I bought one of these, and since the cost was very low there was little risk, but I love it. My wife also loves this thing for pruning branches, and I find myself reaching for this handy tool more often than I expected to. It's simple and it works.
I have a similar Chinese saw with 6” bar. It’s a very handy tool and I’m glad I got it. A shoulder injury means I can’t work with a normal chainsaw above about waist height, but I can use the 6” one-handed no problem. A couple of observations: it’s lightweight, which means it’s far more grabby than a heavier petrol chainsaw. If you’re not careful it can bounce all over the place, especially on small stuff. Follow the usual power tool rule, and ensure it’s running at full speed before bringing it into contact with the work. It’s not an intimidating piece of kit, but remain vigilant. I got tired and a bit lazy at the end of a session cutting firewood, and let it too close to my other hand, and it took a chunk out of my little finger (all healed now, thanks). I’ve used 14” and 20” bar petrol saws for 30 years without any injury whatever. Go figure. Have to say I thought you let the tool get rather too close to your legs when you were kneeling down around 4:30. It’s small and light but needs treating with the same respect you’d use for a big petrol saw. You don’t need the full chaps and helmet rig, but I would say gloves and eye protection were a minimum. These are just my thoughts. Nice video, thankfully free of nonsense, and very helpful to anyone thinking of getting one of these very useful tools.
Best comment I've ever seen. A useful tool, but dangerous. Worth reading this comment carefully. Low cost tool but ER isn't cheap. Learned it the hard way. 40 years of experience with petrol chain saws.
Just curious if that Chinese model came fully assembled also like this one? Doesn't always seem to be clear with the different models I've looked like. I really don't want to have to assemble the chain.
@ Mine came in a plastic case, fully assembled. But don’t be put off if you have to do a bit of assembling. You’ll be adjusting the chain or taking it on and off quite regularly, and it’s a good way to find out how it goes together. It’s very simple, but because the thing is quite lightweight it needs adjusting frequently. Only gotcha is getting the chain on backwards and wondering why it’s not cutting. 😁
I have purchased and used a six and eight inch mini chainsaws. The six inch one didn't have automatic oiling, so I oiled the chain every time I changed the battery, which wa s about twenty minutes. It lasted about eleven months before the chain cover/guard desintegrated where you tighten the nut that secures the bar. The eight inch one, although it had an oil system that you had to pump to oil the chain (they called it automatic), only lasted a month. Based on my experience, I can only say that these mini chainsaws are designed for light work around the house. Unless the manufacturers take the time to make serious improvements, they won't take the place of a name brand or proven gas chainsaw.
You make a good point which I didn’t raise in my comment above. Yes, these are for light use only. I tried cutting a lot of firewood (3-4” thickness) and while the saw performed the cuts perfectly, continuous use made the thermal protection cut out and it was a very stop-start operation. For these kinds of uses, a petrol chainsaw is the proper tool. If you think of the small cordless saw as an alternative to a pruning saw, you’d be about right. Light use, where the timber isn’t too big and the job isn’t too long. But it wins hands-down over a petrol saw if accessibility is an issue, such as trimming dense shrubs.
its all about the price point....i love mine $35 with battery online marketplace the best tool purchase i ever had...used a small file to sharpen the blades so many times now about a dozen times and still cuts sharp....no major brand name could match the price point for what it is...None...and plus the fact mine is Makita compatible could use my makita batteries..and plus the fact that all Major brand name saws are also MADE IN CHINA...
These mini chainsaws are marketed as pruning saws pruning generally referrers to branches under 2in although these saws will saw through logs the length of the bar this is not there intended purpose nor are they designed for continuous use over long periods of time aney one who thinks they are is foolish I paid 30 bucks for mine on Amazon with "automatic oiler" this is about 100 dollars cheaper than a De Walt and about 200 bucks cheaper than a Milwaukee I use it for firewood and tree trimming in the summer months and it serves me well and when it goes bad I'll get another one at 30 bucks it could almost be considered disposable if you spend a lot of time with landscaping and tree work on your property or you are a lumberjack these saws are not for you but for the average homeowner who needs to trim some downed branches a couple times a year or cut some over length fire wood occasionally these saws are perfect if you expect Lamborghini performance from a Hyundai that's on you not the manufacturer if you want top performance then you'll have to spend top dollar so just get the red yellow or blue one and never look back instead of trying to cheap out for 30 to 50 bucks
This review was wonderful. I'm currently looking at one of these type of units. You used the tool, you didn't spend 15 minutes talking about the history of mini chainsaws, etc. You did a real-life usage battery test, too! Thank you for a great review.
I accidentally stumbled upon this video. Honestly, it is such an amazing video made to the point. Thank you so much mate. Keep up the great work. I have now subscribed to your videos.
Great video! No wasted words and i learned everything i needed to. This looks great for processing fire wood for a small wood stove. I’ll be cutting lots of 6-9” in logs. Thanks!
I purchased a similar saw at Menards North tech brand for about $20. Same set up two chains, two batteries and two tools with a charger. Works good and the battery seems to last a good long time.
This is exactly what I need. I have a tennis court with uncontrolable brush and branches all over the place. With this I might be done in one day. Love the size of it too.
Note, these do NOT work well with brush. Similar to a regular chainsaw, they snag small brush and branches. They are really meant to be used on stiff branches coming from a trunk or larger pieces of logs. Don't even try to use it on brush.
I was hoping you would have cut a 4 x 4 post and some lumber. Obviously the ,4 x 4 is only 3 1/2 in square so I'm assuming it will do fine. What do u think sir?
I just bought the Ryobi 18 volt brushless "pruner." 6" bar. Used both a 2 and 4 amp battery while testing it. Used it for more then just pruning to see what it could do. Oil free design for bar and can adjust chain tension without any tools. Has its limitations, but its weight and slim profile make it easy to operate one handed. Won't replace my chainsaws, but a useful tool for certain applications.
