I bought a 'extra cheap' one. The vibration was a big problem after 10 minutes of use, the battery was terrible, within a few weeks it would only cut for a few minutes before needing charging. It is fine for very very light work, but anything with a diameter larger than 2.5" was a big problem. In the end you get what you pay for.
I bought the 6 inch Amazon, cheapie and surprised the heck out of everyone! My son told me I was wasting my time and my money, but at 70 years old, never used a chainsaw, and female, I didn’t think I could handle a ‘normal‘ chainsaw for the small jobs I have around the house. One of the first things my son cut with the chainsaw to see how it worked, was a 4”x4” post! The cut was clean, not jagged, there wasn’t any pull or jamming. He had me try it, no problem. For less than $50.00, the mini chainsaw came with 2 batteries, 2 extra chains, tools to change chains. The name brands cost too much and without the accessories! I’ve trimmed bushes, branches, even a dead tree! Lol.
Just got my first chainsaw too! the tingmengte mini 6 inch blade chainsaw! Us girls are never to old to be the coolest girls in the neighborhood cutting branches! and mailbox posts!
Yes cause I’m not a carpenter I just want something powerful enough to handle yard work & cut these bushes down cause hedge clippers are too much work, my last one snapped the bolts the second time I used them lol so this for basic yard work seems legit for me
I bought the Stihl when it first came out strictly because of its size, I needed a small saw to get in between branches. A few months later while on Amazon I noticed one of the no-name 4" chainsaws with two 20V batteries, two chains and a hard case for $35 US. I picked one up and haven't used my Stihl since. The Chinese saw is harder to stall and the batteries last much longer than the Stihl.
@@TexasRedneck The saw I bought is no longer available. If you do a search there are others for the same price. Search for, "4 Inch Mini Chainsaw" There is currently a 6 inch with two batteries, two chains and a hard case for $32 after 20% off coupon.
I bought a cheap one to trim overhang from a neighbours tree that was restricting rotation of my delta loop quad antenna. The offending branches were 10m above ground so I cable tied/taped it onto a telescopic aluminium pole and got the job done. Money well spent.
Great video. I’m a strong believer that you get what you pay for and would make the Milwaukee my first choice. That said, it really comes down to how much you’re going to use the tool and for what types of jobs. For a home owner like me that would use it maybe once or twice a year for some pruning or small branch cleanup after a storm, the cheap Amazon saw works fine. I received one as a gift and it does a fantastic job. If I were to need one more often or for bigger jobs, the vibration and overall power of the cheaper version would motivate me to spend more and get a better tool.
I got one of the cheap ones from Amazon. With two batteries. I filed it professionally as I am a professional follower and it cuts better than the stihl that my buddy owns
Thanks for the tip. I am starting out with a battery powered chain saw and the discussions on sharpening make a lot of sense. Inexpensive can work if cared for as you stated. Cheers.
A duller chain would produce the jagged cuts and excessive vibration shown in the video. They were demonstrating saws as delivered. Still, they could have addressed the sharpness.
All 3 got the Job Done!! even the Cheap one stood up to the test, so id say its definitely worth its cheap cost for someone with little and rare work load . The Stihl worked great as well, more power faster cut, good lasting quality, however the Milwaukee was the best, nice features, oiler, most powerful, fastest cut.. but only if you can afford it!.
I have the cheap Amazon one and has been fit for what I do. I take on walk with the dog as very light. Branches that have fallen down in winds I cut lengths to carry home to cut and split for log burning. I was very impressed when first used and I thought I would definitely buy a more expensive one when it breaks. I still have it as it hasn’t broken 6 months.
I have the Stihl and it matches my Stihl hat, shirt, chaps, boots, blower, hedgetrimmer, mechanics gloves, bench grinder, loopers, trimmers, big saws, little saws, midrange saws, pressure washer, pole pruner, kombi system, soon zero turn, shop vac, mower and underwear..... I'm good!
I bought a 6-inch "Hopto" Chinese made a few weeks ago for $60. Came with two batteries and an extra chain, although I already switched the chain out for a Milwaukee. I could not be happier. Just take care of it and make chain adjustments when you are working bigger limbs.
I use the milwaukee, bought it for camping. Works great, small enough it stores in the camper and I can cut firewood for a day or two without any problems!
I swear by that MIlwaukee. Between that and the DeWalt lopper, we get lots of small cutting tree trimming. I had high wind take out part of a tree and it was fantastic. I have M12 tools mostly for my RV ranging from the inflator, grease gun, wet dry vac, just got the cutoff tool and this and various other tools. The small footprint is key for RV use. Further, for inside small spaces counters etc. I have the old brushed versions of the tools as they are even smaller than the fuel versions in some cases. I've had to reinforce some structural pieces in the travel trailer due to poor workmanship, put in a door on the back of partial sink island to increase access and so many other things.
It a great tool for clearing up! Easier to use than a chainsaw for smaller wood and great for cutting up kindling. I think there will be many people out over the coming weeks clearing up mess that this storm has left!
None of the above. Get a cordless reciprocating saw (eg Makita LXT, Milwaukee M18) and use a 3 TPI blade. Cuts very fast, long reach, one-handed operation, never needs oil, smooth cut, narrow kerf, blade stays sharp a long time, easy to replace blade, batteries work in hundreds of tools.
@@MachineryNation Halfway there. But those were crap blades for cutting wood fast compared to a 3 TPI Bosch or similar. Get a proper blade and compare recipro to chain. I'm betting recipro will win in the end.
Very good point, I'm a landscape gardener and use the m18 hackzawl with an aggressive Bosch blade for small stuff plus pruning busy fruit trees. It's more vibration but safer than mini chainsaws
The only problem with that is trying to cut small branches with a reciprocating blade, (instead of a chain thats pulling in one direction - wth a much heavier, longer, less ergonomic, and harder to control saw. It’ll spend half the time vibrating the branch back and forth instead of pulling it towards the tool like the chain does. I thought the same thing you did, until i actually got the m12 saw to help cut up small branches. The hatchet saw works much better and theres no getting around it. The sawzall does work great though - to edge sidewalks and cut off large overgrowth (not maintenance edging, i mean stuff being edged for the first time in a long time). Even better then an edger. It makes no mess, cuts really fast and you can literally roll up the debris like sod and remove it - without having thrown grass and dirt all over the place using an edger.
