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Electric chainsaw?

5K views 22 replies 15 participants last post by  stringmachine 
#1 ·
Up here in the pacific northwest, some wheelers will tell you chainsaws are a great idea to have, especially in the spring when you often find the previous fall/winter storms have knocked down trees across the roadway. Guys are guys, and if someone could fit a 4-cyl 22R on an 18" bar and pick it up they'd do it.

However, space and weight being at a premium, I am all about efficiency. I've been thinking about spending < $100 on an electric chainsaw, and just running it with a 100' extension onto a decent AC converter. For instance, there's a $69 Yardworks unit with 16" bar and 12A motor with a 2 year warranty. And you don't have to worry about packing a device with gasoline inside your vehicle. In addition to considerably lighter weight, easy starting, easier storing (can be hung upside down or vertically with no issues), virtually maintenance free, given I have an electrical system upgraded to handle it, is there really any disadvantage to using one? (Aside from snickers from your mates when you pull it out of the back.)

Part 2 of my question is electrical... what would an electric chainsaw pull and would the electrical upgrade requirements be so costly that a gasoline powered saw makes more sense economically?
 
#2 · (Edited)
120volts x 12amps = 1,440 watts. So you'd need an inverter strong enough to put that out continuously. Definitely upsize and get a thick extension cord if you're gonna go 100ft to compensate for voltage drop.

I would agree and back you up that it would be much cleaner/safer/practical to carry an electric version. So long as it has the guts to do the job.
 
#4 ·
i borrowed an electric chainsaw from a friend just to cut some small limbs, not with the fj inverter, and it worked for a little bit and then caught on fire, i guess it was from sawdust that got in the motor. and unless you pay good money the gas engines have been not so good either lately . i would go quality gas if you use it enough, otherwise let us know what you choose and how it works.
 
#5 ·
I have a 16" Mac that I take camping. I usually have to walk off the trail way more than 100' to cut up that nice dead tree that's ready to burn. If you like to camp and you like plenty of firewood an electric chainsaw is simply out of the question. :cheers:
 
#6 · (Edited)
Big fan of electric chainsaws and their dependability. They are also relatively quiet which is a big plus in some situations. You still have to carry bar lube though.......

A good quality bat op sawzall with an agressive 12" wood blade can be equally effective while being self contained.
 
#8 ·
#11 ·
This looks like the way to go. No gas and you can haul it anywhere with out an extension cord.
 
#13 ·
Speaking of chains I have the electric chain sharpener sold by Harbor Freight. I was a little leery but the price was cheap and it was on sale. Well it works great and you can sharpen a chain in 10 minutes. It cost me $25 on sale.
 
#20 ·
X2 ill stick with gas
 
#15 ·
The saws I carry don't require oil, motor, gas and are safe to carry and use and don't weigh much. They just require a little elbow grease. I've cut through logs as thick as 24" and it didn't take as long as you might think and I've never heard of anyone cutting off their arm or leg with one of these. I've cleared an entire trail after a major blow down, with a little help from my friends, as the song says.

http://homehardware.ca/en/rec/index...67n/Ntk-All_EN/R-I1062307?Ntt=Bow+saws/Blades
 
#16 ·
The saws I carry don't require oil, motor, gas and are safe to carry and use and don't weigh much. They just require a little elbow grease. I've cut through logs as thick as 24" and it didn't take as long as you might think and I've never heard of anyone cutting off their arm or leg with one of these. I've cleared an entire trail after a major blow down, with a little help from my friends, as the song says.

Home Hardware - 36" Bow Saw
There you go. I'm actually in the process of refurbishing my old bow saw. Needs a new blade and it took a lot of sanding and brushing to get all the corrosion off of it. There was a time when I cut all of my firewood with it. It's been a long time.... For back roads it's just right.

TT
 
#17 ·
I have an electric chain saw somewhere in the shop that has been moving around with me for years, just not worth unpacking as far as I am concerned. I used it several times and it's just more hassle than it is worth, just no real guts.

OP, if you are concerned about trees down in the road or on the trail I look at it like this
Pretty much any tree that you can cut up with the average electric chain saw you can remove with a bow saw, hatchet and a winch.

If you are going to the trouble to carry a chain saw and all that is needed for it I prefer to go with gas, at least I know it will have the power needed to do the job.
 
#18 ·
OP, if you are concerned about trees down in the road or on the trail I look at it like this
Pretty much any tree that you can cut up with the average electric chain saw you can remove with a bow saw, hatchet and a winch.
A winch will make things easier for sure, but a stout rope and 4WD will work most of the time just about as well for this kind of thing. Hatchets, for me anyway, are for splitting stove wood or kindling. For limbing I'd rather have at least a small ax.

TT
 
#21 ·
Ran into some old Willys guys at one point and one of them had a 12 volt chainsaw. I've never seen anything like it, and can't find anything like it online. It was an old thing that had obviously been used over the years.

Hooked it right up to the battery of his Jeep and sawed out a stump that was at least 8 inch in diameter. Looked like a great tool to have on the trail if needed.
 
#22 ·
Hey Pete, with that small of a bar I would be concerned with kick-backs if you are going to try to cut anything larger than a branch.
I typically transport a chainsaw on the roof rack. That's where the full mesh grid on the ARB rack comes in handy I guess... A small gas can on the roof is plenty too.
:cheers:
 
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