Battery powered chain saw

You find 5 or 6 cuts acceptable for one charge? So in order to buck a medium sized tree you're looking about 5 charges?

Are these for pruning?

I have one on a pole saw. Works great for a few cuts. Chain sharpness is key.

I used the new Stihl electric saws and for prunning somewhere you don't want to haul a bunch of fuel and oil they work great. But still prefer gas saw

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sportbikerider78 said:

You find 5 or 6 cuts acceptable for one charge? So in order to buck a medium sized tree you're looking about 5 charges?

Are these for pruning?

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I'm honestly just impressed it can make it through a 16" oak reasonably at all. That battery pack must really be cranking out a lot of juice.

Like he said, he's got a gas saw for whole trees.

I guess I don't see the point. Gas saws are super reliable and you don't need a gas can or oil can. You just keep it full and ready to go.

I'm not saying they don't have a place...they just don't have a place in MY garage.

sportbikerider78 said:

I guess I don't see the point. Gas saws are super reliable and you don't need a gas can or oil can. You just keep it full and ready to go.

I'm not saying they don't have a place...they just don't have a place in MY garage.

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I don't see the point for most of the people I suspect are buying them, paying 2-3 times as much as a regular electric chainsaw to avoid getting out an extension cord once or twice a year. I do see the point for light work that doesn't require the power of a gas saw, out of reach of an extension cord. jpl1nh is describing exactly that.

I've not had success keeping my saw gassed up. Doing so just means I have to pour the gas out and refill fresh to get it to stay running. However, I only use my saw a couple times a year, and I haven't actually tried mixing stabilizer into it. It only takes a couple minutes to drain when I'm done using it, and diluting the mixed fuel into my mower fuel doesn't seem to affect the latter at all.

Personally, I'd probably just keep canned premix on hand for the kind of use jpl1nh is describing rather than buy a battery saw, but I see the appeal.

jpl1nh said:

I bought a Greenworks 80V saw around December. I scrounge a lot of wood so I keep this with me all the time. Have to say I love that saw. If I've got a whole tree or a lot of cutting I'll use my Farm Boss but the Greenworks cuts almost as well. Battery recharges in just an hour or two. I can make 5 or 6 cuts through a 16" piece of oak on one charge or lots of cuts on smaller stuff. Plus it's much quieter so people appreciate it if I'm getting stuff from in front of their homes. Any one else a fan?

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Definitely a fan. I have the exact same saw. It's what I use most of the time--I have a pro gas saw as well but use that only for the really big stuff. I understand that it's not for everyone (especially for long-distance scroungers) but it serves me well.

I've found that battery life is very temperature dependent so having spare batteries really comes in handy, especially in cold weather (which is when I do most of my cutting). I have other 80V tools, too, so it was a little easier for me to justify multiple batteries. They are pricey but sometimes Greenworks has sales on them.

I just bought an Echo battery saw with a 16 in bar. $270 at HD and includes the battery and charger. So far so good. Also have 2 gas saws, Echo CS490 and a big Stihl. Living in the country it sure is nice to just grab the Echo for a small quick job. Not much noise, no starting issues. Only thing I dont like about it is it is heavy.

One in-between option is a corded electric saw. I have a pole saw that is corded electric and the small electric saw can be detached and used as a hand saw. I do not use it much, but have loaned it to my neighbors to use for pruning their trees in their yard.

I saw Roger Cook using a battery powered Husky on This Old House, looked impressive, but they need to bump up battery life and drop some weight before I'd consider investing any serious coin in the technology.

Exhibit B, with my 36" bar:



I agree, battery saws are a great tool to have in some arsenals, but let's not overstate their ability!

I've used corded electric ones before. They are actually fine for small stuff within the range of the cord. I couldn't justify actually buying one since I need a small saw for stuff beyond cord range, so the electric would be redundant. If you took that toy saw and further crippled it with a battery.... well, none for me, thanks.

I do really look forward to having a torquey electric saw when the technology makes them as good as gas saws.

jetsam said:

I've used corded electric ones before. They are actually fine for small stuff within the range of the cord. I couldn't justify actually buying one since I need a small saw for stuff beyond cord range, so the electric would be redundant. If you took that toy saw and further crippled it with a battery.... well, none for me, thanks.

I do really look forward to having a torquey electric saw when the technology makes them as good as gas saws.

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Power-wise, the Greenworks 80V saw is supposed to be equivalent to a 45cc gas saw. I haven't seen a head-to-head comparison but I can tell you that my 80V is a lot more effective than the two "homeowner" gas saws I started with back when I didn't know any better. I agree that many of the corded and cordless electric saws out there seem like toys, but there are a few decent ones. Of course gas saws still have a huge advantage in run time.

jetsam said:

I've used corded electric ones before. They are actually fine for small stuff within the range of the cord. I couldn't justify actually buying one since I need a small saw for stuff beyond cord range, so the electric would be redundant. If you took that toy saw and further crippled it with a battery.... well, none for me, thanks.

I do really look forward to having a torquey electric saw when the technology makes them as good as gas saws.

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I've owned electric saws, as well as several top gas saws (currently 064 and 036), and can say the electric saws rule on pure torque. They don't have the same hp/torque dynamic, and are surely behind on top end speed, but they have gobs of torque.

Also, keep in mind the OPs saw is 80V, not 15V. Heavier than a corded or gas saw, due to the battery, but not a toy!

Ashful said:

I've owned electric saws, as well as several top gas saws (currently 064 and 036), and can say the electric saws rule on pure torque. They don't have the same hp/torque dynamic, and are surely behind on top end speed, but they have gobs of torque.

Also, keep in mind the OPs saw is 80V, not 15V. Heavier than a corded or gas saw, due to the battery, but not a toy!

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Electric motorcycles have been the torque kings for years already. Battery technology is slowly approaching the point where I will run out and buy an electric bike and an electric chainsaw.

Not this year, but I can't wait!

My first saw was an 18 in. electric Poulan Pro. Paid less than $100 and used the H*ll out of it all over my 1 acre property with as much as 200' of extension (I know). I was really impressed with its performance. I doesn't see much use anymore, but my 14 in. electric Homelite lives right next to my electric splitter for those pieces that just refuse to separate. Just like the splitter, push the button and it runs. Just remember to check the oil once in a while. If it is practical to do it with electricity, that's how I'm going to do it. The fewer gas burners I own, the better I like it.