A silky will cut through anything quicker and cleaner than any of the above or a reciprocating saw. If its too big for the silky it's big enough for a proper chainsaw, these tools are for dossers and DIY mate
Very informative user experience video. Some ideas for a follow-up. 1) Comparative battery life in the field. 2) Disassembly of each unit to diagnose internal quality. Quality differences could guide us to draw our own conclusions about how long the tool will last. One buyer that reviewed an Amazon no name one of these showed a picture of a chewed up gear that rendered the tool useless after not much time. 3) Based on all the comments below a comparative video of using one of these mini chain saws vs. a reciprocating saw for pruning would be interesting to see. You could even throw a Silky hand saw into the mix too.
I’ve had the Juemel for a couple of months. I’m not a ‘’professional lumber jack’’ but I’m using the juemel a lot around the garden, for the price it can’t be beat .My question is if you are not a professional, how often would you use a ‘’mini chain saw’’ to justify the higher cost of the higher priced ones?
To be honest, the jeumel has a hard Chinese chain that will stay sharper for longer but is a pain to sharpen. That said, it is ideal for the odd little jobs around the garden. Pity it doesn't self oil, if it did I would buy it and order a few chains and bars !
I would be interested in how the cheap one performs with the chain from the Stihl. looks like it is jumping may be a sign the chain geometry not that great being a low cost unit.
I bought one of these cheap saws and it been great on my forested property and just recently switched to the other chain I'm not doing a cutting race I just prune low and dead branches around my property. For the $35 dollars i paid it has already paid for it self in use
Get a real one a STIHL mini chainsaw for the wife in the backyard!! That’s why my hubby got it!! It was so nice to not have to ask the hubby to get out the big saw. Make sure and properly lubricate all saws! Stihl fastest and cleanest cuts! But cheapest did the job. If you’re on a budget but I recommend STIHL and they have great warranties and customers service. We cut pallets up for a chicken coop it was so much easier for me than a circular saw!
I just bought a $39. RLSOO saw from Amazon and removed some bush stumps like butter. Loved it. It came with three chains and I didn't care that I was cutting into dirt/ It got the job done for less than the cost of a new chain. Saved a ton of money over hiring someone.
Great review! I loved how you compared the different pruners, especially the hands-on tests with the GTA 26 and Milwaukee. It's super helpful to see the real-world applications and how they perform in actual cutting scenarios. I’m curious, have you had a chance to use them on thicker branches? Would love to know how they hold up!
I suppose whatever tool you buy depends on it's main purpose? I love sitting out by the fire at night on my property, often I find a piece of wood, that is too large to burn, I am too lazy to get a saw or hatchet, not really worth getting the big chainsaw out for. The little Amazon chain saw works great for cutting the wood into manageable pieces. I am happy with the purchase, for the price.
You guys left out that the Stihl carrying case is the worst case ever designed. It is terrible. I threw it away at bought a cheap case at HD that is a proper case.
Sorry guys I know you where sponsored by the other two companies but I got a Amazon cheap cordless chainsaw and is perfect for what I use it for in your video it never failed it might have not of been as powerful but it still did the job and ect you asked it to do so don't be so critical of it maybe people can't afford the other two
We really were not sponsored! I wish it would help alot right now. The vibration from Amazon one was unbearable! I get it though, we could of rounded it up better 👍🏼
I use an old mini Black and Decker, slow but solid with metal gears, changed Ni-Cd with Lithium 30A , and it makes the job with good performance during one hour without any issue since...10 years. I always use a 4/5 Ah battery (two cells ranges in //). A 2,5Ah is not enough , the cells will not live a long time (too many amps needed and too fast discharge) . And so the saw makes the job during one hour without any issue , everywhere. ...and I oil the chain very often with these mini-saws.
I have the Milwaukee i absolutely love the thing its got tons of power so just anything small enough to get the bar trough it just eats it up and you could probably cut up several trees on a single 6ah battery
Watch the fingers with these little saws 😬 With nearly 20 years in tree work with chainsaws, I can't help but feel nervous about home owners cutting right next to their hand that's holding the wood. ... that little £39 saw looks awesome for the money!
cheap ones indicate 1500w (for violeworks 6'') & need to cool out frequently for heating up soon too much, i calculated 3min total cutting time w/ a 2,4Ah battery of 18v such as makita (compatible w/ powershare tools such as ferrestock &so on)
Oh well being a Sthil fan. Bought the prunner today. Should have bought the Milwaukee m12 hatchet. Not too late. Hav opened the box. Junk. I don't and wont buy junk.😊thank you very much guys. Well explained 😊
I have the stihl, the battery life is not the best but it's size and ergonomics are perfect for pruning shrubs, smaller ornamental trees like Japanese maples and cutting small limbs easily. It fits in places a hand saw does not and when I'm up in a tree pruning, the weight won't bog you down. These saws are not meant for all day work but for places a larger saw or silky won't be as efficient.
I'd recommend getting a pole saw instead. Basically the same unit but on an extension with a bigger battery and self oiler. Gives the advantage of working from a safe distance without having to climb into the tangles. Can reach high or low without effort. Many good choices for about the same price.
I have a pole saw but for small branches close to the ground within easy reach, the mini saw can’t be beat. Some of my friends saw it in action and have sense purchased one of their own. Still use the pole saw for high branches or limbs hard to reach limbs but the mini saw gets used much more often and is easier to pack around.
The pole saw isn't always the best choice though. Sometimes you need to be closer to what you are cutting and with a pole saw the trigger is always at the end of the pole so it can be awkward. Pole saws can't be beat for anything high up but if you're cutting things you can reach from the ground or are close to you, these hand held saws are better.
I am expecting a cheap one through Amazon to be delivered to-day. One day £10.00 off (UK). From your test, it looks like the expensive ones have better chain blades. Mine will only be for occasional use, same as my mains powered larger chain saw. Being a pensioner I could not warrant spending a large amount on big name product that will not get much use. The reviews I had read seem positive.
I fully agree with you - there's absolutely no point being snobbish like the testing gentlemen and discard the cheap machine; if you're only going to use it occasionally I think it will meet your needs. Also being a pensioner - the machine might last longer than I will.
The Milwaukee not having a guard on top allows one to cut up from below, so for something small enough to mount on a motorcycle it would be my choice for trail clearing.
