I've found that plug in saws work great for stuff around the yard and are dirty freaking cheap. You do have to manage a cord, but it's easier than getting a gas motor going the twice a year you get it out. Horses for courses though.
Using Motomix or similar fuel will allow storing the saw fully fueled and without the carburetor gumming up. Mine works perfectly even after years of non use.
my buddy brought a small makita electric saw with us on a lite camping trip. the thing worked just fine for a group of 6 people, 4 battery packs lasted us a week of burning fires every day for both cooking and fun. the greatest thing was just how quiet it was compered to a gas tool, which is wonderful if you dont want to wake up fellow campers taking an afternoon nap
I have an AEG (Rigid in USA) Battery operated chainsaw and take it with me for same purpose. With solar panel and 12v-18v charger and a few batteries I can endlessly run the thing. If you're out in the bush in bad weather you can literally become trapped on an isolated road when a tree comes down or encounter one on your journeys. A must to pack on journeys and camping trips in my opinion. Bonus is they don't leak fuel and stink out your vehicle. I've got a wood heater at home and when I gather wood seasonally I take the battery operated AEG along with petrol chainsaws and the wife will happily use the AEG for smaller stuff where she would never operate any sort of petrol chainsaw. Like any tool they have their uses and limitations.
I'm the same Makita DUC245(?) And it's amazing, im in awe of it, no fuel smell, no leaks, barriers can charge off solar, will do logs 8in across with a bit of encouragement which is rare side, anything 6in and under even the Australian hardwoods it eats up, trick is to keep the chain speed up as it does get bogged down. Bonus you can get a USB or 12 adaptor on the 18v cells to run everything from LED lights, recharge phones, inflators etc. It's magic. No everyone has a farm and needs industrial levels of wood chopping available. This thing is magic and unlimited uses when looking at using the cells for other purposes. These ARE worth the money.
@@GeertSawek Same here. 10" makita to climb and take down the tree, Stihl for the stump. The 10" Makita does overheat on anything approaching the length of the bar, so you have to stop every minute and wait for it to cool down. Especially in summer time.
@@erroneouscode well a good axe never runs out of power unless you do and it will work for days and days even if the sun doesn't shine for a week the axe will still be fully charged PS also remind your wife even though it is quiet they are equally good at cutting legs toes and hands and the battery one is no safer just quieter
I think you nailed what they are best for..small brush and limb lopping. It is apples to apples against my small little MS 180 better, more convenient and lighter. So for situations where I need a smaller saw to handle a few lighter duty tasks, the battery saw has replaced it. Now for serious work, they aren't competitive in the slightest. If I'm taking a full tree down or bucking logs, then no question I want the full sized saw.
A few lighter duty tasks sounds like a job for a lighter duty price tag. I keep a ryobi in the truck for the occasional limb on a fence. It's a junk saw, but no one is going to break my window out to steal it and it does the job fine for a whopping buck fifty.
@@Evan-is5lc I have a ryobi in my truck for the same purpose. Works pretty well for light stuff. The battery's are dreadful though. While pretty cheap in comparison to other brands they run outa juice before you know it.
Forget the chainsaw for pruning/ trimming. Cordless reciprocating saw with long tree carcass blade is where it is at. No oil, compact, fits in a two up seat in the ATV, light weight. One or two batteries that you already have for your color of tool brand is all it takes to maintain a decent day's stretch of ATV trail with enough room in the toolbox for a beverage or three.
I'm in line clearance and a few guys are running the battery powered huskies. The one old timer has a rear handle 535i XP prototype from years ago. They handed it out for testing when we were still a Husqvarna dealer as well, before they were available to the public. The climbing crews run the 540i XP's, also rear handle. They haven't really given us any issues other than being dropped out of trees. We work year round too, with NW Pennsylvania winters. We only use them for trimming though, no big wood. 14in bars and they limb up trees all day long
540ixp is a big upgrade for the saw. Try running a full skip chain too. Chain looks and sounds a little under oiled, which I have noticed is a lot bigger deal with the electric saws (though i can't tell for certain from a video.) Even if those were changed, however, you aren't going to get the same power as a gas saw. Pound for pound, they are more suited for replacing a top handle saw; not having to mess with a carb. anymore, dealing with ethanol and many other benefits have made them my go to for my city based tree business. However, gas powered saws are better anytime the bar starts getting over 16" as the electrics just don't have the power for it yet.
I am an arborist. The battery saws are absolutely wonderful tools. Customers are happy because less noise, I'm happy because employees don't mess up gas mixes. The gas are more powerful yes, but we tend to use them less than the smaller saws anyway
@@chrishuber4853 for either of those trees it's going to be 300 cuts to remove the limbs using the batteries. Then you change out saws and make the 5 cuts, with gas, to drop the trunk and cut into longs for the truck
Do you know where it's made? I'm wondering where the line goes between "Made in China" and "Made in Sweden" and they don't seem to say which are made where, at least not where I've seen it on their homepage 🤔
My wife bought a 12" 20V Skil bare tool from a business owner who got it as part of a bigger set, but preferred gas saws and had never used it. I had Skil impact and drill so I already had batteries and charger. Great for light cleanup. On a 3/4 acre lot, it's more than enough. I've taken 6" limbs without a problem, and the Fuel batteries last plenty. My charger tops off the dead one before I get through the second one.
I have a 40V Ryobi 18” chainsaw. It’s a great limbing saw (with just as much power as the Ms250 we were using), but not nearly enough juice to fill up a pickup with firewood - even with 2-3 6ah batteries.
I helped a friend cut down a tree with a 40v ryobi, and my corded craftsman did most of the work because batteries die so quick. It had a lot of power, but youd need like 10 or more batteries and multiple rapid chargers to cycle. The charger also always delayed charging because they were over temp for recharge. I threw them in the beer fridge to expedite the process 😆
I picked up the Milwaukee cordless saw. I love that thing. Home gamer clearing my wooded up property. Couple saplings every time I go out back. Reliable and a worker!
I've got a smaller version of this as well as a 2T 540. The battery saw works great for it's intended purpose, the one tip I can give is that you can't lean on the bar like you can with the petrol-powered saws - this is what gets the battery hot. Let it cut through under it's own weight and they'll chooch all day long. I find myself reaching for the battery saw more often, being more convenient and safer.
I have the Echo CCS-58V saw. 4A battery doesn't last as long as I'd like, but it's convenient to keep in a scabbard on the tractor. Fuel doesn't go bad, and it's not temperamental about starting. I found it'll 25 or 30 cuts on a 12" oak log before it's time to change batteries. It's not a replacement for the Stihl MS440 when I'm serious about cutting wood, but it has its place.
I have a dewalt saw and use it in my truck (camping, 4x4ing, etc) and its been flawless. But yeah, the old saying still holds true- there's no replacement for displacement. In this case, ANY displacement. lol.
I agree - for light & some medium duty, away from the barn, my 16" Makita battery chainsaw is a real boon. But if I had to drop a tree and make next winter's firewood, I don't think so. FYI I have used the thing a lot & haven't had any overheats...yet.
I’ve managed to overheat my Milwaukee a few times, but it was hot enough out I didn’t want to be working either and it was the battery packs triggering a safety so was able to just swap batteries a few extra times to let them cool. And to be fair I was using it to clear cut a few acres so I should have probably been using my gas saw, but I really like how light and quite the electric is lol
I have a 36v Makita, only drama I've has is the chain bar seems to get pinched easily causing chain binding.. Otherwise, mine eats up Aussie hardwoods quite well.
I think you did a really good job here addressing the question you had for your viewers in your last video. Most tools will be good for something, even if thats merely for its price or its disposable nature..
I bought the DeWalt 20v with the intent of knocking down some dead trees. Since I was up in a lift taking off branches I opted not to be yanking on a starter rope up there. The DeWalt handled the task very well. And at half the weight of my Stil gas saw, it was a pleasure to operate.
I took down two full grown box elder trees with my dewalt . Wasn’t much fun but I rented a man lift that didn’t really go high enough so I was stretching and doing things I should’nt have been . The saw was a god send over a gas saw on that day . Had trouble with the trunk of the trees but limping it did well
Try an Ego 18" with a 7.5-10AH for all day battery or throw a small 2.5 to 5 AH for trimming and you won't go back to gas. Mine rips through wood all day and starts every time I need it. I just need to remember to fill the chain oil occasionally since it doesn't run out of gas.
100%. I came to EGO kicking and screaming but now I love it. I was all ready to spend more on a STIHL or Husqvarna chainsaw until I found out the batteries and tools within those brands are not all compatible with each other.
I have the Ego 18" as well. I have 5Ah batteries, cuts really well using the stihl sharpener setup :) Doesn't have quite as much power as my brothers Stihl gas powered one, but is not far behind. Onl;y issue I have with mine is it throwing the chain at times. Looks like the drive sprocket needs to be shimmed out a bit, as the chain rides too near the outer edge. One 5Ah battery lasts for about 3-4 hours of felling, trimming, bucking random fir, birtch, etc.. By then the chain needs a touch-up. But we aren't young bucks anymore... 3 to 4 hours and we're done for the day :)
I have a DeWilt one, 12" bar, it has its place and works well for that use. It's good for keeping in the SxS to cut small overhangs, saplings and droopy limbs. Super convenient to walk with a trim up the trails. The biggest trouble I've had with it is the chain. DeWilt only gives you a part number to their chain. Some digging and I found an Oregon replacement, but it is still an odd size chain 4.5mm so none of my Stihl sharpening equipment works. Further, the chain on the DeWilt is smaller than my Stihl pruning saw which is 14" and 1/4".
