14 inch Lynxx 40 volt chainsaw.

Today was the first extended use on consistent sized wood. Douglas Fir log, dead about a year, 30 rings at the last cut. Battery was charged a couple of days ago.

First cut was 7 inch diameter, last was 9 inches diameter. The saw made 18 cuts. No waiting time between cuts except several times to reposition the log lifter. The saw stopped a couple of times on the last cut. About 10 seconds wait and it would cut for about 5 more seconds to finish the cut. The saw has been used about 6-8 months with the same chain, mainly trimming and a few smaller trees cut for firewood, so it wasn't as sharp as new.

Bruce

 

[dfkrug]

Well, this thread is 3.5y old now, and man has the battery-powered industry evolved.

My 40V Greenworks polesaw is still working after well over a year of use. I have some issues, however: it has too much power, so it often jumps off a branch when triggered. It may benefit from a lower chain speed.

Bigger issue is the brush system inside on the motor. They get really hot, and sometimes send out some pretty big sparks. The unit also sometimes does not start until you push or pull the chain a bit.

That said, brushless motors are the new trend, and Greenworks now has a brushless polesaw, but it is over $400! Does it solve all these problems?

 

[ultrarunner]

NO complaints here and I find myself readily doing small tasks that before I would put off until bringing out the gas powered gear.

Don't use the Stihl pole saw too much but great when I need it.

The extended reach hedge trimmer and blower used the most followed by the chainsaw and then the pole saw...

There are times I really could use a battery leaf vacuum... not for big things but to tidy up... so far don't think one is available... it would make quick work in the rock landscaped cactus garden...

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The 18" bar 80 volt Atlas from HF got my attention.

We have 5 of the 40 volt Lynxx powertools that are awesome except they can't seem to find their way home from the son's place 25 miles away especially the leaf blower that I like for cleaning off the mower and Bushhog. Well the chainsaw which I need up and down the road after storm is 25 miles out of reach as well.

 

[shooterdon]

I got the 40V HF Lynnx saw a few months ago and it sure is handy. The main reason I bought it was that one of guys who vacations up here works for a power company trimming and felling trees, and he recommended it. I wanted a saw for small jobs that I tend to put off if I need to gas up the Husqvarna 455.

I carry it in the back of the Mule and scrounge campfire wood and/or clear a fallen tree or limb when riding the two tracks. Great for dealing with limbs that fall in the yard after a storm. For just over $150 on sale it is a handy tool and so far I am pleased with it.

 

[bcp]

I am satisfied with my 40V Lynxx chainsaw except for the weight of 13.3 pounds. Probably 2/3 of my sawing is below 4 inches.

Has anyone used the Bauer 20V chainsaw? It is only 5.7 pounds.



Bruce

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Shopping for lithium ion power tools can be confusing based on battery options alone even with the same brand.

The wife and daughter have put in an order for an electric lawn mower so I am now focusing my chainsaw research in the direction of going with the 80v Kobalt so I have battery compatibility and a local store option. I am finding Lowes often offers the same price but different AH rated batteries for the Kobalt line of saws, mowers, etc.


Same mower 15 miles away comes with a 5 AH battery but 25 miles away comes with a 6 AH battery for the same price. Singly the 5 AH battery is $300 and the $360 for the 6 AH. On their chain saws I have found the same 80v saw for the same price but batteries ranged from 2 AH to 5 AH which is huge difference in run time with some weight difference.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I have found a 20-volt reciprocating saw, equipped with Milwaukee's "THE AXE" highly satisfactory for your task.

"Pruning" blades less satisfactory. Too thin.

Thanks for that info. I never heard of them before.

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products-old/The-AX-Nail-Embedded-Wood-Straight-Cutting-Sawzall-Blades/48-00-5026

 

[beowulf]

My Husqvarna Rancher does not get used so much anymore. My Echo 58V chainsaw is now my go-to saw - just need a second battery.
And my Craftsman v20 pole saw with 14' reach paid for itself the first hour - and has been used many hours since. To get a second battery for my pole saw I bought a compatible weed eater - so far that is also great.

I would not even consider these kinds of battery powered tools for a long time but now they are my best friends.

 

[Kavic]

I am sold on my Ego 56v 14” chainsaw. Just happened into HD one day and they had it on clearance for $149 with battery and charger. 11.4 pounds, plenty of juice to do minor road cleanups, take out unwanted locusts with just a squeeze of the trigger. No more fighting with the farm boss to keep it running or pulling out the heavy MS661.

