Battery Chainsaws

[The Back 40]

I'm getting ready to upgrade to a new battery tool platform, and I have to say that some of the new battery chainsaws from Dewalt and Milwaukee look pretty interesting.

I have my larger gas saws, but I like the idea of a smaller battery saw for misc. trail clearing and camping tasks. The Dewalt 12" top handle runs on their 20V system and only retails for about $185 (bare tool). and doesn't require the larger 60V max battery system like their larger chainsaw. 

I would rather stick to one battery system for everything rather than getting into special batteries for a Stihl or Husq.

Does anyone have any experience with the Dewalts or Milwaukees.

 

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCCS620B-Compact-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B073FTGBZY?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by The Back 40

[josephmrtn]

I've heard some really good things about the DeWalt saws but haven't used one personally. I did just buy a 24v Kobalt weedwhacker that I'm excited to test out this summer. The battery technology in some of these tool is pretty amazing.

[ZAG]

Hey Joe!! I have the stihl, love the stupid thing. Its light, quiet, just needs oil and off ya go. Cuts a ton of stuff and have been super happy with it!

Edited February 1, 2023 by ZAG

[ZAG]

[mowin]

I'm a Milwaukee fan. Been slowly changing everything over from DeWalt. Only have a DeWalt skill saw and grease gun left.  IMO, the Milwaukee and built better and last longer. 

Don't have a cordless saw yet, but plan on getting one this spring. 

[Otto]

I have all Milwaukee tools and bought the chainsaw a couple years ago,.  It works great for small limbs, trees etc.  I’m very happy to use it for trail maintenance or light trimming of fruit trees.  Much easier than the gas chainsaw, but it does have limits.  You won’t be processing firewood with it, but it is a very handy tool to have. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by Otto

[Ogee]

5 hours ago, The Back 40 said:

I'm getting ready to upgrade to a new battery tool platform, and I have to say that some of the new battery chainsaws from Dewalt and Milwaukee look pretty interesting.

I have my larger gas saws, but I like the idea of a smaller battery saw for misc. trail clearing and camping tasks. The Dewalt 12" top handle runs on their 20V system and only retails for about $185 (bare tool). and doesn't require the larger 60V max battery system like their larger chainsaw. 

I would rather stick to one battery system for everything rather than getting into special batteries for a Stihl or Husq.

Does anyone have any experience with the Dewalts or Milwaukees.

 

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCCS620B-Compact-Cordless-Chainsaw/dp/B073FTGBZY?ref_=ast_sto_dp

 

This question was also posted recent in another thread….

Although I’m sure the Stihl is really good, it only fits their outdoor proprietary tools; and in todays world of cordless everything I think your choice of DeWalt and Milwaukee are good ones.

I transitioned out of DeWalt (20v) to Milwaukee (12 and 18v) starting about 3 years ago; I make a living off my tools in the trades (carpentry/wood end)

DeWalt has a ton of cordless stuff, it’s astonishing frankly the myriad of options. Quality on some is OK, not always great, certainly usable, and really cost effective at times. Much is solid, around me there is a ton on job sites because its cost effective especially if the boss is buying stuff. I buy all my own tools 99% of the time and take care of the stuff.

I happen to think Milwaukee has an edge on build quality in general. I much prefer my 12v impact driver or drill to the 20v DeWalt for all day and the 18v head to head takes a noticeable edge. I have a fair bit of 18v tools now (maybe 2 dozen?)  and kept in mind I  wanted the blower/pole saw/chainsaw, so made a switch to Milwaukee. I have not been disappointed in doing so, but it’s not always the cheapest option. I like the chainsaw, no doubt I’d buy it again; waited for a deal to get another big battery for run time as a buy a tool get a battery free promotion. <there are lots of those that come up.

 

I’m sure there will be other opinions much like Ford/Chevy .I wont add Dodge, as we all know,they always suck .

[Moho81]

11 hours ago, Otto said:

I have all Milwaukee tools and bought the chainsaw a couple years ago,.  It works great for small limbs, trees etc.  I’m very happy to use it for trail maintenance or light trimming of fruit trees.  Much easier than the gas chainsaw, but it does have limits.  You won’t be processing firewood with it, but it is a very handy tool to have. 

Did you get the 14" or 16" bar? Home Depot just had the 14" on sale with a 6.0ah battery. I almost bought it but I remember seeing a 16" bar with a bigger battery for not much more so I decided to wait. 

[Belo]

I've been running a 10" craftsman 20v for a few years and it's the greatest new thing in my stand prep. It's great for anything 8" and under, easy to one hand hang off your stand/steps to trim a branch (tied off of course), much quieter and not as stinky as gas if you're doing some in season work and stops and starts on demand, which we all know is a big issue with some older 2 cycles. 

