Cordless Chainsaw & Pole saw system (and cordless pruning)

[highfigh]

For anyone with older battery powered tools like drills, flashlights, circular saw, Sawzall, etc- I have owned two Milwaukee 18V NiCd hammer drills since about 2005 and at the time, LiIon hadn't quite reached the market. The batteries were expensive, but I got a lot of use from them. The last time I bought Milwaukee replacements, I almost swallowed my tongue and in the time since I got them, Milwaukee stopped supporting NiCd completely, so I looked online because they still work well and I didn't want to replace them because of the cost. I found a couple of dealers on Ebay who sell NiCd replacement battery cells than load into the original plastic shell and they're much more reasonable- I don't think I paid more than $40 for each set. They send a postage paid shipping label for returning the old ones, for recycling and possibly so they can re-use the terminals.

Gulf Coast Battery Company is the one I use.

 

[highfigh]

This is interesting - Family Handyman says battery is faster on 6" log and gas faster on 10" log. However, they are two different sizes of bar as well.

That battery powered saw is way undersized for the larger log.

 

[slipperybidness]

For anyone with older battery powered tools like drills, flashlights, circular saw, Sawzall, etc- I have owned two Milwaukee 18V NiCd hammer drills since about 2005 and at the time, LiIon hadn't quite reached the market. The batteries were expensive, but I got a lot of use from them. The last time I bought Milwaukee replacements, I almost swallowed my tongue and in the time since I got them, Milwaukee stopped supporting NiCd completely, so I looked online because they still work well and I didn't want to replace them because of the cost. I found a couple of dealers on Ebay who sell NiCd replacement battery cells than load into the original plastic shell and they're much more reasonable- I don't think I paid more than $40 for each set. They send a postage paid shipping label for returning the old ones, for recycling and possibly so they can re-use the terminals.

Gulf Coast Battery Company is the one I use.

That is a nice service. There is also no reason that a reasonably technical person can't rebuild a pack from cells that they have sourced themselves.

From what I am reading online, it looks like the new Ryobi Li batteries (the bright yellow stuff) are compatible with the older generation Ryobi that came with NiCd (the old blue stuff). That is excellent news to me! I have several of the old tools, I was considering replacing with the new Li tools, but looks like I just need to buy a couple of batteries and a charger. I may find a better price with battery/charger/tool combo too. I am well aware that this Ryobi stuff is not the greatest, but it has done what I need for a long time now, and likely will do what I need for many years yet.

 

[highfigh]

That is a nice service. There is also no reason that a reasonably technical person can't rebuild a pack from cells that they have sourced themselves.

From what I am reading online, it looks like the new Ryobi Li batteries (the bright yellow stuff) are compatible with the older generation Ryobi that came with NiCd (the old blue stuff). That is excellent news to me! I have several of the old tools, I was considering replacing with the new Li tools, but looks like I just need to buy a couple of batteries and a charger. I may find a better price with battery/charger/tool combo too. I am well aware that this Ryobi stuff is not the greatest, but it has done what I need for a long time now, and likely will do what I need for many years yet.

The tricky part is attaching the jumpers since the cells are encased in stainless steel. I have some Ryobi stuff and it works fine. As with any tool, it's important to pick the best for the application.

 

[Mr._Clark]

I can't believe this thread is here. I have been interested in getting a battery powered chainsaw. I like my Greenworks mower. Anybody use a blower/sucker? I don't like the idea of blowing everything around but does the vacuum feature really work that well?

A couple more thoughts on the B&D Leaf Hog blower/vacuum. The bag is quite small and fills up with leaves quickly. The leaves tend to get packed into the bag, and I typically have to pull them out by hand. This isn't necessarily a problem for smaller amounts of leaves, but it does require stopping frequently to empty the bag.

On the other hand, the vacuum is still the best solution I've found for getting leaves out of shrubs, and off the ground around shrubs.

 

[KEW]

If you use a saber saw, look at the Bosch 'Progressor' blades and the clones- they cut incredibly well and are so much better than the ones from the past that I'm surprised that type of saw had survived so long- the Progressor blades are insanely sharp and cut ridiculously cleanly. Keep your fingers clear of the blade. This series is also available for Sawzall, too- including carbide.

View attachment 41601

For the record, Freud and Bosch blades have been one in the same for about a decade (when Bosch bought Freud)!

 

[VMPS-TIII]

I cut down a 19' tree today with my $100 Oregon electric chain saw. It cuts down just about anything with ease. The auto sharpen function is a nice touch too. It beats my inexpensive pole saw by a wide margin.

