Electric Chain Saws ???

[Milton]

I am looking to give an electric chain saw to the son this Christmas and need some help.I have always used gas saws ,so know nothing about the electric ones.Any suggestions as to the good ones?I need the price to be close to $100 also.

 

[afriqueart]

I've never owned an electric one. Always had gas as they are so much more versatile. Is there a reason you're limited to electric?

You might try checking out a local pawn shop for a good used gas one. Lot's of folks dumping a lot of good stuff to get up a few bucks for Christmas. I stopped by a local shop to check out the inventory of used rifles and the back room was full of tools and equipment.

A good used Chainsaw with a sharp blade might be as good as a new one.

I've relied on my Stihl for years and she starts on the first few pulls.

Good luck.

 

[safearm]

I use a Black and Decker 14 inch bar electric chain saw to trim some rather vicious thorn bushes around my house. As long as you keep what you are cutting within reason, they work fine. I limit my cutting to about 1 inch diameter; anything bigger than than I use a gas chain saw.

 

[roundgunner]

I bought a used 14" electric Pulan (I think it is) at a yard sale for $35 about 10 years ago. I have bought a couple blades for it and rotate them for sharpening when needed. I have cut things that surprised me with it. (Probably in the 12 inch range.) You just can't push on it. I don't use fire wood to heat with so it is not used a lot but when a branch or tree comes down it always works. My dad has borrowed it to cut railroad ties for landscaping too. It is light and handy to have.

The bad thing is dragging the cord around and if the reason you need it is to clear away storm damage you might not have power if you don't have a generator.

 

[Milton]

He is using a 14 inch Poulan now but it belongs to a neighbor.I may try to find one.The saw is not to be used as a gas saw for cutting firewood but just trim jobs of a small nature.Thanks all !!

 

[m657]

Santa brought one to me about 10 years ago. I used it for light stuff around the place for a couple years. Amazingly powerful, quiet, and more useful than I anticipated.

Had a big wind storm that blew down our largest locust tree.

Wore out one chain, got replacement. Wore out the second chain (keeping sharp) before getting the locust all reduced to stove size.

Locust is very tough wood.

Wore out a gear inside the housing. Repair guy said fixing it would cost more than a new one.

It really did serve a purpose, and Santa tells me she got her money's worth out of it.

 

[2152hq]

I've got a Remington brand electric w/a 14"(?) bar on it and it'll cut anything I put it too. Keep the chain sharp and properly tensioned. Keep oil on the chain (manual pump on mine) and clean the mechanism out of chips and dust after use and it'll do you just fine for household chores.
Let it cut at it's own pace and don't drag down or stall the motor and it'll last along time. They cut fast with a sharp chain.

I've had it for nearly 20 years and use it alot. I've loaned it to my brother and dad for a few chores along the way and they were inpressed with the results. My brother used it to take down a good sized walnut tree in his yard. (Nothing I could use for stocks or grips!)

Don't use one for cutting sheetrock like a friend used his for during some interior remodeling/wall cutting. The dust just ate up the motor in no time. Didn't do the chain much good either!

I used to have a Stihl gas saw when I heated with wood years back. The electric unit takes care of everything I need to do now with out the hassle of gas cans and oil, ect. ,,and noise...and it always starts!

 

[Vegetaman]

Back before I had an 18" bar STIHL gas chainsaw, I borrowed the neighbor's 14" electric chainsaw. I managed to cut down a tree with a decent sized trunk with it, and saw up some pesky limbs. Though I wouldn't trade my gas one for anything, now, after that last ice storm.

 

[Jim in Wisconsin]

The key is usage. I got one because once in a while I trim up a blank for woodturning in the basement.
I think i read that most of the electrics are made by one manufaturers. Emerson?
Of the gas ones,the argument between Stihl and Husky can annoy a lot of electrons. One of the local tree guys uses Huskys. I asked him why, and he said the dealers service is the only difference. He swears by the local Husky dealer.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I rank electrisical chain saws up there with electrisical lawn mowers. If he's on his own, I think the boy is ready for a two stroke internal combustion cutting machine!

 

[M28]

I bought my Dad an electric chain saw, even though we both primarily use gas Stihls. He has every tool known to mankind, so it's hard to come up with something he doesn't have. Certainly the cord would be a hassle for larger jobs, but for small quick jobs where it's more of a hassle than it's worth to fuel and fire up a gas unit, it fits the bill. It turned out to be much more cabable than we both expected.

If your son doesn't already have a pair of chainsaw chaps, BUY HIM SOME!

Brian~

 

[bmhiii]

I rank electrisical chain saws up there with electrisical lawn mowers. If he's on his own, I think the boy is ready for a two stroke internal combustion cutting machine!

