I don't show my face, and I'm sure my voice wasn't shaking so not sure where you got the crying from. But when comparing tools, ergonomics is relevant.
I'm living on some acreage. I have several big chainsaws. I'm looking for a nice, light weight chainsaw for when I walk my trail. I can take it with me to cut light branches that are hanging in my path. I don't want to have to drive the trail just for little stuff. If it last a season or two I will be happy. Kind of like having a spare tire on your car. It's small but useful. Not necessarily girly.
the reason a couple of them are angled is because they are all pruning saws. they are supposed to be used in the air not on the ground. slightly angled is very helpful for gripping branches in the air.
I was in the forestry department at Fort Huachuca AZ. While I was in the Army. We had those guards on some of our gas powered chainsaws. That guard is an Anti kickback feature. If your saw comes into contact with material while it is still running it has a tendency to kick upwards towards your face. The guard prevents the tip from being able to come into contact while it's running thereby avoiding an upward kick. (SAFTEY FEATURE)
Thanks! Yeah, he somewhat enjoyed himself, lol. He wanted to cut more. But I'd definitely recommend the DeWALT. There was another Ryobi I just grabbed for $50 on clearance. It's supposed to be oilless! So we'll see how that one works.
I didn't know I needed this video in my life brotha. But . . . I NEED THIS VIDEO IN MY LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks brotha. Keep up the great work
I recently purchased the M18 and it cuts like an angry beaver! It’s my first mini saw and I like it. The top guards on the other saws are a very good safety feature for most users. Chainsaw wounds happen in milliseconds and can be vicious.
LOL! That is a GREAT description of how it cuts! So maybe it wasn't me 😂 The DeWALT was like a hot knife going through a tree bark of butter. It was so obvious my 9 year old could tell from 10 feet away!
Really good video. First time I enjoyed watching a chainsaw video. Also this will be my first time buying one and it is for gardening/yard work. Thank you for the comparisons of the tools and clarity of your video.
Are the handguards removable? That's the first thing I would want because they are really a waste of space. Both the lower and the upper handguard. The lower Milwaukee handguard looks it's not removable but some of them do look screw attached. I guess you can just dremel them off if it's molded into the plastic body.
Gonna have to get that Ryobi. It looks great for my small brush and trim work. Some is on a ladder, so I need the balance. I agree on the oil issue, but I started down their “one kit” path 15 years ago, and have way too much invested to change systems.
Glad I found your Vid. I've had the Milwaukee for three years with the 6" M12 platform. Love it, but it just ate another expensive gear housing which you can't buy a replacement for anymore. Their 8" is the exact same design so no doubt the same weak internal gear housing design. I'm done with Milwaukee. With your review, think I'm sold on that Dewalt. Thanks.
After viewing, I'd be more interested in the Kobalt, like the idea of auto chain oiling. I'm an old power equipment dealer, Harbor Freight has a great $30 saw chain sharpener, have had one an used it for close to 18 years. That stops the need to buy a new chain when dulled. As far as the chain not being available, Tractor Supply handles Oregon saw chain and have the 6" chains for about $12.00. Got a 16" chain for my 60 volt Toro saw there. Great video, maybe one in the future on the Harbor Freight saw chain sharpener. One can sharpen this style of chain around 20 times of you don't strike a nail, with that thinking the chain sharpener pays you back after the 3rd time sharpening the chain ... at least that's my perspective. Again good job. Reason I'd go with the Kobalt, local store for me, and I'd likely look at companion equipment that uses the same battery. That is the reason the Vic wouldn't be in the running for purchase.
Do you think the angle issue you experienced has to do with cutting something low? I wouldn't think that would be an issue when cutting from various angles, at or above waist height, in that you'll have to adjust no matter what tool you'd get.
That's a good point! With something higher, the angle might be more beneficial? I'm thinking it was just me being inexperienced LOL. The DeWALT was super easy as well as the Kobalt. If using the Milwaukee longer and exclusively I'm sure I'd get used to it and fix my wrist posture.
The chain guard on the Dewalt is to prevent kick back. Anytime you try to cut with the tip of the bar, their will be a good chance the saw will kick back in your face. However, that would be the first thing anybody would remove before using the saw because it's annoying.
The Milwaukee has a wrench attached. The DeWALT has one attached to its guard... which you wouldn't really have on you in the field. I totally forgot to mention this in the end! But yes, the Milwaukee is best for that. Unfortunately I've been sick and I filmed this 2 months ago and forgot how to tension the others. It was easy, but I do think you needed a tool. What's crazy is I have a 40V Ryobi Pole saw and the tensioner is connected to it. So you can easily adjust and clean the chain right where you are! That's what made me think this Ryobi would be great... in comparison it's a total fail. But with the tool, they were all very easy to adjust. Couple minutes or less and you're good to go. But only the Milwaukee had onboard storage for the tool.
Thank you for the review! I guess one question I have is if you already have a reciprocating saw, is there any reason to get a 6in mini chain saw? Is there any situation where the chainsaw would work better than the reciprocating saw with a long blade? Thanks!
Absolutely! So the chainsaw is butter smooth and cuts larger branches (even smaller ones) fast. A recip saw can have a lot of vibration and doesn't cut as quickly. So if you have a big job, this is definitely the way to go. If you have neither, I'd say this is also the way to go (if you're cutting branches). Recip saws can cut more material than the chainsaw though. Chainsaws are just for wood whereas a recip saw can cut woods and metals alike.
Reciprocating saw blades heat up and get dull fast. You'll go through a lot of blades. You can resharpen chainsaw chains, and they last longer. If using for demolition, reciprocating might be better in case you hit a nail. I watched this because I need something better than my reciprocating saw to deal with all the fast growing soft woods on my property. From this video, the DeWalt looks like the better pruner. I'm actually getting one closer to the TommyVic shipped from China for about $50 that takes DeWalt batteries but has an automatic oiler. I might be disappointed. If I am, I'll go for that DeWalt and give or loan the Chinese one away. If I'm not disappointed, I got what I need for $50. Yay. I was convinced to shy away from the Ryobi. I have a lot of 4AH Ryobi batteries, I'm usually happy with their products. This Ryobi looked like I would not be happy with it.
