Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[Jstpssng]

There is some noise about safety chaps not being suitable for electric chain saws. Supposedly they have too much torque for the fibres to work.

These https://www.amazon.com/dp/B017TKJC6...02-20&linkId=391835e9e62d4ccb6c1e783ec6397e12 are supposed to be the most popular sold by Amazon. Note the comment at the bottom of the description
撤rotective clothing should not be used as a substituteto safe and responsible chainsaw operating procedures. These chaps are notsuitable protection for use with electric chainsaws, due to the high-torquenature of electric motors.?/strong>
From what little I致e been able to find I知 not sure if thisrefers to battery operated saws. Rather, it may be the case only with cordedsaws. At any rate you have to be safer with than without them, and the bestsafety device is right between your shoulders.


Besides, years ago I opened up the leg on my Labonville chaps like butter and the Partner 5000 was still running wide open when I pulled it off my leg.

 

[RalphVa]

Well, the wife wore out another Kobalt 40v chain saw. She broke a cog on the reduction gear inside the saw this time. The thing has a 5 year warranty. We'll see what Lowes says tomorrow when we take it back. Been swapping the chain from the older Kobalt that the brushes went on last year, getting sharpened at the local hardware store.

Last year, she wore out the brushes on the 1st Kobalt doing logs in a 100 yard long pile of debris that was 6 to 8 ft tall. We got it all done with me chipping and hauling and her cutting.

This year, we're at war with the invasive Oriental bittersweet, greenbriars and autumn olives and having to cut up downed trees. She's done A LOT of work with this 2nd saw.

Went looking at battery powered Stihls. Looks like about $400 for one with a couple batteries and charger. Hopefully, its 12" chain is interchangable with the 12" on the Kobalt.

Think Lowes no longer sells the 40v Kobalt. May have to buy the $179 24v brushless one with one battery and charger. Another couple batteries is around $129. More like $300 vs. $400 for the Stihl. Lowes may give us a refund on the 40v but may elect to ship us a new one. No 40v ones are in the stores.

Not sure yet what we'll end up with. Will go out shopping. There are 2 Stihl saw sellers in town right across the street from each other.

Really like the Kobalt. It has a nice chain adjustment and isn't an oil hog.

I cannot use a gas powered one because of my ICD. She cannot use them because she cannot start them. They're a pain. Needed for commercial work because the batteries only last (with brushed saw motor) about an hour to hour and a half. She often takes 2 spare batteries down in her back pack.

Ralph

 

[3gunr]

Looks like hf has a new 80 volt with 18 in bar. you tube vids look pretty good . I have a wen 40 volt saw . polesaw and blower. all three work great. they were pretty reasonable on line , each came with battery and charger. i have used the saw alot and it will cut small trees and logs for a good hr on a charge.it has a 16 in bar.

 

[Jstpssng]

Well, the wife wore out another Kobalt 40v chain saw. She broke a cog on the reduction gear inside the saw this time. The thing has a 5 year warranty. We'll see what Lowes says tomorrow when we take it back. Been swapping the chain from the older Kobalt that the brushes went on last year, getting sharpened at the local hardware store.

Last year, she wore out the brushes on the 1st Kobalt doing logs in a 100 yard long pile of debris that was 6 to 8 ft tall. We got it all done with me chipping and hauling and her cutting.

This year, we're at war with the invasive Oriental bittersweet, greenbriars and autumn olives and having to cut up downed trees. She's done A LOT of work with this 2nd saw.

Went looking at battery powered Stihls. Looks like about $400 for one with a couple batteries and charger. Hopefully, its 12" chain is interchangable with the 12" on the Kobalt.

Think Lowes no longer sells the 40v Kobalt. May have to buy the $179 24v brushless one with one battery and charger. Another couple batteries is around $129. More like $300 vs. $400 for the Stihl. Lowes may give us a refund on the 40v but may elect to ship us a new one. No 40v ones are in the stores.

Not sure yet what we'll end up with. Will go out shopping. There are 2 Stihl saw sellers in town right across the street from each other.