They definitely have a place. I have a couple of real chainsaws as well. (16" and 20" bars) plus a pole saw. I think I have just about everything covered.. Thanks for watching.
@@BackyardMaine I also have two gas powered chain saws with 16" & 20" bars. I do not have a pole saw yet as I can borrow a Ryobi battery powered one when needed. My son and I both use the Ryobi battery platform so this makes sharing specialty tools very easy.
I bought a very similar model that fits my Makita batterys for only 39€. It has a little oiler and a brushless motor too! Mine came with 2 chains in total, no oil and not preassembled so they save a few bucks there to get the price so low. Its amazing so far the motor is very powerful I recon there is 300-400W in there. So far its almost been too powerful for its own good considering that you hold it with only one hand. The motor has also never overheated on me it has quite good airflow coming from the cooling fan on the motor shaft. Looking around Amazon there seem to be 3 or 4 different versions of these saws in total distributed by various brands: The one we see here with a standard brushed motor. Then there is one with a brushless motor. Also varying handle styles and some have little push oilers and some come without. Probably all made in the same factory 😅 I actually took mine apart to satisfy the curious engineer that I am and came to find out its actually not bad at all. All sealed ball bearings of appropiate size inside no bronze bushes or shielded bearings. Gears are decent but they were very dry on mine so had to add lubricant there. The Motor looked cheap but that doesnt really matter with brushless motors the only thing that kills them is overheating. It needs to be said that these cheap amazon saws should not be compared to a real Makita which is not cheap but every component will be made to a higher standard and in the long run the Makita will easily outlast the cheap saws.
I love my mini chainsaw , I have one primary use for it . I buy 12×24 plywood boards that I saw in half to use for targets for my high powered air rifles. $35 . Excellent buy. 😊
Just randomly found your channel. Nice. I liked how you talked about oiling. I'm new to power tools ( but not to life, 76). I have confidence I can use this. Thanks.
I got the Milwaukee M18 hachet during the holidays but still pull out the Chinese /Amazon special because it's just so good for everything except bamboo. The fibers will foul up the chain; need a power pruner for that.
Thank you for your comment! I bought a house with 1/8 acre of bamboo. After $3K on workers who claimed they would poison it and get rid of it, I now have to do it on my own. I was going to buy this, so your comment helped me very much 😊
I bought 2 saws, by different makers when Amazon was selling them for under $35 and $30 and have put them to good use. Excellent tools for the homeowner. I advise using a little more bar oil than shown.
Wonderful review, not boring at all like the others. You talk straight to the point. I came here because I am actually looking one for myself, and thank you for sharing this video.
The charging time is terrible with this cable adapter like 6 till 8 hours for one battery of two Amps and that is way too long for me,so i both a battery adapter so i can charge the battery with a 150 Watts charger/dock station now i can charge these battery's in one hour instead of 6 hours with the standard cable adapter.
Hi John thanks for the demo,not sure what it’s like getting spares or even getting one repaired should an issue arise but most of the cheaper ones are made of cheap plastic and split really easily.Ive had two different makes and both of the chain guards shattered on me exposing the chain,very dangerous and no way of getting them repaired or even replaced. Not sure if this is an issue in USA ,but it’s a problem in the UK.Ended up buying a WORX mini chainsaw and that’s a great piece of kit 😎
Yeah I think you do get what you pay for. I think the saw is very good for what it is. Great for trimming limbs and cleaning up a few fallen branches. I have large gas powered saws for everything else. I actually destroyed the bar on mine but it was my fault for not using enough oil. I bought a new bar and it back to new condition.
I use Bar and Chain oil which is specifically designed for chainsaws. You can fine it at any hardware store or even Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart or Amazon.
I have a similar mini chainsaw. The battery lasts about 10 min of continuous use. But in that time I can cut about 3 15liter buckets (about 10 gallons total) of hardwood firewood so it's amazing and ofc the effort is minimal compared to manually doing it or brining my full size electric chainsaw. Plus I can just hold the wood in one hand and the chainsaw in the other. It's nowhere close for continuous use. it heats up quickly and it's definitely not good to cut for long. But for occasional use it does a lot.
I liked the video. It was very useful & informative. The one thing I would have liked to know is, after the initial oiling, did you need to do additional oiling during the entire video?
I have used these type saws for 3 yrs. I have bought 6 units. Pairs because of parts. One dies then i can fix the other. I hVe used 20v 4 inch and 36 v 8 inch. I have used them to cut 8 cord of wood for the wood stove. One thing, you must sharpen the chain correctly. Sharp a d the saw works great. I keep going until 4 or 6 batteries are dead. 4 hrs plus use. Cheers
No you only need to press it to get the trigger past the safety. Once it's running you don't need to press the button. But if you let off on the trigger you will need to press the button again.
Useful piece of kit but probably not a good idea to have the charging lead still tightly wrapped when battery charging. All sorts of stray magnetic effects and heat generation caused when you don't unwrap leads.
I purchased one of these 6” Chain Saws from Amazon back in November of 2022. Looks almost exactly like this one in the Video but mine is all black with a Black Molded Case very similar to the one in the video. I plan to use it for the first time this week of May 6th 2024. The first thing I did when I got it was I charged the batteries. Well today over a year and a half later I opened the case to see if the batteries needed a charge. Right away the Red light came on the charger and they took a little better than 1 hour to charge them up again one at a time. Anyway from having full size gas chains saws I adjusted the chain to what I thought would be just right being I thought the chain was on too tight that I couldn’t slide the chain along the Bar. I am curious to what everyone is using for bar and chain lube? This bar oil Amazon sells is expensive but I guess all oil is expensive today. I always just used a 20 or 30W Non Detergent oil on my chainsaws since the 1980’s and I never wore a bar out. I am also hearing that Canola oil can be used on this 6” bar. I am asking because I have both Canola oil and 30W Petroleum oil non detergent around. Believe it or not I use the canola oil on my paper shredder and it works great keeping those blades clean and sharp. Just curious to others thoughts on the chain and bar lube.