What would u suggest. I have all corded regular size corded chainsaws. Im looking for a cordless mini. Would you suggest 4", 6" , or 8" mini chain saw?
19:25 the think on the end is for using the top of the bar to cut a branch. On the underside, like in a normal downward cut, the chain pulls the tool sung against the wood you are cutting. The opposite is true when cutting upward with the top of the chain, it tries to kick the saw away, thats where the metal thing on the end comes in, to keep make it get snug against the wood when cutting upwards(away) instead of just kicking away. Its a safety/ergonomic feature for people who are new to chainsaws, so they dont get hurt.
Yeah, I've seen pros (I am not one by any means) use the tip. That's why I said maybe they'd prefer the Milwaukee, but I can't control them that well yet for the very reason you stated.... I can't handle the kick-back. The DeWALT was perfect.
The tip guard is easily removed if you don’t want it on. They also make a replacement bar without the guard that is not very expensive and is available on Amazon ($23)
Yeah, I didn't want to cheat and wanted to compare apples to apples. They all did well for what they had on them, it was more so about the feel? But I do think me not being used to the angle on the Milwaukee, Ryobi and even the TomyVic, made them cut odd. The Kobalt and DeWALT were great, but also don't have the angle the others do.
After using all these I'm confused on why the DeWALT costs what it costs. It should be more. Being the same price I MIGHT pick the Milwaukee for not having that guard and more metal on the body, but that DeWALT is really good!
I really like mine and am not bothered by the tip guard. The guard is easily removed if you don’t want it on. They also make a replacement bar without the guard that is not very expensive and is available on Amazon ($23)
I have the 12 in DeWalt so i really dont have a need for an 8 in but let me say that 12 in DeWalt is an absolute beast. I do have the 8 in pole saw which is awesome and i have the 18 in DeWalt and its a super beast but i may get this just to have it and im loaded with DeWalt batteries so its tool only purchases for me
I have the pole saw too. Let's just say that folks in my neighborhood have asked me to do some trimming at their homes. I think I'll get this little beast too.
My overall favorite is one that wasn't shown. It's the 8-inch Ryobi with a brushed motor, but it looks like a shrunken down compact chainsaw. A traditional top-handle design. It's bulkier. But you get a solid place to put your other hand.
I have the 10" Brushed and it handles about as good as the DeWALT! I found it on clearance for $50. Couldn't beat it! Got the 14" too but have yet to use that one.
I think all of these are good tools. I actually have that Ryobi and a 12 inch Kobalt. I thought the Ryobi cuts pretty well for what it is, but I agree the lack of oiler issue is annoying. The 12 inch Kobalt is nicely torquey and is a great homeowner chainsaw, especially when on sale ($79 when I got it)
I saw the Kobalts when they were that cheap at Lowe's! I almost got one for my mother but.... yeah, it would've sat LOL. The thing about the Ryobi is the lack of chains available for it for me. It feels the best and you can get over the oil thing for the price, but having to replacement chains is a waste.
Dude that's how this WHOOOOLE video came about. I saw in August that the Ryobi was going to be on sale on a BOGO, then TomyVic reached out and asked me to review it. So I thought I might as well do all of them! I was really excited about the Ryobi but yeah... that chain... WHEN not if, but WHEN you need another one... you'll have to just buy another chainsaw which is ridiculous. If you're within the 90 day return window, I'd return it. Even the Tomyvic has extra chains! That DeWALT though... pretty darn amazing, but also $102 extra. For a 6 incher I'd probably go Milwaukee M12.
You might be able to replace the whole bar that takes chains you can actually buy somewhere. I'd look for a bar that you can use with that Ryobi. You can usually get a replacement 6" bar with a chain for about $15. The holes and slots will have to match enough to put it on the Ryobi.
Great comparison bro, I have the m12 hatchet & if I would ever upgrade I will go with Dewalt since I have batteries for both platforms, and it was so smooth cutting these branches as well and it showed clearly in your comparison👌🏼
@ToolDeals yeah the sound of Dewalt motor similar to the real Chainsaw, so I guess the motor used in Milwaukee could be stronger and the parts maybe more expensive, I can't say for sure though, but what is obvious, is that Dewalt is much smoother in cutting woods, the reason could be better chain or due to the design, who knows?🤷
I came here thinking I was gonna buy the Milwaukee but you have me sold on the Dewalt! Thanks for making this video! Oh, and I think the thing on the top of the Dewalt is for added safety, to reduce the chance of kick-back (something that can occur when the tip of the saw hits something, causing the saw to kick up, potentially cutting you). You can also use the top to rest a branch against to use the top of the bar to cut (called back-cutting, which can be potentially dangerous). Some people remove this piece, and I plan to do the same because I'm going to be using it as a typical saw and not a pruning saw.
Great review. I'm glad you talked about chain availability. I would just assumed that it was available because its a wear item. I'm betting that Milwaukee just needs the chain sharpened. That would cause it to pull rather than cut.
I do landscaping and i am already invested in Milwaukee tools so i went with the m18 chain saw. Its a beast for what it is. Depending on how sharp your chain is the cut time varies. I've seen a Riobi break first cut. Never trust a oil free tool.
That's how I feel! You can get carried away and forget to oil it. The Ryobi 40V Pole saw, has a reservoir for oil and when it runs out it stops to prevent damage. I'm really shocked this one doesn't have that.
Great video. I like the DeWalt but wish the tip guard was removable. As a safety feature, it is great, and while we shouldn't cut with the tip, there are times when the tip is a helpful cutter (tree roots).
I a lil biased towards DeWalt since I already have many DeWalt tools & batteries. I even have the DeWalt pole saw which is 8". I how great the pole saw cuts so I'm not surprised by this pruning saws performance. The tip is a guard for up cutting. The rotation of the chain when cutting from the top side of the bar will push the branches away from you. The guard ideally keeps the branch in contact with the chain. I'd like to catch this baby on sale for about $125-$145.
I put a large course blade on my cordless jigsaw and turned it around so it faces the back. My Ryobi feels very comfortable in that config, you press the trigger with your pinky. And BINGO!!! It's a breeze! Everything up to 3" is a snap. Just FYI.
I had that Ryobi free with the $99 battery pack and decided not to pick it up and got the batteries for $40 (saw would be $60). I read really good reviews on Ryobi forums, but no one mentioned the chain issue.
