If you’re in the market for a battery powered chainsaw then you’ve come to the right place. In this article I’m going to give you a overview of battery powered chainsaws and give you the information you need to help you decide if this is the right category of chainsaw for you.
The two main categories of chainsaws are Gas chainsaws and Electric chainsaws. Electric chainsaws can be further broken down into Electric (requiring a power cord and power source), and Battery Powered saws, which do not require a power outlet.
On this site, our focus will be on the Battery Powered Chainsaw. This class of chainsaw gives you freedom of movement, the ability to work anywhere, less strenuous work because they are lightweight and they require little maintenance.
Battery powered saws will limit the amount of time you can use the saw, unless you have backup batteries, or have an available battery charging source.
If you need a saw for trimming bushes and cutting small trees, a battery powered saw should be sufficient. But, if you want to be a professional tree-trimmer and lumbermen, you would be better served by selecting a gas powered chain saw.
The Battery Powered saw may not be the most powerful device, but they’re the easiest to use, and have much less hassle, and are less noisy. Here are a few details to look for in a cordless chainsaw:
Lithium-Ion Batteries vs Ni-Cad Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are the newest battery technology and offer better performance than Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cad) batteries. The main advantage is they won’t lose power as the battery loses its charge.
Performance of Ni-Cad batteries suffer as the battery dies. They also can take up to 12 hours to charge. Lithium-ion batteries can recharge in about an hour so you can quickly get back to work.
Automatic Bar Oiler
Due to the constant metal-on-metal friction between the bar and chain of a chainsaw, the bar needs to be continually lubricated with oil. This allows the chain to run smoothly. Without it, chains can and will break easily.
Look for a rechargeable chainsaw with an automatic bar oiler, which will constantly apply oil to the bar. Without one, you need to be vigilant about stopping to oil the bar, which is acceptable but it will slow you down.
Voltages & Amp Hours
Cordless saws may not have horsepower like a gas saw, but they’ve still have sufficient power. You need to assess the voltage and number of amp hours. The voltage and amp-hours will determine if the saw has the power to keep up with your work requirements. Fortunately, some manufacturers even produce an 80-volt cordless chainsaws.
Weight with Battery
Lithium-ion batteries are lightweight. This can be a big deal if are adverse to carrying around a 20-pound machine while trying to accomplish your yard work.
Some of these lighter-weight saws may feature shorter battery life, but if you’re looking for something you can easily work with, be sure to check the weight in the “specs” tab to determine how heavy the saw is.