I use bar and chain oil designed for chainsaws. It not only thick (heavy weight) but it's also sticky so it stays on the chain longer. You can find bar and chain oil at any hardware store or home improvement center.
John, thanks v nice vid. I just got a mini 6"er from Amazon for Xmas, though not a Saker but it has identical Gizmos. I was just wondering if you could tell me how would you know if the chain needs tightening or not? Its on factory setting currently. Appreciate your help v much, thanks!
Sure. I think for these small saws about an 8th inch of deflection at the middle of the bar is good. Just pinch the chain and pull away from the bar to check. I’m sure you know this but be sure to remove the battery before you put your hand near the bar.
I think its a good to for small limbs. Anything 4" and under. I can't speak to the long lasting quality of the tool because I have only had mine for about 5 months but I have used it several time and it's worked great. I trimmed a bunch of maple limbs this fall 1"-3" with no issues.
Germany here. Ordered this mini chainsaw after watching your video. Seems to be a useful tool. The batteries here are only 18V and there were no 2 extra chains in the package.
There are several options available when I check the links. Another quick not is there is physically not difference between a 18v and 20v battery for these tools. They are all 18v with a 20v float. Its all marketing..
I bought one of these cheap ($30.00) Chinese mini chainsaws with a 6in bar and I was so impressed with it I got a 4in and an 8in bar for it and it serves me verry well I love it and I'm glad I got it I also sent one to my sister and her husband who are getting to old to handle there lumberjack type gas saw
I bought one on Amazon for $65 and I love it. It works great on small branches, but it does bounce a little as I saw in your video. I haven't tried it on anything over about 3 inches. Overall, I'd say it's a solid BUY.
NOTICE that the kits always come with a tiny battery instead of the 5AH battery they all sell as upgrades. I'd rather pay more up front than have to buy the real battery later
The lighter batteries last a long time compared to the duration of my tasks, have adequate power, and make the tool much easier to manipulate with one hand with better control and safety.
According to specs on a similar model, the chain speed is around 5 meters per second, or 16.4 feet per second, or 11miles per hour. Google says a regular chain saw does about 88 feet per second, or about 60 miles per hour. This is probably one reason why an oiler was not considered important enough to add onto it, especially when retailers are selling them for as low as $40 with two 1.5 amp hour batteries, a charger, and a case, which is incredibly cheap. My biggest concern is how badly the workers who make them are getting ripped off, because it is hard to believe you could even buy the materials for such a low price, let alone fabricate them, ship them around the world, and still make a profit at American retail stores.
I use a cordless reciprocating saw for the same jobs ... no oiling.. and easy blade changes.. and easier to get in tight spaces than this weird little chainsaw thing.
There's no comparison in speed of cutting; chainsaw MUCH faster. Also, at least in my experience, cutting more than 2.5" with a reciprocating blade creates more instability and oscillation than these chainsaw options.
Thanks for your service. I was in for just 4 years back in the early 80s. Stationed at McClellan AFB out in Sacramento CA. I wa in the civil engineering group or CE.
@@familyhunter9958 I want to Mather a few times during that same time period. I was an electrician and we would sometimes do some work over there. Small world.
Do yourself a favor and get a chain file to sharpen. My 6-inch "Hopto", which is a Chinese model, is 1/4". The chain comes a bit dull. Keep the chain oiled and sharp. ALSO, do not over-tighten the chain. There should be some slack.
Besicaly the chineese mini saws are few designs and over 50 brands. Bought same design different brand. The motor burned out after 30 min of work. Returned it and took the money back. Now I am thinking to take another design because the idea of those saws is great. They are necesity if you have trees to care and I have over 20.
This one’s holding up great for me but if you want a higher quality at a much higher price buy a Stihl or Milwaukee. You do get what you pay for on power tools.
@@BackyardMaine Got my new one- local brand for my country for just 45$ with 2 batteries- 12V, 2 AH. I mean Stihl has palstic toys on that price :) Bosch was 145$ on action price and 195-220$ on regular. Stihl was over 200$ so I guess I was aming for the maximum bang for my buck :) The 4" chinese local brand have 3 y guarantee on the motor and 1 on the battery. Extra blade with chain is 9$ for it. Already cut some branches, I am happy. Can cut arm size branch with no problem, but still kinda thinking of that Bosch 6" with 2,5 AH 20V battery for 145$ maybe that was the best deal. The motor of that Bosch looked very serious for a mini saw like 2 times bigger than mine and you can tell it will last, but I am a buck banger it's just what I am.
I'm not sure how long it lasts for continuous use. Ive been cutting up storm damage limbs and breaking them down for the burn pile. I drag a limb over, cut it up a bit and throw it in the pile. Two batteries lasted all day.
I tried mine for the first time today. No complaints about the cutting, but being weak in my hands ( 72 and not use to it) I would stall it. Normally, that would not be a problem. Just restart it, right? Not if you're left handed. I had to place my right hand over the handle and push the starter whi!e using the left hand for the trigger. Am I missing something?
Hey John! @BackyardMaine About how long would you say one battery works. Amazon currently has the one battery option for $39.97 & the 2 battery option for $99.00... I'm trying to determin if the second battery is worth the price difference. Any suggestions?
I was just cutting up a bunch of storm damage limbs and although the saw was running intermittently it lasted over an hour before I need to use the second battery. I'm really not sure how long it will run with continuous use.
The torque was too low. Every time it got bog down while cutting a few branches. The motor got super hot. Couldn't find a small enough file to sharpen the 1/4 LP pitch chain. The chain got dry very quickly and manually oiling the chain is such a hassle. I was using the extension pole to reach the high branches.
If it fits you can. The 18 and 20 volt batteries are actually the same battery. I won’t go into detail here but it just a marketing strategy to call them 20v.
Sorry to hear that. Some commenters are saying they have had problems with the battery but mine works great. I always charge the batteries after I'm done using the tool.