I didn't pay for a NAME! I got the cheapest 4" mini chainsaw i could buy. for 18 dollars. IT WORKS EXCELLENT. I like it so much i got the cheapest 6" mini chainsaw i could buy This one came with a kit> a carrying bag, 2 chain blades, 2 battery packs, plus tool for it >> 28 dollars and it works excellent as well
Note: the cutting "cleanness" comes from 2 things, and not necessarily the saw itself. How sharp are the teeth and how fast the saw is in RPM. You can take a slower speed saw and get cleaner cuts IF you go slow though the material as well. Forcing the blade to cut with more pressure to make more speed in cutting, will give more ragged cuts. However, it should cut as clean (the cheaper saw) as the Stihl or the Milwaukee IF you slow down the cutting speed and pressure. BTW it is pronounced Mill-Walk-key .
I not know about the other brands I have the Stihl GTA26 and yes it feels very confortable in the hand, my only issue is the same one I have with my Stihl MSA300, battery cutting time is very short.
I have had a problem with battery connection on the cheaper(jeumel) one.I’m on my second one now.The batteries don’t connect with the ‘pins’ very well and consequently cut out.
I bought a Makita Recipro saw for the purpose of cutting up small limbs and find that a coarser wood blade creates too much vibration and tires my hand a lot. Finer blades are slower and i have a lot to do.
I've Always been a Stihl man for outdoor work cutting , pruning and trimming etc. Well I got to tell you that in these tests I got to tell you it seemed to me that the Milwaukee didn't seem to bog down.
Maybe all the mini chainsaws from China are made in the same factory, but my 6" Zikopomi (Amazon $60 US) so far has been a great little chainsaw. My feeling about the Milwaukee is, for that price and its relatively large size, why not just buy a standard chainsaw. The STIHL might be a good saw, but it is expensive. These little chainsaws are not a substitute for the regular ones, but more of a supplement for smaller work when you don't feel like getting out the big saws. Mine works great.
The Juemel just sounds cheap and light weight. The ultimate test would have been after you sharpened all three chains and then tested it again. I've run chainsaws all my life. Born and raised in the famous town of Sutherlin Oregon, USA. The home of the Timber Days Celebration where timber fallers from all over the world would compete. Also called the Timber Capitol of the world, Douglas County, home of the Douglas Fir Tree's big enough one log fills a Log Truck. Anyway about the sharpening. Most are done by machine and the first thing I do when I replace a chain is sharpen it. Makes a ton of difference! Oh yeah, great video but I'll take the Milwaukee any day of the week!
Thought you were a bit hard on the Juemel one given that it was 1/4 of the price of the Stihl and less than 1/5th the price of the Milwaukee…..could be useful in a modest domestic garden
Worx wg324 every time for me, doesn't stall like these do and has a cleaner cut along with the added function of a pole saw handle too!! Oh and it takes out 7 inch logs with ease.
Thnx for making decide to buy the cheap tool. Almost ten times as cheap, I'll gladly take the extra 6seconds to cut something. These guys were so biased it's crazy lol. Glad they recorded the cuts so we can make a good decision hehe. The Amazon one is perfect for jobs around the house and garden. For professional use get a og big chainsaw.
M18 Version just announced. And to be fair the Stihl is using a smaller (maybe the only size available) battery. I have a 6.0 battery in my m12 at work, and with very little intermittent use that thing is still showing a full charge.
I'm afraid of most power saws because of inexperience, but I feel like I could potentially use this one with caution until I learn more. I've got massive piles of brush I need to cut down to size and the hand loppers are just not going to cut it.
I use a machete for brush. Well sharpened, it makes very quick work of any brush two inches thick or less and much less tiring than using loppers (and more fun).
I not know what size brush you need to cut, I have the Stihl GTA26 and I am happy feels very confortable in the hand but for brush 1" or less I prefer using the pruning shears battery power Vito I also have. Also if I have lots of a kind small trees about 3" to 4" then I definitely use my Stihl 161T.
@@sirvozelo1 I was mainly voicing my concern for kittencollective, they voiced concern using a normal chainsaw. Would hate for someone to lose some fingers or worse just because it "appears" to be safer.
Still unsecided as to which id buy but from comments on her id prob have enough work and get what i need done in 2 days after buying then it would be idle for the rest of the year so would i go for stihl or milwaukee
I got the Stihl mainly because I use other Stihl stuff and it is awesome. Any time I can use that instead of a normal sized chainsaw I swap. Might even get the upgraded version if it ever gets released outside of Germany.
When I'm pruning our fruit trees, a good hand saw will last me two days - I don't have to go to the gym afterwards and the cut is more precise and smoother. For large tree care we have the MS 151 TC-E from Stihl. One-hand petrol chainsaw with 25 cm blade. When we fell trees with the big saws in winter, I like to use the small one-hand chainsaw for limbing. But that's my way and it doesn't have to be right for everyone.
I like the compactness of the Stihl, but the definite showstopper for me on it is the lack of automatic bar oiling. Milwaukee it will be. (The Milwaukee is also much more readily available, too - big box stores and online vendors carry it, as opposed to the Stihl that is only sold by dealers.)
I do landscaping and have many different size chainsaws but my go to tool is a sawzall. It will cut small trees, cut roots to pull up the root ball, limbs, bushes and its very maneuverable.
being an arborist i would automatically go for stihl cause thats standard. but if i chose id go for the milwaukee cause of safety, oiling, protected trigger and high use batteries. the milwaukee just needs to lose that front grip handle and maybe have a better quality chain/smaller bar. chainsaw should be able to do all the work no pushing needed. that cheap one sounds like its a bodged together angle grinder. good vid guys
great visual test ! But if you only had 1 small tree come down in a storm the cheap one would do at £39, to be left in the shed after and never used again / given away! For regular use i see where they are coming from and would be willing to pay for the qualities of the better ones! I only had 1 branch fall into my garden and extra cheeped out and bought a drill attachment chainsaw £12 off wish (lots of loll's getting it to work but it did the job and is now in a box in the shed)
After Christmas I’m up for a Makita DUC150 as I have a whole system of batteries and chargers. After bushfires here I have hundreds of trees dropping branches and cutting them into useable lengths as intermediate wood for the heater, seems logical rather than wasting that resource.
