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Probably the most inventive and impressed use of profanity that I’ve ever heard was articulated by a Canadian moose information as he tried to start out an outdated, uncared for chainsaw. Each time he yanked the pull wire, the noticed would sputter, however not begin, and the information would mutter a outstanding stream of cuss phrases (which I cannot put down in writing). That information had a superb level: When not correctly maintained, fuel powered chainsaws are a ache within the butt. That’s why the very best electrical chainsaws are so interesting.
With a charged battery, sharp chain, and somewhat little bit of bar oil, electrical chainsaws get proper to work. You’ll be able to’t flood them, you don’t have to fret about feeding them outdated fuel or swapping out their spark plugs, and also you don’t must cuss them into beginning. Plus, they run far more quietly than a fuel noticed.
Lithium ion battery know-how appears to maintain getting higher, and the electrical chainsaws now we have as we speak are extra highly effective and longer lasting than fashions from a couple of years in the past. When you’re available in the market for a chainsaw to do mild to average slicing work round the home, on the path, or at deer camp, a battery powered chainsaw may very well be a sensible choice. There are strong choices for slicing firewood, clearing trails, felling timber, and even mild timber stand enchancment.
However electrical chainsaws do have their limits. They don’t seem to be as highly effective as top-end fuel fashions. As a result of the batteries are heavy, the bigger fashions are usually not a lot lighter than comparable fuel saws. You’ll be able to’t get them moist (don’t run them within the rain). Construct high quality varies vastly from model to model—many of the saws on this evaluate are made in China. And, after all, they will run out of batteries.
To seek out the boundaries of the very best electrical chainsaws on the market, I put eight high fashions by means of a collection of exams. These are the saws that made the lower.
Small-Measurement (10- to 12-inch bar)
Mid-Sized (14- to 16-inch bar)
Giant-Measurement (18- to -20-inch bar)
How I Examined the Finest Electrical Chainsaws
There are a stunning quantity of battery powered chainsaws on the market. To slender the sprawling subject, I chosen fashions from firms with trusted names both within the chainsaw or energy instrument world. I went with mid-priced to top-end chainsaws, on the consumer-grade degree. In my expertise, low cost chainsaws are usually not well worth the bother.
From there, I examined every noticed for slicing pace and battery life. For the big saws (18- to 20-inch bars) I used a 14-inch diameter black willow log. I timed how briskly every mannequin might noticed by means of the log (averaging 3 times). For a management, I additionally ran my fuel powered Stihl chainsaw with an 18-inch bar by means of the log.
After pace testing, I ran the noticed by means of the log, slicing disk after disk, to see what number of complete disks it might lower earlier than operating out of battery. This take a look at was designed to push the noticed, with no break to chill down between cuts. For mid-sized saws (14- to 16-inch bars) I performed the identical take a look at on a 12-inch diameter log. For the small saws (10- to 12-inch bar), I used a 6-inch diameter log. If the noticed confirmed battery life however might not make it by means of the log, I ended slicing. If it confirmed battery life however appeared to overheat, I ended slicing. The ultimate stats for every noticed will likely be proven in the important thing options part and within the chart beneath. I additionally weighed every chainsaw (together with battery and bar oil) on a postal scale.
After that, I took high performing saws to my deer searching property in Wisconsin. I used them to clear trails, fell timber, limb timber, buck logs for firewood, and girdle timber for timber stand enchancment. This sensible use portion of testing gave me a good suggestion how every noticed would deal with within the woods and stand as much as exhausting use.
The Finest Electrical Chainsaws: The Winners
Key Options
- Bar Size: 12 inches
- Voltage: 50.4v
- Amp Hours: 2.5ah
- Lower Time: 5.7 inches (6-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 65
- Weight: 7 kilos, 7 ounces (measured)
- Worth: $570
- Made in Japan
Professionals
- Extremely helpful
- Highly effective for dimension
- Quick slicing and lengthy battery life
Cons
- For smaller timber solely
- Prime deal with noticed designed for professionals
Echo’s battery powered high deal with noticed, the DCS-2500T was by far essentially the most spectacular chainsaw within the take a look at. Actually, I feel it’s the pound-for-pound greatest electrical chainsaw on the market. For its small dimension, it’s surprisingly quick and highly effective combining 50-plus volts with a 12-inch bar. That’s extra voltage than a number of the large-sized saws provide. It’s additionally mild, and with its high deal with design it may be run with one hand. Its slicing pace and the variety of cuts it produced within the take a look at had been very spectacular—it sliced by means 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 oldsters who scale timber and lower limbs or fell timber which might be too harmful for the typical joe to tackle. Prime deal with saws are harder to manage and are meant for use at peak—not sawing wood on the bottom. I’m not knowledgeable arborist, and if you happen to’re studying this story, you’re in all probability not both. So why would possibly a non-professional need a noticed that’s designed for professionals? As a result of it might probably do the whole lot your typical medium-sized fuel powered noticed can’t.