Anyhow, I view my electric as complimentary. It stays mounted on my sxs in case something has come down on a trail and I use it for small quick tasks, but it doesn't replace my big husqvarna that has a 20 or 16 inch bar. If I need to get stuff done quicker or larger, it's still gas all the way.

As you mentioned though, for under $200 a smaller electric is almost a must have these days. Buy a 4ah or extra battery just in case. My dad was skeptical and laughed at my "toy" until he saw it in action and went out and bought a kobalt the next month. He got the larger 48v which he said is a lot more powerful than my 20v, but for me it doesn't hit the sweet spot and overlaps more with the gas saw I already have. 

[dbHunterNY]

i'd only get a battery one if it were a pole saw. for anything that small i got turned onto higher end hand saws and holy hell they cut great with less to worry about or maintain. i could see getting them if you already had string trimmers and other stuff off the same battery system.

[The Back 40]

I currently have all 18V Dewalt battery tools. And I can get into the newer 20V battery system and just get the adapter to use the new batteries with the older tools. At my work they have moved exclusively to Milwaukee battery tools, and I agree they are great, but I would have to switch out all of my old tools or use an aftermarket adapter to use the M batteries on the D tools.

I also want to get the weed eater and blower for the wife to use (she hates the gas tools)

I looked at the new 18V Milwaukee 14" top handle saw that just came out, but the MSRP is $450 compared to the Dewalt 12" which is $250. I question whether the Milwaukee is $200 better than the Dewalt.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-14-in-Top-Handle-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Chainsaw-Kit-with-8-0-Ah-Battery-Rapid-Charger-2826-21T/320804862

 

[Belo]

1 hour ago, The Back 40 said:

I currently have all 18V Dewalt battery tools. And I can get into the newer 20V battery system and just get the adapter to use the new batteries with the older tools. At my work they have moved exclusively to Milwaukee battery tools, and I agree they are great, but I would have to switch out all of my old tools or use an aftermarket adapter to use the M batteries on the D tools.

I also want to get the weed eater and blower for the wife to use (she hates the gas tools)

I looked at the new 18V Milwaukee 14" top handle saw that just came out, but the MSRP is $450 compared to the Dewalt 12" which is $250. I question whether the Milwaukee is $200 better than the Dewalt.

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-14-in-Top-Handle-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Brushless-Cordless-Chainsaw-Kit-with-8-0-Ah-Battery-Rapid-Charger-2826-21T/320804862

 

the battery game sucks. I have like 3 or 4 chargers now setup on my work bench and actively seek tools that use the same battery even if a competitor has a better option so I can avoid yet another charger. What's worse for me is that I have like 4 perfectly good electric craftsman outdoor tools and when lowes bought them they switched so now anything new has a new battery and charger and they no longer make the old batteries. It's nice that my new drill works with my new chainsaw battery i guess but man it's annoying having all the proprietary chargers and batteries and even worse when they discontinue a line. 

Edited February 2, 2023 by Belo

[Otto]

4 hours ago, Moho81 said:

Did you get the 14" or 16" bar? Home Depot just had the 14" on sale with a 6.0ah battery. I almost bought it but I remember seeing a 16" bar with a bigger battery for not much more so I decided to wait. 

I'm pretty sure I got the 14" bar. I bought the bare tool because I already had a lot of the larger batteries.   

[Otto]

13 minutes ago, Belo said:

the battery game sucks. I have like 3 or 4 chargers now setup on my work bench and actively seek tools that use the same battery even if a competitor has a better option so I can avoid yet another charger. What's worse for me is that I have like 4 perfectly good electric craftsman outdoor tools and when lowes bought them they switched so now anything new has a new battery and charger and they no longer make the old batteries. It's nice that my new drill works with my new chainsaw battery i guess but man it's annoying having all the proprietary chargers and batteries and even worse when they discontinue a line. 

I gave away 5 Porter Cable (nicad batteries) tools when I switched over to Milwaukee.  This week I was using 12v Dewalt tools and really like how they felt.  Lighter and just as powerful as the Milwaukee.  But I'm already committed to Milwaukee so I don't plan to switch anytime soon. 

[hueyjazz]

The real game in this is they tend to lose money on the tool because then intend to screw you on the battery where all the profit is.  And the battery is the consumable.  

But it's rebuildable if you're the least bit handy and you find out that many of these battery packs, come apart with a security type screw for which the bit is easy to obtain.  Then you'll see the pack is made of cells group in a pattern and joined by tabs of metal spot welded to battery.  Often, it's only 1 or 2 of these cells that are dead, and you can replace them.

    YouTube it for your pack.

Most common cell I've found is the 18650 which you can obtain from your other dead packs.  Or I often found this cell in dead laptop batteries from the work pile that I could cannibalize.   

I see a lot of value in a light saw for overhead work that I can depend on for safe on/off.  I have three saws of different sizes that are used by job, but the electric seems a good addition.  I would expect the 20 volts saw to be of limited duration per charge.