cordless chainsaw
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Sprinter
Minister of Fire
It seems to be a mixed bag at this point in the technology. The weak link is still the batteries which seem to only last for 1/2 to 1 hour at best on chainsaws. Most seem to use 40 volt Li-ion batteries.
I have a Ryobi string trimmer and hedge trimmer using their 40 volt batteries and I'm very impressed and satisfied with them. Ryobi makes a chain saw for this same 40 volt battery and i think you can get a high capacity one too. Comes with a 12 or 14" bar. Look at the Home Depot site for them.
But chainsaws require more power than the other implements, and may or may not be quite ready for prime time, depending on your needs. I love the trimmers and they are powerful and handy to pick up and take anywhere on a whim. If your chainsaw needs are satisfied with an occasional 1/2 hour use or if you have spare batteries to take with you, they may be fine. You really need to look at customer reviews on this kind of stuff.
Battery life may be a little unknown with this kind of duty as well. Just some things to keep in mind. I'd love to try the Ryobi for small jobs in the woods, especially since I have two batteries and chargers now. You can get the implement without battery/charger for a lot less.
I have a Ryobi string trimmer and hedge trimmer using their 40 volt batteries and I'm very impressed and satisfied with them. Ryobi makes a chain saw for this same 40 volt battery and i think you can get a high capacity one too. Comes with a 12 or 14" bar. Look at the Home Depot site for them.
But chainsaws require more power than the other implements, and may or may not be quite ready for prime time, depending on your needs. I love the trimmers and they are powerful and handy to pick up and take anywhere on a whim. If your chainsaw needs are satisfied with an occasional 1/2 hour use or if you have spare batteries to take with you, they may be fine. You really need to look at customer reviews on this kind of stuff.
Battery life may be a little unknown with this kind of duty as well. Just some things to keep in mind. I'd love to try the Ryobi for small jobs in the woods, especially since I have two batteries and chargers now. You can get the implement without battery/charger for a lot less.
JSeery
Feeling the Heat
I love the Greenworks DigiPro GMAX 40V. It's perfect for my firewood cutting needs, great for limbing and even small felling. Battery lasts a good amount of time, tons of torque. Low profile chains really cruise through hardwood if you keep them sharp.
I've even used it to take down a huge standing dead red oak on my property (the things was 90+ yrs old). I think most would say I was crazy for tackling a job that big with this little saw. I had to recharge frequently but I got the job done. Tore up my chain pretty bad but a replacement chain was only $15.
I kept thinking I would buy a bigger saw for big jobs, and I probably will one day, but this thing is surprisingly capable and versatile.
Note that in cold weather the battery won't charge up fully (this is true for all lithium ion batteries). Get around that by taking the battery + charger inside to warm up then charging the battery.
For $250 you get the saw with the battery and charger. Battery and charger are great to use with the rest of the Greenworks line. I especially like the trimmer and the pole saw that accept the same battery.
http://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-20312-DigiPro-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B00DRBBRU6
I've even used it to take down a huge standing dead red oak on my property (the things was 90+ yrs old). I think most would say I was crazy for tackling a job that big with this little saw. I had to recharge frequently but I got the job done. Tore up my chain pretty bad but a replacement chain was only $15.
I kept thinking I would buy a bigger saw for big jobs, and I probably will one day, but this thing is surprisingly capable and versatile.
Note that in cold weather the battery won't charge up fully (this is true for all lithium ion batteries). Get around that by taking the battery + charger inside to warm up then charging the battery.
For $250 you get the saw with the battery and charger. Battery and charger are great to use with the rest of the Greenworks line. I especially like the trimmer and the pole saw that accept the same battery.
http://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-20312-DigiPro-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B00DRBBRU6
both of my saws are cordless........they run on premix fuel though....... rn
I'm glad to hear they programmed that protection into the charger. It's not recommended to recharge lithium-ion batteries at all below freezing, and ideally they should be above 40 degrees F, but avoiding a full charge in cold weather is at least some protection. I don't remember the technical reason why, but charging below freezing can severely shorten their service life. I've heard Teslas have a small heater in the battery pack to get it up to proper charging temperature in cold weather before it will actually start charging.
Using the batteries below freezing is supposedly ok down to about 0 degrees F. You might not get full power out of them initially, but their internal resistance tends to warm them up so they run better after a few minutes.
If you've got an unheated garage/shop and live in a cold climate, it might be worthwhile to store your batteries in the house during the winter.
I would question battery life. The saw may perform well with new batteries but if those batteries dont last long then perhaps a gas saw would be a better option.
Can you get by with a corded electric saw ? If yes then no doubt I would get a good quality electric saw with a cord before a battery saw.
But I'd still get a small gas saw before either option
Can you get by with a corded electric saw ? If yes then no doubt I would get a good quality electric saw with a cord before a battery saw.
But I'd still get a small gas saw before either option
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
I agree that it's a bit of a gamble at this point. But I'd still try one as long as the battery warranty is a good one and you don't mind using the warranty, and if the capacity is enough. There sure is a lot to be said or the convenience of a battery operated implement. I'm a lot more inclined to pick up my Ryobi string trimmer or hedge trimmer on a whim than if it were gas, and I've use a lot of gas implements. I'm just not sure if these batteries are going to go the whole route for a chain saw yet, but I hope so.
My dad has the greenwox products. He loves them. And I have to say that little saw is quite impressive with a 12" bar.
