Small battery chain saw recommendations

[shooterdon]

This year I got a HF Lynxx on the recommendation of a friend who is an arborist who works for a power company. I have been very pleased with it for the occasional job i need a saw for. I have a Shindiawa 488 and Husqvarna 455 but they are a pain to use for a 15-20 minute job. I do not use a saw often enough to keep it gassed up so need to drain and/or run the fuel out between uses.

I used to use the gas saws a lot. But it is more efficient for me to use a processor to put up firewood. I will likely sell one of the gas saws as a result. I will always have an electric saw. I have never used one of the higher end battery saws so I may not know how "bad" the HF saw is but it does the job for now.

 

[cdaigle430]

I have a Poulin 16 inch chainsaw but got tired of mixing, storing gas and the smell and noise. I am already invested in Milwaukee M18 and M12 tools so I decided to but the Milwaukee 16 inch battery chainsaw (too only). Im using the 4 amp batteries I bought 5 years ago with all my M18 tools and I am impressed. I can cut down and trim two 16 inch base fir trees on one battery-thats with a 4amp battery thats 5 years old. You can buy and use the 12 amp batteries they sell if you need to spend alot longer cutting.

So far so good.

 

[nhbubba]

I'm in a similar boat. I have a good gas saw that I like very much. But it is heavy and takes a lot out of you. The real kicker is it does not tolerate being stored with gas in it for even a couple weeks. So every time I use it I need to drain and run it dry.
I've been kicking around the idea of getting a light top-handle "limb" saw just for pruning, small stuff and such. Then I noticed the electric units. That'd be fantastic for trail work too. No stopping and restarting the saw every 10'.

I'm trying to look at entire systems as I don't want to keep adding batteries and chargers. I already have a single Dewalt 20V system tool and a couple smaller batteries for it, but I hear terrible things about their saw. So I am pretty much resigned to buying into another battery system for this. Which stinks.

For me it is mostly down to the Ryobi/Home Depot or Atlas/HF systems. Both of these seem to have everything I want and much more.

What's awkward is most seem to be shooting for big saw replacements with 14-18" bars. I just want a little 12" bar. I've heard some folks downsize the bars on theirs.


As I type this I just became aware that Milwaukee is introducing a tiny little 6" M12 system pruning saw. It's so cute!


Another option is a cordless sawzall and some aggressive blades.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The best I can tell all the current 80v power tools come from the same factory in China. Kobalt has been good to us over the years and handy. Lynxx/HF is 50 miles one way. We have 5 Lynxx 40v batteries and chargers and hope they last a long time.
After having the battery powered Nissan going on a year I can't see myself going back to gas. The 80v mower has
Spoiled me.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

I'm trying to look at entire systems as I don't want to keep adding batteries and chargers. I already have a single Dewalt 20V system tool and a couple smaller batteries for it, but I hear terrible things about their saw. So I am pretty much resigned to buying into another battery system for this. Which stinks.

I seemed to recall reading good things about the DeWalt cordless chain saw. However I am _SO BURNED_ by the one expensive DeWalt 18v NiCd system I bought some years back that I am unlikely ever to buy another battery powered product from them. The battery basically stopped holding a charge after a few uses, and they charge a fortune for new ones. If you're going to sell expensive batteries, they'd better work a long time. I baby my batteries too, whether it's respecting the memory effect of NiCd systems or avoiding over charging or being careful not to drop them. So ... no excuses for a bad battery on my watch. Of course my expectations are even higher with these new Lithium Ion batteries, time will tell. Having just spent $300 on batteries, I expect a lot!

 

[dragoneggs]

Wife now uses a Stihl 12" with 36v battery. Great saw. Uses a lot of bar oil, and the bar oil indicator isn't much good like the one was on 2 Kobalt 40v ones she wore out. Kobalt went into factory recall. Could not get another one, either brushed or non brushed.

All 3 saws saw a huge amount of use. She went many days using 2 and 3 batteries per day. Now not doing much. All fallen trees cut up and that 100 yard long pile of debris is gone.

Ralph

I use a Stihl AP with 14in bar. No issue at all with it or bar oil consumption. Great saw. My gassers are lonely in the shed.

 

[rademamj1]

I seemed to recall reading good things about the DeWalt cordless chain saw. However I am _SO BURNED_ by the one expensive DeWalt 18v NiCd system I bought some years back that I am unlikely ever to buy another battery powered product from them. The battery basically stopped holding a charge after a few uses, and they charge a fortune for new ones. If you're going to sell expensive batteries, they'd better work a long time. I baby my batteries too, whether it's respecting the memory effect of NiCd systems or avoiding over charging or being careful not to drop them. So ... no excuses for a bad battery on my watch. Of course my expectations are even higher with these new Lithium Ion batteries, time will tell. Having just spent $300 on batteries, I expect a lot!

Batteries can be very expensive to replace. Each battery needs to be fully charged before storage, or its voltage level will drop so low, that the charging system will not recognize the battery and refuse to even start the charging process. It shows as a bad battery. Time to throw the battery away, or charge it another way so that its charging system will recognize the battery

And even after going into storage at full charge, battery charge levels, will slowly decrease over time. Everyone using battery powered chainsaws or any other cordless tools, must develop a habit, where each month they set aside about an hour dedicated to just battery charging time.

 

[dragoneggs]

Sticking to a single brand or a couple makes good sense. I have Stihl products for lawn/garden, and Dewalt for small hand tools. This keeps battery/charger costs lower and you cycle the batteries more regularly.

 

[rademamj1]

I'm trying to look at entire systems as I don't want to keep adding batteries and chargers. I already have a single Dewalt 20V system tool and a couple smaller batteries for it, but I hear terrible things about their saw. So I am pretty much resigned to buying into another battery system for this. Which stinks.

For me it is mostly down to the Ryobi/Home Depot or Atlas/HF systems. Both of these seem to have everything I want and much more.

Unfortunately, I found the Dewalt chainsaw one of the poorest tool Dewalt ever designed. I love most Dewalt hand tools......all except their chainsaw.

Like wise, I own four Ryobi tools, most especially their cordless hedge trimmer is a real beast for clearing brush. The Ryobi chainsaw is extremely well designed, functionally a great tool and their 40V batteries are very good too. Just their chainsaws are so woefully underpowered due to the small motor size used for this saw.

 

[Rebeldad1]

Unfortunately, I found the Dewalt chainsaw one of the poorest tool Dewalt ever designed.

so out of curiosity what did you find wrong with the chain saw?
Bought a 20V Dewalt chainsaw for my wife. she uses it a lot and I see her packing it around a lot.
Its powerful and has a long battery life. I'm still impressed. only issue I can see is that it uses way too much bar oil.
I bought the 60V Dewalt chainsaw and thats all I use now. My Stihls just sit.I just cut a lot of 30" table tops with it and it works well.Does take more battery though.