I bought an 8" saw from Amazon with an inline motor, self oiling, two Makita type 3ah 18v batteries.and a spare chain. Blew me away on it's perfomance and the fact it would take genuine Makita batteries. The supplied batteries take an hour or three to charge, but I have yet to flatten the first battery after 60+ 3" greenwood cuts. (Still @ 80%) At £70 looks like great value compared with a Stihl.👍
I bought one of the cheapy units , cut 50 or so branches up to 25mm dia. and still going strong on the first battery , have cut up to 125mm dia. to try it but that's not what it's for . It will stall if overloaded so you need to take it steady in the cut . I'm happy with it for what I bought it to do . Cost a bit under $60 Aussie dollars . I also added a DeWalt XR 12" cordless chainsaw and a matching polesaw to my collection for the jobs I can't be bothered to fire up one of my petrol chainsaws , as I get older the shoulders appreciate easier ways to do work , I have a few acres so it's good to have a range of tools . The 12" DeWalt was 10% more costly than the GTA26 and substantially less than the Milwaukee , while still being just about light enough to use one handed if needed . It out cuts that baby Stihl easily and can also use the battery from the polesaw and vice versa . Lastly , I see some comments about using handsaws , fine , I have too , nothing wrong with that but worn out shoulders as I mentioned above like easier solutions 🙂
@@MachineryNation If pruning green branches it's absolutely fine , if cutting old dry hardwood I suppose it's a bit chattery . That would be more to do with the chain than the tool I'd think . I've also used it to cut a number of saplings at ground level , that can dull a chain easily because of the soil , I bought a 3.2mm round file from the Stihl dealer , a key thing with any battery tool is keep it sharp . BTW mine was a blue unbranded one from ebay , with a 6" bar not 4" like yours , maybe that made a slight difference ?
The case is a joke and an insult. That being said, I love it! I put mine in an old DeWalt bag. I've been using it to trim roots and tree limbs on 4x4 trails. You've got to let it speed up first, and then provide force as necessary.
My wife works for Stihl, and they gave everyone at the plant one of these saws for free. It works ok for small stuff like shrubs, small branches, etc. If you're doing a lot of cutting of big stuff, the battery will drain quickly, and it's way too slow to be practical. Replacement chains are super cheap.
I have a cheap amazon chainsaw thats still going strong after 3 years. For 20 bucks you can't go wrong. Although if I got free chainsaws I would probably agree with you.
I thought the concept of a battery powered chain saw was to offer a low cost low maintenance alternative to do occasional pruning/ light cutting. If you are going to do more than that it would seem the milwaukee and the stihl aren't really that much cheaper than a small gas powered one which has more power and is not dependent of battery life. I've considered something like the cheap Amazon one but for the amount of cutting I do I decided to stick with a sawzall with a wood blade. Nice video though, really shows the strengths and weakness' of each.
These tiny chainsaw toys are not much more than a gimmick, I cut almost as fast by hand with a silky gomtaro which is not dependent on electricity or gas, much lighter cheaper more compact and arguably a little bit safer even than any of these toys. A normal buck saw cuts even faster still, with the tradeoff of being less compact. But if you really have a lot of work to be done, just get a gas powered compact chainsaw, which will cut any of those branches in a second, if you have a tophandle, you can hold the branch with one hand and cut it with the other, you'll process a branch in the time it takes for the small toys to make a single cut. No professional I know has a toy like these, we all have full power Husqvarnas/Stihls and a Silky on the side.
@@oevr37 I bought one of the cheapo ones basically just for fun and I've actually found it way more useful than I ever expected! Definitely depends on the application though. I keep it down by my wood stacks and use it to half pieces of wood to load north/south into my stove for starting. Totally worth it for 40 bucks.
The cheap one deserved more respect. It got the job done and saved a lot of money.
certainly i wouldnt say "absolute litter"
Right
Yeah, they had to crap on it because they were given the other two. Can't have the cheap one keeping up in any way with the sponsors. :)
I bought a 'extra cheap' one. The vibration was a big problem after 10 minutes of use, the battery was terrible, within a few weeks it would only cut for a few minutes before needing charging. It is fine for very very light work, but anything with a diameter larger than 2.5" was a big problem. In the end you get what you pay for.
@@freddieclark As a wise man once said, buy it cheap, buy it twice.
I bought the 6 inch Amazon, cheapie and surprised the heck out of everyone! My son told me I was wasting my time and my money, but at 70 years old, never used a chainsaw, and female, I didn’t think I could handle a ‘normal‘ chainsaw for the small jobs I have around the house. One of the first things my son cut with the chainsaw to see how it worked, was a 4”x4” post! The cut was clean, not jagged, there wasn’t any pull or jamming. He had me try it, no problem. For less than $50.00, the mini chainsaw came with 2 batteries, 2 extra chains, tools to change chains. The name brands cost too much and without the accessories! I’ve trimmed bushes, branches, even a dead tree! Lol.
Just got my first chainsaw too! the tingmengte mini 6 inch blade chainsaw! Us girls are never to old to be the coolest girls in the neighborhood cutting branches! and mailbox posts!
If you like a brand and think they make good tools, you have to tell people the brand so they buy them and the company stays in business.
Yes cause I’m not a carpenter I just want something powerful enough to handle yard work & cut these bushes down cause hedge clippers are too much work, my last one snapped the bolts the second time I used them lol so this for basic yard work seems legit for me
@masterk5066 a carpenter is likely to use a battery chainsaw because it's able to be used indoors, and not a commonly used tool.
What brand
I bought the Stihl when it first came out strictly because of its size, I needed a small saw to get in between branches. A few months later while on Amazon I noticed one of the no-name 4" chainsaws with two 20V batteries, two chains and a hard case for $35 US. I picked one up and haven't used my Stihl since. The Chinese saw is harder to stall and the batteries last much longer than the Stihl.
How much did they pay you?
@@guadalupe1942 - I don't believe Stihl payed him; if so he wouldn't prefer the Chinese one.
do you have a link or at least the name of the amazon saw?
@@TexasRedneck The saw I bought is no longer available. If you do a search there are others for the same price. Search for,
"4 Inch Mini Chainsaw"
There is currently a 6 inch with two batteries, two chains and a hard case for $32 after 20% off coupon.
Americans giving honest and fair comments on any China made products! That will be the day.... 😂😂😂😂😂
I bought a cheap one to trim overhang from a neighbours tree that was restricting rotation of my delta loop quad antenna.
The offending branches were 10m above ground so I cable tied/taped it onto a telescopic aluminium pole and got the job done.
Money well spent.
Great video. I’m a strong believer that you get what you pay for and would make the Milwaukee my first choice. That said, it really comes down to how much you’re going to use the tool and for what types of jobs. For a home owner like me that would use it maybe once or twice a year for some pruning or small branch cleanup after a storm, the cheap Amazon saw works fine. I received one as a gift and it does a fantastic job. If I were to need one more often or for bigger jobs, the vibration and overall power of the cheaper version would motivate me to spend more and get a better tool.
