Wanted a saw for the same reason, just in case. Bought a EGO battery model. Only needed it a few times for some small stuff. It sucked. Sold it.

Spent 160. for a craftsman gas saw. Use those small cans of premix fuel. Works great after Helene.

A couple of years ago, we had a bad snowfall that took off the top of a couple of trees and dropped them into my yard and partially on my roof.

There were so many trees down in the area that all the tree companies were busy. I was told I would have to wait weeks or months for service.

I bought an Eco and filled a pickup truck with logs and branches. I would say the biggest piece was 8" to 12" in diameter.

I have not used it since. It worked fine for the time I used it.

quote:

Originally posted by taco68:
Someone mentioned above the Ryobi 40v. I too am vested in the Ryobi 18v and 40v systems.

I have a bunch of 18v Ryobi stuff and came across their 10" 18v chainsaw for $50 at a place that buys pallets of HD returns and then tests them before selling them off. I'm stunned buy how much I can do with it and only get out my 42 year old gas Stihl for big stuff.

That said, the 18" Oregon electric mentioned earlier for that price looks VERY interesting depending on its origin.

Since I have the red/black brand tools. I stuck with the Milwaukee as previously stated.
Does what I need and I love the convenience.
I am looking into the newer higher power batteries
myself just for this specific tool.

My only cordless chainsaw is a 10” top handle Makita which is primarily used for pruning. I wanted a light saw that could be wielded with one hand while in a tree. I hadn’t had an investment in other battery operated yard tools or that would have played a part in my decision. While not suited to your ask, I would have no issues recommending the electric saws in the Makita line that fit the bill. I do have an old Stihl gas chainsaw for bigger jobs that I bought over 30 years ago for bigger jobs when needed. I was looking hard at the Stihl line of electric saws and probably would have gone that way had I not had the old gasser.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Have you considered posting a
"Free firewood, you cut and carry" ad in the local Facebook page or two ?

Not a chance I'd let someone do that. Liability could be huge.

I agree, I'm not letting someone on my property to cut down a tree. But if you put firewood by the curb, a pickup truck will stop and take it away. When I had too much, I put it out by the curb with a "Free firewood" sign.

I bought a Greenworks 14" then for good measure bought their weed whip to get an extra battery.

It's worked harder than I wish to, and I'm well satisfied with the tool (albeit Chinese) and the price. I've been able to cut well beyond the 14" bar by working around the logs.

The old thread: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...935/m/4600078544/p/2

If you're already invested in a family of battery powered tools, I would simply stay with that brand. I have Dewalt tools, and I bought their small saw. I think the bar is 12". You might require a bigger saw, but mine has worked well cutting up limbs up to about 8" or so. Battery life has been very good.

TL;DR:

I've done the research on battery-powered chainsaws twice, and ended-up not pulling the trigger either time. In the end I found what I'd regard to be a capable small battery-powered chainsaw to be more expensive than I was willing to spend at the time.

Apparently one that was on my list last time was a Makita XCU06SM1 18V LXT. It's been in my shopping list on Amazon for quite some time. The kit, with two 4AH batteries and charger is currently $467 there.

It's hard to go wrong with Makita, IME.

The rest of the story:

Whenever I'm looking into a new power tool here is the process I use:

I find all the "shoot-out" articles on the tool I can find to determine which brand(s) and model(s) consistently rank at or near the top. From that I narrow it down to two or three candidates.

Then I go searching reviews, both pro and end-user, on those specific models.

Once I feel I have a solid two or three candidates I go to the store and fondle them.

Then I buy.

That process has yet to let me down.

As for the "Whatever battery-powered brand in which you're already invested": I understand the reasoning, but I'd never allow that to be my overriding criterion.

I haven't pulled the trigger because my need hasn't been urgent. I've a Stihl 025 with an 18" bar, a Tanaka top-handle with a 12" bar, and a Stihl HT-135 telescoping pole pruner.

