Electric Chainsaws and Working out of a Bucket

[Dan Hunter]

I'm in the process of re-clearing the slope in front of our building. The initial time was days before the dozer came to level a pad. We had no idea how aggressively oak trees suckered. Most of them got chem'd but maybe a third didn't when we ran out of poison. We're after those suckered trees right now.

Cutting my way into the base of the tree and then cutting and spraying is a process that is best served by the small Kobalt unit. Originally, I didn't worry about abusing it as I honestly didn't respect it. It has crappy plastic compared to my Stihl chainsaws and even my Echo 2511 (which the aftermarket muffler replacement header turned into a screaming beast). But I've come to appreciate the safety margin of the "on or absolutely off" nature of an electric and have gained respect for them.

The flip side is my 2511 dropped two oak on the peripheral that we hadn't touched initially that were well over the bar length in diameter. The Kobalt doesn't have the power or chain speed for such a job. Sure, my Stihl 261C would have done the job more quickly but the 2511 cracks me up with what it's capable of. Plus the case I carry it in fits quite handily in the back of my Polaris 900 ACE so it sits there, gets used and serviced, and returned there.

There are no parallels to electric cars. I'll collect all my Kobalt batteries when the electric saw is having a big day...no different than making sure I have bar oil and fuel. But I live in Enid, OK and vacation in Manitou Springs, CO. I'm not stopping in Guymon, OK and asking a farmer if I can plug my car in overnight plus they've yet to manufacture an electric touring coupe as nice as my wife's C7.

 

[kozal01]

I'm in the process of re-clearing the slope in front of our building. The initial time was days before the dozer came to level a pad. We had no idea how aggressively oak trees suckered. Most of them got chem'd but maybe a third didn't when we ran out of poison. We're after those suckered trees right now.

Cutting my way into the base of the tree and then cutting and spraying is a process that is best served by the small Kobalt unit. Originally, I didn't worry about abusing it as I honestly didn't respect it. It has crappy plastic compared to my Stihl chainsaws and even my Echo 2511 (which the aftermarket muffler replacement header turned into a screaming beast). But I've come to appreciate the safety margin of the "on or absolutely off" nature of an electric and have gained respect for them.

The flip side is my 2511 dropped two oak on the peripheral that we hadn't touched initially that were well over the bar length in diameter. The Kobalt doesn't have the power or chain speed for such a job. Sure, my Stihl 261C would have done the job more quickly but the 2511 cracks me up with what it's capable of. Plus the case I carry it in fits quite handily in the back of my Polaris 900 ACE so it sits there, gets used and serviced, and returned there.

There are no parallels to electric cars. I'll collect all my Kobalt batteries when the electric saw is having a big day...no different than making sure I have bar oil and fuel. But I live in Enid, OK and vacation in Manitou Springs, CO. I'm not stopping in Guymon, OK and asking a farmer if I can plug my car in overnight plus they've yet to manufacture an electric touring coupe as nice as my wife's C7.

My 2511 is piped and has the 1/4 pitch picco bar and chain conversion and it’s a little ripper. I use it like a big saw because it’s so fun and quick to use. Echo killed it with that saw.

 

[strykerAKAmack]

I've got 2 stihls both dedicated to Alaskan sawmilling and use my electric dewalts for pruning and my Egos for
bucking , gotos are the 20 inch 60cc commercial and the 18 inch 45cc .
Batteries aren't an issue as 2-8amp hr
last longer than me on the 20 and 3- 5amp hrs on the 18 will still outwork me . Best is the just add oil and go .

 

[qualsite]

I have 110V available, which I run up to the top of the manlift on my boom forklift. The SunJoe electric chainsaw is soooo much easier and safer than my gas saw. In fact, my gas saw hardly even gets used at all anymore, and we heat with wood. The SunJoe corded electric is cheap, but very well built, and has Oregon bar and chains. Sure, there are better built ones, but it gets the job done, and if it eventually fails, replacement is easy. It makes it so much easier, I wouldn't use anything else unless I needed to.

 

[nyone]

The dewalt 60v weights about 13lbs and I believe that's with no battery. That's prety heavy to me.

I have a ms193t top handle saw that's under 8lbs dry I believe.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Believe me when I say that for short jobs, there is no substitute for cordless. Tons of torque. No carb or fuel problems. No hearing protection. They start every time.

One of my most useful tools is a really junky-looking cheap Kobalt 8" pole saw. I paid $100 for the saw and one battery. On one charge, I can get 20 minutes of work out of it. It looks like a toy, but it's a lifesaver. Blows right through anything 4" or smaller.

I also have a cordless EGO pole saw which I always use instead of gas when possible. I added a 3-foot extension.

I have a Makita cordless chainsaw which is nothing short of fantastic.

Gas is king for working all day, but that's all it's good for. I have a bunch of gas saws, and I don't touch them until I run out of cordless options.

 

[kozal01]

The dewalt 60v weights about 13lbs and I believe that's with no battery. That's prety heavy to me.

I have a ms193t top handle saw that's under 8lbs dry I believe.

This is my issue with a lot of the cordless saws as well, they are very heavy compared to their output, especially considering they are all like 95% plastic too. My little Echo top handle has saw is like 5 pounds.

 

[neilpaku]

I have and use both - Milwaukee cordless polesaw and a handled saw, and Stihl KM55 pole saw (has a ton of other attachments), MS170 top handle and MS270 utility. They all get used - it's only the cutting scenario that is my basis of choice as they all work as I expect.

 

[HFK Farms]

I find my Echo battery power chainsaw ideal for when you only have small jobs, you do not want to run fill gas can and add your two stroke oil. Like a downed tree on your dirt road, it is perfect. The Echo does a great job, but with the battery it is just as heavy as my gas powered Stihl and Echo.