Yeah, it feels SO good in your hand, the ergonomics are incredible! But not having a replaceable chain... makes this thing a complete waste! Glad someone mentioned it in a comment and made me look. I knew it about the Kobalt, but didn't check on the Ryobi.
The Ryobi still requires oil, it just doesn’t have an automatic oiler. You have to apply oil periodically when using or you will destroy the bar in short order.
I think the ridges on the dewalt handle is meant for OSHA guidelines, when people are wearing gloves, when they grab the handle, it is less likely to slip. U have a point on many of those. There should be nothing poking or sharp on your hand. They should just build it smooth and shouldnt assume everyone is wearing gloves, if that was their intention.
Thanks for this review. I do all my pruning with a one-hand recip saw. If I wreck the blade, it's a quick and cheap replacement. What happens when I wreck the chain saw blade? Sounds like a lot of work. If you don't have a one-hand recip, I would recommend getting one of those before one of these. Generally cheaper than the chain saw, no oil needed, and more versatile. The 9-inch Diablo pruning blades are awesome. So are the 12-inch demo demons. Just something to think about.
I'm with you. I prefer to use the one-handed reciprocating saw with the Skil ugly blade, aka pruning blades. It's works great, fast enough and clean cut to protect your trees
The Kobalt and Dewalt are heavier for a reason. They are higher quality. Plastic is light. I have never tried the Dewalt or that little saw but I have the others. They are all good saws. I have the Kobalt and it is a beast. Got the saw WITH battery and charger for 99$. And I have purchased the chain and bar both from Lowes. You should look for better info sources and not rely on one silly comment. The chain and bar are made by Oregon and you can purchase that brand also. The cuts I saw you make with the Ryobi, Kobalt and Milwaukee, you weren't supporting the branch with your off handed and that allowed too much movement. I think you'd find that they all cut better if used correctly. And that little saw will not be as durable as the others I think you'll find.
Per ryobi, "This mini chainsaw has an oil-free design, but if you ever wish to add oil, it can be added manually." So it's 100% designed to never be oiled. Now idk how long it'll last not being oiled, but if you're using it for only pruning I could see it last a long time oil free
I bought another Ryobi that advertised oil-free, then in the instructions said to oil it LOL. Man, I'm not fooling with them anymore. What a disappointment that was. Their pole saw's have auto oilers though.
@ToolDeals well all I know is that if my oil free chainsaw burnt out due to no oiling, and they wouldn't honor the warranty due to it never being oiled, I'd sue the crap out of them for false advertising. With that said for the price I don't think the kobalt can be beat, I know when it comes to 1 handed recip saws, kobalt trades blows with the m18 at half the weight and clowns on every other saw. That's my pruner of choice, with a 6-12" wood blade too be honest pruning chain saws don't really make sense to me, you don't cut long enough for vibration to be a concern. For really small branches I'd just use a lopper or hedge trimmer I have their expand-it pole saw for my 40v brushless head and that thing is great, and it does have an oiler and takes up way less space in the shed than a dedicated unit as the head lives on my string trimmer 80% of the time
The DeWalt appears to have some sort of a chain guard at its head, it would act as a safety feature- all of this is just how it appears in your video- hopefully the manufacturer would, will explain.
Yep! It protects against hitting the ground and from the chainsaw getting away from you. But it's not removable. Ryobi has a version as well but it doesn't have auto-oiling and it is removable.
The guard at the end of the dewalt is anti kickback. It's to prevent the tip of the saw from touching wood and immediately throwing the saw back at you. They matter a whole lot more on a gas saw with a long chain and bar because that kickback could rip the saw out of your hands if you're not expecting that kind of upward movement. This would be especially dangerous if you're on a ladder. For an electric pruning saw its rather unnecessary and I took mine off. Electric chainsaws can actually have anti kickback built into the unit, and cut power when it detects a sudden movement, eliminating the need for the physical guard.
Kickback guards matter more on these tiny saws than they do on a normal saw with a 20” bar. Contrary to popular belief, the longer the bar, the less you need to worry about kickback. A longer bar has far more angular inertia than does a short bar, which makes the long bar safer because the same force impulse at the tip can’t throw the bar anywhere near as far. Even though a larger saw will have more power, the increase in angular inertia will generally outweigh the increase in power. So with chainsaws, bigger is safer.
Man, someone should try it! I'm about to look it up! Weird that it would fit a Chervon tool and not it's own TTI. That was the first thing I checked! Didn't think to cross reference across brands though! Nice catch!
A quality hand saw will cut better and reach everywhere as long as you have elbow grease it will outperform any of these battery cooking things. That being said if you must get a DeWalt or Milwaukee. Both are worth the price.
Especially the prices these were at the time. The Milwaukee is almost double the price now. But I agree, but that's the issue, time and effort. Just Sunday I had to make... I can't even remember how many cuts, well over 30 and only had about an hour of time to do it on branches that ranged from 3 - 6 inches thick. I used an 8" Ryobi not in this video and it worked great! Wasn't as good as the Milwaukee or DeWALT but for the $56 I got it for, it was wonderful!
Cutting into dirt dulls chains very fast. And up to now I suck at sharpening chains. Best to raise the limb off the ground even a few inches by putting another piece of the limb under it.
#1 the angle can help when you are in a tree and it can help to give you more leverage to fight kickbacks #2 the chain makes a big big big difference with smoothness and how it cuts, chains are to saws what tires are to cars #3 I believe the dewalt has the metal at the end because they don’t want home owners using the tip the “plunge cut” and hitting the tip by mistake on a branch behind what you are cutting causes kick backs. Hitting the tip on anything causes kick backs. #5 in my opinion home owners really need to watch a bunch of safety videos on how to use chain saws before they even use them #6 people really should practice in a controlled safe environment before they go hacking stuff and climbing on stuff with a chain saw. They can EASILY kill you or kill anyone standing next to you. Please be safe and always put yourself in a position that will keep you out of danger if you or the saw slips or kicks back. Take time and set yourself in a safe position before you even pull the trigger, that is where the thinking should be done BEFORE you start cutting.