This might be an ideal noticed for throwing in your side-by-side, canoe, or on a horse for a backcountry tenting journey. Perhaps you could cowl a variety of floor on foot to clear the path however don’t need to haul a 14-pound noticed with you. Or perhaps you’ve obtained a bunch of taking pictures lanes to clear above waist peak. The Echo will likely be your greatest buddy.
It has the standard options you’d see on a fuel powered noticed: handguard/chain brake, bumper spike, and typical chain tensioning system. Nevertheless it additionally has a pleasant on/off button (for security and battery life) which most of the different battery powered chains saws don’t.
When you’re a novice chainsaw consumer who simply needs a easy noticed to do yardwork, a high deal with design isn’t a superb choice (smaller doesn’t imply safer). However for knowledgeable customers who need a mild, extremely succesful noticed, this is a superb choice. When you anticipate a chainsaw to carry out like a gas-powered noticed, then simply get a fuel powered noticed. When you’re searching for an electrical chainsaw to carry one thing new to your arsenal, then get the Echo DCS-2500T.
Finest Mid-Measurement: Stihl MSA 220 C-B
Key Options
- Bar Size: 14 inches
- Voltage: 36V
- Amp Hours: 2.6ah
- Lower Time: 22.3 (12-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 16
- Weight: 12 kilos, 3 ounces (measured)
- Worth: $410-$420
- Made in Austria
Professionals
- Helpful but highly effective sufficient
- Properly made
Cons
The Stihl MSA 220 C-B would make for a superb mid-sized noticed to tackle mild obligation at house or round camp. It might buck a weekend’s price of firewood or clear up a couple of smaller toppled timber with out downside. Nonetheless, don’t anticipate an electrical chainsaw of this dimension to tackle larger jobs.
It carried out admirably through the pace and battery take a look at. It barely had sufficient usable bar to get by means of the 12-inch diameter tree on one lower, however nonetheless managed to slice extra disks than the Worx or Ryobi saws and it put up respectable pace scores, too. The Stihl additionally displayed a better construct high quality than the opposite saws in its weight class. The items match collectively tighter, extra seamlessly. Notably, the noticed is made in Austria, not China like most of the others.
Just like the Husky noticed, the chain tensioning system did get gummed up at instances, however not too badly. The one different ding I’ve on this chainsaw is that it’s not fairly sufficiently big to deal with severe jobs, however it’s additionally not fairly sufficiently small to be extremely moveable. The noticed can be provided with a 16-inch bar, which I’d advocate. However nonetheless, you may’t anticipate this electrical chainsaw to tackle heavy obligation jobs it’s probably not fitted to.
Finest Giant-Measurement: Husqvarna Power Axe 350i
Key Options
- Bar Size: 18 inches
- Voltage: 42V
- Amp Hours: 7.5ah
- Lower Time: 26.6 seconds (14-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 24
- Weight: 13 kilos, 15 ounces (measured)
- Worth: $450
- Made in China
Professionals
- Quick slicing pace
- Stable battery life
- Good options
Cons
- Chain tensioner system obtained briefly jammed
The Husqvarna Energy Axe smoked the competitors within the full-sized subject. It was solely three tenths of a second slower than the DeWalt, which continues to be spectacular contemplating it has a shorter bar, however it lower twice as many disks and it by no means obtained slowed down whereas slicing. One of many efficiency options that impressed me in regards to the Husqvarna is that it lower with full energy till it ran out of battery—then it was lifeless. Different saws would start to stall or not totally make it by means of a lower whereas nonetheless exhibiting 1 / 4 battery life. Although these saws technically had battery energy, they limped alongside however had been ineffective at that time on a bigger log. Not so with the Husky.
The noticed has a pleasant on/off characteristic on the deal with that lets the consumer know if the noticed is turned on and if the chain brake is engaged. The Husky was the lightest large-sized noticed within the take a look at, and it felt effectively balanced and nimble when working within the woods. With its efficiency and ease of use, I feel the Husky is the very best electrical chainsaw alternative for many customers.
The one factor to ding the Husqvarna on was that its chain tensioning system obtained jammed up with noticed mud and crud. A pair instances I needed to unscrew the plastic cap, clear the tensioner of particles after which screw it again on. It is a comparatively small quibble, however I favor the standard tensioning methods that require scrench. It’s a little bit of a ache to maintain the instrument readily available, however that system appears to get gummed up much less usually. Just a few different saws within the take a look at had points with their “simple” tensioning methods, too.