I got one of the cheap ones from Amazon. With two batteries. I filed it professionally as I am a professional follower and it cuts better than the stihl that my buddy owns
Thanks for the tip. I am starting out with a battery powered chain saw and the discussions on sharpening make a lot of sense. Inexpensive can work if cared for as you stated. Cheers.
A duller chain would produce the jagged cuts and excessive vibration shown in the video. They were demonstrating saws as delivered. Still, they could have addressed the sharpness.
All 3 got the Job Done!! even the Cheap one stood up to the test, so id say its definitely worth its cheap cost for someone with little and rare work load . The Stihl worked great as well, more power faster cut, good lasting quality, however the Milwaukee was the best, nice features, oiler, most powerful, fastest cut.. but only if you can afford it!.
I have the cheap Amazon one and has been fit for what I do. I take on walk with the dog as very light. Branches that have fallen down in winds I cut lengths to carry home to cut and split for log burning. I was very impressed when first used and I thought I would definitely buy a more expensive one when it breaks. I still have it as it hasn’t broken 6 months.
I have the Stihl and it matches my Stihl hat, shirt, chaps, boots, blower, hedgetrimmer, mechanics gloves, bench grinder, loopers, trimmers, big saws, little saws, midrange saws, pressure washer, pole pruner, kombi system, soon zero turn, shop vac, mower and underwear..... I'm good!
All my machines are 18V Makita
😉
I bought a 6-inch "Hopto" Chinese made a few weeks ago for $60. Came with two batteries and an extra chain, although I already switched the chain out for a Milwaukee. I could not be happier. Just take care of it and make chain adjustments when you are working bigger limbs.
I use the milwaukee, bought it for camping. Works great, small enough it stores in the camper and I can cut firewood for a day or two without any problems!
I swear by that MIlwaukee. Between that and the DeWalt lopper, we get lots of small cutting tree trimming. I had high wind take out part of a tree and it was fantastic. I have M12 tools mostly for my RV ranging from the inflator, grease gun, wet dry vac, just got the cutoff tool and this and various other tools. The small footprint is key for RV use. Further, for inside small spaces counters etc. I have the old brushed versions of the tools as they are even smaller than the fuel versions in some cases. I've had to reinforce some structural pieces in the travel trailer due to poor workmanship, put in a door on the back of partial sink island to increase access and so many other things.
It a great tool for clearing up! Easier to use than a chainsaw for smaller wood and great for cutting up kindling. I think there will be many people out over the coming weeks clearing up mess that this storm has left!
None of the above. Get a cordless reciprocating saw (eg Makita LXT, Milwaukee M18) and use a 3 TPI blade. Cuts very fast, long reach, one-handed operation, never needs oil, smooth cut, narrow kerf, blade stays sharp a long time, easy to replace blade, batteries work in hundreds of tools.
You will like our previous video then 🤩
@@MachineryNation Halfway there. But those were crap blades for cutting wood fast compared to a 3 TPI Bosch or similar. Get a proper blade and compare recipro to chain. I'm betting recipro will win in the end.
Very good point, I'm a landscape gardener and use the m18 hackzawl with an aggressive Bosch blade for small stuff plus pruning busy fruit trees. It's more vibration but safer than mini chainsaws
The only problem with that is trying to cut small branches with a reciprocating blade, (instead of a chain thats pulling in one direction - wth a much heavier, longer, less ergonomic, and harder to control saw. It’ll spend half the time vibrating the branch back and forth instead of pulling it towards the tool like the chain does. I thought the same thing you did, until i actually got the m12 saw to help cut up small branches. The hatchet saw works much better and theres no getting around it.
The sawzall does work great though - to edge sidewalks and cut off large overgrowth (not maintenance edging, i mean stuff being edged for the first time in a long time). Even better then an edger. It makes no mess, cuts really fast and you can literally roll up the debris like sod and remove it - without having thrown grass and dirt all over the place using an edger.
A silky will cut through anything quicker and cleaner than any of the above or a reciprocating saw.
If its too big for the silky it's big enough for a proper chainsaw, these tools are for dossers and DIY mate
Very informative user experience video. Some ideas for a follow-up.
1) Comparative battery life in the field.
2) Disassembly of each unit to diagnose internal quality. Quality differences could guide us to draw our own conclusions about how long the tool will last. One buyer that reviewed an Amazon no name one of these showed a picture of a chewed up gear that rendered the tool useless after not much time.
3) Based on all the comments below a comparative video of using one of these mini chain saws vs. a reciprocating saw for pruning would be interesting to see. You could even throw a Silky hand saw into the mix too.
I’ve had the Juemel for a couple of months. I’m not a ‘’professional lumber jack’’ but I’m using the juemel a lot around the garden, for the price it can’t be beat .My question is if you are not a professional, how often would you use a ‘’mini chain saw’’ to justify the higher cost of the higher priced ones?
To be honest, the jeumel has a hard Chinese chain that will stay sharper for longer but is a pain to sharpen. That said, it is ideal for the odd little jobs around the garden.
Pity it doesn't self oil, if it did I would buy it and order a few chains and bars !
Milwaukee clear winner to me... no bias at all, I swear🙃
Of course no bias 😂😂
I would be interested in how the cheap one performs with the chain from the Stihl. looks like it is jumping may be a sign the chain geometry not that great being a low cost unit.
I bought one of these cheap saws and it been great on my forested property and just recently switched to the other chain I'm not doing a cutting race I just prune low and dead branches around my property. For the $35 dollars i paid it has already paid for it self in use
Get a real one a STIHL mini chainsaw for the wife in the backyard!! That’s why my hubby got it!! It was so nice to not have to ask the hubby to get out the big saw. Make sure and properly lubricate all saws!
Stihl fastest and cleanest cuts!
But cheapest did the job. If you’re on a budget but I recommend STIHL and they have great warranties and customers service. We cut pallets up for a chicken coop it was so much easier for me than a circular saw!
I just bought a $39. RLSOO saw from Amazon and removed some bush stumps like butter. Loved it. It came with three chains and I didn't care that I was cutting into dirt/ It got the job done for less than the cost of a new chain. Saved a ton of money over hiring someone.