@@ToolDeals What about number of cuts per charge, speed of cuts, maximum cut diameter, safety, reliability, warranty, parts availability and so on? For the money depends on whether you're an occasional weekend homeowner or a landscaper. The one on the left, don’t know even if you could get parts. Kobalt I have many of the 80V stuff they don’t have replacements parts, they don’t even have tech support, out of luck after warranty period. My 60 gal Kobalt compressor broke down during warranty, no can fix no parts available either. Fixed it myself out of pocket. Ryobi OK for the homeowner, funky thin chain. DeWalt is kind of funny, some are not so good and other are great. I have both DeWalt and Milwaukee pruners, DeWalt was half the price but dangerous as the blades always in the open position ready to lob a finger off. I have the Milwaukee pole saw, its a solid tool. That should also be the same as the Milwaukee mini M18 chainsaw but pretty pricey kit with 6.0 Ah battery.
Kimchee, you should be a bit more precise in your critical commentary. He did test these saws, he simply did not test as many aspects as he could have.
Kobalt has the cheapest batteries and cheapest tools and not always the best performance but always forward the top. Also using 24v batteries they don’t over heat as easily as some tools. The only knock I have on kobalt is the tool line is not nearly as robust as ryobi or dewalt or Milwaukee but they are slowly adding tools. The kobalt performance to cost on tools and batteries is second to none. In my mind the only thing that sells ryobi is the ridiculously huge tool line for their 18v which I am jealous of but the performance is crap compared to almost every other tool line. Milwaukee performance is always near the top for double the price of all other tools. Dewalt is better than average performance at slightly higher than average price.
Don't see any mention of these having a chain brake. These are dangerous without. Chain will keep spinning down after release of start button. Some quicker than others. This can be very dangerous under certain condition's. Smart not letting your son use this until you explain this. He needs his fingers.
ryobi has a 6 inch chain replacement, its 15 dollars. yes the reason why you cutting poorly is because you most likely didn't have enough chain oil on the chain the oiler helps, you also using a 20v 5AH battery on dewalt vs 4ah 18v battery on robi so its slightly weaker then dewalt. the tomykin is just a chinese renamed saw that is overpriced garbage.
@@ToolDeals They will put you inport charge and taxes and combined with the low sales you will come to the price of our retailers :) but hey we have our ways too. We make 3D printed connectors so we can fit all kind of batteries to all kind of machines so you buy just the bare tool lets say the DeWalt for 181$ and then instead of buying DeWalt charger for 80$ and DeWalt baterie for 80-200$ depending on the power you pay 15$ for 3D printed adapter and then use Parkside bateries for 20-30$ bought from the shady net supplyers :) Same for Makita and the rest.
I have both the craftsman and dewalt the dewalt is a faster cutter but the craftsmans torque is another level I have really push hard to get it to stall and that was on black locust
The craftsman doesn't have a oil well either I like it better because all you need is a little bottle of oil and put little oil on tge chain every 15 minutes of use
Ive never heard a guy cry about comfort of tools so much. Those are women’s tools buddy
I don't show my face, and I'm sure my voice wasn't shaking so not sure where you got the crying from. But when comparing tools, ergonomics is relevant.
@@ToolDealsErgos are everything and can make or break a tool, 100 percent. Especially if I'm using it everyday to work.
How come? Do you feel manly with your 'big boy tools'?? LOL man, these are pruning saws - not all jobs require a 300 inch monster chainsaw.
@@ToolDealspeople just looking for a rise. Don’t get give them your energy.
I'm living on some acreage. I have several big chainsaws. I'm looking for a nice, light weight chainsaw for when I walk my trail. I can take it with me to cut light branches that are hanging in my path. I don't want to have to drive the trail just for little stuff. If it last a season or two I will be happy. Kind of like having a spare tire on your car. It's small but useful. Not necessarily girly.
the reason a couple of them are angled is because they are all pruning saws. they are supposed to be used in the air not on the ground. slightly angled is very helpful for gripping branches in the air.
Makes sense, thanks
I was in the forestry department at Fort Huachuca AZ. While I was in the Army. We had those guards on some of our gas powered chainsaws. That guard is an Anti kickback feature. If your saw comes into contact with material while it is still running it has a tendency to kick upwards towards your face. The guard prevents the tip from being able to come into contact while it's running thereby avoiding an upward kick. (SAFTEY FEATURE)
Love the fact that you had your son video.. nice job buddy. ive been looking for pruning saw for a bit now. good stuff thanks
Thanks! Yeah, he somewhat enjoyed himself, lol. He wanted to cut more. But I'd definitely recommend the DeWALT. There was another Ryobi I just grabbed for $50 on clearance. It's supposed to be oilless! So we'll see how that one works.
Very grateful woman, here! I'm one of many women who keep plenty of various 'tools' around so I can be as independent as possible.
I didn't know I needed this video in my life brotha.
But . . . I NEED THIS VIDEO IN MY LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks brotha.
Keep up the great work
I recently purchased the M18 and it cuts like an angry beaver! It’s my first mini saw and I like it. The top guards on the other saws are a very good safety feature for most users. Chainsaw wounds happen in milliseconds and can be vicious.
LOL! That is a GREAT description of how it cuts! So maybe it wasn't me 😂 The DeWALT was like a hot knife going through a tree bark of butter. It was so obvious my 9 year old could tell from 10 feet away!
I bought the ryobi one with the hack, got it for $60.00 2 weeks ago. Love it, it’s really good for my needs
@@jlozano180 I got the 8” one and it’s a beast for the price
I have the Milwaukee and love it. Use the high output 3AH and it cuts like butter. Mine disappeared though so I’m looking for a new one on sale.
Thanks for your honest opinion on these. It's a big investment buying any of these really.
Great video. Thank you. The best part was that your son was recording. Awesome. Teach them young Dad
That's the plan! Thank you Randy! I always appreciate those moments!
Keep pumpin' em out brother.
Really good video. First time I enjoyed watching a chainsaw video. Also this will be my first time buying one and it is for gardening/yard work. Thank you for the comparisons of the tools and clarity of your video.
Any time!
Great review. Helped me make my decision
Are the handguards removable? That's the first thing I would want because they are really a waste of space. Both the lower and the upper handguard. The lower Milwaukee handguard looks it's not removable but some of them do look screw attached. I guess you can just dremel them off if it's molded into the plastic body.