The role for this saw was to have something I could stash in the Mighty Jeep for trips up north, where deadfall is sometimes across, or sticking into the two-tracks. Having the small Tanaka and a gas can in the Jeep results in a cabin full of gasoline fumes.

I got an EGo 18” battery powered saw in December. I got it because, as we all know, gas saws can be temperamental at times. I’ve got trees going all the way down one side of my 600’ driveway. If any fell and my gas saws were being jerks, I wanted something I could just pick up and get to work. I tested it on a couple fallen oaks that are 20-26” at the base and it’s worked great. The 5aH battery gave me about 30 minutes run time going through what were still solid trees.

Plenty of options EGO, Ryobi, Greenworks, if you have some electric yard implements, drills, tools then see if that brand has an Electric Chainsaw.

If not and you think you'd like a cordless blower for cleaning up snow, leaves, grass clippings, then it's best to pick a line and stay in it so you end up with plenty of batteries that can swap from item to item.

Otherwise my only experience is with an EGO chainsaw that I got at Lowes on clearance, end of model year, bought it as the saw only so it saved $$$ over one with a battery and since I have several EGO tools it made sense.

Prefer cordless, theres no extension cord to get wrapped up in or trip over, or, pull out of the socket..... Cordless allows much more freedom of movement, and of course they start every time.

For the size project you have most any one will work you can get from 8 to 18 inch bars.

Here is a pretty good summation of the options out there, it's pretty spot on for the EGO that I have.

Link

Edited to add: there's a thread here with a member in CO I think, he has several gas saws and an EGO, he carts it around with him to take care of the smaller jobs and says it works well for those, considering for him most of the trees he's taking down are pretty good sized forgot the thread name...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: HRK, February 24, 2025 11:42 AM

I'm already invested in Milwaukee tools/batteries so I went with a Milwaukee chain saw. I have been very happy with it for the several years I have owned it.
A recent set of tests from Project Farm was recently out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6FM_08066I

I have a Sun Joe pole saw, but the head can be sued separately and works easily as a small "regular" saw for small jobs like you describe para. It is corded, which is fine for me, none of my property is more than 100' or so from a plug. I've got plenty of other battery powered stuff, but for the rare and close use of these, this was easier and always going to be full-power. I have a generator if some I had to run in an outage, but if that's the case it's probably a bigger tree issue than these small saws will resolve anyway.

It works great, and the pole attachment has been nice the few times I've been tidying up limbs still up in a healthy tree.

You can get them through Amazon or I'm sure other sources.

Sounds like this is a one-time requirement. How about renting a saw? I understand your preference for battery power, but for a rental, where you won't keep it and therefore won't need to be concerned about spark plugs etc., it really doesn't matter.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I agree. It is a bad ass tool that you use maybe once a year after a storm. Handy after a storm or when gathering firewood.

I'm pretty happy with my Ryobi which uses the same 40V batteries as the weed whacker, blower, etc. I have not started up my 2-cycle saw since I bought the battery unit.

For lighter use, I have found one of these, very handy for limbs, suckers, vines, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
How about renting a saw?

How about reading the thread?

Home Depot has this, similar to one I used for over 16 years in Pennsylvania. NO BATTERIES NEEDED!

Homelite electric 16 in. 12 Amp Electric Chainsaw $129

Here it is!

Ive got a cheap Bauer Harbor Freight battery powered chainsaw that I got a few years ago when i needed one for a camping trip. I live on 31 wooded acres and use that thing about once a week. I’ve been extremely impressed with it.

https://www.harborfreight.com/...tool-only-64940.html

Chainsaws
Seems very easy to use.
But using one safely takes some forethought and skill.

Please consider watching some YouTube vids about safe operation
Or
Better yet, your local community college might offer a six or ten hour course for $25.00 .

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Thank you, but I don't want a rental or a saws-all or anything like that. I want to purchase a chainsaw and keep it so that I will have it when I need it.

If you are not going to use it often and have no idea when you'll use it again and are 100' from an electrical outlet, I'd go corded electric.

If you want Battery, Stihl or EGO.