Are cordless chainsaws any good?

[Zachary]

Are cordless chainsaws any good?

If so what is the best

[logsIlike]

Define "good"? I have owned a Husquva 536 lixp for a number of years. In itself the battery (standard capacity BL10) will last at most 30 mins on eco mode when chopping logs. It will go through 10" oak if you push it in normal mode but that will eat the battery much quicker. It really depends what you want it for? Compare it to my 346xp: lots lighter and quieter but a tank of fuel will chop 3 times as much as a battery, the 346 is much, much more powerful and I also find the picco chain on the 536 needs sharpening a lot more. Having said all that I have talked to pros that have tried the one handled version with a high capacity battery and they have liked them.

[maybelateron]

Some are excellent, some are not. You generally get what you pay for. We have a Stihl MSA220 with a 14 inch bar. This is now our first choice saw at work for anything within its capabilities. It will happily saw through a 12 inch diameter branch or trunk, but not as fast as a more powerful petrol saw. You have to learn to let the saw go at its own pace - most electric saws don't cope as well as petrol ones at being pushed into the wood. We also have a Stihl MS160T top handle saw, same principles apply to this. As soon as a more powerful ground saw comes out from the quality manufacturers I will get one. Less noise, no fumes; what is there not to like? Having said these positive points I have no experience of the cheaper makes, so cannot comment. 

[gary112]

I got the Dolmar 36v top handle and it,s a great little saw, as said above you have to know there capability and use it within that.Batteries last quite well in mine as its 36v and cutting speed is very good.

[billy_wizz]

I've got the Stihl one and it's great within its capabilities! But if I wanted to log up  14 plus inch logs all day it would be next to useless so they are good but like most other saws they are to a degree task specific!

[Stere]

If best means most powerful  I think the 540i XP husky one is top, out of the main brands, but if best = the most useful in comparison to the eqivalent petrol versions probably the smaller cordless toppers I reckon.

 

 

Edited December 7, 2021 by Stere

[Blah]

I have used the Stihl MSA 160T , Stihl MSA 200 and Husqvarna 540iXP quite a bit. I like all of them because they are quieter, and don't produce fumes. The 160T is great for pruning but starts being a bit slow cutting anything over 6". The MSA 200 is more powerful than the 160T, I use it for firewood type chopping of anything up to 10 inches in order to not piss off the neighbours.

 

The 540iXP is a different beast altogether. Mine is on a 14" bar and it pulls it. I genuinely prefer it to my 201T, I reckon it cuts faster. With two BLI300 batteries, I have not run out of battery yet. It is heavier than the 201, but it also cuts faster.

 

Another thing worth noting is that he Husky chain is slightly wider and much easier to sharpen. I find the narrow chain on the Stihls fiddly.

 

So in answer to your question: are cordless saws any good? Yes, they are. As long as your expectations are realistic.

Which one is best? It depends what you're after. The 160 is light and quiet, but not as powerful as a 201. The 540 is louder than the 160, but not as loud as the 201. It is heavier than the 201 (with a 300 battery), but there are no fumes. It also cuts better than the 201. 

 

The only thing I don't like about the 540 is the chain tensioning mechanism; it's just not as good as on the Stihls. I can live with this being a bit fiddly though because apart from that I absolutely love the thing.

[Woodworks]

Wouldn't be without my MSA220. Its my go too saw if I can get away with it

[Stubby]

All my saws are cordless . 👍

[GWYNFIL]

26 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

Wouldn't be without my MSA220. Its my go too saw if I can get away with it

+1 and i can  charge mine via solar. you could probably do it with an inverter whilst driving.