Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[Sodo]

Any current opinions what's the best battery powered chainsaw? I have to trim some trees from a 40 foot man-lift. I have a hotrodded Stihl MS201T that cuts like h*ll - but after trying the 36volt Makita & the 40V Husqv .... there's no turning back :thumbsup:
.... Gotta have one, more work & less effort, no hearing protection required I can hear my guys on the ground. And the neighbors won't complain.

So who has a modern battery powered chainsaw and what brand model? Not interested versions from a few years back, unless you're happy with it. Wanna hear about the new ones that rival a small gas saw.

 

[CobyRupert]

Ones that rival a gas saw? Good luck.

The only reason I'd have a battery powered saw is so when my cheap neighbor wants to borrow my chainsaw, I can lend him a battery powered one free of charge! :laughing:

 

[jeff9366]

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.

 

[Sodo]

It's been a couple years now since I used the 40V Husqv. But that was $800. The Makita was $199 and was about 2/3 the power of the Husqv. I have a sawzall and the pruning blade too, it's no comparison. A gas saw and a sawzall would get the job done too, but substantially more difficult.

The 40V Husqv was comparable to my Stihl MS201T in real-life cutting performance. If I was cutting firewood I'd use the Stihl. Cutting firewood is real life but it's NOT the task at hand. Need to cut trees up to a foot diameter from a bucket truck. The Battery saw will outperform the Stihl by FAR is many other ways, and especially from a bucket truck. I'm looking forward to it.

No action on this thread? Methinks TBN is a little "behind the times...."

 

[/pine]

It's been a couple years now since I used the 40V Husqv. But that was $800. The Makita was $199 and was about 2/3 the power of the Husqv. I have a sawzall and the pruning blade too, it's no comparison. A gas saw and a sawzall would get the job done too, but substantially more difficult.

The 40V Husqv was comparable to my Stihl MS201T in real-life cutting performance. If I was cutting firewood I'd use the Stihl. Cutting firewood is real life but it's NOT the task at hand. Need to cut trees up to a foot diameter from a bucket truck. The Battery saw will outperform the Stihl by FAR is many other ways, and especially from a bucket truck. I'm looking forward to it.

No action on this thread? Methinks TBN is a little "behind the times...."

Stihl won the PM choice in 2014 Which Battery-Powered Chainsaw Should You Buy?

I'd check more recent online reviews...and see what the repair shop owners have to say

 

[RoyJackson]

I have an EGO brand chainsaw. Good for minor trimming and such, but it's definitely not something I'd want to use for any kind of heavy work.

 

[newbury]

From an earlier thread I started.
Liked it so much I bought another.

That's a 40V w/ 12" bar.

Looks like a toy but was only $120 w/ 2AH 40V battery, charger, chain and bar.

Planning on it's primary use being when I'm up in the trees trimming branches. Talk about easy start Would have liked a Stihl 201T, but like the extra $500 still in my pocket.

Should have bought several because the darn battery is almost $100 by itself.

Anybody else have one?

Coincidentally, JUST before I picked it up I was at a hardware store where they had a Stihl toy chainsaw like this one at Amazon,

AND that was $40!

(note - if you can read my sig I've chainsaws up to 120CC)

Gave the first one to my son. Bought 2 "non-safety" chains from Bailey's.

I've used it when I was at the top of a 32 foot ladder trimming branches off a tree brushing the house and sure appreciate not having to pull start an engine. Now if they would just produce a TOP HANDLE saw for $120 WITH 40V battery and charger (battery goes for about $65 and up alone).

 

[k0ua]

It's been a couple years now since I used the 40V Husqv. But that was $800. The Makita was $199 and was about 2/3 the power of the Husqv. I have a sawzall and the pruning blade too, it's no comparison. A gas saw and a sawzall would get the job done too, but substantially more difficult.

The 40V Husqv was comparable to my Stihl MS201T in real-life cutting performance. If I was cutting firewood I'd use the Stihl. Cutting firewood is real life but it's NOT the task at hand. Need to cut trees up to a foot diameter from a bucket truck. The Battery saw will outperform the Stihl by FAR is many other ways, and especially from a bucket truck. I'm looking forward to it.

No action on this thread? Methinks TBN is a little "behind the times...."

No, we are listening with interest.

 

[Sodo]

When you opened this thread you used the word TRIM. Open your next thread with more precise wording.

OK good point! I know tools and wasn't thinking that others would assume I don't. So understood.

Newbury I think often about just getting a lower end saw but my friends who have good battery saws tell me that it will quickly become my "main saw" and I'll overcut with it rather than start a gas saw. And for that, I'll appreciate haveg a good one.

Will trim perhaps 100 branches then cut off 3ft sections of trunk as I come down, until it's reasonable to fell it from the ground. Not sure if its a foot but could be. Then on the ground I'll use my normal saw that I carry around all day, which is, of course my Stihl 660.

 

[Piston]

Watching this thread with interest. I'm positive an electric saw can be made considerably more powerful than a gas saw, just need the battery cost to come down.

I definitely want to purchase an electric saw for trimming, and also keep with me when using the chopper.

Glad you started this thread.

 

[boomer1025]

Check out GreenWorks Saws, they make several models in 40 & 80 volt.