Yes I have the makita 36 volt, powers through hard wet and dry mesquite, softerwoods stand no chance I think their are good ones and just ok ones but the 3 big brands are good, I just had to learn to use it a bit without frying the chain lol but it'll definitely help stack firewood and you can put longer bars on in most cases the 12 inch moter is the same as the 16 and they will handle 18 from what I've seen
Your opening statement about the Dewilts "place" just justified your entire comment. They do indeed have their place I will admit. My issue is with the Ned Flanders that didn't buy a high octane, sound of war, tree killing machine FIRST. Their opinions fall short of this discussion. I am currently in a dispute with a young whipper snapper who is defending his Ryobi as opposed to my '98 020. It is truly hilarious.
@@MFKR696 good one. You're a joke take your battery powered toys, pack them in your Prius, and drive it to fantasyland where your thoughts and ideas mean something all the while enjoying the smell of your own flatulence (thanks South Park). I promise you're under 25 years old. Am I right? Biden suckling snowflake. Go do some man work I beg you. Start at a lumberyard or something. Seriously. Save this country.
People forget. A 2 stroke is 50% efficient so one is getting quite a bit of bang for your buck in such a small piston engine/package.. .. Battery saws are improving slowly.
I picked up a cheap plug in electric chainsaw, not battery powered, and have been really impressed with how powerful it is. Granted, I have to be within reach of an angry pixie receptacle what for getting her to chooch, but for around the homestead, it's more than adequate. And I don't have to mix fuel for a two smoke model that I'll use one day a year.
You nailed it. I'm a lineman and the battery saws work perfectly for us. We have Milwaukee 18v saws with a 16" bar. Great to have rattling around the truck bin for cutting up poles or trimming trees off power lines. I wouldn't dream of using one for logging.
I own a Husqvarna 394xp and an EGO+ electric chainsaw. I like both for different uses. The performance of the EGO is outstanding, as is the convenience. Before choosing the EGO I researched the STIHL and Husky electric lineups extensively. The dealbreaker for me was how they split tools into multiple incompatible battery systems. To get the chainsaw, pole saw, and hedge trimmer I wanted would have required different battery packs and chargers, which eliminates one of the main advantages of electric for me. I came to the conclusion they are desperately trying to apply their old tiered marketing strategy of ‘Professional’ vs ‘Homeowner’ to the electric market where it makes far less sense.
That’s why I went with Milwaukee, already was running Milwaukee hand tools and the entire lineup takes the same battery. Granted different size batteries do work better for different applications but it’s not a must.
The Ego stuff is pretty awesome. Another one that surprised me for lawn care type stuff was Ryobi. I don't even own any Ryobi stuff I'm on DeWalt everything but I've seen the tests and comparisons.
The reason the electric saw would have incompatible batteries is the sheer fact you need quite a bit of chooch to cut logs/limbs. A 5Ah drill battery is quite enough for drilling not nowhere near enough stamina to last through cutting logs/limbs.. Yes you could use a 6ah battery don't expect it to last long..
@@stuartd9741 Ego gear uses the same compatible batteries throughout their whole range from chainsaws, through strimmers to ride on lawnmowers. Stihl and others have zero excuse for multiple battery types and battery tool ranges. I plumped for Ego gear after considering those others and it's been very good so far
Second that on the Ego, must be the best battery powered saw out. Also have mower and trimmer. Only issues are the electrics are sometimes funky and require inspection and toggle. Lots of YTs out to fix most anything that can go wrong with them. Husk's are $$$$$$.
I have the ego 18” and it is a beast. It has been running 80% the speed of my 455 rancher doing hurricane cleanup in SW FL. The only catch is it needs a razor sharp chain, but so does my husky.
It's why I want a top-handle electric saw. The electric saws only really seem to be good for quick limb cuts here and there, so it makes more sense to have a more versatile saw form factor. Pretty sure the smaller electric Stihl saws come with the extra narrow chain and bar to reduce cutting drag on the motor.
I use a sawzall with a Bosch pruning blade. Works great for doing a little cleaning up and a lot cheap. Even cut a 12" long once just to give it hell and it worked pretty damn well. It was walnut too.
I run my Milwaukee most of the time, already had a pile of the high output batteries. I can’t remember the last time I fired up the gas saw, spent $700 on a pro series saw for it to decorate the garage. If I was going out to buck up a oak a few feet thick the gas would be the way to go but for everything else you just can’t beat that little electric for its convenience
I have an AEG 58v saw. Honestly, it's the first saw I pick up to do a quick job. No fuss, fairly light and it doesn't stink. Obviously not for large firewood jobs, especially on some of our Australian hardwoods, so you have to be realistic but I would bring it along for any of those jobs for back up and de-limbing. Some quality issues that could definitely be improved.
Best battery powered chainsaw review on UA-cam I have seen. I have one, they are great for liming and grabbing for a two second job but completely useless if you put the whole bar into timber. More expensive than my Stihl 250 which has twice the power and can cut firewood all day. Tried cutting big timber battery powered and after 15 minutes that's it. What they don't tell you in these reviews is once the battery gets to 40% the voltage drops, and the amps increase which probably causes the motor to heat and motor power to decreases soon after. If you live in town and don't want to frighten the neighbours on a Sunday morning, it's a great chainsaw for you.
I looked into various battery saws last year and ended up buying an Ego 16 inch model. I've actually been really impressed with it. Way less money than the Stihl or Husqvarna, and seemingly quite a bit better. I was surprised, but a year on I'm still happy I got it.
I have the STIHL MSA 220 and I really do love it. Never had issues with overheating, lack of power or something else. I rarely use my gas powered saws anymore apart from when I need a big one for felling or bucking.
I think for most people that are looking for an “occasional light duty usage” chainsaw would be pretty well served by a Dewalt or Milwaukee cordless sawzall. I use a Dewalt for a lot of that stuff. Any bigger than that and the Jonsered (read Husqvarna) gets fired up. I don’t think there is a worthwhile in between to those two.
I have found blades for my sawzall that look and cut just like the blades of the tree trimming bow saws. Makes quick work of limbs and sometimes 2x4's, but don't even think of using it for anything else or go anywhere near a nail!
I've a no-name 36V electric chainsaw and absolutely love it. It takes the same batteries as other stuff I have and will happily slice up what I throw at it which is mostly cutting 25cm logs or smaller for splitting. It is quiet, doesn't disturb the neighbours and doesn't burn petrol. I'm off grid and charge it from the house solar so low running costs, just a bit of oil and the occasional chain. No messing around with carbs and other petrol engine type crap. You have to work within its limitations though and not try to cut down a big tree with it.
Couldn't agree more. Run a few at work. Useless for cross cutting and felling. However absolutely ideal hedge laying, fencing and pruning ect. Despite the marketing wank they are all much the same (echo, stihl, husq), all overheat, slow as hell, and cost the earth (quite literally).
Echo 2511t - Cheaper, lighter, much more powerful as a limbing saw and with a 16" Panther bar and chain, will stand toe to toe with anything in the "handy saw" class. That said I'm a Husky owner, and pretty loyal (Mower, brush cutter, line trimmer several saws, and even a rifle or 2), but Echo has been taking it next level lately.
Top handle battery saws are great. I use them in the harness all the time, especially when the ms201 is acting up. Not quite as much power, but darn close enough that not having to pull the cord in the tree makes up for it. Aggressive bar and chain is double important, turn the oil all the way up, no anti-kick links allowed. But yeah they don't compete with the 50cc+ saws at all, which is fine. Different tools for different uses.
I have the same model. The chain have to be razor sharp and not cutting to large logs. It works perfectly fine. But cutting down a full tree. Yea.. then you need 2 or 3 pauses
Production tree climber here- i love my electrics for pruning and limbing. They dont replace gassers for felling and bucking but they are fantastic for the small, repetitive cuts where you are either letting a gasser idle between cuts or starting it 200x a day. The ole elbows appreciate the push button start
THIS is a good reccomendation style video.. the bad. the good. and your thoughts... as you said - for a trail ride type thing great -not for heavy work.. now my city dweller self has only used a chainsaw about 3 times in my 40 years... but i like knowing stuff - so i know more now
I've been wanting one of those things, but wondering how good they really are... suspicions confirmed. A battery powered sawzall works pretty good for cutting limbs on the trail as long as you get the right blade.
There are lots of 20v saws that are a nice compliment at reasonable prices. They don’t compete against gas saws, they compliment them. I use my 12” dewalt a whole lot for small jobs and limbing. It’s light, easy to use, and I have several batteries.
@@rydplrs71 oh I definitely want one, but I have an old stihl 018 I use around the yard and such. It's light enough to use one handed and has worked flawlessly for 25 years even in extreme cold. So I'm probably going to wait for batteries to get better as long as the old one keeps working.
I'd suggest checking out Project Farm, he did a couple round ups of battery saws and although not the same one, the husqvarna he tested was one of the worst, you can get a lot better for a similar price or just a little more. He hasn't done a direct gas vs battery comparison, but some of the better saws were definitely competitive with gas ones.
