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I’ll admit that in the first place I assumed a evaluation of one of the best mini chainsaws was a bit foolish. I anticipated the class to be stuffed with low-cost saws from pop-up Amazon manufacturers. I anticipated for the merchandise to be made abroad and for them to fall to items when it got here time to get right down to enterprise. In different phrases, I anticipated the class to be gimmicky.
I used to be lifeless mistaken (a minimum of about every thing besides the abroad manufacturing half). After some severe hands-on testing, I found one of the best mini chainsaws to be glorious instruments for the yard, deer camp, and past. The extra I used them, the extra jobs I discovered for them.
First let me outline my discipline of “mini chainsaws.” On this evaluation I included a handful of pruner-style electrical saws. These don’t actually appear like a chainsaw besides for his or her bar and chain, however hey, that’s what individuals appear to be calling them. For essentially the most half they’re meant for gentle work within the yard or backyard, nonetheless I did discover one heavy responsibility pruner-style noticed that may deal with severe work. I additionally included two electrical high deal with saws. This model of noticed is normally utilized by skilled arborists for in-tree work. Nonetheless, for his or her compact measurement and lighter weight (in comparison with an everyday chainsaw), they’re additionally helpful for skilled chainsaw customers within the backcountry. Lastly, I included one small, reasonably priced, battery-powered noticed that I believe meets the definition of “mini” due to its gentle weight, compact design, and 10-inch bar.
Finest Mini Chainsaws
How I Examined the Finest Mini Chainsaws
I examined all saws for chopping velocity, battery life, ergonomics, and general utility. Right here’s what I did particularly.
Chopping Pace
For this check I timed how rapidly every noticed may minimize by way of a small log. Since bar size largely determines how thick of a log a noticed can minimize by way of, I break up the sector of saws into two divisions.
- Saws with a bar size of 4 to eight inches minimize by way of a 4-inch diameter oak log.
- Saws with a 10- to 12-inch bar minimize by way of a 6-inch diameter black willow log.
For every noticed, I timed three cuts after which averaged them to supply a “velocity minimize time,” which you’ll see within the writeups under.
Battery Life
After the velocity chopping check, I continued chopping cookies from every log. I merely counted what number of instances every noticed was in a position to minimize by way of the log earlier than working out of battery or overheating.
Ergonomics and Utility
After the preliminary checks I recharged every battery after which took all of the saws to my deer searching property in northern Wisconsin. There I used them to clear trails and clear up a timber stand enchancment space we’ve been engaged on. I put these saws by way of rather a lot more durable work than you usually would whereas pruning bushes within the yard. It was a cold 20 levels and I used to be on the market felling small bushes, sawing branches, and making large brush piles for your complete day. I did my finest to beat the everloving snot out of every noticed. Once more, I ran each till its battery died.
Finest Mini Chainsaws: Evaluations & Suggestions
Finest General: Milwaukee M18 Hatchet
Specs and Key Options
- Pace Minimize Time: 6.7 seconds (4-inch diameter log)
- Complete Cuts: 92
- Bar Size: 8 inches
- Battery: 18V; 5 AH
- Weight (together with battery): 6 kilos, 13 ounces; measured
- Value: $229 (software solely, no battery)
- Made in China
Execs
- Very quick and highly effective
- Versatile
- Appropriate with all Milwaukee M18 batteries
- Automated oiler
- Onboard scrench storage
Cons
- On the heavy aspect
- Costly
The Milwaukee Hatchet was by far the quickest and most succesful pruner-style noticed within the check. This noticed might be overkill if you wish to simply trim a couple of branches within the yard, however it’s best once you need to get actual work executed. This might be the right noticed for clearing trails, chopping firewood at a backcountry campsite, or girdling bushes for TSI. Regardless that it’s considerably heavier than the opposite pruner-style saws on this evaluation, it’s nonetheless compact sufficient that you could run it one handed.
It’s the one pruner-style noticed on this roster that has an automated oiler — you unscrew a cap and add bar oil similar to you’d for an everyday chainsaw. It’s additionally the one pruner-style noticed that doesn’t have a plastic guard excessive of the chain. This would possibly intimidate some customers, however I by no means felt unsafe whereas utilizing the noticed. It does have a big handguard for defense, which is good. So long as you grip the noticed correctly, you shouldn’t have any situation.