Gonna have to get that Ryobi. It looks great for my small brush and trim work. Some is on a ladder, so I need the balance. I agree on the oil issue, but I started down their “one kit” path 15 years ago, and have way too much invested to change systems.
Glad I found your Vid. I've had the Milwaukee for three years with the 6" M12 platform. Love it, but it just ate another expensive gear housing which you can't buy a replacement for anymore. Their 8" is the exact same design so no doubt the same weak internal gear housing design. I'm done with Milwaukee. With your review, think I'm sold on that Dewalt. Thanks.
After viewing, I'd be more interested in the Kobalt, like the idea of auto chain oiling. I'm an old power equipment dealer, Harbor Freight has a great $30 saw chain sharpener, have had one an used it for close to 18 years. That stops the need to buy a new chain when dulled. As far as the chain not being available, Tractor Supply handles Oregon saw chain and have the 6" chains for about $12.00. Got a 16" chain for my 60 volt Toro saw there. Great video, maybe one in the future on the Harbor Freight saw chain sharpener. One can sharpen this style of chain around 20 times of you don't strike a nail, with that thinking the chain sharpener pays you back after the 3rd time sharpening the chain ... at least that's my perspective. Again good job. Reason I'd go with the Kobalt, local store for me, and I'd likely look at companion equipment that uses the same battery. That is the reason the Vic wouldn't be in the running for purchase.
Do you think the angle issue you experienced has to do with cutting something low? I wouldn't think that would be an issue when cutting from various angles, at or above waist height, in that you'll have to adjust no matter what tool you'd get.
That's a good point! With something higher, the angle might be more beneficial? I'm thinking it was just me being inexperienced LOL. The DeWALT was super easy as well as the Kobalt. If using the Milwaukee longer and exclusively I'm sure I'd get used to it and fix my wrist posture.
The chain guard on the Dewalt is to prevent kick back. Anytime you try to cut with the tip of the bar, their will be a good chance the saw will kick back in your face. However, that would be the first thing anybody would remove before using the saw because it's annoying.
If the chain pops off or gets gunked up, how easy is it to reset and tighten the chain in the field? and do all of them have screnches attached?
The Milwaukee has a wrench attached. The DeWALT has one attached to its guard... which you wouldn't really have on you in the field. I totally forgot to mention this in the end! But yes, the Milwaukee is best for that. Unfortunately I've been sick and I filmed this 2 months ago and forgot how to tension the others. It was easy, but I do think you needed a tool.
What's crazy is I have a 40V Ryobi Pole saw and the tensioner is connected to it. So you can easily adjust and clean the chain right where you are! That's what made me think this Ryobi would be great... in comparison it's a total fail.
But with the tool, they were all very easy to adjust. Couple minutes or less and you're good to go. But only the Milwaukee had onboard storage for the tool.
Thank you for the review! I guess one question I have is if you already have a reciprocating saw, is there any reason to get a 6in mini chain saw? Is there any situation where the chainsaw would work better than the reciprocating saw with a long blade? Thanks!
Absolutely! So the chainsaw is butter smooth and cuts larger branches (even smaller ones) fast. A recip saw can have a lot of vibration and doesn't cut as quickly. So if you have a big job, this is definitely the way to go. If you have neither, I'd say this is also the way to go (if you're cutting branches).
Recip saws can cut more material than the chainsaw though. Chainsaws are just for wood whereas a recip saw can cut woods and metals alike.
Reciprocating saw blades heat up and get dull fast. You'll go through a lot of blades. You can resharpen chainsaw chains, and they last longer. If using for demolition, reciprocating might be better in case you hit a nail. I watched this because I need something better than my reciprocating saw to deal with all the fast growing soft woods on my property. From this video, the DeWalt looks like the better pruner. I'm actually getting one closer to the TommyVic shipped from China for about $50 that takes DeWalt batteries but has an automatic oiler. I might be disappointed. If I am, I'll go for that DeWalt and give or loan the Chinese one away. If I'm not disappointed, I got what I need for $50. Yay. I was convinced to shy away from the Ryobi. I have a lot of 4AH Ryobi batteries, I'm usually happy with their products. This Ryobi looked like I would not be happy with it.
What would u suggest. I have all corded regular size corded chainsaws. Im looking for a cordless mini. Would you suggest 4", 6" , or 8" mini chain saw?
19:25 the think on the end is for using the top of the bar to cut a branch. On the underside, like in a normal downward cut, the chain pulls the tool sung against the wood you are cutting. The opposite is true when cutting upward with the top of the chain, it tries to kick the saw away, thats where the metal thing on the end comes in, to keep make it get snug against the wood when cutting upwards(away) instead of just kicking away. Its a safety/ergonomic feature for people who are new to chainsaws, so they dont get hurt.
Good to know!
The guard on the tip is to help prevent kick-back. You are not supposed to cut with the tip of a chainsaw (unless you're carving or something)
Yeah, I've seen pros (I am not one by any means) use the tip. That's why I said maybe they'd prefer the Milwaukee, but I can't control them that well yet for the very reason you stated.... I can't handle the kick-back. The DeWALT was perfect.
The tip guard is easily removed if you don’t want it on. They also make a replacement bar without the guard that is not very expensive and is available on Amazon ($23)
Curious to see if any of them perform better with more powerful batteries..
Yeah, I didn't want to cheat and wanted to compare apples to apples. They all did well for what they had on them, it was more so about the feel? But I do think me not being used to the angle on the Milwaukee, Ryobi and even the TomyVic, made them cut odd. The Kobalt and DeWALT were great, but also don't have the angle the others do.
Please tell me how did you get the Milwaukee for $149? At that price I'd love to get a couple.
It was on a BOGO a few months ago. But now they're stupid high! When I saw that deal go away I had a little remorse returning it LOL
After using all these I'm confused on why the DeWALT costs what it costs. It should be more. Being the same price I MIGHT pick the Milwaukee for not having that guard and more metal on the body, but that DeWALT is really good!