Great review! I loved how you compared the different pruners, especially the hands-on tests with the GTA 26 and Milwaukee. It's super helpful to see the real-world applications and how they perform in actual cutting scenarios. I’m curious, have you had a chance to use them on thicker branches? Would love to know how they hold up!
I suppose whatever tool you buy depends on it's main purpose? I love sitting out by the fire at night on my property, often I find a piece of wood, that is too large to burn, I am too lazy to get a saw or hatchet, not really worth getting the big chainsaw out for. The little Amazon chain saw works great for cutting the wood into manageable pieces. I am happy with the purchase, for the price.
You guys left out that the Stihl carrying case is the worst case ever designed. It is terrible. I threw it away at bought a cheap case at HD that is a proper case.
Right, it’s shite.
Sorry guys I know you where sponsored by the other two companies but I got a Amazon cheap cordless chainsaw and is perfect for what I use it for in your video it never failed it might have not of been as powerful but it still did the job and ect you asked it to do so don't be so critical of it maybe people can't afford the other two
We really were not sponsored! I wish it would help alot right now. The vibration from Amazon one was unbearable! I get it though, we could of rounded it up better 👍🏼
the Stihl looks like the best to me, that carved bear moment was gold! LOL thanks for the video guys
I use an old mini Black and Decker, slow but solid with metal gears, changed Ni-Cd with Lithium 30A , and it makes the job with good performance during one hour without any issue since...10 years. I always use a 4/5 Ah battery (two cells ranges in //). A 2,5Ah is not enough , the cells will not live a long time (too many amps needed and too fast discharge) . And so the saw makes the job during one hour without any issue , everywhere.
...and I oil the chain very often with these mini-saws.
I have the Milwaukee i absolutely love the thing its got tons of power so just anything small enough to get the bar trough it just eats it up and you could probably cut up several trees on a single 6ah battery
I own the Stihl and it has earned a permanent spot on my ATV tool box.
Watch the fingers with these little saws 😬 With nearly 20 years in tree work with chainsaws, I can't help but feel nervous about home owners cutting right next to their hand that's holding the wood.
... that little £39 saw looks awesome for the money!
I like your sense of humour
For example, 2:00 in the video, it’s that round cap with the black tab. It flips up and twists open
That is the chain cover screw 👍🏼
cheap ones indicate 1500w (for violeworks 6'') & need to cool out frequently for heating up soon too much, i calculated 3min total cutting time w/ a 2,4Ah battery of 18v such as makita (compatible w/ powershare tools such as ferrestock &so on)
Guys for many people price is Crucial , cheap one 55 quid a good one 135 quid both can do nearly the same job
Oh well being a Sthil fan. Bought the prunner today. Should have bought the Milwaukee m12 hatchet. Not too late. Hav opened the box. Junk. I don't and wont buy junk.😊thank you very much guys. Well explained 😊
that was funny and informative. I bought one off amazon and it works fine for what I need it for keep it on my tracker and trim small branches...
I have the stihl, the battery life is not the best but it's size and ergonomics are perfect for pruning shrubs, smaller ornamental trees like Japanese maples and cutting small limbs easily. It fits in places a hand saw does not and when I'm up in a tree pruning, the weight won't bog you down. These saws are not meant for all day work but for places a larger saw or silky won't be as efficient.
Check out the Ryobi 18v 10inch chain saw. Can be used with one hand and will cut thicker limbs. Those little chains may be hard to find.
Deffo love the way this is put together.
No better way to show us the best products
The Milwaukee sawzall works great for branches too
Wish I could post a pic 👌
I have the Stihl and keep it in my 4x4 for camping firewood. It's brilliant
Right great😊 thank small I bought mine today😊thank you 😊
I'd recommend getting a pole saw instead. Basically the same unit but on an extension with a bigger battery and self oiler. Gives the advantage of working from a safe distance without having to climb into the tangles. Can reach high or low without effort. Many good choices for about the same price.
I have a pole saw but for small branches close to the ground within easy reach, the mini saw can’t be beat. Some of my friends saw it in action and have sense purchased one of their own. Still use the pole saw for high branches or limbs hard to reach limbs but the mini saw gets used much more often and is easier to pack around.
This video wasn't about pole saw though
The pole saw isn't always the best choice though. Sometimes you need to be closer to what you are cutting and with a pole saw the trigger is always at the end of the pole so it can be awkward. Pole saws can't be beat for anything high up but if you're cutting things you can reach from the ground or are close to you, these hand held saws are better.
Have a great pole saw but it's too long for short work. It's like a using an ax when you really need a hatchet
That Stihl did have an onboard bar oil tank. You pull up that black tab and twist it off to put the fluid in. Have the same style on my chainsaw
No, that is the chain cover to remove the bar and chain. It does look similar to the oil cap on a chainsaw though yes, but it is not.
I am expecting a cheap one through Amazon to be delivered to-day. One day £10.00 off (UK). From your test, it looks like the expensive ones have better chain blades. Mine will only be for occasional use, same as my mains powered larger chain saw. Being a pensioner I could not warrant spending a large amount on big name product that will not get much use. The reviews I had read seem positive.
I fully agree with you - there's absolutely no point being snobbish like the testing gentlemen and discard the cheap machine; if you're only going to use it occasionally I think it will meet your needs. Also being a pensioner - the machine might last longer than I will.
The Milwaukee not having a guard on top allows one to cut up from below, so for something small enough to mount on a motorcycle it would be my choice for trail clearing.
And home defense 😊
Sounds rather Mad Max'y
I didn't pay for a NAME! I got the cheapest 4" mini chainsaw i could buy. for 18 dollars. IT WORKS EXCELLENT. I like it so much i got the cheapest 6" mini chainsaw i could buy This one came with a kit> a carrying bag, 2 chain blades, 2 battery packs, plus tool for it >> 28 dollars and it works excellent as well
Just buy s sawzall with a pruning blade, you can change out the blade to cut metal, wood or pruning, plus the demolition blades.
I've been using a pruning saw. I'm more wondering about pole saws, but this was very informative. Thank you.
Note: the cutting "cleanness" comes from 2 things, and not necessarily the saw itself. How sharp are the teeth and how fast the saw is in RPM. You can take a slower speed saw and get cleaner cuts IF you go slow though the material as well. Forcing the blade to cut with more pressure to make more speed in cutting, will give more ragged cuts. However, it should cut as clean (the cheaper saw) as the Stihl or the Milwaukee IF you slow down the cutting speed and pressure. BTW it is pronounced Mill-Walk-key .
