Battery powered chainsaw

[California]

I never heard of a hydraulic saw...interesting!

There are similar hydraulic pruners used in the vineyards here, run from an overhead 'spider' on the tractor feeding at least two laborers. I suppose this power assist reduces carpal tunnel injuries.

 

[Camofurever1]

I think a lot of bucket trucks have the capability to plug in a hydraulic saw in the bucket.

 

[Camofurever1]

Maybe a picture or two?
I had a tree break here way up high, puzzled over it, then in brought it down with five 12ga slugs in a row across split.

I'll snap some pics of it this weekend

 

[WinterDeere]

Or go whole hog and get a;
View attachment 827837

Have you ever used one of these? I can't imagine wanting to spend $1400, to have the privilege of dragging heavy and awkward hydraulic hoses around with my saw. Heck, that's beyond MS-660 money!

 

[LouNY]

Have you ever used one of these? I can't imagine wanting to spend $1400, to have the privilege of dragging heavy and awkward hydraulic hoses around with my saw. Heck, that's beyond MS-660 money!

Ran one a few years ago working with a fellow with a wood processor, used the hydraulic saw to prep the logs for the processor.
It had a lot of power the hoses could be a royal pain till you got used to throwing them back good as you moved around.
His processor was hydraulic powered off a stationary engine with multiple stacked hydraulic pumps driving of the crankshaft of a 4 cylinder car engine with a fairly quiet exhaust system. He would sharpen all of his chains at night and just swap out chains during the day. If the bark had a lot of dirt embedded in it I go through 6-8 chains in a day to stay ahead of him with the processor and the older fellow with the loader bring logs to me. And I just keep the table of the processor loaded. Several tandem axle dump truck loads per day cut and split.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Does anyone make a pair of chaps that will stop an electric saw? I sure like the idea that my gasser will stop when I hit my chaps. They won't stop my battery saw

 

[WinterDeere]

I've seen some recommendations for the Husqvarna technical wrap chaps, WRT electric chainsaws, but the Husqvarna site actually makes no such claim and they have no specifications or user manuals linked to their product pages. Stihl has great info, easy to find specs and manuals, but I believe they still claim "gas only" on all of their chaps (or at least did, the last time I bothered to check).

Bottom line, any good chaps are going to protect you a heck of a lot better than none, no matter the saw. It seems an electric saw can be made to go thru most of these chaps, with sufficient intentional effort, but severe injury thru any of these chaps seems unlikely in most accidental contact scenarios I can imagine.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

The difference is, a gas saw clutch will be stopped by the chaps, battery saws are direct drive. The chap material isn't like an armor, it's a choking material... Which won't choke a battery saw. I agree chaps are better than nothing at all, but we aren't even allowed to use a battery saw on disaster relief calls with our organization, due to the fact that oir chaps wont stop them.

 

[4570Man]

Does anyone make a pair of chaps that will stop an electric saw? I sure like the idea that my gasser will stop when I hit my chaps. They won't stop my battery saw

Every YouTube test video I’ve seen the chaps always stopped the electric saw. Can anyone provide a video the contrary? Especially done under reasonable circumstances. Nobody is going to keep sawing on their leg for 10 seconds.

 

[WinterDeere]

Every YouTube test video I’ve seen the chaps always stopped the electric saw. Can anyone provide a video the contrary? Especially done under reasonable circumstances. Nobody is going to keep sawing on their leg for 10 seconds.

I posted one awhile back, in this very thread, I think. The test showed some damage through the chaps with the electric saw, but it was very minimal, and required more than what I'd call "momentary accidental contact" to generate said injury.

 

[ultrarunner]

The difference is, a gas saw clutch will be stopped by the chaps, battery saws are direct drive. The chap material isn't like an armor, it's a choking material... Which won't choke a battery saw. I agree chaps are better than nothing at all, but we aren't even allowed to use a battery saw on disaster relief calls with our organization, due to the fact that oir chaps wont stop them.

That could be a problem where gas saws are banned and electric not...

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

From the STIHL website: "WARNING FOR CORDED ELECTRIC AND BATTERY CHAINSAW USERS! The fibers may not stop the sprocket on most corded electric chainsaws and some battery-powered chainsaws because of the constant high torque.

 

[ning]

My conclusion is that a corded 110v saw won't necessarily get stopped, but battery saws probably will because they usually stop when they get bogged down. This may not be true with that gw "65cc" battery unit or its new big brother...

From what I've seen on videos, it seems that chaps definitely help reduce the potential for injury even if they still manage to get a tooth through.

I would definitely wear chaps with an electric, battery or corded, rather than just hoping for the best. It's like a seat belt - it's not going to save you from injury in a bad crash but it's definitely going to help.

 

[ultrarunner]

Note to self… be extra careful with the corded Stihl chain saw.

I bought it just before the battery stuff started coming out… good saw for sure but doubt I would have bought it had I known how much I can do with the battery Stihl…

 

[WinterDeere]

Back in the 1970's, my father bought a corded electric saw from Craftsman. It was only 14" or 16", and it became our primary saw for cutting firewood in our back yard for many years. He had larger Stihl and McCullough gassers, but since we lived in town, he left them at his parent's house for farm use.

Anyway, even that very old Craftsman had a slip clutch, which would have easily slipped and allowed the chain to stop, if bound up with chaps. I remember it used to frustrate the heck out of me, because the clutch always slipped well before the motor would bog, which at the time I thought was due to poor design. Thinking back now, it may have been set to avoid tripping typical 15A circuit protection devices, or to avoid overloading the extension cord.

 

[Oaktree]

That could be a problem where gas saws are banned and electric not...

I don't even pretend to "get" California, but one would think the pollution police would have better things to do in a disaster situation than to harass people trying to clean up.

 

[ultrarunner]

Lots of time spent on coming up with these regulations… often from those without a clue on what it takes to get the job done.

Local Fire Chief says the only part of regs they enforce is spark arrestor… he just wants the fuel load reduced and gas power is not a fire department issue.

 

[ArlyA]

Hope we can discuss Battery powered chainsaws as apposed to the politics of some area.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hope we can discuss Battery powered chainsaws as apposed to the politics of some area.

Me too… unfortunately battery was not a choice but a mandate…

The “Why” something is done is fundamental to a comprehensive discussion… at least in my experience.

 

[kenmbz]

Both a blessing and a curse, if the push to go battery wasn't there, the saw companies would not be making the effort, but it has reduced the number of companies working n enhancing gas saws.

I have been mostly happy with my Milwaukee battery products.
I want to try one of their saws, but with 2 ice and the one battery pole saw, the investment need is not there. Would be nice to have a lighter saw though than my 490 or 620 Echos.

I see Milwaukee rolling out a next generation battery in the M18 Fuel series, waiting to see reviews before spending as batteries are big $ items.