Chain saw handle types

[repairman54]

My snowmobile club has 3 Milwaukee 16'' E saws along with several Husky and Echo gas saws in various sizes. E saws get a lot of use for trail clearing and have held up well being used by ''volunteers''. Chains being the exception. I borrow one for when I'm doing firewood, as long as chain is sharp they do the job for quick occasional cuts, not as fast as gas but no winter starting issues after bouncing around in the back of a SxS. Serious saw user you can't beat having one of each flavor. Don't waste money on a 8'' as its a pruning saw, the 16'' electric is light enough. My personal collection is 16'' and a 20'' Husky.

 

[martinq]

I have had a 8" and 10" cordless chain saws over the past 5 or 8 years. I just get the feeling that a cordless motor can not spin the chain anywhere the speed of a 2 cycle engine. Or so it seems. But my experience with cordless chainsaws is with Ryobi quality and below.

This can definitely be true but just as you can get a 2L, 4-cyl engine in a car that puts out 150hp you can also get double that with quality engineering, manufacturing, etc. A 50cc saw can be anything from garbage to fantastic, a 12 / 20 / 40 / 80V battery saw can vary from pathetic to amazing.

If you want an impressive battery saw, that can actually do work, you should look for a brush-less motor from a company that makes saws. The chain is the most important thing (obviously) so use a properly sharp, quality chain. You can put Stihl or Oregon chain on the most worthless, $50 saw, and it'll make a big difference.

 

[martinq]

Ryobi and others are primarily battery companies. Not saw companies. I worked on a DeWalt rear handle saw that was so poorly designed and cheap it leaked bar oil everywhere from new. Very poorly engineered. DeWalt pole saw, again super cheap and by design over oiled the chain to the point of raining oil on the operator. If purchasing a battery saw I would recommend buying one from a brand heavily experienced in the saw market.

Yes, absolutely this. I know Stihl have been selling battery tools for ~14 years or so. I'm not sure exactly when but over the last 5-6 years you can get equivalent power/weight from gas/battery saws. It's a challenging thing to balance efficiency, power, ergonomics, durability in a tool but if you know how to build a world-market saw you're starting from a good place.

If you look at what's possible in other markets (automotive, motorcycle, remote control vehicles, drones, etc) you'll see similar things happening. Gas vs Electric is an interesting challenge.

 

[Donald]

Yes, absolutely this. I know Stihl have been selling battery tools for ~14 years or so. I'm not sure exactly when but over the last 5-6 years you can get equivalent power/weight from gas/battery saws. It's a challenging thing to balance efficiency, power, ergonomics, durability in a tool but if you know how to build a world-market saw you're starting from a good place.

If you look at what's possible in other markets (automotive, motorcycle, remote control vehicles, drones, etc) you'll see similar things happening. Gas vs Electric is an interesting challenge.

I looked at reviews on Home Depot for both Echo and Milwaukee cordless chain saws. Some decent reviews and some pretty bad reviews. They all seem to say they leak bar oil. A few overheated batteries and you needed to swap another battery while you waited for the first one to cools down. One seem to indicate the batteries were ruined by overheating. As for power the reviews seem to equate the power to a lower end for gas chain saw power. Like 30-35 cc.

If you need to have several batteries that can significantly raise the cost of the cordless chain saw unless you already have some batteries (for me that would be Milwaukee M18 batteries,)

 

[martinq]

I looked at reviews on Home Depot for both Echo and Milwaukee cordless chain saws. Some decent reviews and some pretty bad reviews. They all seem to say they leak bar oil. A few overheated batteries and you needed to swap another battery while you waited for the first one to cools down. One seem to indicate the batteries were ruined by overheating. As for power the reviews seem to equate the power to a lower end for gas chain saw power. Like 30-35 cc.

If you need to have several batteries that can significantly raise the cost of the cordless chain saw unless you already have some batteries (for me that would be Milwaukee M18 batteries,)

Yes, if you need to do more than one-battery worth of cutting time then I'd recommend having two or three batteries for that system. We rent professional battery tools and each one comes with 3 or 4 batteries.

The majority of customers that I see are home owners or small farm / small business and most of their applications are best served with battery tools. They will save money, time and frustration in most applications. If you're using a tool several times a week for hours at a time then gas is probably the preferred choice. If you use the tool one day every 1-6 months you should probably use battery.

 

[Arc]

The Stihl ms250 is a good lightweight saw. I use it way more than the big saw. It also saves me money on ibuprofen for my back.

 

[spasm3]

IA few overheated batteries and you needed to swap another battery while you waited for the first one to cools down. One seem to indicate the batteries were ruined by overheating.

If you need to have several batteries that can significantly raise the cost of the cordless chain saw unless you already have some batteries (for me that would be Milwaukee M18 batteries,)

The problem for battery saws that are used more than occasional use , is heat. Batteries should really be allowed to cool after use and before charging. Batteries should be allowed to cool after charging and before use.

Commercial guys that use electric limbing saws, have many batteries.

 

[martinq]

The problem for battery saws that are used more than occasional use , is heat. Batteries should really be allowed to cool after use and before charging. Batteries should be allowed to cool after charging and before use.

Commercial guys that use electric limbing saws, have many batteries.

Yep. Three batteries minimum for serious users. One in the tool, one on the charger, one resting.

