Ozark Hollow
Member
Almost a year ago, I started a thread about chainsaw alternatives to the usual gas, or corded electric types. I was specifically looking for a hydraulic saw that I could hook up to the tractor, because I had seen one at a farm show. But after looking at all the complications, I finally decided against trying to go that route. I got lots of other good suggestions, but nothing panned out for me. Briefly, I'm small, female, and my shoulders are shot, so I can't pull start a gas saw, even the easy start variety that I tried, and I need a saw away from where I could use a corded electric. This is a link to the original thread.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/197831-chainsaw-alternatives.html
I found out this fall that Oregon had come out with a 40V cordless chainsaw, the Oregon PowerNow. It has a self sharpener, and a 14" bar. I've had several weeks to try the saw now, and here's what I think.
The saw has had enough power to get anything done I have thrown at it, without being too much for me to handle safely. It gives me more independence, because if a tree goes down across the trail a quarter mile from the house, now I know I can handle it, without either begging someone to come help, or by trying to hire someone. Previously I had an 18V Ryobi rechargeable with a 10" bar. Subjectively, the Oregon feels like at least 4 times saw of the Ryobi. But honestly, there just isn't any comparison at all really.
Some of the things I've cut with the saw: A small crabapple that had three intertwined trunks, a medium sized peach tree, some osage orange (incredibly tough stuff) a huge mound of deadfall limbs from an ice storm a few years ago, including oak limbs up to 8" in diameter, and finally a medium to large cedar that tipped over in my yard under a heavy snowfall. The cedar was the biggest thing I tackled, the trunk was 14" across at the base. This was definitely a challenge, but the saw handled it. The saw is actually only advertised as good to cut up to 12". I'd had friends and neighbors repeatedly promise for over a year and a half to come and cut that tree for me, it was PRICELESS to me to be able to do it for myself.
I really like the self sharpening feature too. You pull a lever with the saw running and zing, sparks fly and 3 seconds later you have a sharp chain. I think I have personally dulled more chains with a file than actually sharpened them, and you can't beat the speed. Each new chain comes with a new sharpening stone, you change them out as a pair. They are more expensive than a regular chain, but it really saves time. The chain is easy to tighten, with the adjustment screw on the outside so you don't have to take the cover off to get at it. You do have to take that side cover off occasionally though, sawdust and chips can build up inside sometimes. The cover comes on and off very easily without tools.
There are two different kinds of batteries for the saw. The pile in picture #1 was cut with the standard battery and Picture #2 shows the endurance battery. That wood was from my stack of ice storm deadfall, a mixed bunch of oak and sycamore. The endurance battery takes under 2 hours to charge, the standard battery takes about an hour. The standard battery also weighs about a pound less, which can be helpful when you are using the saw to take off limbs. Unlike other rechargeables I have had, the batteries don't fade noticeably. They run on full until they run out of juice and then they quit abruptly. There is a meter built into the battery, press a button and it shows how much charge is left.
The other pictures are before and after of the big cedar. Please note that the roughness of the cut is due to the operator, not the saw. I'd never cut anything that big before. Because it was not all the way on the ground, I was very worried about getting the bar trapped, so I nibbled around the thing. It didn't take long, despite my poor technique.
The only real downside to this saw is the cost. It's going to run you considerably more than a comparable gas saw. However, I think if you have any issues with a gas saw, that it's more than worth the extra cost. No pull starts, much lower noise level, and and no gas, oil, or fumes. I would think that it will have lower maintenance costs, since electric motors generally have less to go wrong, but I can't say that for certain at this point.
I'm extremely happy with the saw. For me, it's just about perfect.
Standard battery
Endurance battery
My nemesis the cedar tree after I got most of the limbs off.
The stump.
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/197831-chainsaw-alternatives.html
I found out this fall that Oregon had come out with a 40V cordless chainsaw, the Oregon PowerNow. It has a self sharpener, and a 14" bar. I've had several weeks to try the saw now, and here's what I think.
The saw has had enough power to get anything done I have thrown at it, without being too much for me to handle safely. It gives me more independence, because if a tree goes down across the trail a quarter mile from the house, now I know I can handle it, without either begging someone to come help, or by trying to hire someone. Previously I had an 18V Ryobi rechargeable with a 10" bar. Subjectively, the Oregon feels like at least 4 times saw of the Ryobi. But honestly, there just isn't any comparison at all really.
Some of the things I've cut with the saw: A small crabapple that had three intertwined trunks, a medium sized peach tree, some osage orange (incredibly tough stuff) a huge mound of deadfall limbs from an ice storm a few years ago, including oak limbs up to 8" in diameter, and finally a medium to large cedar that tipped over in my yard under a heavy snowfall. The cedar was the biggest thing I tackled, the trunk was 14" across at the base. This was definitely a challenge, but the saw handled it. The saw is actually only advertised as good to cut up to 12". I'd had friends and neighbors repeatedly promise for over a year and a half to come and cut that tree for me, it was PRICELESS to me to be able to do it for myself.
I really like the self sharpening feature too. You pull a lever with the saw running and zing, sparks fly and 3 seconds later you have a sharp chain. I think I have personally dulled more chains with a file than actually sharpened them, and you can't beat the speed. Each new chain comes with a new sharpening stone, you change them out as a pair. They are more expensive than a regular chain, but it really saves time. The chain is easy to tighten, with the adjustment screw on the outside so you don't have to take the cover off to get at it. You do have to take that side cover off occasionally though, sawdust and chips can build up inside sometimes. The cover comes on and off very easily without tools.
There are two different kinds of batteries for the saw. The pile in picture #1 was cut with the standard battery and Picture #2 shows the endurance battery. That wood was from my stack of ice storm deadfall, a mixed bunch of oak and sycamore. The endurance battery takes under 2 hours to charge, the standard battery takes about an hour. The standard battery also weighs about a pound less, which can be helpful when you are using the saw to take off limbs. Unlike other rechargeables I have had, the batteries don't fade noticeably. They run on full until they run out of juice and then they quit abruptly. There is a meter built into the battery, press a button and it shows how much charge is left.
The other pictures are before and after of the big cedar. Please note that the roughness of the cut is due to the operator, not the saw. I'd never cut anything that big before. Because it was not all the way on the ground, I was very worried about getting the bar trapped, so I nibbled around the thing. It didn't take long, despite my poor technique.
The only real downside to this saw is the cost. It's going to run you considerably more than a comparable gas saw. However, I think if you have any issues with a gas saw, that it's more than worth the extra cost. No pull starts, much lower noise level, and and no gas, oil, or fumes. I would think that it will have lower maintenance costs, since electric motors generally have less to go wrong, but I can't say that for certain at this point.
I'm extremely happy with the saw. For me, it's just about perfect.
Standard battery
Endurance battery
My nemesis the cedar tree after I got most of the limbs off.
The stump.