Seemed like it was straining on the 4" cuts. You didn't mention anything about the price or if it felt powerful enough. But i liked all the goodies it comes with.
If you push too hard on the bigger stuff it will slow down. It's really designed for small stuff though and it works great for what it is. The price varies depending on time of year and options but the same setup as I have in the video with the extra chains is $79.00
No I don’t think so. It’s a small saw but it can be dangerous like any other chain saw. I was using it again yesterday and I was thinking I need to be aware of my other hand so I don’t hurt myself.
Not available from AU Amazon. Can you tell me if the charger is just 110 volts or is it a 110-240volts? I see a number of almost exactly the same items as here just with a different name. Are they all made by the same maker? like many Chinese products.
Mine is rated for 120v. I know there are a ton of brands to choose from and who knows who makes them. I'm guessing that are all pretty decent for their purpose of cutting small limbs etc.
I forgot sorry. I never killed the battery but it took an hour to charge. Since then I have killed the battery and about 2 hour from dead to full charge.
Thanks for your review and thorough testing. I need to prune my peach tree to a more manageable height. Can I do it with this mini saw, while on a ladder, safely? Is it really torque-y?
I can't speak to the safety of using a saw on a ladder but I can say the saw isn't really torque-y and is does cut quite nicely. I also have a video review of my pole saw. I always use that for higher branches for safety.
@@BackyardMaine Oh nice! That's not bad at all. I've been eyeballing a couple of these on Amazon but haven't made the jump to get one yet. I may very well do that now though, looks very handy for smaller pruning jobs around the homestead.
I bought a different brand for $100. It worked for three one hour projects then died and would not run at all. It also constantly needed the chain re-tightened which seems quite dangerous. Some products may be better quality and I would get the next size up the next time.
I do wish it the video had some kind of comparison to the better known brands. With only one data point, i know it can cut wood but i have no clue how it actually stacks up.
I bought one of these, and since the cost was very low there was little risk, but I love it. My wife also loves this thing for pruning branches, and I find myself reaching for this handy tool more often than I expected to. It's simple and it works.
Thanks for sharing
I have a similar Chinese saw with 6” bar. It’s a very handy tool and I’m glad I got it. A shoulder injury means I can’t work with a normal chainsaw above about waist height, but I can use the 6” one-handed no problem. A couple of observations: it’s lightweight, which means it’s far more grabby than a heavier petrol chainsaw. If you’re not careful it can bounce all over the place, especially on small stuff. Follow the usual power tool rule, and ensure it’s running at full speed before bringing it into contact with the work. It’s not an intimidating piece of kit, but remain vigilant. I got tired and a bit lazy at the end of a session cutting firewood, and let it too close to my other hand, and it took a chunk out of my little finger (all healed now, thanks). I’ve used 14” and 20” bar petrol saws for 30 years without any injury whatever. Go figure. Have to say I thought you let the tool get rather too close to your legs when you were kneeling down around 4:30. It’s small and light but needs treating with the same respect you’d use for a big petrol saw. You don’t need the full chaps and helmet rig, but I would say gloves and eye protection were a minimum. These are just my thoughts. Nice video, thankfully free of nonsense, and very helpful to anyone thinking of getting one of these very useful tools.
Thanks for those very relevant additional safety reminders. Really helpful for a DIY dummy like me. 🙂
Best comment I've ever seen. A useful tool, but dangerous. Worth reading this comment carefully. Low cost tool but ER isn't cheap. Learned it the hard way. 40 years of experience with petrol chain saws.
@@Mike40M Thank you for this comment.
Just curious if that Chinese model came fully assembled also like this one? Doesn't always seem to be clear with the different models I've looked like. I really don't want to have to assemble the chain.
@ Mine came in a plastic case, fully assembled. But don’t be put off if you have to do a bit of assembling. You’ll be adjusting the chain or taking it on and off quite regularly, and it’s a good way to find out how it goes together. It’s very simple, but because the thing is quite lightweight it needs adjusting frequently. Only gotcha is getting the chain on backwards and wondering why it’s not cutting. 😁
I bought this a few months ago- and it's been a real work horse. Very pleased with its performance.
I have purchased and used a six and eight inch mini chainsaws. The six inch one didn't have automatic oiling, so I oiled the chain every time I changed the battery, which wa s about twenty minutes. It lasted about eleven months before the chain cover/guard desintegrated where you tighten the nut that secures the bar.
The eight inch one, although it had an oil system that you had to pump to oil the chain (they called it automatic), only lasted a month.
Based on my experience, I can only say that these mini chainsaws are designed for light work around the house. Unless the manufacturers take the time to make serious improvements, they won't take the place of a name brand or proven gas chainsaw.
You make a good point which I didn’t raise in my comment above. Yes, these are for light use only. I tried cutting a lot of firewood (3-4” thickness) and while the saw performed the cuts perfectly, continuous use made the thermal protection cut out and it was a very stop-start operation. For these kinds of uses, a petrol chainsaw is the proper tool. If you think of the small cordless saw as an alternative to a pruning saw, you’d be about right. Light use, where the timber isn’t too big and the job isn’t too long. But it wins hands-down over a petrol saw if accessibility is an issue, such as trimming dense shrubs.
its all about the price point....i love mine $35 with battery online marketplace the best tool purchase i ever had...used a small file to sharpen the blades so many times now about a dozen times and still cuts sharp....no major brand name could match the price point for what it is...None...and plus the fact mine is Makita compatible could use my makita batteries..and plus the fact that all Major brand name saws are also MADE IN CHINA...
I'm no greenie, but that's a hell of a lot of plastic etc going into the rubbish, after very little use.
you are kidding right?
