Battery powered chainsaw

[ArlyA]

From personal experience I find that some of his reviews lack merit and like I said I base that on personal experience.

His last review of MIG welders and multi process welders, I don't agree with and I've been semi production welding for decades in my owned shop using a variety of equipment in every welding aspect including SMAW (stick metal arc welding) using both an engine drive (Lincoln) as well as a plug in SMAW multi process (TIG, SMAW with low hydrogen electrodes), TIG welding aluminum and stainless as well as cast iron and other exotic metals, MIG, both solid wire and flux cored with short circuit arc welding and spray arc globular transfer, and because I had the best teacher and his mentoring was free for me it was well worth it.
The only process I'm certified in (AWS) certification is TIG welding exotic metals in process piping, the rest I'm not and really don't need to be and he certified me in TIG as he can do that as he is the person who certifies welders working on Nuclear refits all over the country and a good friend too.

His last review where he had someone else experienced in MIG welding tells me he's not trained or has the expertise to review any welders and surely not to recommend a cheap Chinese made machine as better than the domestic offering like Miller or Lincoln any others. You buy cheap, you get cheap, no exception but unlike the home shop welder, I depend on my machines performing every day with only my lack of experience holding them back. Believe me, no low buck welder can perform or have the duty cycle like a well built and engineered machine will have.

Remember, that is his PERSONAL experience and may not reflect the actual end use longevity which is entirely dependent on how you use them and what they are used in.

Did you see how he tested them? Looked unpersonal to me and I'll use his performance test.

 

[5030]

Did you see how he tested them? Looked unpersonal to me and I'll use his performance test.

Your choice entirely not mine if indeed you are referring to the welders. I did not see the battery test though I do subscribe to his channel so I'll go and have a look see and post back.

You might wan to take a peek at the Torque Test Channel as well. Those guys torture test all forms of battery packs in real world testing, using very sophisticated test equipment plus they run them in cordless tools attached to a dynomometer, hard wired to watt meters and voltage measurement tools. they even build their own battery packs and test them on their channel. very good channel and reviews of cordless tools as well as air tools and I based my last purchase of an Astro Pneumatic Thor 1/2" drive impact wrench and I was not disappointed in the least. Only air operated impact wrench I've ever owned that delivers in the excess of 1500 foot pounds of break away torque and 850 foot pounds of tightening torque at 135 psi. Amazing tool and pretty affordable as well, though I had to wait 3 months to get it. Only 1/2 drive impact I've ever owned that will either twist of a corroded nut or break the bolt (A325 dome head plow bolt) on a cutter bar on a commercial snow plow. it either breaks the bolt, or backs off the nut or breaks a socket. Like the creator of Project Farm says... very impressive.

 

[ArlyA]

Your choice entirely not mine if indeed you are referring to the welders. I did not see the battery test though I do subscribe to his channel so I'll go and have a look see and post back.

You might wan to take a peek at the Torque Test Channel as well. Those guys torture test all forms of battery packs in real world testing, using very sophisticated test equipment plus they run them in cordless tools attached to a dynomometer, hard wired to watt meters and voltage measurement tools. they even build their own battery packs and test them on their channel. very good channel and reviews of cordless tools as well as air tools and I based my last purchase of an Astro Pneumatic Thor 1/2" drive impact wrench and I was not disappointed in the least. Only air operated impact wrench I've ever owned that delivers in the excess of 1500 foot pounds of break away torque and 850 foot pounds of tightening torque at 135 psi. Amazing tool and pretty affordable as well, though I had to wait 3 months to get it. Only 1/2 drive impact I've ever owned that will either twist of a corroded nut or break the bolt (A325 dome head plow bolt) on a cutter bar on a commercial snow plow. it either breaks the bolt, or backs off the nut or breaks a socket. Like the creator of Project Farm says... very impressive.

If you search cordless tool battery test, I sure you can find it.

 

[ultrarunner]

I picked up another Stihl AP pole hedge trimmer…

The Washington dealer asked if I really wanted Battery and I said yes… I already have charger and batteries.

We got to talking and he was surprised to hear outright municipal bans on gas blowers and brush cutters and asked where…

I said California and his only comment was it has not happened in WA yet but nothing surprises him much anymore.

I brought my AP saw and have used it exclusively never starting my ms250…

 

[Grumpycat]

Arly, how often do you replace batteries - not recharge, but have to buy a new one?

