Mini-saw reviews?

[ArlyA]

I had a fellow showed me a mini saw by stihl he had and I was rather impressed. Do you have one? If so, please tell us how you like it or any mini pruners like these, I'd love to hear about them.

GTA 26 Battery Garden Pruner​

Stihl GTA 26 Garden Pruner Specifications

• Power Source: Stihl 12V AS 2 battery.
• Bar Length: 4 inches.
• Chain: 1/4 PM3.
• Chain Speed: 26.3 ft/sec.
• Weight: 2.7 lbs bare, 3.1 lbs with battery.
• Oiling: Manual.
• Price: $149.95.

 

[Snobdds]

Is this a post paid for by stihl?

 

[2manyrocks]

.............Manual oiler, another small 1/4 chain from Sthil, Sthil battery and $149.

I'd rather pay more to get the Dewalt 20v electric pole saw.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have the EGO pole saw...works great
I also have one of those mini chain saws...can't recall the brand. It's OK for small stuff---1 to 3 inches. Smaller, the branch just chatters, larger, better off with a regular chainsaw

If I had to do it over again, I wouldn't buy it. A decent quality loper does a better job

 

[ArlyA]

Guys, these mini's are for small branches. Pole saws are for other jobs.

 

[Citydude]

Guys, these mini's are for small branches. Pole saws are for other jobs.

My wife has one. I can cut faster with my hand saw pruner without the oily mess.

 

[MacAttack]

Got a Milwaukee for the wife. The M12 Hatchet. I tried getting her the DeWalt but it was too heavy for her. I got the Hatchet instead. That and a bigger battery. It has automatic oiler, uses cheaper saw blades comes with a 4amh battery but it doesn't have the easy blade adjust and doesn't have a case. There isn't even a case available or I would've got one. Wife says she loves it. I'll probably use it more than she will.

 

[2manyrocks]

$28 Friskars loppers cut small branches just fine and never need recharging.

 

[JamesHW]

Got one recently and fired it up this week and on its first charge I was able to limb and cut up a volunteer peach tree on my neighbors yard that fell on our fence during a recent storm (definitely punching above it’s weight class) and afterwards prune back a bunch of overgrown fig trees, finishing just as the charge was depleted. The need to manually oil the chain is a hassle, but thinking even with an small, on-board oil reservoir you would still need to be very attentive to it. I like the ease of tightening the chain. Very handy indeed.

Researching mini chain saws I was amazed at the large number of models available online.

 

[ArlyA]

Got one recently and fired it up this week and on its first charge I was able to limb and cut up a volunteer peach tree on my neighbors yard that fell on our fence during a recent storm (definitely punching above it’s weight class) and afterwards prune back a bunch of overgrown fig trees, finishing just as the charge was depleted. The need to manually oil the chain is a hassle, but thinking even with an small, on-board oil reservoir you would still need to be very attentive to it. I like the ease of tightening the chain. Very handy indeed.

Researching mini chain saws I was amazed at the large number of models available online.

View attachment 754120

And which one do you have?

 

[2manyrocks]

I wonder about the danger of these style of mini chain saws. At least a pole saw keeps the chain a respectable distance from body parts.

 

[tacticalturnip]

So, when am I going to get my 6-8" chainsaw bayonet? Important questions need to be asked.

 

[2manyrocks]

Right after I get my 5 mile particle beam blaster.

 

[EddieWalker]

Seems like it would work great for a little while, but then the chain will need to be sharpened, and the batteries will need to be replaced. If you don't have any other tools that use those batteries, it seems kind of useless to just keep something charged for one tool.

For pruning, I either use a manual extendable saw, or a pruning blade on my cordless reciprocating saw. I already have a dozen Makita batteries, so there really isn't any limit to how long I can use it. If you have cordless tools, it makes more sense to just get some good pruning blades and use what you have.

My wife also likes to use the cordless Reciprocating saw for pruning. She feels very comfortable and safe using it.

https://www.amazon.com/Freud-DS0903CP3-Carbide-Reciprocating-TPI-Fast/dp/B073WMHQX8/ref=sr_1_5?crid=FR5I7L6RUSZF&keywords=pruning+blades&qid=1657811762&sprefix=pruning+blad%2Caps%2C382&sr=8-5

 

[stuckmotor]

I wonder about the danger of these style of mini chain saws. At least a pole saw keeps the chain a respectable distance from body parts.

I wouldn't want to carry one in my pocket.

 

[RoyJackson]

I wonder about the danger of these style of mini chain saws. At least a pole saw keeps the chain a respectable distance from body parts.

If it's used for what it's designed for, it's a safe way to trim branches (1" to 3")...if standing on the ground.
I have one, and I'd never use it when on a ladder.
That said, any branch less the 1½"...better (and safer) using a lopper

The bar on the one I have is 6"...personally, I wouldn't use it for a 6" branch...not even for a 4" or 5". That's what a chainsaw or pole saw is for. IMHO, those are much safer options

 

[JamesHW]

And which one do you have?

The Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner pictured in OP.

 

[ArlyA]

double post deleted

 

[tacticalturnip]

Right after I get my 5 mile particle beam blaster.

That's unfair...

 

[ArlyA]

I am a prophet of polesaws and own three of them but in the clearing situation I am doing now, they are not safe nor practical. The mini makita saw I have on order has a bar-brake like most saws do, and it small enough to be one hand operated. I'll try post pitcures of the bushs I'm clearing now after they are processed. (edited)