I bucked up 5 trees that had fallen blocking the road during a windstorm last year with my cordless DeWalt. Diameters we're 4" to 8". I was impressed. I filled my 4' x 6' trailer with 6' long logs to be cut to size later with same saw. It's not the fastest but I find myself grabbing it over my gas Husqvarna more often than not. I probably wouldn't use it on a serious wood day but pretty happy for what it is.
The Stihl MSA300C is probably the best battery saw I’ve seen so far. Sales rep brought one by the shop a few weeks ago, should be available in North America this coming summer. It’s not cheap though.
A legitimate video describing the difference between current generation electric tools and tried and true gas powered ones. No political bs about electric VS gas. No touting a product in description after shitting on another one. Just information given to us in a entertaining way. You are one of the last bastions of UA-cam brother.
You nailed it. My Dewalt 60v is on the back of my quad, great for small jobs. Anything more than one or two cuts and more than 6 inches in diameter and the Sthil comes out.
I've had the makita 36v for 2 years. Having property in the mountains, its saved my ass many, many times. Working as a contractor, it makes me money. Greatest thing since foo foo!
I cut down a tree with my buddy. He had a Ryobi HP chainsaw, and I brought my trusty old corded craftsman. The Ryobi had great power, but drained a 4-5ah battery after a handful of cuts through the trunk. Would have needed about 30 batteries to get the job done. My garage sale corded saw ended up doing about 80% of the work while we waited for batteries to charge. Batteries never over heated while working, but they were consistently over temp to recharge so it took even longer.
This stuff goes on clearance every season. bought a 60V snapper from walmart for $50. The thing about electric is its smooth. Im milling logs with the same $50 snapper chainsaw and a $30 chainsaw mill attachment. so far after 5 years the batteries (i own 5) all still work and ive milled numerous pieces of wood for furniture. If your just wanting to try out cordless saws go to walmart at the end of the season and pick up a $150 saw marked down to $50. The hart brand stuff isnt bad and it always gets marked down. if you read this i hope you are having a wonderful weekend 💙
@@M.TTT. No its all lumped together as "summer season" with the weed wackers trimmers. Usually around September start looking. Same with fishing stuff. They stuffed fishing poles rods and reels in a trash can and put a sign on it "$2 for fishing poles". I bought 20
I learned the hard way after Hurricane Ian. All I could find before was the Milwaukee saw. Good for small branches. But it would overheat. So I bought a Stihl MS261 C-M. Fantastic!
The dewalt 12inch saw is remarkable, it took me, my family, and my neighbors all through the aftermath of a big storm came by and knocked down a whole lotta trees. The next day two of my neighbors picked one up since they couldn’t get there gas one going. It had no problems whatsoever while working on thick logs or in the rain and it only used a few batteries. Couldn’t recommend it more
Agreed. The little Dewalt can cut an amazing amount of decent sized logs. For all day cutting and power, of course you need a gas saw, but I can do 75% of all my work with the little Dewalt. The Husqvarna is overpriced and underperforming.
I live in the suburbs and work in IT. I like tools and do a lot of home gaming in the shop and around the house. I got a 40v ryobi chainsaw and I love it. The problem with gas ones is if you let it sit around and don't use the thing its going to need a hour of maintenance to get the damn thing cranked. This is where the battery tools thrive. For the little bit of chainsawing I need to do around the yard its perfect and its always ready to go and it uses the same batteries as all my other lawn gear. Now this would be a different story if I had some land with a lot of trees and/or needed to use the saw for hours on end. My point is there is a market for the battery tools and it makes sense for some.
I think the real target market for battery chainsaws is for folks who have a medium size property and don’t have a wood burning stove, and just need something to clean up branches and brush and whatnot, and maybe buck up a few logs for a fire pit or whatnot. Or like what you said, for folks who already have a gas chainsaw and just want something easier and more Convenient to load up to do the same thing.
How come women get a battery powered tool that's better than the original, never gets tired or drinks too much. But all our battery powered tools suck compared to the original
You should have got the Makita 36v duc353 I think it is. As my first ever chainsaw it has been great at cutting 8" discs for my tiny wood burner and I later bought a £99 aldi (budget supermarket) scheppach 56cc beast which I have used to cut sections of oak and felled a dead standing bramley apple tree with success & it has performed well over the last couple of years. 👍
Got one of those to deal with a ~8 inch thick tree that was knocked over in a storm. Kept using it for a bunch of stuff, and am currently stretching its usecase to chop up a bigger Birch (~12 inch at the base). It certainly feels undersized for this job, but it also for sure works. However if I did this on a regular basis I'd go out and get something bigger.
It's a great saw for people who could get by with a sharp bow saw and a red bull. I totally understand the people who are saying they need something to pack with them in the backwoods in case a tree falls across the only road out. But, if it's a tree of any appreciable size, this thing will probably let you down when you need it most. 35cc saws are cheap, always keep it full of oil and totally empty of gas. Keep a quart of non ethanol gas with it, dump it in and start it. When your done, dump out gas and run till it stops. No gummed up carbs, no dead bats, no overheating, no fuss no muss lol. Oh, but the carbs get out of adjustment after a while I hear you say? Well batteries get weaker and eventually become trash over time.
I live about 500 meters from the factory and I really shouldn't be surprised to see Husqvarna branded things in various places out in the world, but everytime I do I get thrown for a loop, and it's just as surreal every time.
Got a Stihl 250 for $50 at a yard sale, thing laid in the shop for the better part of 5 years before I needed it. Threw a cup of 2 smoke mix in and it fired right up. Can’t beat it!
Theres a place for them, but it's pretty niche. August Hunicke uses them while climbing to de-limb on the way up. Saves him from having to pull start a chainsaw for every 2-3 inch limb on the way up. Saves him from having to hold a can of gas at the end of his arm when reaching. With the extra battery pack, he can get all the limbs of a pine on the way up, and get a decent portion of the trunk on the way down before switching to a heavier saw. Course, he switched the default bar and chain out for a Panther bar and 1/4 pitch chain to slim the curf.. helps it to cut a bit faster and feel more nimble in the hand. But then he uses a larger gas saw for the real work once he's on the ground or the trunk is bigger than 12 inches.
I think the RYOBI 40v chainsaw is worth the money, especially if you already have some of the other tools in the family. My only complaint is that the bar is a bit flimsy, I did have to replace that. Otherwise, its fairly impressive.
I agree wholeheartedly. I can work up quite the sweat as I sit on the veranda supervising the field toilers. I find the peasants do tend to go on regarding battery heat, thirst, injury and such. It often puts me off to such a degree I can barely finish my second breakfast. Why must I suffer so?
I managed to pick up a new kobalt on sale for $150 w/battery and charger. the batts don't last as long as I would like, but I already have 2 compatible batts from other tools so that helps. it isn't for felling trees I just use it for lopping limbs. I watched project farm and the kobalt seemed a decent performer for the price. it bogs down if I push too hard, but the chain speed is high, so that much pressure isn't required. I've cut 9" dia. limbs from a mulberry and chopped them into firewood. it works well enough for what I need. it does what it's supposed to do. I'm happy with it.
Electric is a great second saw. Super handy around my hobby sawmill, especially with 65 yr old rotator cuffs...get me a gas one I can start with my impact gun or drill and I'll gladly get back on the Dino juice.
Had a tree removed this summer, they used electric Husqvarnas for all the pruning but gas for the big stuff. I think mostly for noise reduction in a residential area.
And it shares a charger and battery system with dozens of other tools! Unlike the multiple incompatible electric product lines STIHL and Husqvarna each created.
I have nothing but love and respect for you AvE but I’m failing to understand how you’re gaining “ease of use and convenience” moving to something that weighs more and takes longer to “recharge” than a gas powered counterpart. If you want to go electric, there’s a reason I bought a plug-in circular saw instead of a battery powered one. In that scenario at least there is a mobility convenience gained, but imo the reliability and performance cost does not come close to outweighing the mobility increase 98 times out of 100. Just my opinion. Always enjoy your videos, please continue!
