Battery chainsaws

Marnie · Veteran Member

Battery chainsaws

beiffe · Guru

Your choices are varied.
They are only useful for small wood for a choofer etc and I would not worry about them if you want the big roaring fire and wish to cut anything bigger than perhaps 6" in diameter.
I have used a B&D alligator 18v for over 5 years on the road. This is the one with the cover over both sides of the blade and you pull apart using both handles and then it pulls the wood into the chain and cuts it off. I have had the same blade all that time (I bought a spare and have never used it). Because of the speed of the saw it has only been sharpened twice in that time.
I can get about 20+ cuts in a 4" log before it slows down noticeably (that's a good battery).
The batteries are now dying and to replace they are about $60. I removed the batteries from one pack and attached a heavy cable with an Anderson plug and I now run from my 12v Lithium boat battery. Spins it faster than the 18v battery and the only thing I have to watch is that I don't overheat the motor. They also have a small chainsaw which I also have but I only used it when preparing a piece of wood for my little lathe.
I am now changing my tools to Ryobi 18v lithium so was lucky to score a Reciprocating saw second hand from USA on Ebay for $48 so will possibly use this when the B&D's die.
Best to look at what you want to do and carry and consider getting one that uses the same batteries as your dill etc. My new saw is the same as this one on ebay "www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ryobi-LRS1801-Lithium-Ion-One-18V-Volts-Cordless-Reciprocating-Saw-Kit-Bag-/290851622124"
Some manufacturers are now producing 36V tools for gardening and I know Ryobi have a 36v saw but it would then be a one off in your rig as I am not sure if you will need a lawn mower or whipper snipper etc even though I have seen them out here.
For charging you will need to use an inverter or wait till you get to a caravan jail. LOL they don't need a big inverter but not sure without looking how much they draw as it is one thing I don't have to worry about. LOL.
Others will have their choices but that's what I have done and have been doing for 5 years on the road.
I would look at Lithiums and perhaps if you wish to use it a fair bit look at the larger battery or if you buy a few tools then perhaps you will have enough batteries. Myself I would by one tool with battery and charger and then the rest, just the tool itself and then perhaps a large battery, but that's up to you to decide.
Regards
Brian

Landfall · Guru

Because I have a Ryobi 18 volt cordless drill and impact wrench I purchased a Ryobi 18v chainsaw. Actually saw it being used at a friends place first.

Have found it to be useful and compact for exactly what you intend to do with it.

There are larger battery capacities available, I purchased two of these from ebay, from memory they where from HK and used/tested. Still going after two years.

Since buying the chainsaw I have also purchased the Ryobi hedge trimmer and chain saw on a pole. (awesome little creature)

If you need grunt, then the 36 volt chainsaw would be the one to buy.

For me the convenience of having the one battery set up for the drill, impact wrench and chainsaw, while travelling is the key.

Ken

Herb · Veteran Member

Hi,
Was told to be careful using battery operated tools on the road as the chargers dont ALWAYS like alternate power supplies (Tools fine). ie using an inverter as they heat up and eventually cause damage. I know that our computer charger is one of these and we cant use even with a very good inverter. They run fine but run at higher heat. please dont shoot the messenger im just saying.
As for chainsaws we have a petrol 12 inch. can run in the rain, has longer staying power than electric, fits in small box and runs off petrol like out truck. We do carry 12 volt reciprocating saw and drill which we only charge off mains power.
I hate wanting to use something and find out its flat.

03_troopy · Guru

Herb, you shouldn't have any problem charging them from a pure sinewave inverter. You don't need a large one, a couple of hundred watts is plenty. The modified sinewave (or modified squarewave is a more accurate decription that another person on here uses) will probably cause your battery charger to run hot.

hako · Guru

Back a few years they invented a device called an "axe". Needs no electricity of petrol and is always ready. If properly sharpened and used it will do the same as any electric/petrol chainsaw at a fraction of the cost. Good excercise too.

Regards

Denis

Baz421 · Guru

hako wrote:
Back a few years they invented a device called an "axe". Needs no electricity of petrol and is always ready. If properly sharpened and used it will do the same as any electric/petrol chainsaw at a fraction of the cost. Good excercise too.

