This is what I'm probably eventually gonna get for the Mighty Jeep: Makita XCU06SM1 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 10" Top Handle Chain Saw Kit (4.0Ah) with additional BL1840B 18V LXT Lithium-Ion 4.0Ah Battery

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in here. I've had really good luck with Echo products and have an Echo gas chainsaw that is a beast but I bought a 56 volt Echo battery chainsaw for occasions when I didn't want the hassle of dragging out the gas saw and it has been fantastic.

Maybe slightly off-topic, but what do you guys think of those mini-chainsaws I'm seeing ads all over for?

For stuff like that, I use a Silky saw (made in Japan). I can cut through that in about a minute. Power saw may be quicker but I'm thinking the cost, battery charging, maintenance ain't worth it.

Assuming just infrequent dozen or so limbs at a time. If you're frequently doing dozens at a time, power saw may be it.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod..._title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Even if I had to cut 2 dozen of those limbs,
I'd use a bow saw
.
Heck even a good folding saw.
https://www.acehardware.com/de...AvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Only with a much more aggressive limbing blade.

I'm not an expert in saws or wood work. I think you know I'm not an expert. That being said, I've sawed some wood over the course of my life using various manual saws and power tools (table saw, circular saw).

These Silky saws, IMHO, are night and day different than any other manual saw I've ever used. If you use manual saws in the yard for pruning, cleanup, etc, it might be worth checking out. It's one of those things that made me upset I'd never used them before.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Sounds like less than Stihl is not necessarily bad; as infrequent user, perhaps it doesn't make sense to pay a premium if Ego is effectively similar in function, durability and safety.
I'll put Ego back on the table as a good alternative candidate to the Stihl.

If you're looking for a saw that just collects dust for most of its (or your) life, an EGO power head and bar is likely the most cost effective way to go. I don't like China. I'm trying to eliminate all purchases of Chinese products. But my EGO saw has performed well, cutting up a crap load of wood. Take a look at the following thread from July 2021 about the saw.

Kudos to Ace Hardware and Ego power tools

The pictures show a portion of what the battery saw has accomplished.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Bassamatic:
Here is an example of a hung up tree. ...

There is no way your average homeowner could safely bring down either of those trees.

Yeah... I think I'd leave that one to pros.

I've cleared similar things--nearly identical, in fact, but, much, much smaller.

It’s a matter of using the right tool. I’ve cleaned up bigger, more tangled messes (coast live oak & sycamore), but left the chainsaws in the shop and used the excavator. I could probably make a reasonably safe plan to take the hung up one down with a pole saw, but it’s a piece of cake with an excavator.

Very cool thread! Wish I saw it before. Thanks!

Ego does seem more capable and durable than I was possibly giving it credit.

But there are two levels to prc stuff: 1) stuff made in prc for non-prc companies; 2) stuff made in prc (or even not made in prc; even if made in USA) for prc companies. I try to minimize / avoid #1 although it can be challenging. I'm very, very averse to #2. And my first Ego purchase was either through my mistake or deceit on their part (seemed like an american company based in IL but is actually owned by a prc parent company). If the latter, that especially cooks my grits. I hate it when prc companies try to pass themselves off as american or japanese companies.

I know that financially it makes no sense if function, durability and safety are about equal at 1/3 the cost. It's rather stupid, to be honest, especially w/ the economy the way it is today and my financial status.

But while I put Ego back on the table, Stihl is attractive as non-prc. Sometimes I need to put my wallet where my mouth is. I'm not decided yet and I do appreciate all the advice and suggestions and recommendations above. It makes complete logical sense in my case to get the Ego over the Stihl. But it's aching my heart.

I found two dozen YouTube's on this topic.
Some are reviews of one make and model.

Some compare models.

Some test them against gas models.

Some are battery
Some are corded.

We bought some small acreage last year. Some large trees but mostly alot of scrub, plenty of honeysuckle for me to wage war on. I bought a Sithl MSA140 12" as my first chain saw beyond a plug in Remington I'd use around the house. That little Stihl is impressive and could take care of alot of stuff but the little 1/4" chain seems to wear out quickly. Next up I bought a Dewalt Flexvolt 60v in a package deal at an auction for a good price. The Dewalt works, it has a 16" bar, but it doesn't seem as quality as the Stihl and leaks bar oil EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME. I won a Stihl MS180 C-BE 14" at an auction for $140, it works but not much better than the MSA140 and it needs a new chain also.

Fast forward to this week, I had pointed out a large dead tree to the wife that has a base over 2' wide that needed to come down. She thought otherwise. Well, the snow this week took it down across our driveway. I can cut off all the limbs with the saws I have (with new or sharpened chains), except the trunk will most likely be too big for them to quickly take care of. I should have bought a bigger gas saw than the MS180, but I didn't see me cutting anything larger than 8" anytime.

I'm debating going with a bigger gas chainsaw or a MSA200 or MSA220. I really like the battery saw idea and have been impressed with my Stihl. The battery charges quickly and I have power out there, I don't see a need for a pile of spare batteries.

One thing I've learned is chainsaws are like guns, you're not going to have just one.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Ego does seem more capable and durable than I was possibly giving it credit.

I knew Ego was a decent saw after trimming a handful of 5-to-7 inch diameter branches. The powerhead is fairly light, the motor is respectable, and their batteries are likely as good as any on the market. As long as the saw operator has the experience to keep its use within the design's wheelhouse, it's a quality tool. When I see people poo-poo an Ego (and similar battery saws), I know their felling background is more talk than walk.