Really like the Kobalt. It has a nice chain adjustment and isn't an oil hog.

I cannot use a gas powered one because of my ICD. She cannot use them because she cannot start them. They're a pain. Needed for commercial work because the batteries only last (with brushed saw motor) about an hour to hour and a half. She often takes 2 spare batteries down in her back pack.

Ralph

Have you looked at the Echo? They have a 58 Volt saw that is supposed to a good unit. It seems to be priced comparable to the Stihl, although it has a 16" bar.
ECHO-USA | Professional-Grade Handheld Outdoor Power Equipment

The guy who saws my lumber has one and told me that's all that he uses around the sawmill. Just a word of caution about electric saws in general; because of their higher torque, safety chaps are less effective.

 

[nybirdman]

I purchased an Echo last year;58 volt.Haven't used it a lot but seems to work well.Fairly heavy,16 in.bar and holds charge for about an hour under heavy use.$340 delivered,way less than a comparable Stihl(I like Stihl and still have a gas model).

 

[RalphVa]

Don't see need to go bigger than 12". That 1st Kobalt 12" cut through all the logs piled in that 100 yard long pile 6 to 8 ft deep. Then can continue with a 12" spare chain.

Ralph

 

[RalphVa]

We are now proud (hopefully) of an MSA 120 Stihl 12" battery chain saw. Got it at Southern States. Bought an extra bat for 1/2 price and another chain. The guys said it would not take a regular 12" chain, as I saw it has rather small teeth. $430 with some $32 long gloves as well.

All the 40v and 24v Kobalt chain saws are on factory recall. They refunded us for the one that is near a year old. Only Kobalt available are the 80v and 10.75' 40v pole saw. Had another long bar one by GreenWorx. Bigger is not better in chain saws, tractors and women. You can rent bigger chain saws and tractors when you (very rarely) need them. Don't think you want to do this with women.

Came home to low water pressure. Flipped the breaker, and the pump started and built pressure. Don't need the well pump to go out.

Ralph

 

[DKCDKC]

Ordered an ECO 56 volt chainsaw in 2017 - a return on Amazon including extra chain for $120. After I used it for a while, bought another returned one from Amazon for about the same price. Both still working well. I have cut down and cut up several 5-6 inch trees on a single battery charge. Admittedly I'm not a heavy user but live in a forest and have electric to handle downed limbs in the yard or mile-long drive. I do cut down some trees every other month or so. No issues for the electrics at all and am pleased I got them cheap since I've always had good luck with used and returns for expensive equipment. BTW, I have a Stihl Farm Boss for any really big trees, but use it only once or twice a year. Biggest challenge is keeping it able to start.

 

[ultrarunner]

Very interested in hearing your field experience.

I use the MSA 200 C-BQ and pleased with it... the only con is it doesn't take much to dull the chain.

Buying the AP series led to additional purchases... I would say I'm in for just under $2,000 and that is how they do it.

The saw is my go to saw for maintenance and then added a blower which I never knew how useful having one could be... spends the fall each year at work... use the pole saw and the two hedge trimers to make short work for things I was always dragging out ladders... quick charger and extra battery...

I have not quite go to the point of selling my gas stuff yet but the day could come...

Congrats...

Beautiful wooded country Charlottesville.

I few back to pick up a car years ago and drove it back to California 1968 Z-28... it was sold by the Red Jacket Well Pump Dealer in town...

 

[RalphVa]

I gave away all my gas stuff back in 2012 or so when I got this ICD put in. Told me I could not work near high powered electrical discharges. Have to even be careful not to lean over a running car engine.

Really glad I did. Battery power is A LOT easier to deal with. With multiple batteries and not working for longer than about 3 or 4 hours (my wife; I only last 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours) 2 or, at most, 3 batteries are good. Probably be even longer period with these new brushless motors. The one on my toothbrush, for instance, must last for over a year. Actually, I've NEVER had the penlite recharges run down on it. I finally just replace with charged one after about a year.

Rlph