The Hatchet is appropriate with all M18 Gas sequence batteries, and I used an 18V; 5AH battery from my Milwaukee cordless drill to energy the noticed. With that battery it was in a position to make a powerful 97 cuts by way of a 4-inch diameter log. The noticed by no means overheated, by no means received jammed up, and by no means threw its chain, even whereas chewing by way of larger logs. With its 8-inch bar it had no drawback chopping by way of a 7-inch diameter maple tree, which I bucked for firewood. The one draw back of this noticed is its worth. At $229 for the noticed and a minimum of one other $80 for the battery and charger, it’s not a price range software. Nonetheless, in the event you already personal Milwaukee energy instruments that run on M18 batteries, the deal will get rather a lot sweeter.
Finest Worth: Saker Mini Chainsaw
Specs and Key Options
- Pace Minimize Time: 15.3 seconds (4-inch diameter log)
- Complete Cuts: 22
- Bar Size: 4 inches
- Battery: 20V; 1.5 AH
- Weight (together with battery): 2 kilos, 8 ounces; measured
- Value: $68
- Made in China
Execs
- Low-cost
- Mild
- Surprisingly highly effective
Cons
- Battery overheated
- Chain stored getting free
I used to be totally anticipating for the Saker to fail out of the check. It’s an affordable noticed and it has all type of hype on-line. Normally instruments like this are gimmicks. Nonetheless the little Saker stored on working, it doesn’t matter what I threw at it and proved to be a screaming worth for anybody wanting a helpful battery-powered noticed able to gentle work round house or camp. It’s nearly as quick because the Stihl and made considerably extra cuts — and prices lower than half the value.
Listed here are a couple of vital particulars that I observed whereas working with the Saker. As a result of it’s so gentle, it’s very straightforward to run one handed, besides the protection is a bit awkward to hit with just one hand on the noticed. Through the battery check, the noticed overheated and stalled out; the battery didn’t really die. So in the event you have been doing work at a standard price it possible would have made considerably extra cuts. With solely a 4-inch bar, you’re not supposed to chop bigger limbs with it. I ignored the instructions and tried anyway. If I babied the noticed, I may get it to chop 6-inch diameter limbs, although it could jam up with an excessive amount of strain. However nonetheless, I used to be fortunately stunned by the efficiency of this little noticed. There’s a package deal possibility that features two batteries and an additional chain, and I’d suggest the upgrades.
Finest Prime Deal with: Echo DCS 2500T
Specs and Key Options
- Pace Minimize Time: 5.7 seconds (6-inch diameter log)
- Complete Cuts: 65
- Bar Size: 12 inches
- Battery: 50.4V; 2.5 AH
- Weight (together with battery): 7 kilos, 7 ounces; measured
- Value: $600
- Made in Japan
Execs
- Quick and highly effective
- Compact
- Will be run one-handed
- Lengthy battery life
Cons
- Costly
- Just for skilled chainsaw customers
Echo’s battery powered high deal with noticed, the DCS-2500T was pound-for-pound essentially the most spectacular chainsaw in my evaluation of the best battery chainsaws. I’m together with it on this evaluation of one of the best mini chainsaws as a result of I believe it will probably accomplish loads of the duties that the pruning saws are designed for, however it will probably additionally tackle larger jobs. It’s a quick and highly effective noticed combining 50-plus volts with a 12-inch bar (this a a lot bigger bar than the pruning saws supply). For a mini chainsaw it’s slightly on the heavy finish at simply over seven kilos, however with its high deal with design it may be run with one hand. Its chopping velocity and the variety of cuts it produced within the check have been very spectacular — it sliced by way of the 6-inch diameter log prefer it was butter.
Earlier than we get an excessive amount of additional, it’s vital to notice that this noticed was designed for skilled arborists. These are the parents who scale bushes and minimize limbs or fell bushes which can be too harmful for the common joe to tackle. Prime deal with saws are harder to regulate and are meant for use at peak — not sawing wood on the bottom. I’m actually not knowledgeable arborist, and in the event you’re studying this story, you’re most likely not both. So why would possibly a non-professional desire a noticed that’s designed for execs? As a result of it’s extremely helpful.
