Battery powered chainsaw

Searching the forum for battery powered chainsaw, I see talk and mention in various threads, but didn't find one that's actually for the subject, at least recent. If there is, mods feel free to point it out and move this.

Wondering if anyone has any updates on the battery powered saw they have, or even a 'friend's battery saw' that some ppl have mentioned? Several posts says "x battery saw" cut/performed good, so I'm wondering how they may be doing now that time has gone by. And any issues....battery life degrades big time over x months of use, batteries totally crapped out...etc etc.

 

I have been using the Stihl 161t with 12” bar and 300s battery. I’d wait for the 220 if you are shopping for a Stihl electric top handle. Not because of the battery, but the design. I have also used a battery power stihl pole saw. The battery runs longer than me.
We’ve had the pole saw for several years with no battery or saw issues.
The power of the 161t is good I just don’t like the placement of on switch. It makes it difficult to use left handed.

 

Firewood Mornin


The video features the woodsplitter yarding and a Sthil MSA 220c with a 16" bar. The chain pictured could have used a filing but was still cutting pretty good .The battery being used is a AP 300 S and it takes 2 sometimes 3 battery's to do 1/2 cord depending on the amount of limbing done .
The 220c is on its second chain and has done 19 1/2 cords so far. I also have a MSA 160 with a 12 " bar . and a 21" Stihl Battery Lawnmower using the same Battery's.
Soon to be out is Stihl MSA 300c with a 20 bar and a AP 500s battery and if I'm nice to Woodwidow maybe I can have one!


Cutting some dirty ties !

 

Chud , I hadn't really considered a top handle. Not sure inneed that style more than regular. I think it would be nice for zipping small trees off the fence line, where a bigger saw would be a pain, and a Sawzall just doesn't quite so what you need efficiently. And for the noise factor, and to not smell like exhaust for a little bit of cutting. Of course I'd use it more than that too assuming it works pretty good.

campinspecter, nice vid, I had missed that before. Seemed like it zipped through that pretty good, what species was that?

 

Red Alder .

 

He is always nice to me so he probably will get the new saw when it is available!

 

I guess we're going out for dinner tonight!!

 

You’ll never hear my wife say that about me and there’s zero chance of a new saw under the Xmas tree, unless I put it there.
I’d never say that about my wife either, so she won’t get a chainsaw

 

I've had a Milwaukee 18v chainsaw a little over 3 years now and it mainly collects dust. Crooked cut regardless on chain age. Batteries over heat and flake out too.

I've also got a Makita 10" top handle that is great for limbing, had it over 2 years. I use the crap out of that thing. Batteries will over heat on it too though. Also, if you drive to cut in the winter and have the batteries in the back they won't work either. Batteries need to stay in the cab. Have to keep and eye the bar oil as well. When the battery dies you may have a half tank of oil or have been empty for a while, depends on what type of wood your cutting.

I have been eyeballing a Makita 16" 36volt saw, but haven't pulled the trigger yet (no pun intended).

Overall, they definitely have their place, like most tools do. If you are already invested in a power tool brand, I'd try what they make. The batteries are pretty important. Bring plenty of them with you and/or a charger. I typically use a gss saw to drop, battery to limb (up to 4"ish) then back to gas to buck. The noise is much less with battery but still there, just not as pleasing.

Best of luck deciding. Let us know what you end up with.

 

I have some ryobi one+ tools. Looking at their saws, I'm not so sure I want to go that route...they don't look so promising. Last I looked into the battery saws, I really had my eye on one of the ones made by Echo, but I could never find one in a store to check it out, and I would prefer to put my hands on one before I decide.

I'm not necessarily looking to cut a truckload of wood at a time w a battery saw. But when checking fence, if i come across and need tocut a limb or small tree that's on the fence, or to cut saplings/small trees that are growing up in fence (mainly cedars), I think a battery saw would be great for that. And I have lot of hearing loss, especially in my left ear. So any cutting I could do that minimizes the loud noise exposure would be great. Yes, I always wear ear protection, many times plugs and muffs. I've never run a battery saw, but in vids they seem to have a kinda high pitch whine to them, so I would probably wear some ear pro with it as well.

 

I find you don' need hearing protection , but I take my hearing aids out !

 

The oil gets topped off with every battery change.

 

I can't hear you....what did'ya say?!

 

I think the battery saws can be OK for small jobs cutting small poles. I've yet to see a video of one tackling a big tree though.

 

Oh agree....that's what the 310 and 460 will stay around for. But there's a lotttttt of little stuff that those are a nuisance and overkill for....

 

With the batteries having issues being in the cold....where do yall store your saw and batteries? Any one think about/fret the batteries catching fire if you keep them in the house, or in the truck?

 

Have only used the batteries when it's been a couple degrees below freezing and no issues, and I do not go out when the wood is frozen! When it's in the 80s, the batteries are warm to touch but not hot. Have not given any thought to a battery causing a house fire!

 

I don't cut a lot in real cold weather, so it probably wouldn't be much of an issue with me. But I didn't know what low temp causes the issues.

With the talk about EV vehicle/machine fires lately, it just made me wonder about the saw batteries.

 

If we get some real cold weather this winter and if I can get at some wood will go out and try it !

 

I picked up the Makita 18-volt top handle as well but haven't had a need to try it yet. Also have the 20-volt DeWalt pole saw and love that thing. Tons of cutting on a 5-amp battery.