 

[Donald]

Yes, if you need to do more than one-battery worth of cutting time then I'd recommend having two or three batteries for that system. We rent professional battery tools and each one comes with 3 or 4 batteries.

The majority of customers that I see are home owners or small farm / small business and most of their applications are best served with battery tools. They will save money, time and frustration in most applications. If you're using a tool several times a week for hours at a time then gas is probably the preferred choice. If you use the tool one day every 1-6 months you should probably use battery.

So what brand cordless chains do you mainly rent? Echo? Stihl? Others?

 

[Donald]

I looked up a Stihl 16" cordless with 2 batteries and charger it was around $880. Pretty steep price.

 

[martinq]

So what brand cordless chains do you mainly rent? Echo? Stihl? Others?

Stihl, we rent most of the product line. Hedge trimmers, chainsaws, string trimmers / brush cutters, Kombi system, CutQuick saws (concrete / metal), blowers, etc. All are "professional" tools which use the 36V AP batteries.

 

[martinq]

I looked up a Stihl 16" cordless with 2 batteries and charger it was around $880. Pretty steep price.

Yes, you're going to pay approx 2x the price of a gas tool (depending on performance / quality). 5yrs warranty on tool & battery vs 1 or 2yr on gas. You will be money ahead in a few years depending on use but you'll appreciate the performance from day one (noise, vibration, heat, fatigue, etc).

If you're getting a quality battery tool it's going to cost $$$ up front. If you cheap out, you'll be disappointed and end up with worn, overheating junk fairly quickly.

 

[Fordiesel69]

I am probably going to buy another gas chainsaw as my Ryobi 10" does not really cut it and my brother seems to have lost my Husqvarna 20" gas chain saw.

Probably going to get an Echo at Home Depot. 5 year consumer use guarantee. And decent products.

I see rear handle ones and more expensive top handle ones. I have always had a rear handle but not against paying a little more for a top handle one if it's better.

Any one who uses a top handle one? Pros/cons?

Echo makes the best power to weight ratio CS-2511T top handle. Yes im sure if you take a dept of forestry training course you are supposed to keep both hands on the saw. But with a top handle I have yet to see it. One hand on the top handle the other hand on the limbs (hopefully gloved with a cut arresting material).

If looking for new gas saw, you cannot go wrong with echo saws. Maybe try to find a new old stock CS-4910.

 

[Donald]

I either pay $300 - $400 for a gas Echo or $800 - $900 for a Stihl cordless (saw & batteries and charger).

My use is not regular. I do not cut firewood. But if a storm comes through and trees or branches need to be cut up then I need a chainsaw. But that might not happen every year.

 

[martinq]

I either pay $300 - $400 for a gas Echo or $800 - $900 for a Stihl cordless (saw & batteries and charger).

My use is not regular. I do not cut firewood. But if a storm comes through and trees or branches need to be cut up then I need a chainsaw. But that might not happen every year.

One more option that I recommend to occasional use customers, get a gas saw and a gallon of MotoMix. Stihl will double the warranty to 2 years and the fuel is good for 2 years once opened, not sure about Echo or others. Gas from the station is good for a month or two. Synthetic fuel is expensive but that doesn't really matter if you're an occasional user.

 

[Donald]

One more option that I recommend to occasional use customers, get a gas saw and a gallon of MotoMix. Stihl will double the warranty to 2 years and the fuel is good for 2 years once opened, not sure about Echo or others. Gas from the station is good for a month or two. Synthetic fuel is expensive but that doesn't really matter if you're an occasional user.

We buy the premix 2 cycle fuel at Home Depot. Is it the same as MotoMix?

 

[Nukeman7]

We buy the premix 2 cycle fuel at Home Depot. Is it the same as MotoMix?

MotoMix is the Stihl brand of canned fuel and the 2 yr. warranty extension is valid only if you buy the MotoMix at the same time as Stihl chainsaw...from an authorized Stihl dealer. Echo OPE has a standard 5 yr. warranty for homeowners and 2 yr. for professional/commercial use, even if purchased at Home Depot.

You should continue to buy the 2 cycle pre-mixed fuel from Home Depot if it is the PowerCare brand. The PowerCare fuel is supplied by VP Racing per the SDS paper trail.

 

[mk378]

Very occasional use near a house: consider a corded electric. They are very simple and inexpensive machines. There is nothing that will degrade during storage.

 

[martinq]

We buy the premix 2 cycle fuel at Home Depot. Is it the same as MotoMix?

Not the same, but similar, yes. MotoMix is the Stihl brand 50:1 synthetic fuel. I know they're not all equal but we've had excellent results with MotoMix and Aspen fuel in seasonal / occasional use equipment.

It's also great for standby / portable generators. No point in having a generator that won't start because the fuel has been sitting in it for a year or two. Have enough synth-fuel on hand to buy you time and get fresh fuel at the pump if possible.

 

[Donald]

Not the same, but similar, yes. MotoMix is the Stihl brand 50:1 synthetic fuel. I know they're not all equal but we've had excellent results with MotoMix and Aspen fuel in seasonal / occasional use equipment.

It's also great for standby / portable generators. No point in having a generator that won't start because the fuel has been sitting in it for a year or two. Have enough synth-fuel on hand to buy you time and get fresh fuel at the pump if possible.

Is synthetic 2 cycle just E0 gas with synthetic 2 cycle oil? Or are you saying the gas is synthetic.