This might be an ideal noticed for throwing in your side-by-side, canoe, or on a horse for a backcountry tenting journey. Perhaps it is advisable cowl loads of floor on foot to clear the path however don’t need to haul a 14-pound noticed with you. Or perhaps you’ve received a bunch of capturing lanes to clear above waist peak. The Echo will probably be your finest buddy. I’ve run my Echo DCS 2500T for a 12 months now on a wide range of jobs and it’s carried out flawlessly.
Echo now has a rear-handle mannequin of the DCS 2500, however I wasn’t in a position to get it for this evaluation. Assuming it makes use of the identical design because the top-handle model, I’d count on it to be a superb noticed.
The Echo has the standard options you’d see on a gasoline powered noticed: handguard/chain brake, bumper spike, and typical chain tensioning system. However it additionally has a pleasant on/off button (for security and battery life).
When you’re a novice chainsaw person who simply desires a easy noticed to do yard work, a high deal with design isn’t a good selection (go along with one of many pruning saws). However for skilled customers who desire a compact, ultra-capable noticed, this is a wonderful possibility.
Finest for Backyards: Stihl GTA 26
Specs and Key Options
- Pace Minimize Time: 14.2 seconds (4-inch diameter log)
- Complete Cuts: 12
- Bar Size: 4 inches
- Battery: 10.8V; 2.1 AH
- Weight (together with battery): 3 kilos, 4 ounces; measured
- Value: $180
- Manufactured within the U.S. with home and international parts
Execs
- Mild
- Useful, nice ergonomics
- Nice security
- Good tender case
Cons
- Battery died rapidly
- Chain tensioner was sensitive
This can be a good little pruner noticed for yard jobs. It had one of the best ergonomics within the discipline and an ambidextrous security that was straightforward to flip whereas utilizing the noticed one handed. With its smaller battery, the GTA 26 solely made a dozen cuts by way of the oak check log earlier than needing a recharge. However for many yard customers, that will probably be greater than sufficient. Whereas utilizing the noticed I observed that it labored finest whereas pushing down solely evenly and letting the chain do the work (versus the Milwaukee, which I may hammer down aggressively).
Stihl is thought for making high quality instruments and the GTA 26 isn’t any exception. It appears extra properly constructed than the Ryobi and Saker pruning saws. It additionally comes with a pleasant carrying case which holds the battery, charger, and oil. This noticed can be appropriate with a 5-foot extension pole, basically turning it right into a shorter pole saw. Stihl despatched this extension to me and I gave it a attempt on some branches in my yard. It labored properly, and getting the pruner into the extension was actually a snap. The 2-for-one versatility helps make the Stihl GTA 26 a greater deal.
Ryobi One+
Specs and Key Options
- Pace Minimize Time: 10.9 seconds (4-inch diameter log)
- Complete Cuts: 27
- Bar Size: 6 inches
- Battery: 18V; 2AH
- Weight (together with battery): 3 kilos, 12 ounces; measured
- Value: $197
- Made in Vietnam
Execs
- Quick
- Mild
- Longer bar for a pruning noticed
Cons
The Ryobi saw does a fantastic job of balancing velocity and weight. It has a barely longer bar than the Saker and Stihl saws. So in the event you needed a mini chainsaw to chop larger limbs (say 5 to six inches in diameter) however didn’t need to throw down for the Milwaukee, this could be a high quality selection. In comparison with Milwaukee, it does have a plastic guard excessive of the chain, which some customers will certainly respect. Whereas clearing brush with the Ryobi, I used to be in a position to minimize by way of some hefty branches that the Stihl and Saker saws wouldn’t have been in a position to deal with. Nonetheless the Ryobi did die comparatively rapidly. For larger jobs, it could be good to have a second battery.