These mini chainsaws are marketed as pruning saws pruning generally referrers to branches under 2in although these saws will saw through logs the length of the bar this is not there intended purpose nor are they designed for continuous use over long periods of time aney one who thinks they are is foolish I paid 30 bucks for mine on Amazon with "automatic oiler" this is about 100 dollars cheaper than a De Walt and about 200 bucks cheaper than a Milwaukee I use it for firewood and tree trimming in the summer months and it serves me well and when it goes bad I'll get another one at 30 bucks it could almost be considered disposable if you spend a lot of time with landscaping and tree work on your property or you are a lumberjack these saws are not for you but for the average homeowner who needs to trim some downed branches a couple times a year or cut some over length fire wood occasionally these saws are perfect if you expect Lamborghini performance from a Hyundai that's on you not the manufacturer if you want top performance then you'll have to spend top dollar so just get the red yellow or blue one and never look back instead of trying to cheap out for 30 to 50 bucks
This review was wonderful. I'm currently looking at one of these type of units. You used the tool, you didn't spend 15 minutes talking about the history of mini chainsaws, etc. You did a real-life usage battery test, too! Thank you for a great review.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
@@BackyardMaine Amazon has a 6" kit right now, I got it this am with a lightning deal for 59.99. Case, 2 batteries, gloves, glasses, chains, oil.
Great deal.. @@CedricSatterfield
How is it working? @@CedricSatterfield
@@CedricSatterfield How is the saw holding up?
I accidentally stumbled upon this video. Honestly, it is such an amazing video made to the point. Thank you so much mate. Keep up the great work. I have now subscribed to your videos.
Thank you!
Ibought one about four months ago and I am happy with it and impressed what it can get through for such a small saw.
Great video! No wasted words and i learned everything i needed to. This looks great for processing fire wood for a small wood stove. I’ll be cutting lots of 6-9” in logs. Thanks!
Thank you John for such a great and honest review. This is exactly what I need for the gardening work I hope to do.
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching.
Nice review. I love mine, just used it again to cut down 2 badly overgrown juniper bushes. It’s a terrific addition for the price
That was great John. Just what I needed to make the decsion to buy this. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Glad I could help
I purchased a similar saw at Menards North tech brand for about $20. Same set up two chains, two batteries and two tools with a charger. Works good and the battery seems to last a good long time.
This is exactly what I need. I have a tennis court with uncontrolable brush and branches all over the place. With this I might be done in one day. Love the size of it too.
Note, these do NOT work well with brush. Similar to a regular chainsaw, they snag small brush and branches. They are really meant to be used on stiff branches coming from a trunk or larger pieces of logs. Don't even try to use it on brush.
I was hoping you would have cut a 4 x 4 post and some lumber. Obviously the ,4 x 4 is only 3 1/2 in square so I'm assuming it will do fine. What do u think sir?
I just bought the Ryobi 18 volt brushless "pruner." 6" bar. Used both a 2 and 4 amp battery while testing it. Used it for more then just pruning to see what it could do. Oil free design for bar and can adjust chain tension without any tools. Has its limitations, but its weight and slim profile make it easy to operate one handed. Won't replace my chainsaws, but a useful tool for certain applications.
They definitely have a place. I have a couple of real chainsaws as well. (16" and 20" bars) plus a pole saw. I think I have just about everything covered.. Thanks for watching.
@@BackyardMaine I also have two gas powered chain saws with 16" & 20" bars. I do not have a pole saw yet as I can borrow a Ryobi battery powered one when needed. My son and I both use the Ryobi battery platform so this makes sharing specialty tools very easy.
Do you oil the chain at all on the ryobi ?
I bought a very similar model that fits my Makita batterys for only 39€. It has a little oiler and a brushless motor too!
Mine came with 2 chains in total, no oil and not preassembled so they save a few bucks there to get the price so low.
Its amazing so far the motor is very powerful I recon there is 300-400W in there. So far its almost been too powerful for its own good considering that you hold it with only one hand.
The motor has also never overheated on me it has quite good airflow coming from the cooling fan on the motor shaft.
Looking around Amazon there seem to be 3 or 4 different versions of these saws in total distributed by various brands:
The one we see here with a standard brushed motor.
Then there is one with a brushless motor.
Also varying handle styles and some have little push oilers and some come without.
Probably all made in the same factory 😅
I actually took mine apart to satisfy the curious engineer that I am and came to find out its actually not bad at all. All sealed ball bearings of appropiate size inside no bronze bushes or shielded bearings.
Gears are decent but they were very dry on mine so had to add lubricant there.
The Motor looked cheap but that doesnt really matter with brushless motors the only thing that kills them is overheating.
It needs to be said that these cheap amazon saws should not be compared to a real Makita which is not cheap but every component will be made to a higher standard and in the long run the Makita will easily outlast the cheap saws.
Looks fun but I can cut just as fast with a rip saw or pruning saw which is more enjoyable and safer.
Great review. And thankyou for not including a 5 minute message from a sponsor.😒 Straight to the point with no bs.
Thank you..
I love my mini chainsaw , I have one primary use for it . I buy 12×24 plywood boards that I saw in half to use for targets for my high powered air rifles. $35 . Excellent buy. 😊
Glad it's working out for you!
Just randomly found your channel. Nice. I liked how you talked about oiling. I'm new to power tools ( but not to life, 76). I have confidence I can use this. Thanks.
Awesome! Thank you!
I got the Milwaukee M18 hachet during the holidays but still pull out the Chinese /Amazon special because it's just so good for everything except bamboo. The fibers will foul up the chain; need a power pruner for that.
Thank you for your comment! I bought a house with 1/8 acre of bamboo. After $3K on workers who claimed they would poison it and get rid of it, I now have to do it on my own.
I was going to buy this, so your comment helped me very much 😊
I bought 2 saws, by different makers when Amazon was selling them for under $35 and $30 and have put them to good use. Excellent tools for the homeowner. I advise using a little more bar oil than shown.
@@johnnichol9412 well that's actually what I meant. 🥴
You know its a good video when you feel confident in the purchase after one watch. Good video!
Brilliant footage. Everything is so detailed and well explained.
Wonderful review, not boring at all like the others. You talk straight to the point. I came here because I am actually looking one for myself, and thank you for sharing this video.