Liked it so much I bought an Ego trimmer with battery and charger for $149 on sale. Now I have a second battery in case I need to do a lot of trimming.

 

[two_bit_score]

Shopping for lithium ion power tools can be confusing based on battery options alone even with the same brand.

The wife and daughter have put in an order for an electric lawn mower so I am now focusing my chainsaw research in the direction of going with the 80v Kobalt so I have battery compatibility and a local store option. I am finding Lowes often offers the same price but different AH rated batteries for the Kobalt line of saws, mowers, etc.


Same mower 15 miles away comes with a 5 AH battery but 25 miles away comes with a 6 AH battery for the same price. Singly the 5 AH battery is $300 and the $360 for the 6 AH. On their chain saws I have found the same 80v saw for the same price but batteries ranged from 2 AH to 5 AH which is huge difference in run time with some weight difference.

My brother bought the Kobalt 80 V mower. It’s impressive.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Late yesterday I broke out the new Kobalt 80v mower. Indeed it is impressive. I was working on the roadside where it has not been mowed this year when the security light above me came on so I kept going. Due to my physical limitations I am glad I got the self propelled model. It does not bog down like the gas mower in that environment. I was shocked but I still got the rated 60 minutes of run time mowing non stop. From no lights to full charge took 90 minutes just as the manual stated. Going forward I do not plan to mow such overgrowth with this mower but I wanted to give it a shakedown run during the 30 days I have to return it for a refund or replacement at the store. The first battery was dead and would not take a charge so they opened a new one and exchanged it for the new dead one.

Buying the second tool to get another battery makes sense with battery powered tools I found as well. I have two 2.5 Ah batteries by getting both the leaf blower and weed eater and a 6 Ah battery with the mower and a 5 Ah battery with the 18" chainsaw. Lowes would have sold me a spare 5 Ah battery for $300 but I got the 18" saw with a 5 Ah battery and heavier fast charger on clearance for $339. So a new 18" chainsaw and the heavy duty charger cost $39 more than just a spare battery purchase from Lowes website. It is amazing how far lithium ion powered tools have come performance and cost wise.

 

[Grumpycat]

Shopping for lithium ion power tools can be confusing based on battery options alone even with the same brand.

Marketing would like to have you think voltage is all you have to know to separate the men from the boys. Voltage means less than the number of cylinders in your tractor engine. Just as you want HP for tractor, you want Wh (Watt-hours) for battery. Multiply volts times Amp-hours for Watt-hours. Watt-hours is not HP, it is closer to comparing the size of the gas tank.

The wife and daughter have put in an order for an electric lawn mower so I am now focusing my chainsaw research in the direction of going with the 80v Kobalt so I have battery compatibility and a local store option. I am finding Lowes often offers the same price but different AH rated batteries for the Kobalt line of saws, mowers, etc.

Same mower 15 miles away comes with a 5 AH battery but 25 miles away comes with a 6 AH battery for the same price. Singly the 5 AH battery is $300 and the $360 for the 6 AH. On their chain saws I have found the same 80v saw for the same price but batteries ranged from 2 AH to 5 AH which is huge difference in run time with some weight difference.

I have been using a 21" self-propelled Ego for 4 years, I believe. All Ego are 56V using interchangeable battery. Mower came with a 7.5Ah. Lately have noticed some new Ego mowers come with (2) 5.0Ah batteries. Two batteries is a good idea as 5.0Ah will mow 30-45 minutes while the other charges.

Bought a 15" Ego string trimmer which included a 2.0Ah battery. When new if I didn't let the grass get too tall the 7.5Ah would mow about an hour then the 2.0Ah would finish up the last few minutes.

A bit after getting the mower and trimmer had an opportunity to get the backpack blower with 7.5Ah battery on closeout for less than a new 7.5Ah battery cost. Ever since I have been lazy and rarely mow the front and back lawns the same day but when I do I just swap the battery.

The original backpack blower battery was replaced under warranty. Not for lack of capacity but for outright stopping in the middle of mowing. 10 minutes and suddenly the mower shut down. No low battery warning. Take battery out, cuss at it, put it back in and resume mowing. Sometimes no trouble until I'm finished, sometimes it happened again.

String trimmer is full size as gas. Its great but its big. Find myself using my old Worx 48V. Worry about finding a battery for it if needed because Worx only did 48V for a few months before upping the voltage so as not to be thought of as a lesser weaker product against 56V competitors.

I really really don't use my EGo 7.5Ah batteries in the trimmer. The 7.5's are heavy.