WWA Info Exchange

For Woodworkers By Woodworkers
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:52 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 5:26 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:01 am
Posts: 11360
Location: Hamilton, MS
I've been needing a small saw for a while, and finally broke down and bought a Kobalt 40V battery chain saw a couple days ago. 12" bar, very light weight. $179 at Lowes. Got about 2hrs of run time on it without any problems. Battery recharge takes about 1 hr. Plenty of power, but chain speed is a little slow, so it tends to chatter some when starting a cut. Otherwise ok for branches and other small jobs where I don't want to swing my big Stihl around.

_________________
I bring to life, I bring to death:
The spirit does but mean the breath:
I know no more. (Tennyson, In Memoriam)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 8:12 am 
Offline
Veteran

Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:55 pm
Posts: 2371
Location: ridley park, PA
I'm impressed with the 2 hour run time. I had a small gas one and with very occasional use I could never depend on the start up. I have my Dad's old Sears 120v that comes in handy for a lot of stuff, not the power of gas, but nice to have.

_________________
"To all those who work come moments of beauty unseen by the rest of the world." Norman Maclean


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Wed Mar 18, 2015 10:18 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:01 am
Posts: 11360
Location: Hamilton, MS
reelinron wrote:
I'm impressed with the 2 hour run time. I had a small gas one and with very occasional use I could never depend on the start up. I have my Dad's old Sears 120v that comes in handy for a lot of stuff, not the power of gas, but nice to have.


Don't be too impressed with run time. They base it on common 2x4's .

It will vary a lot depending on what you're cutting. Hardwood uses more juice.

_________________
I bring to life, I bring to death:
The spirit does but mean the breath:
I know no more. (Tennyson, In Memoriam)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 10:31 am 
Offline
Veteran

Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2005 2:49 pm
Posts: 1068
Location: Lake Burton in the NE Georgia Mountains
Hey Gene, I'm just curious. How much does it weigh?

I'm looking for a very lightweight trimming saw and haven't even considered an electric one before reading your post.

I'm also interested in how long those batteries will last before replacement is needed........

Skyrider


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 8:04 pm 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 1:01 am
Posts: 11360
Location: Hamilton, MS
skyrider wrote:
Hey Gene, I'm just curious. How much does it weigh?

I'm looking for a very lightweight trimming saw and haven't even considered an electric one before reading your post.

I'm also interested in how long those batteries will last before replacement is needed........

Skyrider
Weighs about 8lbs with chain oil in it. Has a 5 year warranty. Battery life of Li-Ion varies quite a bit depending on how you treat/store them and the weather, but I have a couple in a drill that I've had for about 3 years and they still work fine. Depth of discharge has a big impact on lithium battery life as noted below.

Here's what Battery University has to say about lithium batteries generally:

Quote:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/arti ... _batteries

Similar to a mechanical device that wears out faster with heavy use, so also does the depth of discharge (DoD) determine the cycle count. The shorter the discharge (low DoD), the longer the battery will last. If at all possible, avoid full discharges and charge the battery more often between uses. Partial discharge on Li-ion is fine; there is no memory and the battery does not need periodic full discharge cycles to prolong life, other than to calibrate the fuel gauge on a smart battery once in a while.


PS: This is the one I bought: http://www.lowes.com/pd_506890-95404-KC ... facetInfo=

There are quite a few to pick from, more powerful, higher priced, etc. Stihl also makes a couple battery models.

_________________
I bring to life, I bring to death:
The spirit does but mean the breath:
I know no more. (Tennyson, In Memoriam)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:32 am 
Offline
Veteran
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2004 12:01 am
Posts: 9296
Location: Aurora CO
I've had a Remington Pole saw for nearly a decade. It is a corded 12" chain saw and I've used it to not only trim trees but I've cut down, and cut up 5 full trees, Austrian Pine and Aspen. and used it to take down some very large branches from a cottonwood tree. I love electric saws, they start every time and work well.

_________________
Frank
WWACOAUX#1
"I love the smell of Sawdust in the morning, it smells like, victory." Image
WWA'ers I've met: Popeye, Ed Avery, Stephen Wolf, Rockfish, Rodedon


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: Battery chain saw
PostPosted: Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:41 pm 
Offline
Veteran

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 2:48 pm
Posts: 1146
Location: Cypress, TX
I also use an electric chain saw. I have had it for about 15 years.
It is a McCulloch 16", 3 horsepower.
It also starts every time I pick it up.
I cut down a 10" diameter oak tree with it and cut the whole tree in to firewood size pieces.
It likes a sharp blade but all chain saws like that.

I have had too much trouble with motorized saws. I always seemed to be working on them.
Of coarse, you would have a pretty hard time cutting down a big tree with the electric one but I like mine.
Zulu the Lumberjack

_________________
Zulu's website
http://www.jmelledge.com


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 7 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 38 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group