Cordless chainsaws. Anyone know about them?

[James1979]

I like the cordless saws but they are no match for a petrol saw when used in anger, I think you should attack the pile with a corded or petrol saw. Get the cordless for occasional use on the log pile, I only use them to throw behind the seats of the machines or keep in the truck for occasional use.

Bob

Never know when you may need an axle stand

I think you can get car chargers for the battery packs which sounds handy but in practice is probably just a gimmick

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Explore chaps. In a non YMCA manner.

 

[armalites]

I think you can get car chargers for the battery packs which sounds handy but in practice is probably just a gimmick

People never think about the load on a vehicle's charging system and the extra fuel consumption when using them. When we used to do long trips/camping we always took a home made charge pack with 4 sealed batteries in. It would keep Ipads and phones charged for days.

 

[ukracer]

I purchased the Ferrex one. (Aldi) Really pushed it too hard and motor controller burnt out. But they shipped a new one out to me and I could keep the old one.

Well worth it ....batteries are cheap as well. 20/40 volts ones.

 

[ukracer]

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.

Not my experience with the Ferrex version.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Mate bought a cheap electric chainsaw from B&Q. Far superior to my little Chinese two stroke version and easier to handle than the decent (can't remember make !) quality chainsaw I borrowed off a farmer friend

 

[Pilgrim22]

I have a Ryobi battery one for small jobs and its been fantastic. Chopped and butchered 3 cherry trees and a laurel with only a few chain resharpens.
Idid buy a Ryobi 240v one for a larger trunk job and it was ****e, it was back in the box within 30 mins for a return to amazon. i relpaced it with a 240v Oregon and that has worked flawlessly.

 

[badabec]

Cant beat a bit of open gusset.

Anyway - these are chaps, as modelled by my mate hence the black blob!!

Having a fag!

 

[James1979]

Having a fag!

 

[Justme]

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...

My sthil with two bats was closer to £750

 

[julianthegypsy]

My sthil with two bats was closer to £750

Ok, that's taken my budget out for a slap up feast, poured vintage champagne down it all night and left it wondering why it woke up in a strange bed feeling sore....
I just had another idea, are reciprocating saws any good? Just thinking for chopping up brash, something I could hold in one hand while holding the branch with the other might be easier. Feel free to tell me this is a terrible idea!

 

[James1979]

Ok, that's taken my budget out for a slap up feast, poured vintage champagne down it all night and left it wondering why it woke up in a strange bed feeling sore....
I just had another idea, are reciprocating saws any good? Just thinking for chopping up brash, something I could hold in one hand while holding the branch with the other might be easier. Feel free to tell me this is a terrible idea!

That is a terrible idea!

the blades can jump along the branch into your hand. If you treat it like a chainsaw and use it two handed then a recip saw may be the answer.

different blades and you’d have something quite versatile

 

[James1979]

Thinking about this, is this likely to be a recurring problem or is it a one off?

if it’s a one off can you hire a petrol saw and then it’s done. Or find someone who will log it up for beer money? You need someone on the dole with a chainsaw. Or a arb student / apprentice?

 

[Gragson]

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.

Same here, if you have the batteries already £50 is a good deal, used it mainly on small stuff, took out a 12ft 8" base conifer last weekend round me mams, made pretty light work of it, chopped all up so it would fit in her big green wheelie, all on the same 4ah battery. Not for big stuff tho clearly

 

[julianthegypsy]

Thinking about this, is this likely to be a recurring problem or is it a one off?

if it’s a one off can you hire a petrol saw and then it’s done. Or find someone who will log it up for beer money? You need someone on the dole with a chainsaw. Or a arb student / apprentice?

We have trees all along the fence on both sides of the garden and they need pruning every year. Nothing big, but they seem to grow like mad and need limbs taking out often enough. It's a 100 foot garden and a dozen or so trees I suppose, apple, pear, plum and cherry. I have a small pruning saw that works well enough up to couple of inches, I just want something to deal with this lot a bit quicker and easier I suppose. All this discussion has got me thinking a cordless recip saw might well be cheapest and easiest, but haven't decided yet, still absorbing all the info! I can't bring myself to wear chaps though, that is decided. I'd never get the village people out of my head...

 

[123hotchef]

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?

I have the makita corded one it has served me well for 6 years still going well

 

[julianthegypsy]

Same here, if you have the batteries already £50 is a good deal, used it mainly on small stuff, took out a 12ft 8" base conifer last weekend round me mams, made pretty light work of it, chopped all up so it would fit in her big green wheelie, all on the same 4ah battery. Not for big stuff tho clearly

View attachment 290606

Darn that looks good.

 

[Cobbler]

Ok, that's taken my budget out for a slap up feast, poured vintage champagne down it all night and left it wondering why it woke up in a strange bed feeling sore....
I just had another idea, are reciprocating saws any good? Just thinking for chopping up brash, something I could hold in one hand while holding the branch with the other might be easier. Feel free to tell me this is a terrible idea!

Very useful tool, I’ve got a Lidl mains one, had a lot of use, just bought a Bosch battery one, bought from B&Q bare as I had batteries, not used it much so cant comment yet. Lidl blades are cheap enough as they sometimes come up in the reduced section, then I grab them & they are ok.

 

[zx9]

I just had another idea, are reciprocating saws any good? Just thinking for chopping up brash, something I could hold in one hand while holding the branch with the other might be easier.

Yes they can be used to a point, my 18V recip saw has been used for pruning up to three or four inch limbs or for getting into shrubs where a chain saw would be too indiscriminate or for cutting roots where you definitely don't want to be using a chain saw.
You do need to use them two handed or they jump about everywhere plus they vibrate a lot which can cause problems for some people.
I find my recip saw complements the 240V chainsaw, anything too much for them and I call in re enforcements.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Fantastic response, my thanks to everyone. I now have more than enough sensible advice to make the right decision. I still don't know what the right decision is yet, but that's now entirely my fault.