On the dewalt 1 just drill off the 2 rivets for the nose guard. Takes like 5 seconds thats what i did
I really like mine and am not bothered by the tip guard. The guard is easily removed if you don’t want it on. They also make a replacement bar without the guard that is not very expensive and is available on Amazon ($23)
I have the 12 in DeWalt so i really dont have a need for an 8 in but let me say that 12 in DeWalt is an absolute beast. I do have the 8 in pole saw which is awesome and i have the 18 in DeWalt and its a super beast but i may get this just to have it and im loaded with DeWalt batteries so its tool only purchases for me
Yeah man even my 9 year old son recognized it cut wheel (He was the cameraman!)
I have the pole saw too. Let's just say that folks in my neighborhood have asked me to do some trimming at their homes. I think I'll get this little beast too.
My overall favorite is one that wasn't shown. It's the 8-inch Ryobi with a brushed motor, but it looks like a shrunken down compact chainsaw. A traditional top-handle design. It's bulkier. But you get a solid place to put your other hand.
I have the 10" Brushed and it handles about as good as the DeWALT! I found it on clearance for $50. Couldn't beat it! Got the 14" too but have yet to use that one.
I think all of these are good tools. I actually have that Ryobi and a 12 inch Kobalt. I thought the Ryobi cuts pretty well for what it is, but I agree the lack of oiler issue is annoying. The 12 inch Kobalt is nicely torquey and is a great homeowner chainsaw, especially when on sale ($79 when I got it)
I saw the Kobalts when they were that cheap at Lowe's! I almost got one for my mother but.... yeah, it would've sat LOL. The thing about the Ryobi is the lack of chains available for it for me. It feels the best and you can get over the oil thing for the price, but having to replacement chains is a waste.
I got the Ryobi BOGO deal 62 bucks for the saw. My only thought is where do I get replacement chains I can't find any.
Dude that's how this WHOOOOLE video came about. I saw in August that the Ryobi was going to be on sale on a BOGO, then TomyVic reached out and asked me to review it. So I thought I might as well do all of them! I was really excited about the Ryobi but yeah... that chain... WHEN not if, but WHEN you need another one... you'll have to just buy another chainsaw which is ridiculous. If you're within the 90 day return window, I'd return it. Even the Tomyvic has extra chains! That DeWALT though... pretty darn amazing, but also $102 extra. For a 6 incher I'd probably go Milwaukee M12.
You might be able to replace the whole bar that takes chains you can actually buy somewhere. I'd look for a bar that you can use with that Ryobi. You can usually get a replacement 6" bar with a chain for about $15. The holes and slots will have to match enough to put it on the Ryobi.
Home depot has them in Canada anyways should be the same in the states
Great comparison bro, I have the m12 hatchet & if I would ever upgrade I will go with Dewalt since I have batteries for both platforms, and it was so smooth cutting these branches as well and it showed clearly in your comparison👌🏼
That thing was like butter, even my 9 year old son could tell! I can't believe it's so much cheaper than the Milwaukee! Seems wrong.
@ToolDeals yeah the sound of Dewalt motor similar to the real Chainsaw, so I guess the motor used in Milwaukee could be stronger and the parts maybe more expensive, I can't say for sure though, but what is obvious, is that Dewalt is much smoother in cutting woods, the reason could be better chain or due to the design, who knows?🤷
I came here thinking I was gonna buy the Milwaukee but you have me sold on the Dewalt! Thanks for making this video! Oh, and I think the thing on the top of the Dewalt is for added safety, to reduce the chance of kick-back (something that can occur when the tip of the saw hits something, causing the saw to kick up, potentially cutting you). You can also use the top to rest a branch against to use the top of the bar to cut (called back-cutting, which can be potentially dangerous). Some people remove this piece, and I plan to do the same because I'm going to be using it as a typical saw and not a pruning saw.
Great review. I'm glad you talked about chain availability. I would just assumed that it was available because its a wear item. I'm betting that Milwaukee just needs the chain sharpened. That would cause it to pull rather than cut.
Glad it was helpful!
I do landscaping and i am already invested in Milwaukee tools so i went with the m18 chain saw. Its a beast for what it is. Depending on how sharp your chain is the cut time varies. I've seen a Riobi break first cut. Never trust a oil free tool.
That's how I feel! You can get carried away and forget to oil it. The Ryobi 40V Pole saw, has a reservoir for oil and when it runs out it stops to prevent damage. I'm really shocked this one doesn't have that.
Great video. I like the DeWalt but wish the tip guard was removable. As a safety feature, it is great, and while we shouldn't cut with the tip, there are times when the tip is a helpful cutter (tree roots).
I have the M12 Milwaukee for pruning, and it's excellent, it came with 2 6Ah batteries and charger!
Nice! No deals on it right now though unfortunately! I regret returning mine.
I a lil biased towards DeWalt since I already have many DeWalt tools & batteries. I even have the DeWalt pole saw which is 8". I how great the pole saw cuts so I'm not surprised by this pruning saws performance. The tip is a guard for up cutting. The rotation of the chain when cutting from the top side of the bar will push the branches away from you. The guard ideally keeps the branch in contact with the chain. I'd like to catch this baby on sale for about $125-$145.
That's a VERY good point! You need some skills to do upcutting well and I'm not ashamed to say I need practice! But yeah, I love that DeWALT.
Great job. Thx. Cheers from Vermont.
Are they all 6 inch?
3 are 6 inch and the Milwaukee and DeWALT are 8 inch. There's no 6 inch DeWALT and the Milwaukee only has M12 in 6 inch.
I put a large course blade on my cordless jigsaw and turned it around so it faces the back. My Ryobi feels very comfortable in that config, you press the trigger with your pinky. And BINGO!!! It's a breeze! Everything up to 3" is a snap. Just FYI.
Interesting!
I had that Ryobi free with the $99 battery pack and decided not to pick it up and got the batteries for $40 (saw would be $60). I read really good reviews on Ryobi forums, but no one mentioned the chain issue.
Yeah, it feels SO good in your hand, the ergonomics are incredible! But not having a replaceable chain... makes this thing a complete waste! Glad someone mentioned it in a comment and made me look. I knew it about the Kobalt, but didn't check on the Ryobi.
@@ToolDeals Oregon makes a 6" chain for pole saws. I wonder why that won't fit.
I know the Ryobi is "oilless" I just find the idea goes against what you would think
The Ryobi still requires oil, it just doesn’t have an automatic oiler. You have to apply oil periodically when using or you will destroy the bar in short order.