Thank You!
John, thank you for your review. It helps a lot to make a decision.
My pleasure! Glad it was helpful.
I use a manual 3ft long saw. No batts, keeps my arms well oiled.
cOnGrAtS… lol
I used one of these tool for the first time today although not that particular make and was blown away with its capabilities
Many thanks for the on-the-spot review, It looks like the perfect saw for my yard, I'm going to get one right away!
Glad I could help!
Good review. Glad you addressed the importance of battery endurance.
Glad it was helpful!
My wife ordered one without telling me. I was like why did you buy this piece of junk. But then I used it and it’s great. It cuts like crazy.
Very useful tool for gardening
The charging time is terrible with this cable adapter like 6 till 8 hours for one battery of two Amps and that is way too long for me,so i both a battery adapter so i can charge the battery with a 150 Watts charger/dock station now i can charge these battery's in one hour instead of 6 hours with the standard cable adapter.
That’s odd. Mine charge fully from dead in just about two hours.
Thank you for this review. I'm considering getting one of these. Much appreciated.
Glad I could help
Hi John thanks for the demo,not sure what it’s like getting spares or even getting one repaired should an issue arise but most of the cheaper ones are made of cheap plastic and split really easily.Ive had two different makes and both of the chain guards shattered on me exposing the chain,very dangerous and no way of getting them repaired or even replaced.
Not sure if this is an issue in USA ,but it’s a problem in the UK.Ended up buying a WORX mini chainsaw and that’s a great piece of kit 😎
Yeah I think you do get what you pay for. I think the saw is very good for what it is. Great for trimming limbs and cleaning up a few fallen branches. I have large gas powered saws for everything else. I actually destroyed the bar on mine but it was my fault for not using enough oil. I bought a new bar and it back to new condition.
Great video. no fluff or anything extra, str8 to the point. well done!
Great video. Trying mine later today, ty. What kind of chain saw oil is that & where do I buy it? Thanks!
I use Bar and Chain oil which is specifically designed for chainsaws. You can fine it at any hardware store or even Home Depot, Lowes, Walmart or Amazon.
A Makita batter works on these, I have on in my ATV and they are awesome for keeping trails clear of small brush and trees
Thanks for the video. You were very detailed in the product. I just ordered one. And I don't think I will have any problems using it.
Great video.
Glad I could help
I got the newer version 6 inch with two batteries 2ma h and charge indicator.
Dude it's a little beast ! This thing exceeds all expectations
I have a similar mini chainsaw. The battery lasts about 10 min of continuous use. But in that time I can cut about 3 15liter buckets (about 10 gallons total) of hardwood firewood so it's amazing and ofc the effort is minimal compared to manually doing it or brining my full size electric chainsaw. Plus I can just hold the wood in one hand and the chainsaw in the other. It's nowhere close for continuous use. it heats up quickly and it's definitely not good to cut for long. But for occasional use it does a lot.
Not sure how it would work on some of our Australian hardwood. However, for the purpose you demonstrated, it seems grear
Great video. Thanks. Going to buy one.
Glad it was helpful!
I liked the video. It was very useful & informative. The one thing I would have liked to know is, after the initial oiling, did you need to do additional oiling during the entire video?
Yes I did but I think I should have been oiling it even more.
I have used these type saws for 3 yrs. I have bought 6 units. Pairs because of parts. One dies then i can fix the other. I hVe used 20v 4 inch and 36 v 8 inch. I have used them to cut 8 cord of wood for the wood stove. One thing, you must sharpen the chain correctly. Sharp a d the saw works great. I keep going until 4 or 6 batteries are dead. 4 hrs plus use. Cheers
Do we have to keep the round button pressed down while pushing the trigger down as well? Thank you. 😊
No you only need to press it to get the trigger past the safety. Once it's running you don't need to press the button. But if you let off on the trigger you will need to press the button again.
@@BackyardMaine Thank you so much for replying...🤗
Thanks so much for this review, answered all my questions!
You bet!
Great Review! Thank you for making it short & sweet & to the point! Great & Helpful Video as I'm looking to purchase this tool this week! Thank you!
You bet, thanks for watching!
Consumer protection 6:32
ordered one of these on prime day, looking forward to its arrival (like usual, prime day stuff gets delayed).
Useful piece of kit but probably not a good idea to have the charging lead still tightly wrapped when battery charging. All sorts of stray magnetic effects and heat generation caused when you don't unwrap leads.
Wire insulation is more than enough to handle any induction you'd get from wrapping them.
I purchased one of these 6” Chain Saws from Amazon back in November of 2022. Looks almost exactly like this one in the Video but mine is all black with a Black Molded Case very similar to the one in the video. I plan to use it for the first time this week of May 6th 2024. The first thing I did when I got it was I charged the batteries. Well today over a year and a half later I opened the case to see if the batteries needed a charge. Right away the Red light came on the charger and they took a little better than 1 hour to charge them up again one at a time. Anyway from having full size gas chains saws I adjusted the chain to what I thought would be just right being I thought the chain was on too tight that I couldn’t slide the chain along the Bar. I am curious to what everyone is using for bar and chain lube? This bar oil Amazon sells is expensive but I guess all oil is expensive today. I always just used a 20 or 30W Non Detergent oil on my chainsaws since the 1980’s and I never wore a bar out. I am also hearing that Canola oil can be used on this 6” bar. I am asking because I have both Canola oil and 30W Petroleum oil non detergent around. Believe it or not I use the canola oil on my paper shredder and it works great keeping those blades clean and sharp. Just curious to others thoughts on the chain and bar lube.
I use bar and chain oil designed for chainsaws. It not only thick (heavy weight) but it's also sticky so it stays on the chain longer. You can find bar and chain oil at any hardware store or home improvement center.
I just got mines for fathers day and thanks for the demonstration cant wait to use it
My pleasure I hope yours works as well as mine.