Regards

Denis

AGREE WITH dENNIS HERE mARNIE,,, barring health issues maybe an axe would suit your needs. I currently have a heavy duty splitter axe made overseas (unfortunately not an Aussie one) that has a smaller head,,, this makes splitting and cutting much easier than the older head which were about 150mm wide across the blade.

Smashes dry wood very well and splits logs longitudinally quite easily.

Bryan · Guru

hako wrote:
Back a few years they invented a device called an "axe". Needs no electricity of petrol and is always ready. If properly sharpened and used it will do the same as any electric/petrol chainsaw at a fraction of the cost. Good excercise too.

Regards

Denis

I have one too but after much use it gets bad tempered and flies off the handle biggrin

Baz421 · Guru

Bryan wrote:
hako wrote:
Back a few years they invented a device called an "axe". Needs no electricity of petrol and is always ready. If properly sharpened and used it will do the same as any electric/petrol chainsaw at a fraction of the cost. Good excercise too.

Regards

Denis
I have one too but after much use it gets bad tempered and flies off the handle

Not like its owner of course Bryan,,,,,,,,

Marnie · Veteran Member

Thanks to everyone who replied to my post re Battery Chainsaws! Very quick response and helpful as well! Due to health reasons ( my back goes out more than I do!!!) I can't use an axe, so was looking at a little chainsaw as per my post. Really wanted the Oregon 36V one, but they are not easy to get! Chap at Mt Franklin last week was using a Ryobi 18V and he was pretty happy with that. I do agree that it's handy to have the same brand of battery powered equipment - and ours is mostly Bosch! They do a nice little chainsaw, but have not checked if the batteries are inter-changeable! Best idea is to get a pure sine wave inverter installed in our motor home then I can recharge the mini chainsaw - it's a good excuse to get one anyway!!!

Thanks again to all who replied, it has given me lots of advice and ideas.

Happy Travels,

Marnie

native pepper · Senior Member

Herb wrote:
Hi,
Was told to be careful using battery operated tools on the road as the chargers dont ALWAYS like alternate power supplies (Tools fine). ie using an inverter as they heat up and eventually cause damage. I know that our computer charger is one of these and we cant use even with a very good inverter. They run fine but run at higher heat. please dont shoot the messenger im just saying.
As for chainsaws we have a petrol 12 inch. can run in the rain, has longer staying power than electric, fits in small box and runs off petrol like out truck. We do carry 12 volt reciprocating saw and drill which we only charge off mains power.
I hate wanting to use something and find out its flat.

G'day Herb, we charge computers and 18v power tools using a pure sine wave inverter and it never gets really hot. Phones, tablets, torches all charge from 12v and never had a problem. Maybe you should check the efficiency of your system and inverter.

Had a 12v chainsaw years ago that you connected to the vehicle battery and it worked well for a year or two, but never really had the power to cut big wood, so ditched it. May look at them again if they have improved.

Mick · Newbie

Hi the Ryobi +1 which is has the interchangeable batteries, so each battery fits a number of tool as long as you buy the +1 tools and batteries, anyway the +1 has a 12 .volt charger.

Cheer Mick

native pepper · Senior Member

We have one of these, which fits in well with all our makita cordless tools. Also carry a small husky petrol chainsaw as well. Yet to use the husky on the road as the makita does a wonderful job for our wood heater and no noise.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Makita-18v-36v-Li-ion-Cordless-Chainsaw-UC250DZ-C-UC250-3-Year-Warranty-/181288134256?pt=AU_Power_Tools&hash=item2a359d6670

-- Edited by native pepper on Wednesday 15th of January 2014 07:29:37 PM

sandsmere · Guru

Marnie , I priced the Oregan 36 volt at Port Lincoln . Over $600 .

Lot of tin just to cut a bit of firewood . The smallest petrol Stihl was less than half that , and was 2ks lighter .

The Oregan battery is very heavy .

I also have " axe " , but the motor is almost worn out .

brian · Guru

sandsmere wrote:

I also have " axe " , but the motor is almost worn out .

I have an axe that is over a hundred years old...Only had 3 new heads and four new handles blankstare

moblet · Senior Member

sandsmere wrote:
I also have " axe " , but the motor is almost worn out .

I've sometimes thought of getting an axe but I've not yet found one with a sufficiently durable motor. Fuel seems really expensive for them too. I'm also concerned about the motor wearing out, because no one's been able to give me a quote for replacement.