Are Electric Chainsaws Worth Buying?
I personally never thought a chainsaw would be worth using unless it was gas powered. You have to mix the proper oil/gas mixtures, and then fight with the chainsaw to get it started, keep it running, in order to get the job done. I use my chain saw for trimming up trees in my yard, or if a bad storm passes through, I have one on hand to cut up a fallen tree. For the longest time, I honestly didn’t ever think of using an electric chain saw, because I needed mobility. I needed to be able to take my saw anywhere I wanted to go. For the research of this video, I did my due diligence, and found a few to try out on my own. I have to say, I was excited after using these saws. There was no special start up procedures, you just simply double check the tightness of the chain, make sure that your chain is nice and oiled, squeeze the trigger, and start cutting. Electric chain saws produce no fumes, and are super quiet. If you live in a neighborhood that has restrictions on noise or decibel limits, you will find these electric chain saws are a great solution.
We are speaking about electric, so I did decide to try both corded electric, and battery operated chain saws. Because of the work these saws were introduced to, when it comes to the bigger jobs, having a corded saw, gives you consistent power at all times. The battery powered saws I tried, held their own, and did great work for what I exposed them to. The test performed was a 12 inch in diameter pine. I will list both the corded chain saw results and then the cordless chain saw results, the brand and what I thought about them.
1. Worx 18 in. 15 Amp Electric Chainsaw (Corded)
You will get your money’s worth out of this chainsaw. It has an 15 amp motor that is just as powerful as a gas chainsaw, however remarkably quiet. There is a patented tool-less chain replacement, and it also has an auto tension system so you don’t ever have to worry about the chain coming loose or affecting the quality and speed of the cut. There is an automatic oiling system for the chain as well, and a visible oil level indicator. This chain also features a chain brake, which will stop very quickly to prevent you from doing any accidental cutting. It weights just over 11 pounds in weight, so it will minimize wrist fatigue when tackling the toughest jobs. The handle has that nice patented Worx diamond rubberized grip as well and is ergonomic designed for the user. They sell the Worx 15 Amp corded chainsaw on Amazon for a great price as well. It includes the manufacturers 3 year warranty.
Test Results: The saw cut through the 12′ diameter pine perfectly, no snag, no hang ups, straight through as if I was handling a gas powered machine, and I could get used to the quiet no-noise motor. Even while the saw was cutting, there were no major vibrations or major hand fatigue.
2. DEWALT DCCS670X1 FLEXVOLT 60V MAX
The DEWALT DCCS670X1 60v MAX Brushless Chainsaw with 3.0AH battery features a low kick-back 16″ “Oregon Bar” and chain for construction and outdoor cutting jobs that most of the time have to be done with a gas powered chainsaw. It also offers a chain brake for added kick back protection, which will prevent accidental cutting. A tool-free chain tensioning and bar tightening knob allows for proper bar clamping force, to keep the chainsaw from coming loose. This chainsaw also features auto-oiling for continuous lubrication, with a quarter-turn oil cap for quick oil re-fills which we all know, a well oiled chain will perform the best during any cutting applications. Up to 70 cuts per charge was claimed when I purchased this, however i was able to get more when I had purchased the 9.0 AH battery, which of course will be sold separately, and I was able to get over 180 cuts per charge. The brushless motor which is being placed in many different electric cordless power tools, delivers perfect efficient cutting, and brushless motors last longer than its counter parts. I was able to get my DeWalt Flex Volt 60v chainsaw online at Amazon.com. DeWalt also offers a 3 year manufacturers warranty.
Test Results: Amazing cordless saw, and performed just as well as the electric corded Worx brand, but I was able to take this saw anywhere with out the restrictions of the cord that you sometimes find with corded saws. I was able to cut through the 12′ pine perfect, and after that, because it caught my attention, I cut up all my small limbed bushes that needed a decent trim, and cut off long branches that was hanging low on the two trees I have in the front of my house. Chain stayed well oiled, and didn’t slack or lose power what so ever, even down to the last cut.
3. Makita XCU03Z LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 14′ Chainsaw
Makita-built Outer rotor BL brushless motor direct drive system gave an awesome performance when I tested it. The speed can go up to 3900 FPM for an easy operation, and has a build in LED, auto shut off which will shut the saw completely down if there is no use for a certain amount of time. The saw uses 2 18v lithium ion batteries, so you get 36v of awesome cutting power, without the fumes, noise, and difficult start up troubles of the gas powered chainsaw. The only downside is you have to use two of the 18v lithium Ion batteries, but having 36volts is just as powerful as a gas powered chainsaw with a full tank of oil/gas mix. Over all it was a great tool and thats why it made it onto our list today, however, there was one major con I have to mention just for the sake of my readers.
Con’s: The auto shut off kicks in just after 4 seconds, that is not even enough time to go to another tree or brush, before you have to switch it all back on to use it again. Its hard to press that switch if you are using gloves as well.
You can purchase a Makita XCU03Z chainsaw yourself on Amazon.com. However, before you purchase I do think you should also read other users reviews, to make sure it is the saw you want.
Stihl MSA 200 C-BQ
The battery on this chainsaw is 36 volts, has 6 amp hours, and the bar was 12 inches. However it is very hard to find this saw in stock anywhere. But a good friend of mine owns one, and I felt that even after using it, and the 3 other saws I used, I had to give it a quick mention. I love this saw, and wish they were able to keep production up quicker so more people could purchase it to try it. Just like the others, it was super quiet, it has a oil reservoir and visible oil level as well. I don’t have an accurate cut time, but it was just as good performing as the corded Worx that was mentioned in this article, and it was cordless! You still may be able to purchase this chainsaw from a local Stihl retailer, beings I’m sure they can order factory direct
Conclusion
Overall I was very impressed with the performance and test results of the machines we tested today. I was even more shocked, because growing up we always used a chain saw on the farm. These electric chainsaws would be a perfect fit for being used on a farm, for quick small repairs or removals of trees. It was very odd at first, using these electric chainsaws, because there was virtually no noise or vibrations. I literally had to keep looking down at the underside of the blade to make sure it was turning because it was so quiet. Always remember to use the proper protection when using these power tools, use safety googles and gloves, to protect you from flying chomped up pieces of debris or waste. There are a bunch of other brands out there that I’m sure perform just as well. Beings we are moving into a day in age where electric motors are replacing gas powered motors, it will come down to the quality of the materials and work put into these chainsaws that will declare a real winner here. My friends have a few different brands that you can also purchase on Amazon, but I didn’t feel it met the quality and performance standards I have when using cordless power tools. I want brushless motors, I want high amp hour and voltage batteries, because when I make an investment into something a pricey as a electric power tool (especially if its replacing my gas powered tool at the time) the entire point is to make sure I don’t have to resort back to using my gas powered tool, so it needs to last for a long time, and never give up the quality work it gives.