I think the ridges on the dewalt handle is meant for OSHA guidelines, when people are wearing gloves, when they grab the handle, it is less likely to slip. U have a point on many of those. There should be nothing poking or sharp on your hand. They should just build it smooth and shouldnt assume everyone is wearing gloves, if that was their intention.
The guard on the tip is for kickback prevention.
Thanks for this review. I do all my pruning with a one-hand recip saw. If I wreck the blade, it's a quick and cheap replacement. What happens when I wreck the chain saw blade? Sounds like a lot of work. If you don't have a one-hand recip, I would recommend getting one of those before one of these. Generally cheaper than the chain saw, no oil needed, and more versatile. The 9-inch Diablo pruning blades are awesome. So are the 12-inch demo demons. Just something to think about.
I'm with you. I prefer to use the one-handed reciprocating saw with the Skil ugly blade, aka pruning blades. It's works great, fast enough and clean cut to protect your trees
The Kobalt and Dewalt are heavier for a reason. They are higher quality. Plastic is light. I have never tried the Dewalt or that little saw but I have the others. They are all good saws. I have the Kobalt and it is a beast. Got the saw WITH battery and charger for 99$. And I have purchased the chain and bar both from Lowes. You should look for better info sources and not rely on one silly comment. The chain and bar are made by Oregon and you can purchase that brand also. The cuts I saw you make with the Ryobi, Kobalt and Milwaukee, you weren't supporting the branch with your off handed and that allowed too much movement. I think you'd find that they all cut better if used correctly. And that little saw will not be as durable as the others I think you'll find.
Per ryobi, "This mini chainsaw has an oil-free design, but if you ever wish to add oil, it can be added manually." So it's 100% designed to never be oiled. Now idk how long it'll last not being oiled, but if you're using it for only pruning I could see it last a long time oil free
I bought another Ryobi that advertised oil-free, then in the instructions said to oil it LOL. Man, I'm not fooling with them anymore. What a disappointment that was. Their pole saw's have auto oilers though.
@ToolDeals well all I know is that if my oil free chainsaw burnt out due to no oiling, and they wouldn't honor the warranty due to it never being oiled, I'd sue the crap out of them for false advertising. With that said for the price I don't think the kobalt can be beat, I know when it comes to 1 handed recip saws, kobalt trades blows with the m18 at half the weight and clowns on every other saw. That's my pruner of choice, with a 6-12" wood blade too be honest pruning chain saws don't really make sense to me, you don't cut long enough for vibration to be a concern. For really small branches I'd just use a lopper or hedge trimmer
I have their expand-it pole saw for my 40v brushless head and that thing is great, and it does have an oiler and takes up way less space in the shed than a dedicated unit as the head lives on my string trimmer 80% of the time
I see you had your producer/director/camera operator in on this video.😎
Tip for safety for no kickback if it hits a branch on the tip on the DeWalt.
Yep! Ryobi has one that's optional. I'm surprised DeWALT didn't go that route.
On the dewalt 1 just drill off the 2 rivets for the nose guard. Takes like 5 seconds thats what i did
Thanks for this video bro
My pleasure!
The DeWalt appears to have some sort of a chain guard at its head, it would act as a safety feature- all of this is just how it appears in your video- hopefully the manufacturer would, will explain.
Yep! It protects against hitting the ground and from the chainsaw getting away from you. But it's not removable. Ryobi has a version as well but it doesn't have auto-oiling and it is removable.
The guard at the end of the dewalt is anti kickback. It's to prevent the tip of the saw from touching wood and immediately throwing the saw back at you. They matter a whole lot more on a gas saw with a long chain and bar because that kickback could rip the saw out of your hands if you're not expecting that kind of upward movement. This would be especially dangerous if you're on a ladder. For an electric pruning saw its rather unnecessary and I took mine off. Electric chainsaws can actually have anti kickback built into the unit, and cut power when it detects a sudden movement, eliminating the need for the physical guard.
Kickback guards matter more on these tiny saws than they do on a normal saw with a 20” bar. Contrary to popular belief, the longer the bar, the less you need to worry about kickback. A longer bar has far more angular inertia than does a short bar, which makes the long bar safer because the same force impulse at the tip can’t throw the bar anywhere near as far. Even though a larger saw will have more power, the increase in angular inertia will generally outweigh the increase in power. So with chainsaws, bigger is safer.
Just checked and the m12 6” chain should fit the kobalt saw it has the exact same specs. It doesn’t look like it will fit the ryobi though.
Man, someone should try it! I'm about to look it up! Weird that it would fit a Chervon tool and not it's own TTI. That was the first thing I checked! Didn't think to cross reference across brands though! Nice catch!
Good stuff big Chris! 👏👏👏👏👏
Dewalt was the smoothest cut in the examples. Tempting.
It was! Even my 9 year old son from 12 feet away could tell! LOL
How much sir
Prices change every day
"Im tired of specs because they all be lying". Well said!!
Ridges on dewalt are there to shed some weight, aka. to save few cents
Tomyvic Amazon link doesn’t work. I’d like you to get a commission since you put out this great informative/not a snoozer video😀
LOL, I appreciate that man but just go for it!
A quality hand saw will cut better and reach everywhere as long as you have elbow grease it will outperform any of these battery cooking things. That being said if you must get a DeWalt or Milwaukee. Both are worth the price.
Especially the prices these were at the time. The Milwaukee is almost double the price now. But I agree, but that's the issue, time and effort. Just Sunday I had to make... I can't even remember how many cuts, well over 30 and only had about an hour of time to do it on branches that ranged from 3 - 6 inches thick. I used an 8" Ryobi not in this video and it worked great! Wasn't as good as the Milwaukee or DeWALT but for the $56 I got it for, it was wonderful!
Light duty on a budget Ryobi is good value. I have the small skill saw it works ok just don't lean on it too hard. @@ToolDeals
I cut buckthorn for a living and a handsaw doesn’t even come close to my ryobi
@@timsenjem8337 That is because you are pretending instead of actually doing something. Good job....
What a stupid comment.
The best, and cheapest one is 2024 PARKSIDE 20 V.
the ryiobi is 100 dollars with 2 batteries and charger home depot
Yeah, but no replacement chain and it has no oil reservoir. It's a throw away tool unfortunately.
