battery chainsaws

[dobbslc]

Homeowners chain sucks...

Ahh that might explain why my little Husqvarna 236 cuts like a bastard now I've bought some different chains for it! Oregon 91VXL, really good!

 

[Old Dog]

If you've not used chainsaws much just be careful what you buy, if you've used 9" angle grinders and show them respect, a chainsaw is far worse! Sit down and work out what you will be cutting most of the time, then go to the local dealers and ask what they would recommend. The power head, electric or petrol drives the chain, so a good chain kept SHARP! is more important than the power head(which means you will have to learn how to sharpen a chain). The difference between homeowner, semi pro and pro saws is vast. I've got 3 petrol saws, a 31cc homeowner Stihl which I use for 90% of the wood I cut and 2 pro saws, a small one and a midrange one, the small one is in storage and not used and the big one only comes out for the bigger jobs, ie:- 10" diameter and above with long lengths, short lengths and thin wood is hard work, and it BITES if you do anything stupid. The cutting ability of the saw is about the type and sharpness of the chain, the torque of the power head and the speed of the chain in mtrs/sec, most battery saws have a slower chain speed but instant torque, the low kick back chain is fitted to protect the person using the saw, pro chains are aggressive. I also carried out a little test a few years ago, some silver birch branches fell off the next door neighbours tree, cut it up with the small saw when the Wife gave me 3 cow leg bones to cut, well I had to test it, cut them quicker than the wood, bit of a shock the speed the bone was cut, and a real mess to clean up after.(bones in the photo). Chainsaws are fun and very good at what they are designed to do, but they can come back to bite you.

 

[wristpin]

EGO - expensive but a proper saw with chain brake etc

 

[Barking Mat]

My brother is a professional tree surgeon, planker, whatever.

Hé ratés Stihl electric over two stroke.


Fumés.

 

[Bornfree]

I've got a collection of chainsaws petrol
2x husky
2x Stihl
1x jonsered
1x mcculloch
Electric
1x Ryobi
1x Makita

But the one I use the most is an old Stihl 017 with a 12" bar lovely and light and well balanced and surprisingly powerful for such a small saw.

 

[123hotchef]

So many different opinions its hard to choose

 

[Fred Trevvett]

I have a Stihl ms461 you could have for a lot less than a new 562xp, I can get pictures tomorrow if you're interested.

The other thing to think about, you would be better off with a couple of saws, one for little cuts up to say 6" dia, then a big one for the trunks. Truth is if you're doing firewood the majority of your cuts will be small diameter. I know you're already over budget but you could get 2 second hand stihls (superior to husky of course) for the price of that new 562xp junk

 

[Old Dog]

Try looking at a Stihl ms170 and Stihl ms180/181 or Husky, Echo saws to match. I've got a Stihl ms 180, about 15yrs old, I've cut everything from pallets to a 22" Ash, and Milled a 4ft long 8" apple log, that,s hard work for a small homeowner saw, couple of small problems over the years(never loan a saw!!) but bits are cheap and easy to get.

 

[Fred Trevvett]

My ms211 was nice, bit too small for me so I got rid of it, but would be great to pair with a bigger saw like a ms461 for example

 

[zzr1200]

Aspen is the way to go for a light user.

In 2020 I left half a tank of fuel in my Parker strimmer over the winter around May time I primed the carburetor 3rd pull away it went...

Aspen style fuel is expensive, but they reckon it has a shelf/tank life of 4 years. Saves stripping and rebuilding carbs each year....

Expensive but worth it, imho...

 

[zzr1200]

The difference between homeowner, semi pro and pro saws is vast. I've got 3 petrol saws, a 31cc homeowner Stihl which I use for 90% of the wood I cut and 2 pro saws, a small one and a midrange one, the small one is in storage and not used and the big one only comes out for the bigger jobs, ie:- 10" diameter and above with long lengths, short lengths and thin wood is hard work, and it BITES if you do anything stupid. The cutting ability of the saw is about the type and sharpness of the chain, the torque of the power head and the speed of the chain in mtrs/sec, most battery saws have a slower chain speed but instant torque, the low kick back chain is fitted to protect the person using the saw, pro chains are aggressive.

The difference between a homeowner and a pro saw can be vast, but all chainsaws are dangerous if not used properly and maintained correctly.

