Battery Chainsaws

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Battery Chainsaws

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Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 9:14 am Post subject: Battery Chainsaws

There are quite a few on the market now claiming performance similar to petrol saws, and I can well believe that they are getting somewhere near, but has anyone here had any experience of any?

I've tried a 36v, 12" Ryobi saw a couple of years back, and it was about as good as I'd expected: useful enough in it's own way, but for doing owt more than playing then I'd want a petrol saw on hand.
Then again it is only 12": it doesn't pretend to be anything other than a baby saw, but nowadays you can get an 18", 80v saw claiming to be equivalent to a 45cc engine.
Though I usually use a 14" saw, so I'm looking harder at this one, except that I've never before heard of the make...
I am quite tempted to try one, but they are a bit dear for a gamble and I don't yet have faith in the durability of batteries (in terms of number of recharges).

OtleyLad

Joined: 13 Jan 2007
Posts: 2737
Location: Otley, West Yorkshire

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 9:47 am Post subject:
Not strictly relevant but I got myself a cordless hedge trimmer and its ok but runs out of steam in less than 10 minutes - which is slightly frustrating (and it takes hours and hours to recharge).

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46193
Location: yes

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 10:32 am Post subject:

which 45cc engine? might be a relevant question ,there is a lot of difference between a £80 one and a real one

re battery life we have had the electric bikes (14ah 36v batteries) for quite a few years and the batteries are still ok,the battery packs cost about £500 each so for a similar quality on a saw the equivalent or better performing battery pack might be rather pricey if you need several battery packs for a decent amount of work while the first recharges .with the bike we get about one hour full power riding for a 4 hr charge so for a days sawing you might need 5 or 6 batteries.

petrol will be a lot cheaper if not as eco friendly.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45665
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 10:50 am Post subject:
We have a friend who does lots of maintenance work, he's converted most of his kit to Bosch battery powered (pro) stuff. The prices are eyewatering, but he says it's great

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 12:55 pm Post subject:
My next door neighbour has a Makita 12 inch saw which uses two 12 volt batteries (24V) & it does the job but the batteries are expensive. He already has other Makita cordless kit so just swaps the batteries around. If you need to be quiet they are great but you get more saw for your buck with petrol.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 12:59 pm Post subject:
I've just been to the local dealer within tent and it's an internet order only, which says to me that they don't have confidence in it: if you see one then you'll change your mind...

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 1:50 pm Post subject:

dpack wrote:

which 45cc engine? might be a relevant question ,there is a lot of difference between a £80 one and a real one

Fair point.

Quote:

On the 14" saw, batteries start at ~£80 and supposedly manage 100 cuts of 4x4" timber and the battery charges in 30 minutes if you get the fast charger.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Fri May 20, 16 2:07 pm Post subject:

We have two battery operated chain saws. They're good for me to use - dealing with branches when himself takes down trees, moderate pruning in the woods, cutting branches on a sawbuck. One has a lithium ion battery with more oomph.

Issue - after about a year it is no longer possible to fully recharge the lithium ion battery. A new battery is very expensive.

So yes, they work well. And no, would not recommend them because of the battery issue.

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15951

Posted: Sat May 21, 16 9:02 am Post subject:

I know that tree surgeons, particualrly in places like London, use the main brands of electric chainsaw. They were first put on the market a few years ago, and we saw them at the APF show, which is the main forestry show for the UK.

Looking at the dealership list for the chainsaw you are interested in, the only one in our area is not one I have heard of, so may not be exactly mainstream. If you want an electric chainsaw I would go for a well known brand like Stihl or Husquevana and ask a lot of questions about time per battery charge, time to charge, battery life, as Jam Lady says, it may not be that long, and cost of new batteries.

Alternatively go for a petrol one. And whichever you go for, please use protective clothing.

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Sat May 21, 16 12:28 pm Post subject:

Mistress Rose wrote:

I know that tree surgeons, particualrly in places like London, use the main brands of electric chainsaw.

I think it is only Stihl and Husqvarna who do top handled battery saws.

Quote:

Looking at the dealership list for the chainsaw you are interested in, the only one in our area is not one I have heard of, so may not be exactly mainstream.

What I liked about that one was the size: I mostly use a 14" saw, and the power: 36v has been found wanting and 80v is excessive for the task on the table. Those are the only ones that I've found in between.

Quote:

If you want an electric chainsaw I would go for a well known brand like Stihl or Husquevana...

Generally I would agree, but they are as new to this as anybody else is, so I find the argument less persuasive here.
I've bought a little Greentech one: it has a two year warranty and will do for this. Also gives me the option to test the brand: they are the only one I've found that do a full size saw so it'll be good to know if they're any good.
The clinching argument though was that it was the only one that I could go to a shop and buy.

Quote:

Alternatively go for a petrol one. And whichever you go for, please use protective clothing.

I'm not short of petrol saws; some of them even work.

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