I have an old craftsman 16 bar (gas) and bought a Ryobi 10 incher. I agree that gas is the way to go for alot of wood. The battery is great for loping limbs and small stuff. I am an infrequent user but mostly camping and cooking on coals around the casa. Still have multiple buck saws and more dang axes than I care to mention. I agree with your conclusion. The city and state legislature dictatorships are doing there dangedest to change that in parts of the country to no gas-all electric. It is just starting.
i get alot done with my milwuakee, but i have a dozen large battery's and half a dozen chargers.. we always have the 60cc gasser on standby but for everything about 12" and under we use the electric even as a crew doing it for profit, the milwuakee is a good fast cut when the chains sharp, it cant pull a partially dull chain though the gasser has the power to deal with an older chain regardless of what brand you get having a pile of batteries and chargers is key to using it for anything more than a few cuts i have gone into the woods with the milwuakee and filled a truck with spruce logs well up and over the cab probably 16 spruce and juniper trees felled limbed and cut to length with half a dozen batterys of varying size and no way to charge them never ran out of juice always ran out of room on the flat deck and it was 10'x 7' stacked about 3' tall
My best mate is an ICU nurse (I’m an offshore electromechanic) and on the side he works as an arborist, guess the ICU alone wasn’t savage enough lol. I often help him out off the books, especially when he has entire trees to fell and cut up. Batteries are indeed expensive as f*ck, the small 5,2Ah ones go for 280€, larger 9,4Ah ones are 400€ a piece. But they hold up, quite robust. More so than we expected. Rain, mud and generally lying around in a forest are no big deal. He bought one of the smaller fit-in-your-purse models of these Husqvarna battery saws. Its the one he uses when he climbs up in the trees to cut a limb. It can easily be used with one hand, no gas engine to start or keep running, just press a button. It starts and stops really fast making it a lot safer to use imo. It performs admirably for what it is. Low maintenance too, aside from sharpening the chain and chain oil there is nothing to it. He has a few other tools that use the same battery packs as well. Sometimes we work in residential areas between people’s gardens, so the benefit of a quieter battery operated tool is also nice. Of course we also carry heavier duty gear like a medium sized echo and Stihl MS 391, as well as a larger MS462 for the felling and cutting of entire trees. The electric one is only for small limbs. There’s no beating gas powered when it comes to brute strength. I’m curious to see where it will go with these battery powered gardening tools, we also tested a battery powered Stihl lawnmower for free from our dealer, wasn’t bad at all! Couldn’t beat his professional Honda but it did fine. I’m gonna start my own sidehustle doing industrial maintenance and repairs as well, gonna buy an entire collection of 18V Makita tools. I’m also gonna pickup one of their saws. For the lighter work we do I bet it would work fine. Looking forward to try it out!
I am active in disaster relief, by now we have three of these and six Gasoline Saws. Both have their pros and cons. Working from a platform is much more convenient with the electric saw, especially when you need to communicate with other people. In spring, we had a house where the roof panels were blown of, we covered the roof provisionally, It was quite nice to have the electric saw on the roof there. When cutting trees it is excellent for cutting off all the branches(better than for instance our 261 Stihl), small trees can also be cut down, otherwise it is quite useless... For my personal use away from that, it is way to expensive, my old worn out Gas saws will always be cheaper. these probably I do not want to have once they are old and worn out
If you're putting enough pressure on the bar to stall the saw you're pressing too hard , which usually means the chain could be sharper . All chainsaws like a sharp chain but battery saws in particular , not just kinda sorta ok but *sharp* , it'll be less prone to overheating , the battery will last longer and it'll cut faster .
I picked up an EGO 18 inch cordless 56v saw about a month ago. It isn't quite as powerful as my Poulon Pro 20 inch, but I did not expect it to be. However, it runs first try every time and I don't do anything to it besides swap out batteries. It is good enough for me for clearing limbs and unwanted trees off my property, and it takes same battery as my mower and pole saw. The Poulon Pro is definitely not the best chainsaw out there, but it used to work for me. Now, maintaining 2 smoke gas can is not worth it as I have few of them left. In a pinch I can fill up the batteries with the sun, but it takes a very very long time to fill the 2 smoke gas can up with solar energy, around many millions of years.
My neighbor has the big EGO battery saw (idk what the model is), and I was quite impressed with how it handled cleaning up storm damage last year. Has 2 big ass batteries, and he made them last for about 4 hours. It wasn't quite keeping up with my MS170, but it wasn't lagging pitifully behind either. Weighed about the same based on the forearm scale. But price wise, yeah I could've bought one hell of a forester's saw with that much money.
I purchased a Makita DUC353 (North American Equivalent model number XCU03) 18 x 2 36v chainsaw as a Ute Saw for storm cleanups, firewood and similar duties 2 years ago, my only real complaint is the chain bar is not as skookum as I'd like, if I get the bar jammed it can bind the chain pretty easily... Otherwise, It's a convenient little saw that seems to handle Aussie Hardwoods quite well as long as I keep a file up to the chain..
You need to try the ego brand saws. 16” standard Oregon bar and chain. The battery is designed for high currents and I’ve never had one overhead even in Texas heat. Maybe not the tool of choice for bucking fir all summer, but it can do real work. I find that by the time a 5ah battery needs a recharge, so do I.
Same with my Greenworks 60v 8amp, 18". It outdoes my 42 cc Husky, never overheats, and starts on the first (trigger) pull every time. Not as versatile for bars and chains as my gas saws, but it's become my first choice for most jobs. I got a feeling that if anything ever goes wrong with the thing I'll be screwed, because after-sale service does not seem to concern them, but I hope this category continues to improve, so I can junk my 2-smoke saws.
I just bought the Hart 20Volt 12 inch chain saw with the 4amp battery. Used it to drop an apple tree that has seen better days. For me, a home gamer looking for a saw to trim and clean up around the yard anything my lop shears can't take it works a treat. Not a pro tool but it doesn't claim to be one. I have no need for a gas chain saw, the 20 volt works great did what I asked it to do.
Agree 100%, I spent the big bucks on the Milwaukee saw, and it's great for going out and busting trail, don't gotta start it, just pull the trigger and go. So in that capacity, I feel like it will perfectly replace my 35cc husky, but if I have to block up a few cord, I will always reach for my 460 rancher. In completely different upside to the battery saw, the whole reason I picked it up; I replaced my wood furnace, and the new one had a shorter firebox, and all my wood is inside in the basement, and with the battery saw, the wife doesn't get mad because the whole house doesn't smell like a skidoo when I need to fill the furnace.
a Lineman came over to plan out a job to replace my obsolete utility poles. He had a little electric top handle saw and made quick work through some nasty english ivy that completely overtook the guy cables for the pole. Seems like a little saw in a work truck is a good thing, even if it can't replace a big gas saw.
Hey, I like the format - short and sweet. and It was nice to see a cameo of this #thisoldtony 's hands ;-) It'd be good to see a race between the gas/essence/petrol version and the electric. keep in it a vice ..
I've got a 60v DeWalt in my Jeep. I've been trapped on a trail by fallen trees and worked for several hours using my axe and winch to escape. It's a far faster and easier job with a chain saw. I don't want to carry a gas saw full-time inside my Jeep due to the fuel odor and hazard. An electric saw is perfect for this application. The DeWalt 60v saw works great. It's only drawback is the weight. I only recommend the 18" or 20" DeWalts - the 16" and below DeWalt electrics have problems with chain derailing due to bar wobble and bar oil leaking from the fill cap. The 18" and 20" DeWalts can accept a shorter bar (Oregon low profile bar of the proper gauge and pitch - not the shorter DeWalt bars which are a smaller gauge). The 20" head is a bit more powerful than the 18" head.
The ego saw that I have I adore for clearing trails, and cutting poplar trees. Certainly though, electric saws are for projects around the yard and the trails, but not a days work. I would say mine is certainly worth the money though.
I've found that plug in saws work great for stuff around the yard and are dirty freaking cheap. You do have to manage a cord, but it's easier than getting a gas motor going the twice a year you get it out. Horses for courses though.
I've found a 14.5 amp corded saw is as powerful as a typical home gamer gas saw
From my experience, if you have a one to twice a year conventional chainsaw, dumping the gas tank out and running it until it dies goes a long way.
Thats why I bought my corded Kobalt chainsaw. Works fine for little suburban needs and I don't have to mess with the carb.
Mount a hazard frought gennie on a quad and an extension cord, boom. Portabilities
Using Motomix or similar fuel will allow storing the saw fully fueled and without the carburetor gumming up. Mine works perfectly even after years of non use.
my buddy brought a small makita electric saw with us on a lite camping trip. the thing worked just fine for a group of 6 people, 4 battery packs lasted us a week of burning fires every day for both cooking and fun. the greatest thing was just how quiet it was compered to a gas tool, which is wonderful if you dont want to wake up fellow campers taking an afternoon nap
I have an AEG (Rigid in USA) Battery operated chainsaw and take it with me for same purpose. With solar panel and 12v-18v charger and a few batteries I can endlessly run the thing. If you're out in the bush in bad weather you can literally become trapped on an isolated road when a tree comes down or encounter one on your journeys. A must to pack on journeys and camping trips in my opinion. Bonus is they don't leak fuel and stink out your vehicle. I've got a wood heater at home and when I gather wood seasonally I take the battery operated AEG along with petrol chainsaws and the wife will happily use the AEG for smaller stuff where she would never operate any sort of petrol chainsaw. Like any tool they have their uses and limitations.
I'm the same Makita DUC245(?) And it's amazing, im in awe of it, no fuel smell, no leaks, barriers can charge off solar, will do logs 8in across with a bit of encouragement which is rare side, anything 6in and under even the Australian hardwoods it eats up, trick is to keep the chain speed up as it does get bogged down. Bonus you can get a USB or 12 adaptor on the 18v cells to run everything from LED lights, recharge phones, inflators etc. It's magic. No everyone has a farm and needs industrial levels of wood chopping available. This thing is magic and unlimited uses when looking at using the cells for other purposes. These ARE worth the money.
I have 2 battery makita saws. They work well. I've taken down some large trees with them. Used gas for the stumps.
@@GeertSawek Same here. 10" makita to climb and take down the tree, Stihl for the stump. The 10" Makita does overheat on anything approaching the length of the bar, so you have to stop every minute and wait for it to cool down. Especially in summer time.