Also the grain of wood still only a novice 100000+ cuts only to date lol.
I know little about chainsaws, but if you put a better chain on the cheap one, would it not cut cleaner?
I not know about the other brands I have the Stihl GTA26 and yes it feels very confortable in the hand, my only issue is the same one I have with my Stihl MSA300, battery cutting time is very short.
Good handy tool. Now I’ve got the M12 platform this could well be a future purchase
Awesome Al 🤩
I have had a problem with battery connection on the cheaper(jeumel) one.I’m on my second one now.The batteries don’t connect with the ‘pins’ very well and consequently cut out.
Change the chain on the cheap saw and see the difference. Let's see, I can buy 4 to 6 of the cheap ones versus Stihl and Milwaukee.
I wonder how they compare to a reciprocating saw with carbide pruning blade.
I bought a Makita Recipro saw for the purpose of cutting up small limbs and find that a coarser wood blade creates too much vibration and tires my hand a lot. Finer blades are slower and i have a lot to do.
I've Always been a Stihl man for outdoor work cutting , pruning and trimming etc. Well I got to tell you that in these tests I got to tell you it seemed to me that the Milwaukee didn't seem to bog down.
Stihl and Husqvarna dropped the ball on electric. Their electric chainsaws suck.
Get Milwaukee, you won't regret it.
Nice video chaps, gives all the information needed to make a purchase. Very well done.
Maybe all the mini chainsaws from China are made in the same factory, but my 6" Zikopomi (Amazon $60 US) so far has been a great little chainsaw. My feeling about the Milwaukee is, for that price and its relatively large size, why not just buy a standard chainsaw. The STIHL might be a good saw, but it is expensive. These little chainsaws are not a substitute for the regular ones, but more of a supplement for smaller work when you don't feel like getting out the big saws. Mine works great.
The Juemel just sounds cheap and light weight. The ultimate test would have been after you sharpened all three chains and then tested it again. I've run chainsaws all my life. Born and raised in the famous town of Sutherlin Oregon, USA. The home of the Timber Days Celebration where timber fallers from all over the world would compete. Also called the Timber Capitol of the world, Douglas County, home of the Douglas Fir Tree's big enough one log fills a Log Truck. Anyway about the sharpening. Most are done by machine and the first thing I do when I replace a chain is sharpen it. Makes a ton of difference! Oh yeah, great video but I'll take the Milwaukee any day of the week!
Are these actually useful? Would you not just use a reciprocating saw for these tasks?
Thought you were a bit hard on the Juemel one given that it was 1/4 of the price of the Stihl and less than 1/5th the price of the Milwaukee…..could be useful in a modest domestic garden
We try don’t to be negative about products but this thing was horrible to use. The vibration was unbearable.
@@MachineryNation Unbearable? But you bore it!
Worx wg324 every time for me, doesn't stall like these do and has a cleaner cut along with the added function of a pole saw handle too!! Oh and it takes out 7 inch logs with ease.
Thnx for making decide to buy the cheap tool. Almost ten times as cheap, I'll gladly take the extra 6seconds to cut something. These guys were so biased it's crazy lol. Glad they recorded the cuts so we can make a good decision hehe. The Amazon one is perfect for jobs around the house and garden. For professional use get a og big chainsaw.
M18 Version just announced. And to be fair the Stihl is using a smaller (maybe the only size available) battery. I have a 6.0 battery in my m12 at work, and with very little intermittent use that thing is still showing a full charge.
I'm afraid of most power saws because of inexperience, but I feel like I could potentially use this one with caution until I learn more. I've got massive piles of brush I need to cut down to size and the hand loppers are just not going to cut it.
I use a machete for brush. Well sharpened, it makes very quick work of any brush two inches thick or less and much less tiring than using loppers (and more fun).
I not know what size brush you need to cut, I have the Stihl GTA26 and I am happy feels very confortable in the hand but for brush 1" or less I prefer using the pruning shears battery power Vito I also have.
Also if I have lots of a kind small trees about 3" to 4" then I definitely use my Stihl 161T.
I think a saw-zall would be much safer then one of these. Rotating chains are very dangerous.
@@Redemptionx666 I have use my Stihl GTA26 many times sure a power tool is always danger but used properly didn't find any problem.
@@sirvozelo1 I was mainly voicing my concern for kittencollective, they voiced concern using a normal chainsaw. Would hate for someone to lose some fingers or worse just because it "appears" to be safer.
Still unsecided as to which id buy but from comments on her id prob have enough work and get what i need done in 2 days after buying then it would be idle for the rest of the year so would i go for stihl or milwaukee
Do you think chainging chain for cheaper could make it better?
I got the Stihl mainly because I use other Stihl stuff and it is awesome. Any time I can use that instead of a normal sized chainsaw I swap. Might even get the upgraded version if it ever gets released outside of Germany.
I have the Stihl and love it but didn’t you read the manual? Your second hand is supposed to rest on the back of the saw for better cutting efficiency
When I'm pruning our fruit trees, a good hand saw will last me two days - I don't have to go to the gym afterwards and the cut is more precise and smoother. For large tree care we have the MS 151 TC-E from Stihl. One-hand petrol chainsaw with 25 cm blade. When we fell trees with the big saws in winter, I like to use the small one-hand chainsaw for limbing. But that's my way and it doesn't have to be right for everyone.
How many hours of work can they do with one o two battery ?
I like the compactness of the Stihl, but the definite showstopper for me on it is the lack of automatic bar oiling. Milwaukee it will be. (The Milwaukee is also much more readily available, too - big box stores and online vendors carry it, as opposed to the Stihl that is only sold by dealers.)
Anybody knows the music at 4:58 please ?
And how long did they run on a full battery, bearing in mind the cheap one came with 2.
Reciprocating saw is more versatile, can have fine blade for smooth cut or rough blade for fast cut, takes more effort to hold still tho.
Not having an oiler I think gives it to Milwaukee plus it has the most power
The sthil saw work's great. Can cut alot of limbs with a single charge. Extra batteries are $60.00. Love mine over reciprocating saw.
We bought the cheap Amazon , clearing an acre of over grown trees and bush. Have cut 8 inch limbs . Very very happy
These all make great home defense weapons.
l loved this comment! Putting my new Tingmengte 6 inch blade bed side tonight! So funny!
I do landscaping and have many different size chainsaws but my go to tool is a sawzall. It will cut small trees, cut roots to pull up the root ball, limbs, bushes and its very maneuverable.