Now Caj, think of the ozone here. Surely an electric chain saw will not cause the hole in our atmosphere to grow like a two stroke exhaust belching monster. But then again, how much coal will have to be burned to run the electric one? Maybe someone in the gov't could do a tax payer financed study on this....

Seriously, I would have thought an electric chain saw would not have enough ass end to do the job, but posters above with actual experience seem to disprove my thoughts.

 

[lcdrdanr]

I've used McCulloch and Stihl gas saws as well as Craftsman but the most used one for light cutting was always the one my Dad bought 22 years ago for around $29. It's a Remington, it's completely worn out but still keeps working even though the bar is so worn we had to take out a couple of links in the chain and it still throws it off every so often. Makes Timex watches and Duracell batteries look like a slacker !

For anyone who wants to look down their nose at electric chain saws, though, I have a Milwaukee electric chain saw that I have used for 15 years, it weighs a ton and cuts firewood like it was butter. Bought it to trim 8x8's in the building trade and never got rid of it.

Yeah, dragging that cord around sux but when you don't use the gas saws a for a few months and it's 115 degrees outside and the gas has evaporated and you only have to cut two limbs............................. Go to the electric !!!

Dan R

 

[Blkcat]

I agree with all of the poster's who point out the superiority of the gas-powered saws - but - if you are not planning to lay in a season's worth of firewood and all you are planning to do is thin out some junk growth near to the house (and an electrical outlet) - then electric may be thing for you. I have had a gas saw for years - but after a couple of seasons of going after fireplace wood, I seldom used it. Mainly because my wife developed an allergy to woodsmoke (even in very small quantities). Consequently, my gas saw sat unused for long periods and gas fouling/stabalization became an issue. A 16" Craftsman electric solved my problem. Great for occasional use - no worries about gas stabilization, no issues with start-up, etc. It's not a woodsman's dream, but for my needs it is perfect.

 

[Milton]

Thanks all ! If'n we want to cut some far wood we'uns will get out my old Husky varnee,The boy just needs something light and local to trim small limbs, tress etc.Besides. whats wrong with electrisical lawn mowers??? I kinda enjoy mine for some grass cutting,sure is quieter !!!!!!!

 

[therevjay]

They work fine for light - med. work. If you have a big job, get a gasser.

The only real problem I've found with a electric chain saw is dragging the cord through some dog poop I overlooked before starting the job. But then I seem to do that with every electric tool I have.

 

[truckemup97]

I had a small Poulan electric for several years. I only used it to trim trees and cut up storm damage, which wasn't much until the ice storm of 2007. Then I bought a proper gas saw. I bought the electric at a pawn shop, used it for several years, and finally gave it to my best friend, who borrowed it more often than I used it anyway. The only complaint I had was that the bar oil would leak out while it was in storage. I solved that by putting it on an old towel over a piece of plastic. For light use, I thought it was great.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Thanks all ! If'n we want to cut some far wood we'uns will get out my old Husky varnee,The boy just needs something light and local to trim small limbs, tress etc.Besides. whats wrong with electrisical lawn mowers??? I kinda enjoy mine for some grass cutting,sure is quieter !!!!!!!

It's a known fact that men with larger testicles use gas powered cutting implements
Not to mention that using gas powered means you ain't gonna cut the power cord

 

[gcerrone]

Have you thought about a reciprocating saw? About $100. They make all kinds of blades for these now ,including tree trimming ones. Since I have one and access to two more(Including a battery version), I have not used my electric chainsaw. The big advantage is that these saws can cut lots more than a very limited electric chainsaw and thus are far more versatile around the home or farm. Much better value in my book.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I have had a Sears Craftsman 3.5 HP electric chainsaw for over 10 years. It has been a great saw, requiring no maintenance other than chain sharpening and tensioning, fill with oil, and occasional cleaning. Starts right up first time, everytime! (that's for the glockers )

It has handled some pretty large cutting tasks, mostly red and white oak. I don't use it to cut trees down, I use the larger gas one for that, although I imagine it would do so. But I do use it to cut up limbs and trunk sections up to about 12-14" diameter. It handles those easily. It has been used to cut a cord or so of fireplace wood every year since I've had it. It's great for trimming and cutting up downfall branches.

I usually haul out my Honda EU2000i generator to power the thing. I can use a shorter heavier gauge cord that way. It gives me a good way to exercise the generator to keep it problem free (I have electric leaf blowers too). It's usually much easier to start that then the &^%#$*# gas chainsaw if it has been sitting for a while.

So, if I use a gas powered generator to run an electric chainsaw and leaf blower, do I still get to keep my "man" card??