@@erroneouscode well a good axe never runs out of power unless you do and it will work for days and days even if the sun doesn't shine for a week the axe will still be fully charged PS also remind your wife even though it is quiet they are equally good at cutting legs toes and hands and the battery one is no safer just quieter
I think you nailed what they are best for..small brush and limb lopping. It is apples to apples against my small little MS 180 better, more convenient and lighter. So for situations where I need a smaller saw to handle a few lighter duty tasks, the battery saw has replaced it. Now for serious work, they aren't competitive in the slightest. If I'm taking a full tree down or bucking logs, then no question I want the full sized saw.
A few lighter duty tasks sounds like a job for a lighter duty price tag. I keep a ryobi in the truck for the occasional limb on a fence. It's a junk saw, but no one is going to break my window out to steal it and it does the job fine for a whopping buck fifty.
@@Evan-is5lc I have a ryobi in my truck for the same purpose. Works pretty well for light stuff. The battery's are dreadful though. While pretty cheap in comparison to other brands they run outa juice before you know it.
My 12in dewilt is great for that sort of thing. When the vegan saw starts to bog down its time to get out the real saw. (Ms461)
Forget the chainsaw for pruning/ trimming. Cordless reciprocating saw with long tree carcass blade is where it is at. No oil, compact, fits in a two up seat in the ATV, light weight. One or two batteries that you already have for your color of tool brand is all it takes to maintain a decent day's stretch of ATV trail with enough room in the toolbox for a beverage or three.
@@whatelseisnew1 i didnt like the vibration after a while my hands start to go numb.
I'm in line clearance and a few guys are running the battery powered huskies. The one old timer has a rear handle 535i XP prototype from years ago. They handed it out for testing when we were still a Husqvarna dealer as well, before they were available to the public. The climbing crews run the 540i XP's, also rear handle. They haven't really given us any issues other than being dropped out of trees. We work year round too, with NW Pennsylvania winters. We only use them for trimming though, no big wood. 14in bars and they limb up trees all day long
540ixp is a big upgrade for the saw. Try running a full skip chain too. Chain looks and sounds a little under oiled, which I have noticed is a lot bigger deal with the electric saws (though i can't tell for certain from a video.) Even if those were changed, however, you aren't going to get the same power as a gas saw. Pound for pound, they are more suited for replacing a top handle saw; not having to mess with a carb. anymore, dealing with ethanol and many other benefits have made them my go to for my city based tree business. However, gas powered saws are better anytime the bar starts getting over 16" as the electrics just don't have the power for it yet.
Its worth mentioning they are cheep to run as well. If you buy the cans of special fuel a little electric will pay for its self quickly.
Very well said.
I am an arborist. The battery saws are absolutely wonderful tools. Customers are happy because less noise, I'm happy because employees don't mess up gas mixes. The gas are more powerful yes, but we tend to use them less than the smaller saws anyway
@@chrishuber4853 for either of those trees it's going to be 300 cuts to remove the limbs using the batteries. Then you change out saws and make the 5 cuts, with gas, to drop the trunk and cut into longs for the truck
I own a 355 rancher. And since I bought it, everyone I let use it bought their own. It’s a great saw!
Do you know where it's made? I'm wondering where the line goes between "Made in China" and "Made in Sweden" and they don't seem to say which are made where, at least not where I've seen it on their homepage 🤔
My wife bought a 12" 20V Skil bare tool from a business owner who got it as part of a bigger set, but preferred gas saws and had never used it. I had Skil impact and drill so I already had batteries and charger. Great for light cleanup. On a 3/4 acre lot, it's more than enough. I've taken 6" limbs without a problem, and the Fuel batteries last plenty. My charger tops off the dead one before I get through the second one.
Fuel batteries on a skil brand tool? Team red goes both ways?
Be careful with the wifey buying 12 inch tools😳🤣
@@EricWillis77 What do you know? It could be a step down! 🤣🤣🤣
@@--_DJ_-- Sorry, brain fart. Should have said PowerCore ...
Fuel is Milwaukee not Skill.
I have a 40V Ryobi 18” chainsaw. It’s a great limbing saw (with just as much power as the Ms250 we were using), but not nearly enough juice to fill up a pickup with firewood - even with 2-3 6ah batteries.
I seen an Ego in action..Not bad.
You lost me at Ryobi
I helped a friend cut down a tree with a 40v ryobi, and my corded craftsman did most of the work because batteries die so quick. It had a lot of power, but youd need like 10 or more batteries and multiple rapid chargers to cycle.
The charger also always delayed charging because they were over temp for recharge. I threw them in the beer fridge to expedite the process 😆
@@chrishuber4853 ok chaka gilis...
@@A6Legit beer fridge haha been there done that but I think humidity will kill inter boards.
I picked up the Milwaukee cordless saw. I love that thing. Home gamer clearing my wooded up property. Couple saplings every time I go out back. Reliable and a worker!
Can confirm
What size batteries?
@@joshuagibson2520 takes one to know one
@@jeffhebert6549 I think he's using 6 of those double D'S
If ya know what I'm sayin
@@joshuagibson2520 but he cut a couple saplings down, the saw is basically bulletproof. LOL 😆
I've got a smaller version of this as well as a 2T 540. The battery saw works great for it's intended purpose, the one tip I can give is that you can't lean on the bar like you can with the petrol-powered saws - this is what gets the battery hot. Let it cut through under it's own weight and they'll chooch all day long. I find myself reaching for the battery saw more often, being more convenient and safer.
Well that's actually a higher performance arborist saw. I know city guys are hot horny over them cause of no noise violations in the early morning
I have the Echo CCS-58V saw. 4A battery doesn't last as long as I'd like, but it's convenient to keep in a scabbard on the tractor. Fuel doesn't go bad, and it's not temperamental about starting. I found it'll 25 or 30 cuts on a 12" oak log before it's time to change batteries. It's not a replacement for the Stihl MS440 when I'm serious about cutting wood, but it has its place.
I have a dewalt saw and use it in my truck (camping, 4x4ing, etc) and its been flawless. But yeah, the old saying still holds true- there's no replacement for displacement. In this case, ANY displacement. lol.
I agree - for light & some medium duty, away from the barn, my 16" Makita battery chainsaw is a real boon. But if I had to drop a tree and make next winter's firewood, I don't think so.
FYI I have used the thing a lot & haven't had any overheats...yet.
I’ve managed to overheat my Milwaukee a few times, but it was hot enough out I didn’t want to be working either and it was the battery packs triggering a safety so was able to just swap batteries a few extra times to let them cool.
And to be fair I was using it to clear cut a few acres so I should have probably been using my gas saw, but I really like how light and quite the electric is lol
@@jaydunbar7538 Yeah, thay's another big advantage of battery, the quietude.
I have a 36v Makita, only drama I've has is the chain bar seems to get pinched easily causing chain binding..
Otherwise, mine eats up Aussie hardwoods quite well.
I think you did a really good job here addressing the question you had for your viewers in your last video. Most tools will be good for something, even if thats merely for its price or its disposable nature..
I bought the DeWalt 20v with the intent of knocking down some dead trees. Since I was up in a lift taking off branches I opted not to be yanking on a starter rope up there. The DeWalt handled the task very well. And at half the weight of my Stil gas saw, it was a pleasure to operate.
I took down two full grown box elder trees with my dewalt . Wasn’t much fun but I rented a man lift that didn’t really go high enough so I was stretching and doing things I should’nt have been . The saw was a god send over a gas saw on that day . Had trouble with the trunk of the trees but limping it did well
Try an Ego 18" with a 7.5-10AH for all day battery or throw a small 2.5 to 5 AH for trimming and you won't go back to gas. Mine rips through wood all day and starts every time I need it. I just need to remember to fill the chain oil occasionally since it doesn't run out of gas.
Ego pixies are best pixies.
100%. I came to EGO kicking and screaming but now I love it. I was all ready to spend more on a STIHL or Husqvarna chainsaw until I found out the batteries and tools within those brands are not all compatible with each other.
I have the Ego 18" as well. I have 5Ah batteries, cuts really well using the stihl sharpener setup :) Doesn't have quite as much power as my brothers Stihl gas powered one, but is not far behind. Onl;y issue I have with mine is it throwing the chain at times. Looks like the drive sprocket needs to be shimmed out a bit, as the chain rides too near the outer edge. One 5Ah battery lasts for about 3-4 hours of felling, trimming, bucking random fir, birtch, etc.. By then the chain needs a touch-up. But we aren't young bucks anymore... 3 to 4 hours and we're done for the day :)
I have a DeWilt one, 12" bar, it has its place and works well for that use. It's good for keeping in the SxS to cut small overhangs, saplings and droopy limbs. Super convenient to walk with a trim up the trails. The biggest trouble I've had with it is the chain. DeWilt only gives you a part number to their chain. Some digging and I found an Oregon replacement, but it is still an odd size chain 4.5mm so none of my Stihl sharpening equipment works. Further, the chain on the DeWilt is smaller than my Stihl pruning saw which is 14" and 1/4".
Yes I have the makita 36 volt, powers through hard wet and dry mesquite, softerwoods stand no chance
I think their are good ones and just ok ones but the 3 big brands are good,
I just had to learn to use it a bit without frying the chain lol but it'll definitely help stack firewood and you can put longer bars on in most cases the 12 inch moter is the same as the 16 and they will handle 18 from what I've seen
I stuck a 16' bar and chain on mine with 12aH batteries and prefer it to my Stihl gas saw now.