John, thanks v nice vid. I just got a mini 6"er from Amazon for Xmas, though not a Saker but it has identical Gizmos. I was just wondering if you could tell me how would you know if the chain needs tightening or not? Its on factory setting currently. Appreciate your help v much, thanks!
Sure. I think for these small saws about an 8th inch of deflection at the middle of the bar is good. Just pinch the chain and pull away from the bar to check. I’m sure you know this but be sure to remove the battery before you put your hand near the bar.
thank you!@@BackyardMaine
Did I miss your telling the recharge time on a dead battery?
Sorry. I forgot to put that in. It was just over an hour.
John....is this a good chainsaw for dealing with some small limbs off a dead hardwood tree?...would appreciate your view on this
I think its a good to for small limbs. Anything 4" and under. I can't speak to the long lasting quality of the tool because I have only had mine for about 5 months but I have used it several time and it's worked great. I trimmed a bunch of maple limbs this fall 1"-3" with no issues.
Germany here. Ordered this mini chainsaw after watching your video. Seems to be a useful tool. The batteries here are only 18V and there were no 2 extra chains in the package.
There are several options available when I check the links. Another quick not is there is physically not difference between a 18v and 20v battery for these tools. They are all 18v with a 20v float. Its all marketing..
We have this exact saw and we love it. So useful!!
Nice video, adequate info on a small tool, very good editing, worth the six minutes. Thanks
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching
I bought one of these cheap ($30.00) Chinese mini chainsaws with a 6in bar and I was so impressed with it I got a 4in and an 8in bar for it and it serves me verry well I love it and I'm glad I got it I also sent one to my sister and her husband who are getting to old to handle there lumberjack type gas saw
I bought one on Amazon for $65 and I love it. It works great on small branches, but it does bounce a little as I saw in your video. I haven't tried it on anything over about 3 inches. Overall, I'd say it's a solid BUY.
Thanks for sharing!
NOTICE that the kits always come with a tiny battery instead of the 5AH battery they all sell as upgrades. I'd rather pay more up front than have to buy the real battery later
The 2AH batteries seem to last a long time. I was surprised.
The one I bought for my wife takes my Makita batteries...
The lighter batteries last a long time compared to the duration of my tasks, have adequate power, and make the tool much easier to manipulate with one hand with better control and safety.
Only few drops of oil for whole accumulator capacity? Normal saws take constant flow of oil to protect chain from overheating
That is my concern also. How often needs lubrication?
According to specs on a similar model, the chain speed is around 5 meters per second, or 16.4 feet per second, or 11miles per hour. Google says a regular chain saw does about 88 feet per second, or about 60 miles per hour. This is probably one reason why an oiler was not considered important enough to add onto it, especially when retailers are selling them for as low as $40 with two 1.5 amp hour batteries, a charger, and a case, which is incredibly cheap. My biggest concern is how badly the workers who make them are getting ripped off, because it is hard to believe you could even buy the materials for such a low price, let alone fabricate them, ship them around the world, and still make a profit at American retail stores.
I use a cordless reciprocating saw for the same jobs ... no oiling.. and easy blade changes.. and easier to get in tight spaces than this weird little chainsaw thing.
There's no comparison in speed of cutting; chainsaw MUCH faster. Also, at least in my experience, cutting more than 2.5" with a reciprocating blade creates more instability and oscillation than these chainsaw options.
John, thanks for this video. I think I'll but one. I was USAF from 1966 thru 1992.
Thanks for your service. I was in for just 4 years back in the early 80s. Stationed at McClellan AFB out in Sacramento CA. I wa in the civil engineering group or CE.
@@BackyardMaine I was in the Comm Sq at Mather in 85-87.
@@familyhunter9958 I want to Mather a few times during that same time period. I was an electrician and we would sometimes do some work over there. Small world.
Do yourself a favor and get a chain file to sharpen. My 6-inch "Hopto", which is a Chinese model, is 1/4". The chain comes a bit dull. Keep the chain oiled and sharp. ALSO, do not over-tighten the chain. There should be some slack.
Thanks for sharing. QUESTION??? Would you please tell me what kind of oil I need to get for that saw???? THANKS
Sure.. Buy bar and chain oil. Its made specifically for chainsaws. Heres an affiliate link if you need it. amzn.to/4dt2pNL
@@BackyardMaine THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
@@feliciabrasuell1997 My Pleasure..
Besicaly the chineese mini saws are few designs and over 50 brands. Bought same design different brand. The motor burned out after 30 min of work. Returned it and took the money back. Now I am thinking to take another design because the idea of those saws is great. They are necesity if you have trees to care and I have over 20.
This one’s holding up great for me but if you want a higher quality at a much higher price buy a Stihl or Milwaukee. You do get what you pay for on power tools.
@@BackyardMaine Got my new one- local brand for my country for just 45$ with 2 batteries- 12V, 2 AH. I mean Stihl has palstic toys on that price :) Bosch was 145$ on action price and 195-220$ on regular. Stihl was over 200$ so I guess I was aming for the maximum bang for my buck :) The 4" chinese local brand have 3 y guarantee on the motor and 1 on the battery. Extra blade with chain is 9$ for it. Already cut some branches, I am happy. Can cut arm size branch with no problem, but still kinda thinking of that Bosch 6" with 2,5 AH 20V battery for 145$ maybe that was the best deal. The motor of that Bosch looked very serious for a mini saw like 2 times bigger than mine and you can tell it will last, but I am a buck banger it's just what I am.
Bought one from Banggood….lasted about 4 months
Great Review my man. Picked this up for my Dad for Father's day. Looks like he's gonna like it. 👍
Awesome.. Thank you.. I used mine again this morning.
How often do you need to readjust the chain? I have another mini-chainsaw and I have to readjust the chain constantly.
I have had to tighten it a few time. Since it mostly plastic holding the bar and chain tight it comes loose easier than a full size saw. They all do..
How long does battery last and how do you store a fully charged battery?