Cringe as soon as I saw the chains hit the dirt. Nothing dulls a chainsaw blade more than hitting the dirt.
Interesting vid though
Cutting into dirt dulls chains very fast. And up to now I suck at sharpening chains. Best to raise the limb off the ground even a few inches by putting another piece of the limb under it.
It bothered me too, LOL. I didn't know it dulls the chain, but it mucks it up for sure, but I knew I wouldn't be keeping these and wanted to push it.
#1 the angle can help when you are in a tree and it can help to give you more leverage to fight kickbacks
#2 the chain makes a big big big difference with smoothness and how it cuts, chains are to saws what tires are to cars
#3 I believe the dewalt has the metal at the end because they don’t want home owners using the tip the “plunge cut” and hitting the tip by mistake on a branch behind what you are cutting causes kick backs. Hitting the tip on anything causes kick backs.
#5 in my opinion home owners really need to watch a bunch of safety videos on how to use chain saws before they even use them
#6 people really should practice in a controlled safe environment before they go hacking stuff and climbing on stuff with a chain saw. They can EASILY kill you or kill anyone standing next to you. Please be safe and always put yourself in a position that will keep you out of danger if you or the saw slips or kicks back. Take time and set yourself in a safe position before you even pull the trigger, that is where the thinking should be done BEFORE you start cutting.
How do you know its the best without testing it?
Because I... tested it?
@@ToolDeals
Then why don't you show it like everyone else, not all of us are clairvoyance?
@@kimchee94112 what are you talking about?
@@ToolDeals
What about number of cuts per charge, speed of cuts, maximum cut diameter, safety, reliability, warranty, parts availability and so on? For the money depends on whether you're an occasional weekend homeowner or a landscaper. The one on the left, don’t know even if you could get parts. Kobalt I have many of the 80V stuff they don’t have replacements parts, they don’t even have tech support, out of luck after warranty period. My 60 gal Kobalt compressor broke down during warranty, no can fix no parts available either. Fixed it myself out of pocket. Ryobi OK for the homeowner, funky thin chain. DeWalt is kind of funny, some are not so good and other are great. I have both DeWalt and Milwaukee pruners, DeWalt was half the price but dangerous as the blades always in the open position ready to lob a finger off. I have the Milwaukee pole saw, its a solid tool. That should also be the same as the Milwaukee mini M18 chainsaw but pretty pricey kit with 6.0 Ah battery.
Kimchee, you should be a bit more precise in your critical commentary. He did test these saws, he simply did not test as many aspects as he could have.
Missing Makita, Sụn Joe, & green work. But I agree RYOBI is not a bad choice
Where is the harbor freight
One spec that really matters is WEIGHT. That’s why I will be buying a mini.
For sure! Ease of cut and weight and balance are some huge factors.
Which one?
Kobalt 6in chains on Amazon
Yeah, they come and go though.
I get these off ebay half price
Tools Direct is a good move as they're generally new!
Who won?
Kobalt has the cheapest batteries and cheapest tools and not always the best performance but always forward the top. Also using 24v batteries they don’t over heat as easily as some tools. The only knock I have on kobalt is the tool line is not nearly as robust as ryobi or dewalt or Milwaukee but they are slowly adding tools. The kobalt performance to cost on tools and batteries is second to none. In my mind the only thing that sells ryobi is the ridiculously huge tool line for their 18v which I am jealous of but the performance is crap compared to almost every other tool line. Milwaukee performance is always near the top for double the price of all other tools. Dewalt is better than average performance at slightly higher than average price.
Dad, stop hogging the chainsaw! 😂
"So are you going to teach me anything"
🤣😆🤣😆
🤣😆🤣😆
🤣😆🤣😆
🤣😆🤣😆
You got your hands full brotha
Let me settle this. Milwaukee
Don't see any mention of these having a chain brake. These are dangerous without. Chain will keep spinning down after release of start button. Some quicker than others. This can be very dangerous under certain condition's. Smart not letting your son use this until you explain this. He needs his fingers.
I have the bigger Milwaukee top handle saw and noticed it also pulls limbs in your face of you are not careful of how you are cutting.
Just got that cheapo guy for $22
That's crazy! I saw one for $35 but $22 is insane! Just make sure the battery is in there good.
ryobi has a 6 inch chain replacement, its 15 dollars.
yes the reason why you cutting poorly is because you most likely didn't have enough chain oil on the chain the oiler helps, you also using a 20v 5AH battery on dewalt vs 4ah 18v battery on robi so its slightly weaker then dewalt. the tomykin is just a chinese renamed saw that is overpriced garbage.
Ryobi = Bullpup of the pruning saw world
bahahahahahaahah
just get an m18 chainsaw...these are for the ladies...168 for this trash, just get a full size unit for 200
It is sad to live in a third world country. All the prices you showed are almost double and the salaries are 10 times less. Imagine the shock.
Wow dude, that's crazy! I thought about trying to export possibly, but even then, it will get taxed!
@@ToolDeals They will put you inport charge and taxes and combined with the low sales you will come to the price of our retailers :) but hey we have our ways too. We make 3D printed connectors so we can fit all kind of batteries to all kind of machines so you buy just the bare tool lets say the DeWalt for 181$ and then instead of buying DeWalt charger for 80$ and DeWalt baterie for 80-200$ depending on the power you pay 15$ for 3D printed adapter and then use Parkside bateries for 20-30$ bought from the shady net supplyers :) Same for Makita and the rest.
Video should've been less than 10 minutes. Waaaaay to much unnecessary talking
Your chains are in wrong.
How so? That's how they all came from factory. You just need to check the tension, but if they're on backward that would be wild!
They wouldn’t cut at all if that was the case.
Your comment is wrong.
@@ferrumignis your life is all wrong.😑
@@mando5cadillac My life is all wrong because I called out your BS post? Whatever makes you cope hardest I guess 😂
To me the dewalt feels much better and less stressful on hand when your cutting and cuts faster than the Milwaukee
Thanks for your review.
I have both the craftsman and dewalt the dewalt is a faster cutter but the craftsmans torque is another level I have really push hard to get it to stall and that was on black locust
The craftsman doesn't have a oil well either I like it better because all you need is a little bottle of oil and put little oil on tge chain every 15 minutes of use