Battery powered chainsaw

[Buckeye Guy]

Last year I bought a used DeWalt pole saw, looked brand new, previous owner used it one time. Used it a couple times for what I needed too at the time, but hated it because it would cut for a few seconds and stop, had to repull the trigger countless times just to make one cut. It came with a 4AH battery. So this year, bought a 6AH battery for it, now this thing is a beast! First time I used it I cut limbs until my arms were too tired to hold it up, and still cutting strong on same charge. Now I like it!

 

[Wagtail]

I also have that coupon to use by the end of the month. So......

I already own a Ryobi battery pole saw I bought last yr and really like it for cutting the low hanging limbs, so I can get my cabbed tractor around the area.

Well, there's your answer... especially as you already have (at least one) Ryobi battery. Which means that you've already got a Ryobi battery charger.

The battery is the most expensive part of the 'skin' system of power tools. Spare batteries, in various Ah, come up for sale from time to time. I found very good deals at agricultural shows/fairs/etc...

 

[kenmac]

Well, there's your answer... especially as you already have (at least one) Ryobi battery. Which means that you've already got a Ryobi battery charger.

The battery is the most expensive part of the 'skin' system of power tools. Spare batteries, in various Ah, come up for sale from time to time. I found very good deals at agricultural shows/fairs/etc...

If I purchase the Ryobi, I will purchase the battery and charger as the package deal. The battery amp hour for the chainsaw is higher than the battery with the pole saw

 

[Wagtail]

^^^
Yes, it's best (and makes sense) to have at least two of the same Ah batteries as some of the 'skins' require two.

My Makita chainsaw is a twin battery, as is my Makita pole saw. All of my other Makita 'skins' (hammer drill, sawzall, angle grinder, etc...) are single.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Just in time for Dewalt to sell you another battery saw with an even "better" battery for it.

This is a valid point but it doesn't apply in all cases. I still have a collection of DeWalt cordless tools I bought back in 1995. There have been 3 battery design changes since then but adapters are available and all are still working fine.

This is not the case with all manufacturers though.

 

[woody]

I still have a few craftsman 19V tools and have not bought a battery for them in years, I switched to Milwaukee and bought an adapter to run the Milwaukee batteries on my craftsman tools. I only have a few craftsman left but the adapter will also allow me to plug in my cell phone.

 

[ernemats]

For the 40 volt Ryobi chainsaw I would use at least their 4 ah battery, lesser ones will work but the runtime is not too good

 

[AchingBack]

Keep in mind these batteries are temperature sensitive. When they are too cold you may experience imtermitent starting and stopping.

 

[ArlyA]

For the reasons folks have been listing as potential problems, we will keep using our 2 stroke versions for some time. For home and short term use, battery should work fine.

 

[RoyJackson]

Keep in mind these batteries are temperature sensitive. When they are too cold you may experience intermittent starting and stopping.

I've never had a problem with my EGO batteries in the snow blowers...and they stay in an unheated garage all winter. This is in central Vermont and single digit temperatures are not uncommon.
But, they will discharge if not in use for an extended time, warm or cold weather...

 

[nybirdman]

The newer Lithium batteries are not affected by the cold,the old nicads are.Oddly you are not supposed to store them fully charged.

 

[Diggin It]

No fuel lines to replace, and no carb to foul up, And, I won't have to start it up and run once a month just to keep the gasoline from going bad, or gumming up the carb

But they do have switches, wires, contacts and motors that can get fouled up. The 40V line trimmer I got with this package is acting up as if something is loose inside. Works sometimes, not always. HD and Ryobi both want to make a production out of replacing it since it was part of the 5 tool kit instead of a stand alone purchase. I may try looking at it myself if it keeps up.

Well, there's your answer... especially as you already have (at least one) Ryobi battery. Which means that you've already got a Ryobi battery charger.

I have a number of their tools, drills, blowers, saws, etc. with interchangeable batteries and chargers. Those are all 18V and the yard tools are all 40V ... not compatible. But with the kit, I got 4 batteries and two chargers.

 

[ultrarunner]

At the end of the day I charge if 1/2 or less which means full batteries sitting around...

 

[ericm979]

It looks like at least some chaps may protect against battery saw cuts: Battery Powered Chainsaws and Chaps

It'd be great if ANSI or whatever government agency tests and approves chaps would test them with battery saws.

I wonder if the caution about electric saws and chaps was aimed more at AC powered electric saws that maybe did not have the overload protection mentioned in one of the videos in the above linked thread.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Looked up "electric chaps" I got The Village People

 

[ArlyA]

Those who don't need chaps should be shopping for legs, fingers and/or feet. Since 50% of saw cuts seen at ER's are above your belt, I also sport a Kevlar shirt.

Arlyn,,, battery powered or not,,, A

 

[RalphVa]

My wife loves her Stihl MSA-120 36v saw. Have had the power head replaced on warranty. Now has an oil leak from the oil chamber. May have to take it in for service. She's done an astonishing amount of work with it, virtually clearing our 8.5 acres of downed trees and invasives and does trail maintenance with it.

Its battery is only 2 Ah. Cuts 50 minutes straight cutting all the time. She has 3 batteries that she carries around: 1 on the saw and 2 in her back pack.

Gobbles oil. She keeps a container of it in her back pack, too.

About 6 months to a year ago, I bought a Ryobi 40v one because we have other Ryobi stuff that we love. She doesn't like it because it's a good 2-4 # heavier than her Stihl. Will take the 4 Ah battery to last longer, but we haven't used it that much to know how long. Also have higher Ah and one 2 Ah batteries, too. The higher Ah ones are used in the Ryobi self propelled "cross cut", gas-like, mower but could be used in the saw, making it even heavier (better to just let it sit and cut through a tree).

Never have any starting problems with battery powered stuff. Wife cannot start any gas engine except on the cars and pickup. When we had gas engined mowers, she needed one with a battery starter on it. No gas, oil, belts, spark plugs, air cleaners.

 

[ultrarunner]

Christmas Tree season hard on gas saws... constantly starting and stopping for a 10 to 20 second cut...

When you move 3,000 trees that's a lot of start/stop.

Two Stihl AP saws replaced 4 Stihl MS180 saws nearly 100%

A huge extra benefit is lack of chainsaw roar for each cut and of course keeping gallons of fuel on hand.

Have to say once the guys were taught how to start the gas saws many problems went away like flooding and broken rope pulls.

Not all trees are small but above 16' tall are few...

 

[kenmac]

Those who don't need chaps should be shopping for legs, fingers and/or feet. Since 50% of saw cuts seen at ER's are above your belt, I also sport a Kevlar shirt.

Arlyn,,, battery powered or not,,, A

I'm more likely to turn the tractor over on me than to cut a limb with the chainsaw

 

[kenmbz]

I see a lot of different scenarios here.
Good to see so many views.
The start/stop is definitely a huge advantage for battery saws and they can also do a lot of the work of a gas saw.
It only seems that when you need speed, multi-day usage off site, or of really large hard woods, that the gas saw becomes a necessity.

How large is the largest bar battery chainsaw? Looks like 18", maybe 20" ?