Ego saws aren't built for professional-level use, but few people need such capabilities. A Ford F-350 isn't necessary to haul this week's family groceries. If you like the Stihl 220CB and it fits your budget, it should work well for your once-in-a-blue-moon use. I now know I will always have a battery saw for smaller jobs. I will also have a least one mid-size and one true professional-level large saw for our property. But few folks have 100+ large trees on their property which require felling.

Do your homework on saw types and brands. And always remember that forestry/logging workers experience about the highest injury and death rate of all professions.

quote:

Originally posted by slosig:

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

I've cleared similar things--nearly identical, in fact, but, much, much smaller.

It’s a matter of using the right tool. I’ve cleaned up bigger, more tangled messes (coast live oak & sycamore), but left the chainsaws in the shop and used the excavator. I could probably make a reasonably safe plan to take the hung up one down with a pole saw, but it’s a piece of cake with an excavator.

You got that right. If I had a decent sized excavator, those trees would have been cut up a long time ago.

I live on a ranch in timber and hurricane country. We have had several hurricanes that dropped many large trees and limbs. Ivan and Dennis were the worse. We wore out about 30 chains during cleanup after Ivan from September to November. I have four Stihl saws. Two of them are almost 20 years old and they still run like a champ. I have learned to use only premixed fuel, it costs a little more than mixing your own but worth it to eliminate the aggravation of trying to start a saw that has been sitting for several months with crappy gas in it. Stihl also has a line of battery operated saws that I understand are a beast but have not used one. I sharpen my chains before each project using a Dremel tool and chain sharpening attachment. Yes get the chaps and helmet. It makes me cringe seeing guys in shorts and flip flops running saws after a storm. ER docs in hurricane country will tell you about the number and severity of chain saw injuries following a storm. Your Stihl dealer will instruct you on safe use of your saw. Good luck and be safe.

Just a thought-

I was in this exact same boat about a year ago. Planned to add a small battery powered chainsaw just in case. I’ve only used a saw a handful of times and I figured I was asking for trouble. Last thing my family needs in the middle of a post storm clean up is to take me to the hospital.

I added a battery powered reciprocating saw and I bought some good 9 and 12” Diablo blades for it. Timing was impeccable. About 2 weeks after I bought it we lost a 20 year old tree. In about 4 hours I cleaned up the 2/3 of the tree canopy that was on the ground blocking the front door and the driveway. Left the hard work for the pros.

For storm clean up I’m thrilled. It isn’t as fast as a chain saw, but it fit my needs. Chain saw is off my list.

quote:

Originally posted by kkina:
Maybe slightly off-topic, but what do you guys think of those mini-chainsaws I'm seeing ads all over for?

I bought the Milwaukee M12 fuel hatchet just like this to help me prune back some branches and remove some giant rhododendrons around my place. They just came out with the M18 version, which I would probably choose over the M12 if I was buying today.

It's incredibly handy, and between that and a recip saw it'll handle just about anything I need to cut up to a few inches in diameter. Pole saw attachment for my 2 cycle trimmer if I need to reach a bit. Much nicer/simpler than dragging the chainsaw out of the shed for that small stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by jcat:
I bought the Milwaukee M12 fuel hatchet just like this to help me prune back some branches and remove some giant rhododendrons around my place.
...
It's incredibly handy, ...

Hmmm... I already have an M12 Fuel drill motor and M12 Fuel Inspection Camera. I wonder if the Hatchet wouldn't be sufficient for the Jeep?

How thick a branch d'you suppose that thing can comfortably handle?

I’m right in the middle of removing a couple of Siberian Elm trees at a rental house. Yesterday I used my new M18 Fuel hatchet saw for the first time. First impression is that it is aggressive. There are no skips in the chain, with every link being a cutting tooth. Climbing in the tree is a dream. It has an eight inch bar, so it allowed me to remove quite large limbs. I would have normally used my Stihl MS192T for this, but the Milwaukee will handle those chores now. Used it quite awhile and depleted half of a 5ah battery.

I used all of my saws yesterday:
Stihl 029
Stihl MS192T
Husqvarna 257
Stihl 16’ pole saw (love this thing!!)
Milwaukee M18 Fuel electric hacksaw pruner

As for the gas saws, I had not started them in three years. I even put them away wet, with fuel in them. Most of them started right up and ran like new. I popped one with a little ether, and away it went like new. This is the result of using ethanol-free fuel, Amzoil two stroke oil, stabil and Seafoam. I treat all my fuel full-time, so I don’t have to go nuts draining it between uses.

It would be difficult for me to have just one saw. If I had to start again today, and had to have just one saw, it would be a Stihl MS361 with A 20” bar. That’s a big saw for limbing, but a big saw can do a little saw’s job, but a little one can’t pinch hit for a big one. I grew up doing everything with Dad’s Stihl 041AV (the anti-vibration nomenclature was an aspiration ). Dad heated the house with wood only, so about 12 cords a year. If I could manage everything with that 041 beast, I could make a 361 work for me.

I gotta wonder how long a couple of chain saw batteries will hold a charge while sitting on the shelf ?

A month ? Three months?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
I gotta wonder how long a couple of chain saw batteries will hold a charge while sitting on the shelf ?

Li-Ion batteries generally have a surprisingly low self-discharge rate. E.g.: I sometimes go long periods w/o using either of my cordless drill motors, yet they're always ready-to-go when I do.

If in doubt: When storms approach or you otherwise know you may be called-upon to use the tool, pop the batteries into the charger and freshen them. Li-Ion batteries have no memory effect, like Ni-Cads had.