I'm not sure how long it lasts for continuous use. Ive been cutting up storm damage limbs and breaking them down for the burn pile. I drag a limb over, cut it up a bit and throw it in the pile. Two batteries lasted all day.
I got the 6" Kimo. Super sweet little saw.
I tried mine for the first time today. No complaints about the cutting, but being weak in my hands ( 72 and not use to it) I would stall it. Normally, that would not be a problem. Just restart it, right? Not if you're left handed. I had to place my right hand over the handle and push the starter whi!e using the left hand for the trigger. Am I missing something?
You know I didn’t think about that but you’re right it is designed for a right handed person
I just bought one and I’m watching this to learn how to use it. I’m also left handed.
I got one for $40 and came with 2 batteries and is compatible with my dewalt batteries. Amazing value and usefulness
Hey John! @BackyardMaine About how long would you say one battery works. Amazon currently has the one battery option for $39.97 & the 2 battery option for $99.00... I'm trying to determin if the second battery is worth the price difference. Any suggestions?
I was just cutting up a bunch of storm damage limbs and although the saw was running intermittently it lasted over an hour before I need to use the second battery. I'm really not sure how long it will run with continuous use.
I love my mini saw, use it frequently. I'm in my 70s...
It seemed fairly quiet. Did you reduce the sound while filming the cutting portions? Thanks.
They are very quiet. I always adjust volume but these are nothing like a gas powered saw.
@BackyardMaine Thanks for getting back to me.
The torque was too low. Every time it got bog down while cutting a few branches. The motor got super hot. Couldn't find a small enough file to sharpen the 1/4 LP pitch chain. The chain got dry very quickly and manually oiling the chain is such a hassle. I was using the extension pole to reach the high branches.
Can I use the 20 volt battery in the unit I bought over 18 months ago that has an 18 volt battery?
If it fits you can. The 18 and 20 volt batteries are actually the same battery. I won’t go into detail here but it just a marketing strategy to call them 20v.
@ thank you.
Can it be used for self defence?
I would want someone coming after me with one.. lol
Great video..my saker did not come with manual and missing one small tool
Sorry to hear that. Some commenters are saying they have had problems with the battery but mine works great. I always charge the batteries after I'm done using the tool.
I'm a tiki carver, just bought this as I always dig to deep with the bigger chainsaw, this looks perfect for rough cuts then come in with the chisels.
Seemed like it was straining on the 4" cuts. You didn't mention anything about the price or if it felt powerful enough. But i liked all the goodies it comes with.
If you push too hard on the bigger stuff it will slow down. It's really designed for small stuff though and it works great for what it is. The price varies depending on time of year and options but the same setup as I have in the video with the extra chains is $79.00
Awesome video thanks for the time ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Looks a very good for the price thank you from New Zealand
Are there any additional safety features beyind the two passive guards? Does it have an auto-cutoff feature that activates under certain conditions?
No I don’t think so. It’s a small saw but it can be dangerous like any other chain saw. I was using it again yesterday and I was thinking I need to be aware of my other hand so I don’t hurt myself.
I wear my full size chainsaw glove on my other hand 😊
Thank you for this review!
My pleasure!
Does the chain get loose with the heat of use like a regular chain?
It does get loose after a while. It takes seconds to tighten though but be sure to remove the battery first for safety.
Not available from AU Amazon. Can you tell me if the charger is just 110 volts or is it a 110-240volts?
I see a number of almost exactly the same items as here just with a different name. Are they all made by the same maker? like many Chinese products.
Mine is rated for 120v. I know there are a ton of brands to choose from and who knows who makes them. I'm guessing that are all pretty decent for their purpose of cutting small limbs etc.
What is it like on hardwood??? Anything will cut pine and spruce even a dull carpenters saw will make progress on that stuff.
It cut up some 2-3 inch maple branches with no problems. Not as quickly as it goes through the white pine obviously but it worked well.
You never did say how long it takes to charge the battery from dead. Just sayin
I forgot sorry. I never killed the battery but it took an hour to charge. Since then I have killed the battery and about 2 hour from dead to full charge.
Thanks for your review and thorough testing. I need to prune my peach tree to a more manageable height. Can I do it with this mini saw, while on a ladder, safely? Is it really torque-y?
I can't speak to the safety of using a saw on a ladder but I can say the saw isn't really torque-y and is does cut quite nicely. I also have a video review of my pole saw. I always use that for higher branches for safety.
Did you say at the end how long it takes to fully charge a battery from totally depleted? Or did I miss it somewhere along the line?
I forgot to add that in since I never actually killed the battery. Between 45-60 minutes would be my best guess.
@@BackyardMaine Oh nice! That's not bad at all. I've been eyeballing a couple of these on Amazon but haven't made the jump to get one yet. I may very well do that now though, looks very handy for smaller pruning jobs around the homestead.
I bought a different brand for $100. It worked for three one hour projects then died and would not run at all. It also constantly needed the chain re-tightened which seems quite dangerous.
Some products may be better quality and I would get the next size up the next time.
Will a Dewalt 20v battery work on this Saker Mini Saw
I don’t think so but I don’t know for sure.
I have a sunjoe that is very frustrating. The chain comes off every time I use it. Did you have any problem with the chain coming off?
No but occasionally it will need to be tightened up a bit.
My complaint about the mini chain saw is the chains continually had to be adjusted. Batteries lost charge quickly.
Thanks for the demo I saw that at Walmart and was wondering if it was worth it.
You bet! I was surprised how affordable they were and it actually preformed very well.
I wonder how it compares with (The more expensive) Stihl GTA 26?
Hello, I am left-handed. Will I be able to work with my left hand or will I have to use my right hand?
I have read some comments saying it’s difficult to use left handed
@BackyardMaine thanks
I do wish it the video had some kind of comparison to the better known brands. With only one data point, i know it can cut wood but i have no clue how it actually stacks up.
Will it be useful for cutting 0.9in plywood?
It will cut that but you would be better off buying a circular saw for that task.