Chainsaw Sizing

[newbury]

Agreed! Battery operated saws, trimmers, blowers are not something I蛟､l be owning. May work great for that first year, but how about 5-10 years later? They豎*e throw-away tools. Whereas 5-10 years for a gas powered tool is nothing. 5 years from now, will you even be able to find a replacement battery? What about 10 years? Nope!

I use tools to get things done. Frequently far from outlets.
I've about $2,000 worth of battery operated DeWalt 20vMax tools, first started buying them in 2013, that is 5 years of personal use. I've had about 8 DeWalt batteries, and so far only recently 1 of the batteries has failed to hold a charge, and that was one of the first set I bought. I use them frequently. The tools are getting beat up. I've a DeWalt 20V max blower that "lives" next to the front door. I can clear about 60 yards of thick leaves before the battery runs down. Or I can grab it and step outside, blow the porch clean faster than hooking up an extension cord. The few times a year I need to do more (like MIL's deck, drives. etc.) I can use my "old" Stihl BR 550 backpack blower, or carry an extra battery for my DeWalt.

<snip>I would rather buy a saw/drill/tool that I need to plug into an extension cord and/or portable generator before being frustrated by a battery that either isn't charged when I need it, or that may not take a charge, or if it does the charge doesn't last. Rinse and repeat.

I hate dragging extension cords around. I dislike having to drag a generator around to do something like drill a hole in a post far from an outlet. I had my B&D 40V chainsaw for about 3 years and loved it, great for limbing, could use it 1 handed while on a ladder. NO PULL TO START, no cord. No fumes, could park it by the front door with no smell. But my daughter needed it. My Lynxx 40V is heavier, but more powerful. Keeping charged batteries around is simple. I've let Lithium Ion batteries set for 6 months and they still have a good charge.

Now if you look in my sig you'll see I like 2 stroke chainsaws, I've even 2 Stihl 381's not listed. But if I have to buy canned fuel at exorbitant prices, or mix my own, to do a short task it isn't worth the effort compared to grabbing the battery operated saw. Now for big work I still use my Stihls and I'm sure I can't afford an electric saw to power my 42" bar through oak, but I don't do that to often anymore.

 

[Olympus]

Cordless drills are one thing, but chainsaw, trimmers, blowers are something different. Battery powered anything is just a throw away tool in my opinion. I’ll not waste my money on one. But different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[ArlyA]

I agree and love the various cordless carpentry tools I have. A cordless saw would be my suggestion in the wood shed, for daily filling of a stove, but not into the woods with me.

Cordless drills are one thing, but chainsaw, trimmers, blowers are something different. Battery powered anything is just a throw away tool in my opinion. I’ll not waste my money on one. But different strokes for different folks I guess.

 

[MossRoad]

Cordless drills are one thing, but chainsaw, trimmers, blowers are something different. Battery powered anything is just a throw away tool in my opinion. I’ll not waste my money on one. But different strokes for different folks I guess.

Have you ever used a modern, battery powered chainsaw?

 

[Olympus]

Have you ever used a modern, battery powered chainsaw?

Not arguing their immediate effectiveness. I’m talking long term investment compared to a gas saw. How many 10-15 year old battery operated saws do you think we’ll see? Now compare that to gas saws. Battery operated will always be throw-away compared to a gas counterpart.

 

[MossRoad]

Not arguing their immediate effectiveness. I’m talking long term investment compared to a gas saw. How many 10-15 year old battery operated saws do you think we’ll see? Now compare that to gas saws. Battery operated will always be throw-away compared to a gas counterpart.

Ah, got your point. They are effective tools, but you are correct in asking how long will it be before the battery is no longer any good and can it be replaced. I have several corded drills that are 30+ years old and still work. I have about half a dozen battery tools that no longer function because the battery won't hold a charge and it would cost more to re-battery the existing power pack than to replace the tool.

However, you have the convenience of not having to mix or store fuel. Not having to run it out of fuel or drain it for storage. Not having to fill it with fuel before using it, etc....

If I just owned my home and yard, and wanted a saw to do trimming/cleanup from time-to-time, I think I'd go with the newer battery saws. However, I heat with wood, about 6 cords per year. So I'll stick with my gas saw and gas weed eater/pole saw.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

The 14.4 dewalt batteries don't hold a charge any more. But when i was building, hauling the cordless circular saw up on the roof was way easier and faster than hauling out the much larger corded version. I got my mileage out of it when i needed to.

If i didnt already have 3 chainsaws, a battery one would be in sight.

 

[newbury]

The 14.4 dewalt batteries don't hold a charge any more. But when i was building, hauling the cordless circular saw up on the roof was way easier and faster than hauling out the much larger corded version. I got my mileage out of it when i needed to.

If i didnt already have 3 chainsaws, a battery one would be in sight.

The 14.4's were NiCad. I had a couple of NiCad tools that were short lived. But I've been very pleased with my LiIon. An entirely different battery. And why only 3 chainsaws?

 

[dnw64]

Cordless drills are one thing, but chainsaw, trimmers, blowers are something different. Battery powered anything is just a throw away tool in my opinion. I’ll not waste my money on one. But different strokes for different folks I guess...

...Not arguing their immediate effectiveness. I’m talking long term investment compared to a gas saw. How many 10-15 year old battery operated saws do you think we’ll see? Now compare that to gas saws. Battery operated will always be throw-away compared to a gas counterpart.

There is no perfect tool. Maybe, if you're lucky, there is a tool that is perfect for you, but not for everyone.

I don't have, and probably won't buy an electric chainsaw. But I would consider it. My time is very valuable to me. Certainly more than the cost of replacing a tool in 5-10 years as opposed to replacing it in 20-30 years, especially when that shorter life-cycle one costs half as much and has virtually zero maintenance required.

 

[HillStreet]

Your age? As strength ebbs it becomes more difficult to use a chainsaw safely.



Consider a battery powered reciprocating saw (Sawzall) to replace your smaller saw. Nine inch blades are cheap, easy to replace on the saw and last a long time. I have a seven year old 18 volt Milwaukee Sawzall but I will replace it soon with a 36 volt Makita reciprocating saw. ( I am tired out before a Sawzall battery charge is depleted.)

Size your larger saw so most of the bar is in the wood, most of the time. Better a more powerful saw with this length bar, than a less powerful saw. Once some significant part of the bar is out of the wood, control becomes a problem.

Are you purchasing Stihl made-in-Switzerland saw chains?

I have an apple orchard and three chain saws. I just yesterday bought a DeWalt Compact Reciprocating saw, 20V 5.0aH. It is shorter than the regular sawzall, and I think it will be excellent for pruning apple trees. The max cut I could make in pruning is 4 inches and that would be rare. i think the new saw would be good working from a short ladder. I need to climb because the pole saw just isn稚 precise enough most of the time as I like to finish the cuts clean.