I was wondering what’s the benefit to a mini chain saw?
being an arborist i would automatically go for stihl cause thats standard. but if i chose id go for the milwaukee cause of safety, oiling, protected trigger and high use batteries. the milwaukee just needs to lose that front grip handle and maybe have a better quality chain/smaller bar. chainsaw should be able to do all the work no pushing needed.
that cheap one sounds like its a bodged together angle grinder. good vid guys
I bought 3 still products with batteries. Batteries are fine but when you put batteries on 2 of them don't work.. where can I buy the main part
i got an 88 dollar ne and it does all i needed it for no heavy load just some limb trims around the fence will last me for a long time
Great video lads,I have the Milwaukee saw and it's a beast for the size of it
Thanks Robbie 🤩
Just a quick note, some of these cheaper saws can use Makita 18v batteries, so if you're already using Makita 18v tools, battery life isn't an issue.
Fantastic thorough review, thanks!
great visual test ! But if you only had 1 small tree come down in a storm the cheap one would do at £39, to be left in the shed after and never used again / given away! For regular use i see where they are coming from and would be willing to pay for the qualities of the better ones! I only had 1 branch fall into my garden and extra cheeped out and bought a drill attachment chainsaw £12 off wish (lots of loll's getting it to work but it did the job and is now in a box in the shed)
After Christmas I’m up for a Makita DUC150 as I have a whole system of batteries and chargers. After bushfires here I have hundreds of trees dropping branches and cutting them into useable lengths as intermediate wood for the heater, seems logical rather than wasting that resource.
Now lets look at the voltage on each. I'am sure the cheaper one would cut faster. if it had the same voltage
Milwaukee 12v Stihl 12v Cheap one 20v 🤷🏽
@@MachineryNation I love Stihl and Milwaukee tools, but there way over priced
I've got the amazon one and for how often I need to prune my few trees its fine and a lot cheaper than the others
I was thinking the stihl would have an advantage with the best blade but maybe maybe not but the power of Milwaukee seemed to win
I bought an 8" saw from Amazon with an inline motor, self oiling, two Makita type 3ah 18v batteries.and a spare chain.
Blew me away on it's perfomance and the fact it would take genuine Makita batteries.
The supplied batteries take an hour or three to charge, but I have yet to flatten the first battery after 60+ 3" greenwood cuts. (Still @ 80%)
At £70 looks like great value compared with a Stihl.👍
Can I ask what brand that is please?
I bought one of the cheapy units , cut 50 or so branches up to 25mm dia. and still going strong on the first battery , have cut up to 125mm dia. to try it but that's not what it's for . It will stall if overloaded so you need to take it steady in the cut . I'm happy with it for what I bought it to do . Cost a bit under $60 Aussie dollars .
I also added a DeWalt XR 12" cordless chainsaw and a matching polesaw to my collection for the jobs I can't be bothered to fire up one of my petrol chainsaws , as I get older the shoulders appreciate easier ways to do work , I have a few acres so it's good to have a range of tools .
The 12" DeWalt was 10% more costly than the GTA26 and substantially less than the Milwaukee , while still being just about light enough to use one handed if needed . It out cuts that baby Stihl easily and can also use the battery from the polesaw and vice versa .
Lastly , I see some comments about using handsaws , fine , I have too , nothing wrong with that but worn out shoulders as I mentioned above like easier solutions 🙂
Glad you have got on well with it. How do you find the vibration?
@@MachineryNation If pruning green branches it's absolutely fine , if cutting old dry hardwood I suppose it's a bit chattery . That would be more to do with the chain than the tool I'd think . I've also used it to cut a number of saplings at ground level , that can dull a chain easily because of the soil , I bought a 3.2mm round file from the Stihl dealer , a key thing with any battery tool is keep it sharp . BTW mine was a blue unbranded one from ebay , with a 6" bar not 4" like yours , maybe that made a slight difference ?
Thanks for the reviews, conversion to dollars would be great too
I’ve got the Stihl and can anyone explain the carry case it comes in. Good saw though.
The carry case is shocking! Worse idea in the world. Who needs a case without any ends on it! 😂
@@MachineryNation
Exactly. I thought it was just me.
The case is a joke and an insult. That being said, I love it! I put mine in an old DeWalt bag. I've been using it to trim roots and tree limbs on 4x4 trails. You've got to let it speed up first, and then provide force as necessary.
Are these things loud?
I'll stick with my Sawzall with the pruning blade
Okay at that size level I can use the big brush swing cutter and get through in half the time
I got one of those cheep ones made thousands of cuts with it and had no problems,for the money I’m keeping it and will get another on if it quits.
My wife works for Stihl, and they gave everyone at the plant one of these saws for free. It works ok for small stuff like shrubs, small branches, etc. If you're doing a lot of cutting of big stuff, the battery will drain quickly, and it's way too slow to be practical. Replacement chains are super cheap.
I have a cheap amazon chainsaw thats still going strong after 3 years. For 20 bucks you can't go wrong. Although if I got free chainsaws I would probably agree with you.
I thought the concept of a battery powered chain saw was to offer a low cost low maintenance alternative to do occasional pruning/ light cutting. If you are going to do more than that it would seem the milwaukee and the stihl aren't really that much cheaper than a small gas powered one which has more power and is not dependent of battery life. I've considered something like the cheap Amazon one but for the amount of cutting I do I decided to stick with a sawzall with a wood blade. Nice video though, really shows the strengths and weakness' of each.
Thank you for your feedback 😃
These tiny chainsaw toys are not much more than a gimmick, I cut almost as fast by hand with a silky gomtaro which is not dependent on electricity or gas, much lighter cheaper more compact and arguably a little bit safer even than any of these toys. A normal buck saw cuts even faster still, with the tradeoff of being less compact. But if you really have a lot of work to be done, just get a gas powered compact chainsaw, which will cut any of those branches in a second, if you have a tophandle, you can hold the branch with one hand and cut it with the other, you'll process a branch in the time it takes for the small toys to make a single cut. No professional I know has a toy like these, we all have full power Husqvarnas/Stihls and a Silky on the side.
@@oevr37 I bought one of the cheapo ones basically just for fun and I've actually found it way more useful than I ever expected! Definitely depends on the application though. I keep it down by my wood stacks and use it to half pieces of wood to load north/south into my stove for starting. Totally worth it for 40 bucks.