I mowed my lawn for 7 years with 1 EGo 7.5Ah battery. That I can tell, it still has 80% or more of it's original capacity. It still mows at least 50 minutes. Past year I can't walk more than 35 minutes so I do the front one day, back the next.

My Tesla will be 10 years old in December. Has 92% of it's original range.

Darn these lithium batteries are so much trouble!

 

[Grumpycat]

That entirely depends on the build quality of the cells themselves. Cheap cells won't last nearly as long as quality built cells and the quality of the internal circuitry that controls the charge and discharge rate as well.

Of interesting note: The circuitry in an EGo battery will self-discharge to 50% if unused for 30 days. It will place itself in the safest hibernation it knows how.

 

[Grumpycat]

I'd be really surprised if Harbor Freight has any standardization on whose cells they're using, in building their battery packs. The ones you opened happened to be Toshiba, likely because Toshiba was the company with an overrun that month. I'd expect it's probably a different manufacturer with each purchasing cycle, driven by pricing, when it comes to any bargain-basement supplier like Harbor Freight.

Maybe so, maybe not.

Harbor Freight used cheap Chinese stuff to get established but in the past 10 years has been working on producing premium products at value prices.

 

[Grumpycat]

Even their Braun line of LED lights (I have 2 of them) use Toshiba cells for power and I purchased them far apart too. I actually depleted the original light to the point where the cell would not accept a full charge and I went looking for a Toshiba replacement with no luck so I bought a generic one. Hopefully it lasts long enough (discharge-recharge) cycles to defray the cost. Fingers crossed on that.

Others tell me 18650 Battery Store - Trusted Supplier of Lithium Ion Batteries is a reputable source of the Good Stuff. Interesting web site, seems to be honest and above board.

Catch-22: one needs a battery spot welder to assemble cells for a battery.

 

[ArlyA]

This week one of my little Makita limber saw caught some twine. The area I'm clearing was a lumber mill yard and this stuff is lying everywhere. Tough on my string heads as well. With just two tools I had it out in minutes.

 

[QRTRHRS]

After i cut down a dead tree a few weeks ago, I decided to give my 25 year old 029 Stihl a go over. The plug wire was showing through the rubber and looked close to breaking and the chain drive gear wore. I took it to auction and got 150 bucks for it. After reading this thread, I decided on the EGO 18" with a 5 amp battery. After using it for a day, cutting some trees, one of which was about 24" in diam., i am happy with my choice. I pushed the saw hard and did overheat the battery once so i know what i have. For what i need, the saw is fine. Next will be a pole saw. Thanks all for the comments good and bad in this posting that helped me make a choice.

 

[Grumpycat]

I pushed the saw hard and did overheat the battery once so i know what i have. For what i need, the saw is fine. Next will be a pole saw. Thanks all for the comments good and bad in this posting that helped me make a choice.

EGo seems to have the battery thing done right. There was a time some years ago the failure mode was the battery would simply quit, not hot, but take it out and put it back in it would work maybe 5 minutes maybe 30. EGo was good about honoring the 3 year warranty if one had registered the tool at purchase.

Haven't heard of this problem since they added the "fuel gauge" to the battery. This was on the 1st generation or so which only had a green or red light to indicate charge.

 

[Richard001]

After i cut down a dead tree a few weeks ago, I decided to give my 25 year old 029 Stihl a go over. The plug wire was showing through the rubber and looked close to breaking and the chain drive gear wore. I took it to auction and got 150 bucks for it. After reading this thread, I decided on the EGO 18" with a 5 amp battery. After using it for a day, cutting some trees, one of which was about 24" in diam., i am happy with my choice. I pushed the saw hard and did overheat the battery once so i know what i have. For what i need, the saw is fine. Next will be a pole saw. Thanks all for the comments good and bad in this posting that helped me make a choice.

Do you only have the one 5 amp/hour battery ?

What voltage is the battery "

How long did this battery last while cutting ?

With my Ryobi 14" with the 40 4AH battery, i was only able to cut for about 10 to 15 minutes before the battery was depleted. Even with these limitations, I am happy with the Ryobi.

Richard

 

[Grumpycat]

Do you only have the one 5 amp/hour battery ?

What voltage is the battery "

How long did this battery last while cutting ?