Your opening statement about the Dewilts "place" just justified your entire comment. They do indeed have their place I will admit. My issue is with the Ned Flanders that didn't buy a high octane, sound of war, tree killing machine FIRST. Their opinions fall short of this discussion. I am currently in a dispute with a young whipper snapper who is defending his Ryobi as opposed to my '98 020. It is truly hilarious.
Proprietary consumables..... 🤣🤣🤣. Can you fruit up the conversation about chainsaws anymore? Jesus
@@MFKR696 good one. You're a joke take your battery powered toys, pack them in your Prius, and drive it to fantasyland where your thoughts and ideas mean something all the while enjoying the smell of your own flatulence (thanks South Park). I promise you're under 25 years old. Am I right? Biden suckling snowflake. Go do some man work I beg you. Start at a lumberyard or something. Seriously. Save this country.
The age of slapping batteries on every electromechanical contrivance known to man
Still pound for pound nothing beats infernal combustion. I saved up for a Stihl 362 and it’s been great!
People forget.
A 2 stroke is 50% efficient so one is getting quite a bit of bang for your buck in such a small piston engine/package..
..
Battery saws are improving slowly.
I’m the wanker who bought a Bark Box because I love the 2 smoke sound!
Yes, and also being quiet is a nice perk. I came to pretty much the same conclusion with string trimmers, too.
I picked up a cheap plug in electric chainsaw, not battery powered, and have been really impressed with how powerful it is. Granted, I have to be within reach of an angry pixie receptacle what for getting her to chooch, but for around the homestead, it's more than adequate. And I don't have to mix fuel for a two smoke model that I'll use one day a year.
I love plug in saws. Nice and quiet... I just wish my log splitter was electric. One of these days....
I gotta agree. They're beastly machines and like someone else here said, they run great on a generator.
You nailed it. I'm a lineman and the battery saws work perfectly for us. We have Milwaukee 18v saws with a 16" bar. Great to have rattling around the truck bin for cutting up poles or trimming trees off power lines. I wouldn't dream of using one for logging.
I've got the Milwaukee too. I've done some decent logging with. But you need to have a few bog batteries handy.
I own a Husqvarna 394xp and an EGO+ electric chainsaw. I like both for different uses. The performance of the EGO is outstanding, as is the convenience. Before choosing the EGO I researched the STIHL and Husky electric lineups extensively. The dealbreaker for me was how they split tools into multiple incompatible battery systems. To get the chainsaw, pole saw, and hedge trimmer I wanted would have required different battery packs and chargers, which eliminates one of the main advantages of electric for me. I came to the conclusion they are desperately trying to apply their old tiered marketing strategy of ‘Professional’ vs ‘Homeowner’ to the electric market where it makes far less sense.
That’s why I went with Milwaukee, already was running Milwaukee hand tools and the entire lineup takes the same battery. Granted different size batteries do work better for different applications but it’s not a must.
The Ego stuff is pretty awesome. Another one that surprised me for lawn care type stuff was Ryobi. I don't even own any Ryobi stuff I'm on DeWalt everything but I've seen the tests and comparisons.
The reason the electric saw would have incompatible batteries is the sheer fact you need quite a bit of chooch to cut logs/limbs.
A 5Ah drill battery is quite enough for drilling not nowhere near enough stamina to last through cutting logs/limbs..
Yes you could use a 6ah battery don't expect it to last long..
@@stuartd9741 Ego gear uses the same compatible batteries throughout their whole range from chainsaws, through strimmers to ride on lawnmowers.
Stihl and others have zero excuse for multiple battery types and battery tool ranges.
I plumped for Ego gear after considering those others and it's been very good so far
Second that on the Ego, must be the best battery powered saw out. Also have mower and trimmer. Only issues are the electrics are sometimes funky and require inspection and toggle. Lots of YTs out to fix most anything that can go wrong with them. Husk's are $$$$$$.
I have the ego 18” and it is a beast. It has been running 80% the speed of my 455 rancher doing hurricane cleanup in SW FL. The only catch is it needs a razor sharp chain, but so does my husky.
It's why I want a top-handle electric saw. The electric saws only really seem to be good for quick limb cuts here and there, so it makes more sense to have a more versatile saw form factor. Pretty sure the smaller electric Stihl saws come with the extra narrow chain and bar to reduce cutting drag on the motor.
Now that's a friggin honest review....period👍😎
yeah you can tell he isn't getting laundered in sponsor loonies
@@RealJohnnyDingo cause honey don't play date game either🤔👍
I use a sawzall with a Bosch pruning blade. Works great for doing a little cleaning up and a lot cheap.
Even cut a 12" long once just to give it hell and it worked pretty damn well. It was walnut too.
I run my Milwaukee most of the time, already had a pile of the high output batteries. I can’t remember the last time I fired up the gas saw, spent $700 on a pro series saw for it to decorate the garage. If I was going out to buck up a oak a few feet thick the gas would be the way to go but for everything else you just can’t beat that little electric for its convenience
I have an AEG 58v saw. Honestly, it's the first saw I pick up to do a quick job. No fuss, fairly light and it doesn't stink. Obviously not for large firewood jobs, especially on some of our Australian hardwoods, so you have to be realistic but I would bring it along for any of those jobs for back up and de-limbing. Some quality issues that could definitely be improved.
I use mine for clearing brush and such. No heavy work. It is good for that.
Best battery powered chainsaw review on UA-cam I have seen. I have one, they are great for liming and grabbing for a two second job but completely useless if you put the whole bar into timber. More expensive than my Stihl 250 which has twice the power and can cut firewood all day. Tried cutting big timber battery powered and after 15 minutes that's it. What they don't tell you in these reviews is once the battery gets to 40% the voltage drops, and the amps increase which probably causes the motor to heat and motor power to decreases soon after. If you live in town and don't want to frighten the neighbours on a Sunday morning, it's a great chainsaw for you.
I looked into various battery saws last year and ended up buying an Ego 16 inch model.
I've actually been really impressed with it. Way less money than the Stihl or Husqvarna, and seemingly quite a bit better.
I was surprised, but a year on I'm still happy I got it.
I've had great luck with my Ego saw too. I've never had it bog down or stop like the one in the video. Even cut up some ironwood with it.
I have the STIHL MSA 220 and I really do love it. Never had issues with overheating, lack of power or something else. I rarely use my gas powered saws anymore apart from when I need a big one for felling or bucking.
I have a 220 as well , great saw for what I do at home, I have the big petrol boys at work.
I think for most people that are looking for an “occasional light duty usage” chainsaw would be pretty well served by a Dewalt or Milwaukee cordless sawzall. I use a Dewalt for a lot of that stuff. Any bigger than that and the Jonsered (read Husqvarna) gets fired up. I don’t think there is a worthwhile in between to those two.
Hell, I use my corded sawzall for limb chopping. They make really nice blades that chew right through green
I really should have gotten a sawzall... there is no way this chainsaw I have can cut more than 4" dia.
@@m4rvinmartian Plus a sawzall is just infinitely more useable on other stuff.
I have found blades for my sawzall that look and cut just like the blades of the tree trimming bow saws. Makes quick work of limbs and sometimes 2x4's, but don't even think of using it for anything else or go anywhere near a nail!
I've a no-name 36V electric chainsaw and absolutely love it. It takes the same batteries as other stuff I have and will happily slice up what I throw at it which is mostly cutting 25cm logs or smaller for splitting. It is quiet, doesn't disturb the neighbours and doesn't burn petrol. I'm off grid and charge it from the house solar so low running costs, just a bit of oil and the occasional chain. No messing around with carbs and other petrol engine type crap. You have to work within its limitations though and not try to cut down a big tree with it.
Couldn't agree more. Run a few at work. Useless for cross cutting and felling. However absolutely ideal hedge laying, fencing and pruning ect. Despite the marketing wank they are all much the same (echo, stihl, husq), all overheat, slow as hell, and cost the earth (quite literally).
Echo 2511t - Cheaper, lighter, much more powerful as a limbing saw and with a 16" Panther bar and chain, will stand toe to toe with anything in the "handy saw" class. That said I'm a Husky owner, and pretty loyal (Mower, brush cutter, line trimmer several saws, and even a rifle or 2), but Echo has been taking it next level lately.
The Dewalt 60v model is a beast. Use it all the time. Great performer.
Didn’t need ave’s expertise to know $500+ electric chainsaws weren’t worth it😁
Top handle battery saws are great. I use them in the harness all the time, especially when the ms201 is acting up. Not quite as much power, but darn close enough that not having to pull the cord in the tree makes up for it. Aggressive bar and chain is double important, turn the oil all the way up, no anti-kick links allowed. But yeah they don't compete with the 50cc+ saws at all, which is fine. Different tools for different uses.
The sawdust flying in the sun made me think the damned thing burst into flames. 😂
Give it a few more seconds.
I have the same model. The chain have to be razor sharp and not cutting to large logs. It works perfectly fine.
But cutting down a full tree. Yea.. then you need 2 or 3 pauses
Production tree climber here- i love my electrics for pruning and limbing. They dont replace gassers for felling and bucking but they are fantastic for the small, repetitive cuts where you are either letting a gasser idle between cuts or starting it 200x a day. The ole elbows appreciate the push button start
THIS is a good reccomendation style video..
the bad. the good. and your thoughts...
as you said - for a trail ride type thing great -not for heavy work..
now my city dweller self has only used a chainsaw about 3 times in my 40 years...
but i like knowing stuff - so i know more now
I've been wanting one of those things, but wondering how good they really are... suspicions confirmed.