 

[MossRoad]

A friend of mine and I were just discussin this last Saturday. He said he knew someone that had a battery operated chainsaw, he was very skeptical, but it cut way faster and way longer than he expected. I'll drop him a line and see if he remembers what brand it was.

 

[4570Man]

Is corded electric an option? Most bucket trucks have a plug at the top and that seems more suitable for high output use.

 

[4570Man]

Watching this thread with interest. I'm positive an electric saw can be made considerably more powerful than a gas saw, just need the battery cost to come down. I definitely want to purchase an electric saw for trimming, and also keep with me when using the chopper. Glad you started this thread.

I'd love to see a battery powered saw that can compete with the power and weight of a pro grade gas saw. My buddy has a battery powered saw and leaf blower. They're both a joke compared to my backpack blower and gas saw. Now, the electric saw is nice and would be better suited to a lot of the abuse my sawzall takes, but battery technology has a LONG way to come before I'll park my 372XP. The blower is nearly useless IMO. As far as I know not even corded tools exist to compete with pro saws. I don't have enough use for a light duty saw to justify buying one though.

 

[Sodo]

Ahem, that's why I carry my Stihl 660 with me wherever I go.

Times have changed my friend, batteries have far surpassed corded saws. As a wild guess I bet a modern battery saw would cut a 10" log half the speed of my MS201T which is a pro-grade gas saw. But the time is "made up" in other ways that end up as superior. I see it time and time again. I think only a fool would cut firewood with an electric saw. Or go after a large number of logs. But doing other work, it competes cuz it's "always on" and "instant off".

So often I have to start the gas saw to cut one peice of wood (sometimes firewood that's too long etc) and it seems absolutley silly in comparison to a battery saw which you just pull the trigger then set it back down. Or on the ATV, or tractor, pull, pull, pull, braap braap braap to cut ONE branch or log in the way.

I think the jobs where you never set the saw down, gas wins big. If you set the saw down after every cut, the Battery saw wins just as big. To claim that one is better than the other, ignoring the vast difference between the types of jobs that are done with a chainsaw, is a non-sensical tool comparison and thus useless information.

And up in a bucket.....no comparison.

It makes sense it has to be whatever brand my NEXT BATCH of battery tools are, such as Makita, or DeWalt. At least that's my current thought. But I have to buy into a whole line of new power tools. Main problem is my 18V Dewalts are still going strong (since 2006). I'm getting tired of the NiCad batteries though.

 

[jeff9366]

Keep in mind DC power is more dangerous, in terms of electrocution, than AC power.
I do not know the safe upper voltage limit for DC, but perhaps less than 110 volts. :confused3:



Cord or battery power, the electrocution issue is electrical current's ability to use the human body as a conducting path to ground.

 

[Sodo]

True but it's a closed system, no cord to cut.

 

[4570Man]

Ahem, that's why I carry my Stihl 660 with me wherever I go. Times have changed my friend, batteries have far surpassed corded saws. As a wild guess I bet a modern battery saw would cut a 10" log half the speed of my MS201T which is a pro-grade gas saw. But the time is "made up" in other ways that end up as superior. I see it time and time again. I think only a fool would cut firewood with an electric saw. Or go after a large number of logs. But doing other work, it competes cuz it's "always on" and "instant off". So often I have to start the gas saw to cut one peice of wood (sometimes firewood that's too long etc) and it seems absolutley silly in comparison to a battery saw which you just pull the trigger then set it back down. Or on the ATV, or tractor, pull, pull, pull, braap braap braap to cut ONE branch or log in the way. I think the jobs where you never set the saw down, gas wins big. If you set the saw down after every cut, the Battery saw wins just as big. To claim that one is better than the other, ignoring the vast difference between the types of jobs that are done with a chainsaw, is a non-sensical tool comparison and thus useless information. And up in a bucket.....no comparison. It makes sense it has to be whatever brand my NEXT BATCH of battery tools are, such as Makita, or DeWalt. At least that's my current thought. But I have to buy into a whole line of new power tools. Main problem is my 18V Dewalts are still going strong (since 2006). I'm getting tired of the NiCad batteries though.

I might have implied it, but I never said one was better than the other. Those one branch jobs are where I use my sawzall at a handicap to a electric saw. For some of those set the saw down jobs I leave my gas saw down running with the chain brake on. I already agreed an electric saw was a better choice out of a bucket. I think both saws have their uses and will never replace the other one.

 

[MossRoad]

.....

It makes sense it has to be whatever brand my NEXT BATCH of battery tools are, such as Makita, or DeWalt. At least that's my current thought. But I have to buy into a whole line of new power tools. Main problem is my 18V Dewalts are still going strong (since 2006). I'm getting tired of the NiCad batteries though.

Aren't the cordless chainsaws a much higher voltage battery than cordless handtools? Is one of your goals to use the same battery back in all the tools?

 

[Sodo]

Aren't the cordless chainsaws a much higher voltage battery than cordless handtools? Is one of your goals to use the same battery back in all the tools?

Makita and DeWalt (and others) are addressing that specifically. For example the Makita saw is a two-holer. If 18v is enough power, you put a battery in one hole. If you want 36V you put in 2 batteries.

DeWalt does it a different way. The battery and the tool have a little conversation and the battery connects its cells up (series or parallel etc) to put out whatever voltage the tool wants. They have a jobsite chopsaw that takes up to 120V DC. And they can run on a 120VAC cord too.

Times they are a changing.