With my Ryobi 14" with the 40 4AH battery, i was only able to cut for about 10 to 15 minutes before the battery was depleted. Even with these limitations, I am happy with the Ryobi.

Richard

All EGo batteries are 56V.

All EGo batteries are compatible with all EGo tools. There are no "tiers" of 20V, 40V, 60V, and 80V.

Currently EGo batteries come in 2.5Ah, 5.0Ah, 7.5Ah, and 10Ah. The battery hangs from most tools so any size fits.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I'm getting ready to buy a battery chainsaw and haven't read through all 500+ replies, but maybe someone can help me decide.
I have a Sthil MS291 that was $600 and it's junk, probably because I've had it less than 3 years. Apparently the older ones were better made. I've replaced so many plastic parts: the chain brake bar I finally just pop riveted metal to hold last one together and it broke also. Muffler fell off, bolt holes stripped out...I run it without muffler until now it won't start. Probably needs piston, jug, gaskets, bolts. Other parts fall off & I replace.
Dealer & Sthil customer service sux.
I cut maybe 1 tree/month...not much use, but limbs, etc. I need a saw.
I have a 40v Greenworks 12" little saw I carry in truck & it's been through h--- for 10 years (clearance at Walmart $75 & I got a spare battery). Greenworks has great reviews if you look it up and I called them. They said definitely go brushless. So I'm looking at 18" or 20". Greenworks also said not to get commercial grade because 2yr warranty. Others it's like 5-6 years.
I considered Dewalt since I have a bunch of Dewalt I use all the time. They're 20v but a flexvolt 60v works because batteries will either series or parallel (higher AH) depending on what it's used in. Also a lot of people don't know there are battery adapters
less than $25, so I use a 20v Dewalt battery in a Craftsman 20v saw.
Dewalt chainsaws, however, don't have good reviews.
To me it's so convenient no fuel mix, pull start, fumes, hassle.
Any ideas on a powerful 18"-20" saw, best bang for the buck are appreciated. A bare tool doesn't make sense by the time you add the battery and charger.

 

[stevem5215]

Take a look on directtools.com They carry Ryobi on there. I bought a 16" refurb a few years ago for $89 and it's been a great limbing saw.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Thanks...but I need 18-20, more power the better but like to keep under $300-$400.
Direct tools I've had some good some bad refurbished.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

I just ordered Greenworks 80v 18" saw. I got an email with promo code. 2000002 for $242 before tax.

 

[MF243RedTop]

Can't speak on chainsaws ..but completely satisfied with a purchase of a DeWalt 48volt hedge trimmer I bought some 5 yrs ago or so...now obsolete I take it but can still buy more batteries if needed. The battery will last it's 90 minute proclaimed charge but does give up a bit torque towards the end.. the shrubbery around my house takes about 90 minutes to do..and have done the whole job in one pass...but usually about halfway through ill take a break and throw the battery on charge for good measure..not sold on battery chainsaws for my use as of yet...that's a totally different field of use in my book for my purposes......
The battery hedge trimmers were bought on the idea of maybe only using the once or twice a year..and not having to fiddle with a gas engine....were as I might use a chainsaw multiple times over in a year and for extended uses...think before you buy...
Also looked at a battery blower at that same time and the battery usage really sucked for what I needed and ended with a gas engine blower...

Edit: just remembered

I have a picture when new...

 

[ultrarunner]

I like my gas engine blower but I’m just asking for trouble since the cities have outlawed using gas blowers without excption.

As for the outlawed gas brush cutters the Fire Chief has publicly stated his only objective is clearing brush and enforcing the ban of gas power is outside his jurisdiction unless spark arrestor related.

I really like my Stihl Blower and just today my boss asked if I could again bring it to work as the leaves are beginning to drop…

Last year she approved me buying a battery for it and was a little shocked when the battery cost $230! She though I had bought an entire blower for that money and I said the blower, battery and fast charger with tax in the $700 neighborhood…

 

[CalG]

I recently bought the little Makita 10 inch saw. (It takes the same 18v batteries as the drill and driver, so same charger etc)

Dang that thing is the most DANGEROUS saw I've ever handled. There is NO feedback between the saw, MY BRAIN, and the trigger finger. The saw chain starts spinning just about every time I pick the saw up, or prepare to start in on a new limb.

Yes, I know it's me, but having the engine running on a gas saw has NEVER made me feel like a hazard to myself.

Call it conditioning.