If I have to buy a new trimmer I will probably go that route and get the whole kit.
He sees it as the best for anything smaller than 18" which is quite a bit.
It's a real joy for limbing and bucking up the branches compared to my 40cc
He went with the best of both world in the end. The little electric for small and light work without wearing yourself out.
Then he bought a 70cc McCullough used of C list for $150. That thing will really get the big stuff done.
If I have to buy a new trimmer I will probably go that route and get the whole kit.
He sees it as the best for anything smaller than 18" which is quite a bit.
It's a real joy for limbing and bucking up the branches compared to my 40cc
He went with the best of both world in the end. The little electric for small and light work without wearing yourself out.
Then he bought a 70cc McCullough used of C list for $150. That thing will really get the big stuff done.
JRitz187
Member
I have to second or third? the greenworks 40V 16" saw. I bought it last year for smaller wood scrounges for the fire pit, and its does the job real well. Battery life is always and issue and a second battery is pretty pricey but would work great for lighter duty. No complaints from me
http://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-20312-DigiPro-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B00DRBBRU6
http://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-20312-DigiPro-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B00DRBBRU6
That actually looks like the big one. Not sure the price of my father's. But it's bar is only 12" used the same battery though.
The attachements that use the same batteries are very well priced. If your someone like me that has terrible luck with small engines.
The attachements that use the same batteries are very well priced. If your someone like me that has terrible luck with small engines.
Hasufel
Feeling the Heat
I have the Greenworks 80V with 18" bar and love its convenience. It's also a fairly capable saw (45cc equivalent). If you don't need something too big then there's the 40V option mentioned above, as well as 56V saws from companies like Echo and Ego. The biggest down side is battery life--if you have a spare battery and are near a power source then you can recharge as you go but if you're "off the grid" then it can be a problem. The problem is much worse in the winter because the batteries don't have as much juice when they're cold. I got used to making a few cuts and having to replace the battery, so I was really surprised last week when it was in the 70s and I was able to buck most of a smallish tree on one battery.
I have never heard of what you guys are talking about. But around here you don't see to many people with real PPE for their chainsaws.
Your saying a gas saw will stop cutting on Kevlar?
Your saying a gas saw will stop cutting on Kevlar?
Hasufel
Feeling the Heat
Chainsaw chaps contain materials made from Kevlar fibers and/or other strong materials. If a chainsaw hits them, the threads are designed to pull out and jam the moving chain before it can do any harm to whatever part of you is underneath (the link in my earlier posting shows a demo of this). But they're very different than Kevlar body armor, so don't go around thinking they'll protect you in a gunfight!
I just watched the video thanks. It makes sense, owning an electric saw I don't see why they wouldn't work the same. The spindle/ bar area all look the same to me.Chainsaw chaps contain materials made from Kevlar fibers and/or other strong materials. If a chainsaw hits them, the threads are designed to pull out and jam the moving chain before it can do any harm to whatever part of you is underneath (the link in my earlier posting shows a demo of this). But they're very different than Kevlar body armor, so don't go around thinking they'll protect you in a gunfight!
jetsam
Minister of Fire
I will tell my gas saws that they're safe from obsolescence for a few more years! I do look forward to battery tech developing so I can have awesome electric saws and motorcycles and cars though.
Thank you for your informative reply.
I'm 90% sure they were actually using an electric saw in the video. It was awfully quiet and not running until they squeezed the throttle.
And it stopped non the less.
Only cordless saw I would buy would have to be an electric start gas motor. LOL.. Only corded saw I would buy, would be the ones with a pull cord to start the motor.
jetsam
Minister of Fire
I have gas saws now because they're flat out better in almost every area that I care about in a saw- but it won't always be so.
Electric motorcycles are already so torquey and fast that they put the best gas machines to shame. Their range and recharge times make them toys for commuters or hobbyists- but battery research is going a mile a minute, and as soon as they get decent batteries and charging options, gas bikes (and cars, I guess) will be for antique collectors.
. I bet electric saws will displace the homeowner gas market pretty fast when battery tech moves forward a few notches. I personally am really looking forward to electric bikes, cars, and saws.
Not true. Kawasaki h2r guessing 200hp and under 400lbs, other great bikes that come to mind Ducati Penigale 1299, BMW r 1000rr, Honda cbr 1000rr, yamaha r1
Just to name a few all of which are governed by the US to be limited to roughly 186mph. In countries without limiters they all break 200 mph. And they all can break every speed limit in the US in 1st gear before ever having to shift into 2nd
No electric bike I know of capable of that especially at prices between $10k and $20k
Someday Perhaps, but we are not there yet. In the current market not even close. That said the technology exists in brushless motors, but battery technology falls far short . You could probably engineer a brushless electric motor powered sport bike capable of 200mph but with current battery technology it would probably sustain that speed for a couple minutes if that ? And the cost would be way to expensive. Meanwhile a suzuki Hayabusa will happily cruise along at 180mph until the fuel runs out, the operator runs out of nerve, or ends up road splat
But I agree with you in that it's headed our way. The pollution control people will make sure of that. I personally like engines that run on gas. I miss 2 stroke dirt bikes. Love the 1980s era 2 stroke dirt bikes so many good memories and the smell of burning 2 strokes. Miss it. Those went the way of the dodo in the 90s.
Saws will follow some day. When the government tells us we are polluting the world too much saws will be 4 stroke or battery. I'm sure it will happen in my lifetime.
Bummer
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