Cordless chainsaws. Anyone know about them?

[julianthegypsy]

I've just had to take down several smallish trees and take limbs off a few others so we could get a new fence put in. The fencers brought a chainsaw for the largest one that was just beyond me, so I now have a humungous pile of tree. I have a shredder that will make short (ish) work of most of it but I need to get it into manageable chunks. Ive seen cheap cordless saws that take makita batteries for about £50 on the bay of evil, so the obvious question is di they work? It's not the kind of thing I expect to be doing again, so not worth spending proper money on, it would just be handy to have something powered to save me hours of sawing. If these things aren't any good, is there some other tool (apart from me) that might work? All suggestions gratefully received!

 

[HughF]

I've got a lidl one that takes the 20v team batteries - seems perfectly decent for the small jobs that I've done. I know aVe has reviewed a few.

 

[Bornfree]

If you're not far from a power supply get an electric one.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I've got a lidl one that takes the 20v team batteries - seems perfectly decent for the small jobs that I've done. I know aVe has reviewed a few.

I've already got a couple of makita batteries or I'd be tempted. Of course sods law it'll be three months until lidl have one and I have a wood mountain now. Good to know that in principle a cheap one would potentially be ok. I'll have a hunt for the reviews.

 

[mike os]

Just remember they are more dangerous than petrol saws especially used one handed

 

[Barking Mat]

The Stihl ones are excellent.

Avoids all the two stroke fume issues, quieter too.

Loads of grunt too.

 

[julianthegypsy]

The Stihl ones are excellent.

Avoids all the two stroke fume issues, quieter too.

Loads of grunt too.

I like the idea of not annoying the neighbours. I very rarely use my excellent stihl petrol strimmer for the same reason. Annoyingly, nothing is coming up on either evilbay or Amoron for stihl electric chainsaws. I suspect they're around £160, whereas I was looking at around £60 for a cheap cordless. Happy to spend a bit more if I have to, I can keep it for pruning the fruit trees and possibly chopping up pallets for the stove in winter...

 

[gaz1]

I like the idea of not annoying the neighbours. I very rarely use my excellent stihl petrol strimmer for the same reason. Annoyingly,

stuff the neighbours im allowed to maintain my property its only 2 or 3 times a year

tough

its different when there having there partys till all hours

 

[sako243]

Bought the little Husky battery one 18 months ago and haven't picked up the petrol one since. I was seriously considering the Milwaukee one since I've got the battery technology but the Husky with a battery and fast charger was cheaper than the bare Milwaukee tool at the local tractor dealership.

Might be a little bit beyond what you were thinking of spending though - I think it was about £200-250 if I remember correctly. But I felled a 50ft Ash tree and logged all the big boughs and trunk on a single battery.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Bought the little Husky battery one 18 months ago and haven't picked up the petrol one since. I was seriously considering the Milwaukee one since I've got the battery technology but the Husky with a battery and fast charger was cheaper than the bare Milwaukee tool at the local tractor dealership.

Might be a little bit beyond what you were thinking of spending though - I think it was about £200-250 if I remember correctly. But I felled a 50ft Ash tree and logged all the big boughs and trunk on a single battery.
View attachment 290445

That's impressive. Really impressive! It's also way more than I can justify though. I've just seen several corded electrics including a makita for around £100, which I could justify at a push.
We're fairly lucky with the neighbours in general, and it's quite reasonable to make a bit of noise when I have to do maintenance work etc, but at the same time I don't want to give anyone an excuse to moan if I don't need to (there is one who might, just because he can), and why make a load of noise and disturb people if I don't have to?

 

[sako243]

I think the main thing will be keep the chain sharp - for a small one-off job it doesn't really matter how long the motor lasts in your instance. The sharpness of the chain really affects performance with the Husky.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I think the main thing will be keep the chain sharp - for a small one-off job it doesn't really matter how long the motor lasts in your instance. The sharpness of the chain really affects performance with the Husky.

I'd better get a file then. At least I do know how to sharpen a chainsaw chain!

 

[Barking Mat]

I'd better get a file then. At least I do know how to sharpen a chainsaw chain!

I've used a file for years.

I'm crap at sharpening anything. Including pencils.

Bought a little electric chain sharpener grinder thing, and it's been a revelation.

Well worth the £20 I spent on it.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I've used a file for years.

I'm crap at sharpening anything. Including pencils.

Bought a little electric chain sharpener grinder thing, and it's been a revelation.

Well worth the £20 I spent on it.

Oh dear, my budget will be well and truly busted!

 

[Barking Mat]

Oh dear, my budget will be well and truly busted!

Files do work.

But involve skills I don't have, always ends up cutting at a slant.

 

[pedrobedro]

All my chainsaws are cordless Hire a chipper for the day.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I have a Bosch chipper than I picked up cheap. It will deal with anything up to about an inch and a half surprisingly easily. Anything bigger can go to the workshop for the stove!

 

[James1979]

I demo’d the Milwaukee one at a local factors pre rona. I was seriously considering it for firewood. Only downer is it needs a 12ah battery! I think the makita one has two battery bays to overcome this problem?

guys I know in the tree game have Stihl and swear by it. Some contracts stipulate them now apparently.

Lidl have battery strimmers later today. I am being sent for one. They may also have saws?

 

[Turbo]

I would be dubious about buying one of those Chinese saws that take Makita batteries, some of them are quite dangerous! They will also be gutless unless you use 5 or 6ah batteries & you'll only get a few minutes cutting per battery!

If you have access to power I would go for an electric chainsaw. We have a Makita at our Men's Shed & it is just as capable as a petrol one.

Avoid the Lidl florabest ones, they are not great quality.

 

[daleyd]

Error 410 | Screwfix

Thousands of products at low trade prices | FREE next day delivery available | 30 day money back guarantee on all orders.

www.screwfix.com

Not battery but if your near a power source then no problem and it’s well in your budget. Also no problem with returns if it’s faulty and at least it’ll have proper safety brakes etc.
I have a Bosch AKE pro electric chainsaw I picked up years ago in an Argos clearance sale and its been excellent. Quiet, no faffing about with petrol, no smell, starts every time etc