A battery powered sawzall works pretty good for cutting limbs on the trail as long as you get the right blade.
There are lots of 20v saws that are a nice compliment at reasonable prices. They don’t compete against gas saws, they compliment them. I use my 12” dewalt a whole lot for small jobs and limbing. It’s light, easy to use, and I have several batteries.
@@rydplrs71 oh I definitely want one, but I have an old stihl 018 I use around the yard and such. It's light enough to use one handed and has worked flawlessly for 25 years even in extreme cold. So I'm probably going to wait for batteries to get better as long as the old one keeps working.
I'd suggest checking out Project Farm, he did a couple round ups of battery saws and although not the same one, the husqvarna he tested was one of the worst, you can get a lot better for a similar price or just a little more.
He hasn't done a direct gas vs battery comparison, but some of the better saws were definitely competitive with gas ones.
My dad bought one because of his age……….. junk. He paid $450 for it. Total waste of money. Of course I would never tell him that.
@@rydplrs71 exactly.
For the small stuff use the electric saw. Need to cut an entire tree or a large branch? Get the MS391 from the van 😂
I bucked up 5 trees that had fallen blocking the road during a windstorm last year with my cordless DeWalt. Diameters we're 4" to 8". I was impressed. I filled my 4' x 6' trailer with 6' long logs to be cut to size later with same saw. It's not the fastest but I find myself grabbing it over my gas Husqvarna more often than not. I probably wouldn't use it on a serious wood day but pretty happy for what it is.
The Stihl MSA300C is probably the best battery saw I’ve seen so far. Sales rep brought one by the shop a few weeks ago, should be available in North America this coming summer. It’s not cheap though.
A legitimate video describing the difference between current generation electric tools and tried and true gas powered ones.
No political bs about electric VS gas. No touting a product in description after shitting on another one. Just information given to us in a entertaining way.
You are one of the last bastions of UA-cam brother.
You nailed it. My Dewalt 60v is on the back of my quad, great for small jobs. Anything more than one or two cuts and more than 6 inches in diameter and the Sthil comes out.
I've had the makita 36v for 2 years. Having property in the mountains, its saved my ass many, many times.
Working as a contractor, it makes me money.
Greatest thing since foo foo!
I cut down a tree with my buddy. He had a Ryobi HP chainsaw, and I brought my trusty old corded craftsman.
The Ryobi had great power, but drained a 4-5ah battery after a handful of cuts through the trunk. Would have needed about 30 batteries to get the job done.
My garage sale corded saw ended up doing about 80% of the work while we waited for batteries to charge.
Batteries never over heated while working, but they were consistently over temp to recharge so it took even longer.
That saw sounds like an angry Karen screaming it's way through that dead tree carcass.
This stuff goes on clearance every season. bought a 60V snapper from walmart for $50. The thing about electric is its smooth. Im milling logs with the same $50 snapper chainsaw and a $30 chainsaw mill attachment. so far after 5 years the batteries (i own 5) all still work and ive milled numerous pieces of wood for furniture. If your just wanting to try out cordless saws go to walmart at the end of the season and pick up a $150 saw marked down to $50. The hart brand stuff isnt bad and it always gets marked down. if you read this i hope you are having a wonderful weekend 💙
When would be the end of the season for saws? Mid winter?
@@M.TTT. No its all lumped together as "summer season" with the weed wackers trimmers. Usually around September start looking. Same with fishing stuff. They stuffed fishing poles rods and reels in a trash can and put a sign on it "$2 for fishing poles". I bought 20
@@willyjilly9684 ah ok, maybe if I go by there I'll see if they have anything now. Good tip
I learned the hard way after Hurricane Ian. All I could find before was the Milwaukee saw. Good for small branches. But it would overheat. So I bought a Stihl MS261 C-M. Fantastic!
Thanks AvE. Like the comment below, I had a corded Craftsman (old now) and it was a beast. I still love my 2-cycle chainsaw. More power than you need.
The dewalt 12inch saw is remarkable, it took me, my family, and my neighbors all through the aftermath of a big storm came by and knocked down a whole lotta trees. The next day two of my neighbors picked one up since they couldn’t get there gas one going. It had no problems whatsoever while working on thick logs or in the rain and it only used a few batteries. Couldn’t recommend it more
Agreed. The little Dewalt can cut an amazing amount of decent sized logs. For all day cutting and power, of course you need a gas saw, but I can do 75% of all my work with the little Dewalt. The Husqvarna is overpriced and underperforming.
Don't make perfect the enemy of good. ;-)
I live in the suburbs and work in IT. I like tools and do a lot of home gaming in the shop and around the house. I got a 40v ryobi chainsaw and I love it. The problem with gas ones is if you let it sit around and don't use the thing its going to need a hour of maintenance to get the damn thing cranked. This is where the battery tools thrive. For the little bit of chainsawing I need to do around the yard its perfect and its always ready to go and it uses the same batteries as all my other lawn gear. Now this would be a different story if I had some land with a lot of trees and/or needed to use the saw for hours on end. My point is there is a market for the battery tools and it makes sense for some.
I think the real target market for battery chainsaws is for folks who have a medium size property and don’t have a wood burning stove, and just need something to clean up branches and brush and whatnot, and maybe buck up a few logs for a fire pit or whatnot. Or like what you said, for folks who already have a gas chainsaw and just want something easier and more
Convenient to load up to do the same thing.
How come women get a battery powered tool that's better than the original, never gets tired or drinks too much. But all our battery powered tools suck compared to the original
I love my Stihl MS170 Gas Saw. She’s temperamental but gets the job done.
Great saws for framers, eliminates cold seizure issues from lack of warm up.
You should have got the Makita 36v duc353 I think it is. As my first ever chainsaw it has been great at cutting 8" discs for my tiny wood burner and I later bought a £99 aldi (budget supermarket) scheppach 56cc beast which I have used to cut sections of oak and felled a dead standing bramley apple tree with success & it has performed well over the last couple of years. 👍
Got one of those to deal with a ~8 inch thick tree that was knocked over in a storm. Kept using it for a bunch of stuff, and am currently stretching its usecase to chop up a bigger Birch (~12 inch at the base). It certainly feels undersized for this job, but it also for sure works. However if I did this on a regular basis I'd go out and get something bigger.
It's a great saw for people who could get by with a sharp bow saw and a red bull.
I totally understand the people who are saying they need something to pack with them in the backwoods in case a tree falls across the only road out. But, if it's a tree of any appreciable size, this thing will probably let you down when you need it most.
35cc saws are cheap, always keep it full of oil and totally empty of gas. Keep a quart of non ethanol gas with it, dump it in and start it. When your done, dump out gas and run till it stops. No gummed up carbs, no dead bats, no overheating, no fuss no muss lol. Oh, but the carbs get out of adjustment after a while I hear you say? Well batteries get weaker and eventually become trash over time.
I live about 500 meters from the factory and I really shouldn't be surprised to see Husqvarna branded things in various places out in the world, but everytime I do I get thrown for a loop, and it's just as surreal every time.
Doesn't sound nearly as good either :-)
The lean, clean, green way to de-forest!
Got a Stihl 250 for $50 at a yard sale, thing laid in the shop for the better part of 5 years before I needed it. Threw a cup of 2 smoke mix in and it fired right up. Can’t beat it!
Theres a place for them, but it's pretty niche. August Hunicke uses them while climbing to de-limb on the way up. Saves him from having to pull start a chainsaw for every 2-3 inch limb on the way up. Saves him from having to hold a can of gas at the end of his arm when reaching. With the extra battery pack, he can get all the limbs of a pine on the way up, and get a decent portion of the trunk on the way down before switching to a heavier saw. Course, he switched the default bar and chain out for a Panther bar and 1/4 pitch chain to slim the curf.. helps it to cut a bit faster and feel more nimble in the hand.
But then he uses a larger gas saw for the real work once he's on the ground or the trunk is bigger than 12 inches.
I think the RYOBI 40v chainsaw is worth the money, especially if you already have some of the other tools in the family. My only complaint is that the bar is a bit flimsy, I did have to replace that. Otherwise, its fairly impressive.
I agree wholeheartedly. I can work up quite the sweat as I sit on the veranda supervising the field toilers. I find the peasants do tend to go on regarding battery heat, thirst, injury and such. It often puts me off to such a degree I can barely finish my second breakfast. Why must I suffer so?
Our M18 Milwaukee saw works great for the home-jobber. I’ve been pretty impressed with the size of log its been able to buck after a storm.
I managed to pick up a new kobalt on sale for $150 w/battery and charger. the batts don't last as long as I would like, but I already have 2 compatible batts from other tools so that helps. it isn't for felling trees I just use it for lopping limbs. I watched project farm and the kobalt seemed a decent performer for the price.
it bogs down if I push too hard, but the chain speed is high, so that much pressure isn't required. I've cut 9" dia. limbs from a mulberry and chopped them into firewood. it works well enough for what I need. it does what it's supposed to do. I'm happy with it.
My Milwaukee M18 chainsaw is a beast! No complaints.
Electric is a great second saw. Super handy around my hobby sawmill, especially with 65 yr old rotator cuffs...get me a gas one I can start with my impact gun or drill and I'll gladly get back on the Dino juice.
