What is the best battery operated chain saw

[Professor Marvel]

Not sure where you are getting your chains, but over $40 is a complete rip-off. I can get replacement chain for the Milwaukee M18 Fuel chainsaw a whole lot cheaper than that. The saw comes with a 16" bar, 0.043" gauge, 3/8" Low-profile chain with 56 drive links. Baileys (who is not the cheapest place around to buy chains) sells a few options:

WoodlandPRO 34LP56 for $13
Oregon 90PX056G for $17
Stihl 61PMM356 for $22

I'm not a big fan of the Woodland Pro, but the other two manufacturers make good chains.

chains for my stihl were
+- 33 bucks last year and that was crazy. something must have changed because a month ago it was 17

 

[ultrarunner]

chains for my stihl were
+- 33 bucks last year and that was crazy. something must have changed because a month ago it was 17

I was wondering what changed myself...

Swiss made items have never been cheap...

 

[k0ua]

That's because saw chain is known to cause cancer in the state of California. :laughing:

Heck water causes cancer in the state of California.

 

[ultrarunner]

Heck water causes cancer in the state of California.

It could be the proposed ban on Diesel making the rounds with the vision towards the use of more battery operated means of locomotion...

Looking back who would have thought Battery Chainsaws would be viable?

 

[k0ua]

It could be the proposed ban on Diesel making the rounds with the vision towards the use of more battery operated means of locomotion...

Looking back who would have thought Battery Chainsaws would be viable?

I am old enough to remember when the first battery powered drills hit the market. They were expensive and weak. We have come a long way. No, I could not have imagined a battery powered chainsaw a back a few decades ago. I am predicting that they will rapidly become the norm for homeowner use. There are just too many positives to their use for a homeowner, and the negatives are becoming less and less as time goes by.

 

[cqaigy2]

I've never had anything bad Makita... it was my first cordless back around 1983 and still have it...

I do too. With the old NiCad batteries. Had to repair a few of the packs back in the day, but i don't use it much anymore. Also have a Makita 3/8" corded drill, that will twist your hand off at the wrist, if you don't let up.

Back to chain saws. As these battery saws get stronger, has anybody noticed if they've been tested against protection gear. I'm thinking the torque characteristics of electric motors, as compared to gas engines.

 

[ultrarunner]

The Milwaukee demo video says it operates just like a gas saw without having to rope start an engine.

It will be interesting to see real world the longevity of the battery packs. When I bought my cordless tools some of the neighbors also bought... I was using my stuff just about daily and they would complain that the battery was always dead when it was in the box for months at a time...

I think rechargeable batteries are great in the right application... the other thing is committing to a brand often means standardization... one battery powers many assorted tools which might be part of the marketing

Stihl offers assorted extended run packs... and even a backpack battery for a price.

Europe is jumping in feet first on battery power across the board after saying the cold temps make battery applications problematic...

Again.. can't say enough just how well the last two years have been at the Christmas Tree Farm since switching to the battery chainsaws...

Biggest fear now is someone will walk off with one!

 

[Professor Marvel]

The second point is Chinese manufacturing. This might be a discussion for another forum, but you are also misinformed if you think the Chinese can稚 make quality products. The issue is the US parent company wanting the cheapest possible tool made with the lowest quality components. The Chinese dont dictate this...the US company paying them does. So you can blame the US company for asking the Chinese to make it as cheaply as possible. A great example of the capability of quality in China is Apple. Apple has one of the highest hardware quality ratings for technology products in the world. All made in China. Apple engineers and dictates quality components...and the Chinese use them. We pay a premium...but we get what we pay for.

Thie is a good point that i think most people miss.Glad you pointed it out.

 

[Professor Marvel]

When does the true cost of owning a particular cordless tool outweight the extra work of getting out an extension cord? Are we just being brainwashed into "wanting" something else?

How much is the cost and inconvenience of a 600' + extension cord?

 

[Professor Marvel]

This is the direction I am headed. Cost is definitely steep. To dive in with a couple batteries. Neighbor sure loves his battery Stihl chainsaw. Jealous.

I have gone to the stihl battery series because my shoulder need to be replaced and I have difficulty starting my 3 stihl gas chain saws. They work great for all but the big jobs and are very convenient. And they work well and are well made. I have chainsaw, pole saw and weed eater that I put a saw blade on.
Stihl are the only battery units I was familiar with so others might be fine also.
HOWEVER, I wanted a very small one to hold branches in one hand and cut them with the other as these days a lot of what I do is clean up my woods. I looked all over and finally found a small Makita about 5 inches. I cut everything up to 5+ inches with this. Must say I am VERY impressed. I am still on the first chain and it has not even been sharpened and cuts like crazy. I use this little saw the most also. I wish I knew who makes the chain for this because I have never had a chain last this well. I would like to get the same brand on any of my chain saws if possible. I guess I am also pointing out that a 14-16in makita is probably worth looking into as well to anyone looking into battery chainsaws.