Battery powered chainsaw recommendations? (2017)

[Sodo]

Agree 100% on the weed wacker with carbide blade for brush. There is nothing faster (excepting hydraulic eqpt) and much less fatigue cuz you don't bend over. Once you've experienced it......of course.

Christmas is almost here so the Tree Farm will be busy...
Typically each tree gets a fresh cut as it goes out the door...
The small Stihl Chainsaws (3) is what they use... I was thinking for each 20 second cut the saw runs x 1600 trees there must be a better solution...
I bought a Stihl plug in and it is a fine saw but there were concerns using it in the rain and mud...
I can see a battery chainsaw could be idea and quiet!

My Makita would cut a 4" christmas tree in about 3 seconds not 20. Your Stihl gas saws could be 2 seconds, but perhaps more than 20 seconds with all the other fussing. You will save a LOT of time.

Funny. Battery is safer for the customers too, and tou can talk to them while cutting. Battery saw won't fling oil on the customers. You will feel like a dinosaur who missed out on recent technology within the first 30 minutes.

After the 1st 30 minutes it's all gravy for the remainder of the season.

I'm going to guess with my Makita (top handle) that one 5AH battery will cut 30 4" trees, and they take about 1/2 hr to recharge, so with two batteries, you have capacity of about 60 trees per hour. One per minute all day long. If you test a saw you will find the real numbers. Do some industrial espionage at growers/sellers, someone must be using battery saws at their retail locations.

 

[Piston]

I keep the same compact reciprocating saw on my Kubota L3560 tractor. It takes only a single bungee cord to hold the saw securely. Saw is ready-to-hand when I am standing on the ground.

Try Milwaukee's THE AXE blades, which are much more rigid than pruning blades. THE AXE is easy to find in 5" length, more difficult to find in 9" length which I prefer. You will not return to pruning blades.

I have a Stihl MS261 always in the bed of my utility vehicle, along with two sizes of loppers.

Thanks for the tip, I’ll give THE AXE a try!

 

[Piston]

I've used the pruning saw blade on a Sawzall, it's much slower than an electric chainsaw. To cut a 5" branch with a pruning blade would take a LONG time, so long I'd really have to be the only saw available, for me to do that. To cut it with a battery chainsaw would take about double the cut time as a gas saw AFTER the gas saw is up & running. We're talking about 4 seconds battery vs 2 seconds gas here (this is after the chain is on the wood). It's not the cutting time saved, it's all the other time.

If you had a gas saw and a battery saw sitting on the tailgate, a 5 inch branch to cut. The battery saw will be back on the tailgate, done, before the 2nd warmup blip on the gas saw. And by "done" I mean setting there back on the tailgate.

Agree that the sawzall is not the “right”choice to be cutting a 5” diameter limb, but it is a whole faster.
Reason being is, I keep the “Hackzall” on my tractor with me when going into the woods. It’s a lot quicker to grab and cut a limb, than it is to go all the way back to the house, get the saw (gas or electric) and come all the way back. So, while slower to cut, the convenience wins out at times.
Just another way to look at it that’s all.

 

[ultrarunner]

On the tractor I keep a good pair of Loppers and a cheap Bow Saw...

The Sawzall does come in handy with roots at times... the replaceable blade is cheap so I don't chance hitting a rock with the chainsaw.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just started using a Ridged 18 volt saws-all on roots this summer. Sure beats the sharp axe and getting a bunch of dirt in your hair.

 

[Garandman]

On the tractor I keep a good pair of Loppers and a cheap Bow Saw...

The Sawzall does come in handy with roots at times... the replaceable blade is cheap so I don't chance hitting a rock with the chainsaw.

Great idea. Just ordered those Milwaukee blades to give that a try. We have an 18V DeWalt.

Bought an HF small bow saw for the tractor. My wife keeps stealing it.....

 

[yomax4]

I like the idea of Electric. ( Battery ) for many instances plus Wife could limb with it. She struggles to start the Gas saws. I can't help but wonder where you will be in 5-10 years with the expensive Battery op chainsaw. I have an 034 made in West Germany that runs like a new saw every time I use it. Wish I know how long the electric would live.

 

[ultrarunner]

Electrics tend to last forever but batteries have a shelf life...

My Bosch 12 volt drills required battery rebuilding since Bosch told me there are no longer available.

I would say that option would be necessary in the future as manufacturers move on.

 

[California]

OP asked about a more powerful battery chainsaw that can take the place of a normal gas saw. I see smaller saws are also being discussed.

For someone who just needs a limbing-size saw - I'm happy with my first-generation 10 inch Ryobi. It accepts their modern 18 volt Li-Ion batteries. Photo below is clearing a fallen Eucalyptus, a wood that is tough and stringy. This is the hardest application I've used it for, tougher than it was probably designed for. My ordinary use is limbing and clearing old punky wood in the apple orchard. It is ideally matched to that. I no longer own a gas saw. Life is simpler now with no 2-cycle fuel to mix, store, carry, refuel.

Here's my post a year ago where I first posted this photo cutting the Eucalyptus, with more description.

 

[Bird]

Of course I have NO experience with battery powered chainsaws; however, in view of my experience with my 56 volt EGO self-propelled lawnmower, EGO string trimmer, and EGO leaf blower, I'd be buying the EGO chainsaw. Before EGO, we had a small storm that knocked a little tree down right in front of my tool storage building, so I went to Home Depot and bought the cheapest 120 volt corded chainsaw they had; a 14" Homelite for $49.97 plus tax. I've not needed it recently, but still have it, so I haven't bought one of the battery powered ones yet.