Had a tree removed this summer, they used electric Husqvarnas for all the pruning but gas for the big stuff. I think mostly for noise reduction in a residential area.
You don’t get his 2 cents often but When he gives it, his recommendations are super solid.
I have the Milwaukee with a 12 ah battery and it’s always my go to saw these days .
And it shares a charger and battery system with dozens of other tools! Unlike the multiple incompatible electric product lines STIHL and Husqvarna each created.
I have nothing but love and respect for you AvE but I’m failing to understand how you’re gaining “ease of use and convenience” moving to something that weighs more and takes longer to “recharge” than a gas powered counterpart. If you want to go electric, there’s a reason I bought a plug-in circular saw instead of a battery powered one. In that scenario at least there is a mobility convenience gained, but imo the reliability and performance cost does not come close to outweighing the mobility increase 98 times out of 100. Just my opinion. Always enjoy your videos, please continue!
I have an old craftsman 16 bar (gas) and bought a Ryobi 10 incher. I agree that gas is the way to go for alot of wood. The battery is great for loping limbs and small stuff. I am an infrequent user but mostly camping and cooking on coals around the casa. Still have multiple buck saws and more dang axes than I care to mention. I agree with your conclusion. The city and state legislature dictatorships are doing there dangedest to change that in parts of the country to no gas-all electric. It is just starting.
i get alot done with my milwuakee, but i have a dozen large battery's and half a dozen chargers.. we always have the 60cc gasser on standby but for everything about 12" and under we use the electric even as a crew doing it for profit, the milwuakee is a good fast cut when the chains sharp, it cant pull a partially dull chain though the gasser has the power to deal with an older chain
regardless of what brand you get having a pile of batteries and chargers is key to using it for anything more than a few cuts
i have gone into the woods with the milwuakee and filled a truck with spruce logs well up and over the cab probably 16 spruce and juniper trees felled limbed and cut to length with half a dozen batterys of varying size and no way to charge them never ran out of juice always ran out of room on the flat deck and it was 10'x 7' stacked about 3' tall
My best mate is an ICU nurse (I’m an offshore electromechanic) and on the side he works as an arborist, guess the ICU alone wasn’t savage enough lol. I often help him out off the books, especially when he has entire trees to fell and cut up.
Batteries are indeed expensive as f*ck, the small 5,2Ah ones go for 280€, larger 9,4Ah ones are 400€ a piece. But they hold up, quite robust. More so than we expected. Rain, mud and generally lying around in a forest are no big deal.
He bought one of the smaller fit-in-your-purse models of these Husqvarna battery saws. Its the one he uses when he climbs up in the trees to cut a limb. It can easily be used with one hand, no gas engine to start or keep running, just press a button. It starts and stops really fast making it a lot safer to use imo. It performs admirably for what it is. Low maintenance too, aside from sharpening the chain and chain oil there is nothing to it. He has a few other tools that use the same battery packs as well. Sometimes we work in residential areas between people’s gardens, so the benefit of a quieter battery operated tool is also nice.
Of course we also carry heavier duty gear like a medium sized echo and Stihl MS 391, as well as a larger MS462 for the felling and cutting of entire trees. The electric one is only for small limbs. There’s no beating gas powered when it comes to brute strength.
I’m curious to see where it will go with these battery powered gardening tools, we also tested a battery powered Stihl lawnmower for free from our dealer, wasn’t bad at all! Couldn’t beat his professional Honda but it did fine.
I’m gonna start my own sidehustle doing industrial maintenance and repairs as well, gonna buy an entire collection of 18V Makita tools. I’m also gonna pickup one of their saws. For the lighter work we do I bet it would work fine. Looking forward to try it out!
These governments will be dealing with external combustion if they think they can take internal combustion from my warm lively fingers
I am active in disaster relief, by now we have three of these and six Gasoline Saws. Both have their pros and cons. Working from a platform is much more convenient with the electric saw, especially when you need to communicate with other people. In spring, we had a house where the roof panels were blown of, we covered the roof provisionally, It was quite nice to have the electric saw on the roof there.
When cutting trees it is excellent for cutting off all the branches(better than for instance our 261 Stihl), small trees can also be cut down, otherwise it is quite useless...
For my personal use away from that, it is way to expensive, my old worn out Gas saws will always be cheaper. these probably I do not want to have once they are old and worn out
Our guys used DeWalt battery chainsaws for cutting timbers underground in order to build chutes and manways. They seemed to like them well enough.
If you're putting enough pressure on the bar to stall the saw you're pressing too hard , which usually means the chain could be sharper . All chainsaws like a sharp chain but battery saws in particular , not just kinda sorta ok but *sharp* , it'll be less prone to overheating , the battery will last longer and it'll cut faster .
I picked up an EGO 18 inch cordless 56v saw about a month ago. It isn't quite as powerful as my Poulon Pro 20 inch, but I did not expect it to be. However, it runs first try every time and I don't do anything to it besides swap out batteries.
It is good enough for me for clearing limbs and unwanted trees off my property, and it takes same battery as my mower and pole saw.
The Poulon Pro is definitely not the best chainsaw out there, but it used to work for me. Now, maintaining 2 smoke gas can is not worth it as I have few of them left.
In a pinch I can fill up the batteries with the sun, but it takes a very very long time to fill the 2 smoke gas can up with solar energy, around many millions of years.
My neighbor has the big EGO battery saw (idk what the model is), and I was quite impressed with how it handled cleaning up storm damage last year. Has 2 big ass batteries, and he made them last for about 4 hours. It wasn't quite keeping up with my MS170, but it wasn't lagging pitifully behind either. Weighed about the same based on the forearm scale. But price wise, yeah I could've bought one hell of a forester's saw with that much money.
I purchased a Makita DUC353 (North American Equivalent model number XCU03) 18 x 2 36v chainsaw as a Ute Saw for storm cleanups, firewood and similar duties 2 years ago, my only real complaint is the chain bar is not as skookum as I'd like, if I get the bar jammed it can bind the chain pretty easily...
Otherwise, It's a convenient little saw that seems to handle Aussie Hardwoods quite well as long as I keep a file up to the chain..
You need to try the ego brand saws. 16” standard Oregon bar and chain. The battery is designed for high currents and I’ve never had one overhead even in Texas heat. Maybe not the tool of choice for bucking fir all summer, but it can do real work. I find that by the time a 5ah battery needs a recharge, so do I.
Same with my Greenworks 60v 8amp, 18". It outdoes my 42 cc Husky, never overheats, and starts on the first (trigger) pull every time. Not as versatile for bars and chains as my gas saws, but it's become my first choice for most jobs. I got a feeling that if anything ever goes wrong with the thing I'll be screwed, because after-sale service does not seem to concern them, but I hope this category continues to improve, so I can junk my 2-smoke saws.
I just bought the Hart 20Volt 12 inch chain saw with the 4amp battery. Used it to drop an apple tree that has seen better days. For me, a home gamer looking for a saw to trim and clean up around the yard anything my lop shears can't take it works a treat. Not a pro tool but it doesn't claim to be one. I have no need for a gas chain saw, the 20 volt works great did what I asked it to do.
Agree 100%, I spent the big bucks on the Milwaukee saw, and it's great for going out and busting trail, don't gotta start it, just pull the trigger and go. So in that capacity, I feel like it will perfectly replace my 35cc husky, but if I have to block up a few cord, I will always reach for my 460 rancher. In completely different upside to the battery saw, the whole reason I picked it up; I replaced my wood furnace, and the new one had a shorter firebox, and all my wood is inside in the basement, and with the battery saw, the wife doesn't get mad because the whole house doesn't smell like a skidoo when I need to fill the furnace.
a Lineman came over to plan out a job to replace my obsolete utility poles. He had a little electric top handle saw and made quick work through some nasty english ivy that completely overtook the guy cables for the pole. Seems like a little saw in a work truck is a good thing, even if it can't replace a big gas saw.
Hey, I like the format - short and sweet. and It was nice to see a cameo of this #thisoldtony 's hands ;-) It'd be good to see a race between the gas/essence/petrol version and the electric. keep in it a vice ..
Guys that took down my ash tree had a couple of them. Used them mostly to clear the small stuff. Anything bigger than 5 inches they used the gas saws
We had those husqvarna batterysaws at the sawmill i used to work at, they worked good to cut out logs stuck in machines.
The monkey beaver has a solid use for them, during fire-season they don't have the illegal hot exhaust of the infernal combustion engines...
I've got a 60v DeWalt in my Jeep. I've been trapped on a trail by fallen trees and worked for several hours using my axe and winch to escape. It's a far faster and easier job with a chain saw. I don't want to carry a gas saw full-time inside my Jeep due to the fuel odor and hazard. An electric saw is perfect for this application. The DeWalt 60v saw works great. It's only drawback is the weight. I only recommend the 18" or 20" DeWalts - the 16" and below DeWalt electrics have problems with chain derailing due to bar wobble and bar oil leaking from the fill cap. The 18" and 20" DeWalts can accept a shorter bar (Oregon low profile bar of the proper gauge and pitch - not the shorter DeWalt bars which are a smaller gauge). The 20" head is a bit more powerful than the 18" head.
The ego saw that I have I adore for clearing trails, and cutting poplar trees. Certainly though, electric saws are for projects around the yard and the trails, but not a days work. I would say mine is certainly worth the money though.