Mid-Measurement Chainsaws
Key Options
- Bar Size: 16 inches
- Volts: 40v
- Amp Hours: 4ah
- Lower Time: 17.3 seconds (12-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 13
- Weight: 12 kilos, 6 ounces
- Worth: $319
- Made in China
Professionals
Cons
- Threw chain
- Obtained slowed down whereas slicing disks
- Plastic bumper spikes
If you would like an inexpensive chainsaw to chop down small jobs within the yard or round camp, the Worx Nitro is a strong alternative. Right here’s the dangerous information first: The noticed obtained slowed down with sawdust through the disk slicing take a look at. I needed to hold banging the housing on the log to knock the blockage free (sure, the saws had been examined roughly). I’m unsure if in the end the noticed’s batteries died or if it overheated, however both manner, it solely made 13 cuts by means of a 12-inch diameter log.
However whereas clearing trails and felling small timber (extra sensible makes use of), the Worx carried out significantly better. It was in a position to deal with the whole lot I threw at it, and by the tip of the day I used to be satisfied the noticed was a reasonably rattling whole lot at simply over $300. The one-dial tensioning system labored properly at first however then gave in to the abuse and the noticed in the end threw the chain. Underneath common working situations—not a torture take a look at—I’d have stopped to take the noticed aside to correctly tighten the chain.
It runs on two 20v batteries which lock into each side of the unit. These batteries might be found much more affordably, which might give your noticed considerably longer run time.
Key Options
- Bar Size: 14 inches
- Volts: 40v
- Amp Hours: 4ah
- Lower Time: 24.7 seconds (12-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 11
- Weight: 11 kilos, 10 ounces
- Worth: $229
- Made in Vietnam
Professionals
Cons
- Plastic bumper spikes
- No chain brake
The Ryobi chainsaw has a handguard however no chain brake. In different phrases, while you press the security and squeeze the set off, the chain begins operating. Skilled chainsaw customers aren’t going to like that characteristic. In addition to that, the Ryobi did have bother working by means of the willow log, recording solely 11 full cuts on a 12-inch diameter log. It’s price noting the noticed barely had sufficient usable bar to make it by means of the log in a single lower.
On the upside, this is among the most inexpensive chainsaws within the take a look at and it comes with a five-year restricted guarantee (three-year guarantee on the battery). I appreciated the standard and unsophisticated chain tensioning system and Ryobi features a intelligent wrench holder within the deal with of the noticed. Plus, Ryobi has greater than 85 merchandise that run on a 40v battery. So if you happen to’re already utilizing Ryobi merchandise—and have already got the battery—you will get the noticed for less than $189.
Key Options
- Bar Size: 10 inches
- Volts: 20v
- Amp Hours: 8ah
- Lower time: 17.3 seconds (6-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 18
- Weight: 6 kilos, 11 ounces
- Worth: $150
- Made in China
Professionals
Cons
- Plastic bumper spike
- No chain brake
- Lesser construct high quality
That is the little brother to the Worx Nitro, and it was the lightest chainsaw within the take a look at. It runs on a single 20v battery. The Worx recorded considerably decrease scores than the Echo chainsaw, however it additionally prices a couple of quarter of the value. This noticed is supposed for very mild work; you’ll not be bucking firewood with it. It has an identical chain tensioning system to the Nitro, however with a distinct knob. I’d advocate spending the additional cash and stepping as much as the Worx Nitro. Even if you happen to solely want a noticed for mild obligation within the yard, the Nitro will carry out higher for you.
Giant-Measurement Chainsaws
Key Options
- Bar Size: 20 inches
- Voltage: 60v
- Amp Hours: 5.0ah
- Lower Time: 26.3
- Variety of Cuts: 12
- Weight: 17 kilos, 4 ounces
- Worth: $549
- Made in China
Professionals
Cons
- Ran out of battery shortly
- Heavy
Consider this noticed because the defensive finish on a soccer group: hefty, sturdy, and quick, however he’s going to tire out shortly. This was essentially the most succesful all-around noticed of the take a look at. With its longer bar size and quick slicing pace it’s effectively fitted to larger jobs. It was the quickest large-sized noticed within the take a look at, although it nonetheless obtained by means of the 14-inch diameter log three seconds slower than my fuel chainsaw.
The DeWalt has a double bumper spikes (one on each side of the bar) with aggressive tines. It brings essentially the most voltage of any noticed within the take a look at, and comes with sturdy carrying case, not like most of the different saws.