Milwaukee M18 Top Handle Chainsaw
Specs and Key Options
- Pace: 5.2 seconds (6-inch diameter log)
- Complete Cuts: 38
- Bar Size: 12 inches
- Battery: 18V; 5 AH
- Weight (together with battery): 10 kilos, 6 ounces; measured
- Value: $678
- Made in China
Execs
- Tremendous quick
- Highly effective and compact
Cons
- Battery overheated rapidly
- Heavy
- Costly
- Just for skilled chainsaw customers
This noticed is compact however it’s heavy. It’s additionally depraved quick. It completely zipped by way of the 6-inch diameter log simply barely beating the Echo high deal with. Nonetheless, it wasn’t in a position to make almost as many consecutive cuts because the Echo. The 18V battery overheated 38 cuts in, properly earlier than it was out of juice. When you go along with the Milwaukee top handle noticed, I might go for an even bigger battery to see if that solves the difficulty, however you’ll even be including weight to an already heavy noticed. Nonetheless, this can be a legit high deal with noticed that may deal with severe tree work.
Worx Powershare 20V
Specs and Key Options
- Pace Minimize Time: 17.3 seconds
- Complete Cuts: 18
- Bar Size: 10 inches
- Battery: 20V; 8 AH
- Weight (together with battery): 6 kilos, 11 ounces; measured
- Value: $130
- Made in China
Execs
- Reasonably priced
- A lightweight noticed in a conventional design
Cons
- Lacks energy for larger jobs
- Chain tensioner had points
This little Worx saw has the basic format of a conventional chainsaw, simply in a smaller package deal. It weighs just one pound greater than the Milwaukee pruner and it runs on a single 20v battery. The Worx recorded considerably decrease scores than the Echo high deal with chainsaw, however to be honest, it additionally prices a few quarter of the value. This noticed is supposed for very gentle work; You’ll not be bucking firewood with it. However in case you are extra comfy with the design of a conventional chainsaw and simply need an affordable software for gentle jobs within the yard, this can be a high quality possibility. For extra succesful chainsaws, take a look at my evaluation of the best electric chainsaws.
Issues to Contemplate Earlier than Shopping for a Mini Chainsaw
Security
Small doesn’t imply protected. One in all these little saws will rip by way of your finger or leg simply as certainly as an enormous gas-powered chainsaw will — if you don’t use them correctly. As a result of these saws are smaller, your palms are nearer to the chain. So be aware of hand placement once you’re working and all the time put on the suitable security gear. Learn our evaluation of the best chainsaw chaps and our information on how to sharpen a chainsaw.
Design
The pruning-style saws are perfect for yard and backyard work. Nonetheless, the Milwaukee Hatchet proved itself to be succesful for extra severe jobs. In comparison with the pruning saws, the highest deal with saws are extra highly effective and might minimize by way of a lot larger limbs.
Bar Measurement
The saws on this evaluation have a wide range of completely different bar sizes. For essentially the most half, you shouldn’t noticed on a limb that’s bigger in diameter than the bar of your noticed.
Mini Chainsaw FAQs
For severe work, one of the best mini chainsaw is the Milwaukee Hatchet. For a lightweight and extremely reasonably priced mini noticed, you possibly can’t go mistaken with the Saker.
The Milwaukee saws, the Echo, and the Worx saws all have automated oilers. You merely unscrew a cap and add bar oil. The opposite saws require you to drip some oil between the chain and the bar earlier than use. Merely squeeze some oil alongside the highest of the bar and backside of the bar. Most of those saws include slightly bottle of oil.
Last Ideas on the Finest Mini Chainsaws
After completely testing this discipline, I’ve turn out to be a believer within the mini chainsaw class. The important thing to being happy with their efficiency is having reasonable expectations for his or her capabilities. They’ll all get the job executed within the yard or backyard. On the flipside, none of those saws are perfect for bucking logs for firewood. Nonetheless in a backcountry camp they might noticed by way of first rate sized limbs and prevent loads of work with an ax. They are perfect for clearing trails when you must cowl floor rapidly and don’t need to lug round a 14-pound gasoline noticed. They may energy by way of a 2×4 with out drawback. You should use them to girdle undesirable bushes with one hand whilst you maintain a squirt bottle within the different. I’m positive there are a lot of extra makes use of for these mini saws, which I stay up for discovering as I proceed to make use of them.