Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[John_Mc]

... I can run a circular table saw blade if I wanted to but I run a brush blade mist of the time.

I hope you are referring to a real clearing saw blade that just looks a bit like a table saw blade. Table saw blades are not rated for the RPMs that a brush saw/clearing saw turns. Table saw blades are also heat treated differently and are typically stiffer and more brittle than clearing saw blades. You are asking for an up close and personal experience with shrapnel if you use a table saw blade on a clearing saw. You might get away with it most of the time, but why take the chance? Clearing saw blades are not all that expensive.

 

[LouNY]

My favorite brush cutting blade on the heavier trimmers are the ones with a section of chain saw chain sandwiched between steel discs.
They have been getting harder to find the last few years.

 

[hunt4570]

Agreed. No one says you have to have just one tool. I have a brush cutter which wears a blade that looks similar to a circular saw most of the time for clearing buckthorn, and occasionally the three pointed blade for lighter brush. We also own a gas powered string trimmer. It's smaller and lighter and great for trimming around trees and the edges of buildings.

If we didn't already own the gas string trimmer, I'd go with a battery powered one: one less gas engine to worry about. I'd probably end up with a Milwaukee "M18 Fuel", since I already have a lot of their other battery powered tools. Between that and my brush cutter for the tougher jobs, we'd have things covered.

My complaint there is they all keep changing batteries every couple years so new tools aren’t compatable with tools from a couple years ago! I have Makita and Dewalt and two different batteries for my 2 Dewalts but will most likely go Dewalt, not sure if Makita has a string trimmer

 

[Code54]

I recently bought a DeWalt 20v chain saw. Now it is not close to my big Stihl saw but for its size and usage it is GREAT. If any of you ATV/SxS/4 wheel - I find it a great saw for on the machine. No gas to spill and ready to go instantly. I don't know about HF or the others but I believe Dewalt listed it as cutting 90 treated 4x4's on a change.

 

[Fallon]

My complaint there is they all keep changing batteries every couple years so new tools aren’t compatable with tools from a couple years ago! I have Makita and Dewalt and two different batteries for my 2 Dewalts but will most likely go Dewalt, not sure if Makita has a string trimmer

Ryobi has moved from NiCad to Lithium over the years. But they are all One+ format & interchangeable at the tool level. Need a newer charger for the lithium ones, but other than that there havent been any battery format changes in well over a decade.

 

[5030]

I recently bought a DeWalt 20v chain saw. Now it is not close to my big Stihl saw but for its size and usage it is GREAT. If any of you ATV/SxS/4 wheel - I find it a great saw for on the machine. No gas to spill and ready to go instantly. I don't know about HF or the others but I believe Dewalt listed it as cutting 90 treated 4x4's on a change.

I would say that total cut capacity is entirely predicated on how sharp the chain is more than the battery capacity.

 

[5030]

I may get the Bauer 20 volt chainsaw and the 20 volt blower sometime myself. I'm getting a nice collection of Bauer 20 volt tools and batteries. So fat so good with the 3/8" impact, the 1/4" hex driver and the 4 1/2" angle grinder and I'm using them hard and often, especially the angle grinder with a cutoff wheel. Much better than using my corded Metabo, much easier and I cut off lots of bolts.

Batteries go a long way too. I usually have one on the charger at all times waiting to go in a tool. 3 to the price of one Dewalt. Being frugal (wife calls me cheap), I find that to be quite a bargain.

 

[Oaktree]

It has a special chain and an internal stone that sharpens the chain when you depress a lever and all kinds of neat sparks shoot out the end, like a kids toy (of old)!

Apparently, the Oregon Rep, comes and shows how the saw cuts in large lumber, then proceeds to cut a cinder block, and shows how the saw won't cut. Then, some cool sparks and the saw cuts like new.

Color me skeptical. Now maybe they've come up with a new design that works just as you describe, but years ago I had a chainsaw that had an arrangement like you describe. Totally worthless IMHO. Didn't sharpen worth beans, and after you used the "sharpener" a few times it would cut crooked.
Threw that chain away, took out the sharpener assembly and replaced it with a normal chain.

 

[John_Mc]

I recently bought a DeWalt 20v chain saw. Now it is not close to my big Stihl saw but for its size and usage it is GREAT. If any of you ATV/SxS/4 wheel - I find it a great saw for on the machine. No gas to spill and ready to go instantly. I don't know about HF or the others but I believe Dewalt listed it as cutting 90 treated 4x4's on a change.

One of the better cordless chainsaws I've tried is the Milwaukee M18 Fuel. They rate is as making 150 cuts in 6x6 cedar. (On a square inches basis, that's equivalent to over 330 cuts of a 4x4.) It's got roughly equivalent power to a good-quality 40cc gas saw, and seems well designed and solidly built (for example, it has two studs to attach the bar, something I greatly prefer to the one bolt method that seems to be so popular on many small saws.)

 

[John_Mc]

I would say that total cut capacity is entirely predicated on how sharp the chain is more than the battery capacity.

And they are all rated with the best, sharpest chain they can for the testing.

A sharp chain is the best "power mod" you can do to a saw. As chainsaw safety instructor I know once said "You don't sharpen a chain because it got dull. You sharpen a chain to keep it from getting dull."