On the draw back, this dangerous boy is heavy. It’s a superb 3 kilos heavier than my fuel noticed. The battery alone weighs 4 kilos. Plus, it ran out of juice comparatively shortly. It obtained slowed down a couple of instances going by means of the willow log on the tail finish of its battery life. In case you have your coronary heart set on this noticed for larger initiatives, I’d advocate getting a second battery—sadly, they’re spendy at about $360. The one different unfavourable factor about this noticed is that the battery housing is designed in a manner that it’s simple for noticed mud and particles to fall into it. You’ll must hold checking to ensure it doesn’t get gummed up.
Key Options
- Bar Size: 18 inches
- Volts: 56V
- Amp Hours: 5ah
- Lower Time: 31.3 seconds (14-inch diameter log)
- Variety of Cuts: 11
- Weight: 14 kilos, 12 ounces
- Worth: $370
- Made in China
Professionals
- Prices shortly
- LED mild is a cool characteristic
Cons
Ego makes quite a lot of battery-powered out of doors instruments together with trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers, and even a zero-turn using garden mower. Their 18-inch chainsaw affords some cool options, together with a LED mild so you may see what you’re slicing in low mild and a fast-charging 56v battery (many of the bigger saws required 4 hours or extra to cost, however the Ego charged in about half that point).
Sadly the battery drained comparatively shortly too, because the Ego completed solely 11 cuts by means of an 14-inch diameter log. The chain tensioning system is cool in concept: it’s only one knob to tighten or loosen. However within the subject it obtained gummed up and I needed to take the noticed aside to get it working. Further batteries are nonetheless spendy, however you may find them online for considerably cheaper than DeWalt additional batteries.
What to Know Earlier than Shopping for an Electrical Chainsaw
Typically talking, electrical chainsaws are usually not as highly effective as comparably sized fuel powered saws. However they’re easier to make use of and top-end fashions can noticed by means of loads of work. Right here’s what to think about when selecting the very best electrical chainsaw for you.
Bar Size
Saws with longer information bars can tackle larger jobs, however they’re heavier. As a basic rule, you need your bar to be two inches longer than the utmost diameter of the log or tree you plan to chop. In case your electrical chainsaw goes to be your solely chainsaw, go together with an extended bar size of 18- to 20-inches. If the electrical noticed is a backup or for particular initiatives (like a tenting journey) then go together with a mid-sized or shorter bar.
Voltage
The voltage marketed on a noticed’s battery is actually a ranking of its energy capability. Often larger saws have batteries with increased voltage, with the exception being the Echo, which boasts a 50v battery.
Amp Hours
The amp hours displayed on every battery is the quantity cost that allows 1 ampere of present to move for one hour. In different phrases, a better AH ought to provide an extended run time. Nonetheless, there are a variety of variables concerned in how lengthy a noticed will run (how aggressively you’re operating it, kind of wooden, and dimension of logs to call a couple of).
Security
Chainsaw work is inherently harmful. Even the extra inexpensive chainsaws generally described as “newbie” saws can buzz off a finger or chew deep into your leg within the fraction of a second. Simply because a noticed is smaller-sized or extra inexpensive doesn’t imply that it’s safer. Plus, the cheaper fashions are inclined to not have chain brakes and are extra susceptible to working points, which might be harmful. You should be additional cautious when switching from a fuel powered noticed to an electrical noticed. With an electrical noticed there is no such thing as a rumble of the motor to remind you that the noticed is “on.” At all times take away the battery earlier than checking and adjusting chain rigidity and refiling bar oil. Additionally, at all times wear safety gear. In case you have no thought what you’re doing with a chainsaw, take a safety course, on-line or in individual.
FAQs
A few of them are rattling good. The Echo high deal with noticed is really spectacular, however ought to solely be run by skilled customers. The Husky and Stihl saws are succesful and helpful for medium-duty jobs that require a couple of hours of labor. If you would like a noticed to run all day, get a fuel powered mannequin.
Begin by flipping by means of the proprietor’s guide. No, significantly. Every noticed has its personal little quirks. When you’ve obtained it assembled and found out, cost up the battery. Fill the noticed with bar oil, click on within the charged battery and get to work. Straightforward.
For my cash, the very best electrical chainsaw out there’s the Echo high deal with mannequin. However this isn’t a great design for a lot of customers. The Husqvarna Energy Axe 350i is the very best all-around electrical chainsaw.
Closing Ideas on the Finest Electrical Chainsaws
There’s a variety of electrical chainsaws on the market, and plenty of of them are low high quality. Similar to low cost gas-powered saws, low cost electrical chainsaws are extra of a headache than they’re price. You’re higher off spending extra money and getting the most effective electrical chainsaws that can do the work you want it to.
Small-Measurement (10- to 12-inch bar)
Mid-Sized (14- to 16-inch bar)
Giant-Measurement (18- to -20-inch bar)