A homeowner saw with a blunt chain is more dangerous than a pro saw with a sharp chain in the hands of a homeowner in my opinion, because the possibly of causing a barber-chair while felling a tree even a small one, because of the possible lack of cut speed.

I have a Husky 42 with a 15" bar a light saw great for cutting fire wood and thinning, but if I'm felling I use the 372xp with a 16"+ bar because it has the chain speed and power.

If I need bigger then my big Echo 36" comes out, an old saw but it cuts with the best of them.

Then there's the over lap of models power/bar lengths, some homeowner saws could be more powerful than a pro saw with the same size bar, which is why I don't buy this pro saws are more dangerous than homeowner saws, it's the way they are used and how.

A 32"/34" diameter tree with a 16" bar is perfectly possible, but I would go with a 36" bar personally.

 

[Fred Trevvett]

Another thing is if you have more than one saw, if one gets binds in a cut you can chop it out with the other

Something I used to do all the time when I first got into tree work, way way back in the past, all of about 2 years ago

 

[zzr1200]

Another thing is if you have more than one saw, if one gets binds in a cut you can chop it out with the other

Something I used to do all the time when I first got into tree work, way way back in the past, all of about 2 years ago

Plastic wedges, plus axle or hammer is the answer...cheaper than another saw....

 

[Onoff]

Coming home through the lanes Friday and my route was blocked by a fallen tree. A chap was having at it with a cordless chainsaw. I got out to help shift the thing along with another motorist. I assumed he was from the neighbouring, isolated house but no, he was just passing and happened to be a tree surgeon! He'd just bought this little electric, short blade/aerial Stihl to try and was so far very impressed. Happened to be carrying it it the back of his private car.

For me I wanted a 36V Makita but didn't want to pay Makita prices. I bought a 36V Einhell and 3D printed some Makita battery adapters. It's really good. Done 12" trees with it.

Batteries were old run down 3Ah in this video but now used with 5Ah genuine ones. Funnily enough just printing some new adapters as I've lost the first two...

https://flic.kr/p/2iUaaRe

Had half a plan to buy the cheapest 36/40V no name brand and do one for my wood turning mate who hasn't got a pot to pee in.

 

[J1nx]

I have a big petrol Husky and the little 2x18v Makita, I’ve been looking at a nice Echo to fill in the middle ground but now Makita are releasing a 2x40v version I’m waiting on that.

At the very small end the battery saws are imo, simply better, however they just don’t have the guts as soon as you step up from the lowest petrol saws. Hopefully the new ones on the horizon will change that but it’s gonna be a long while before my 70cc Husky can be swapped out for battery.

Another vote for Aspen here, limbing with the battery saw means much less used so cost not bad and I leave the tanks topped all the time.

 

[Onoff]

Meanwhile in the cheap seats here...

I also have one of these "one handed" chainsaws, bought on a whim from Banggood for about £20. Takes an 18V Makita battery. Mine's red, presumably so you can't see the blood! Hence the "one handed" moniker...

Surprisingly good for small bits if you treat it with respect.

Some come with a guard of sorts and you can get them up to a 10" blade.

 

[8ob]

So many different opinions its hard to choose

Not really, if you only need a petrol saw for home use go for a reasonable brand that your nearest stockists sells and keeps spares for.You dont need to get wrapped up in a whats best fest.

Bob

 

[Migmac]

With technique you can cut trees with a diameter 2 1/2 times the length of your bar. When I was felling I used a 13 inch bar on a Husky 254. The only trees I couldn’t fell with it were big Limes, we needed the bosses saw with a four foot bar on it. My 357, has a 15 inch bar on it, same for our 350.

Which saw type you go for battery or petrol you can only decide. Me I’ll stick with petrol till the battery technology improves greatly. If you go petrol and aren’t using it often, tip the petrol out and run the saw till it dies. I’ve never had an issue with a saw not starting after I’ve done this. You’ll need to budget for PPE too

 

[123hotchef]

I have the PPE already well trousors, visor and ear defenders, as I use that with the electric chain saw.

 

[123hotchef]

I have a Stihl ms461 you could have for a lot less than a new 562xp, I can get pictures tomorrow if you're interested.

Tell me more please