You just have to learn where the tree is gonna fall.

Amazon.com : Oregon CS1500 18 in. 15 Amp Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Oregon CS1500 18 in. 15 Amp Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

 

[lovinthehd]

You just have to learn where the tree is gonna fall.

Amazon.com : Oregon CS1500 18 in. 15 Amp Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Oregon CS1500 18 in. 15 Amp Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

Reminds me of this guy

 

[highfigh]

For the record, Freud and Bosch blades have been one in the same for about a decade (when Bosch bought Freud)!

Same ownership, different products- I like when a 'merger' leaves the companies able to do what they do best. I have blades from both and while there's some overlap, it's not as if they take blade blanks or bits and slap two names on them. Either way, they cover a lot of ground- Bosch handles large hole cutting (hole saws for wood and concrete) and Freud has its reputation for saws and router bits- they have both made router bits for years . The Progressor blades I mentioned came out from Bosch first and I haven't looked for or bought them from other companies but I know they're available.

Not sure I have seen circular saw blades that meet the level of Forrest, though. I had a Freud dado set and the carbide chipped badly. While I know that the material I was cutting (particle board and MDF) are hard on blades, my Forrest has had zero problems with either and in fact, it has cut several nails that I didn't know about. The comment made by the guy who sharpens blades in this area "Particle Board is the hot dog of wood products" came from this experience. OTOH, the guy who sharpens for me isn't terribly impressed by Forrest although mine is 25 years old and it has only been sharpened twice- I find that amazing, considering the amount and variety of wood it has cut.

BTW- if you ever need a low cost circular saw blade for cutting wood that may have screws- check out this test- the $9 Freud Diablo blade cut 80 deck screws before it was basically unusable. Diablo are great blades, too.

 

[highfigh]

Reminds me of this guy

Ever watch tree felling videos when it didn't quite go according to plan (assuming that they had a plan being a bit of a leap)? I saw one tree that was so dry it basically exploded when it started falling and in another video, the tree didn't have enough room to fall without taking other trees with it, so they cut a hole in the trunk, shoved a thinner log into the hole and laid it on an angle. They then cut through the main tree across the hole with the log and when it started to fall, the notch left by their cut was able to guide the tree down the angled log, which acted as a ramp.

Oh, oh!

 

[highfigh]

I cut down a 19' tree today with my $100 Oregon electric chain saw. It cuts down just about anything with ease. The auto sharpen function is a nice touch too. It beats my inexpensive pole saw by a wide margin.

You just have to learn where the tree is gonna fall.

Amazon.com : Oregon CS1500 18 in. 15 Amp Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Oregon CS1500 18 in. 15 Amp Self-Sharpening Corded Electric Chainsaw : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

I seriously doubt the ones who land a tree on cars, houses, etc have any idea how to determine where it will go. When the distorted shape of the tree dictates that it will fall somewhere other than where they cut the wedge, they look SOOO surprised.

Gravity- it's not for the squeamish. Personally, I would blame it on the Earth's rotation and tell them to prove that it was my fault.

 

[lovinthehd]

Ever watch tree felling videos when it didn't quite go according to plan (assuming that they had a plan being a bit of a leap)? I saw one tree that was so dry it basically exploded when it started falling and in another video, the tree didn't have enough room to fall without taking other trees with it, so they cut a hole in the trunk, shoved a thinner log into the hole and laid it on an angle. They then cut through the main tree across the hole with the log and when it started to fall, the notch left by their cut was able to guide the tree down the angled log, which acted as a ramp.

Oh, oh!

I've been shown by our USFS and trail crew guys certain dead trees that will explode when cut....but didn't get a demo that day. I have seen some amazing saw work, tho. We still have a guy in town who specializes in crosscut saws (the two man kind), teaches about them and sharpens them.....the guys who use these work in our wilderness areas doing trail work (one particularly great group of such guys is The Scorpions).

 

[ryanosaur]

Gravity- it's not for the squeamish.

Yup...
It get's ya every time!

OK...
I'll stop now.

 

[highfigh]

I've been shown by our USFS and trail crew guys certain dead trees that will explode when cut....but didn't get a demo that day. I have seen some amazing saw work, tho. We still have a guy in town who specializes in crosscut saws (the two man kind), teaches about them and sharpens them.....the guys who use these work in our wilderness areas doing trail work (one particularly great group of such guys is The Scorpions).

Watching someone who really knows what they're doing is impressive- watching people who clearly don't is disturbing. I watched a video yesterday where one guy was standing behind the camera as he held a rope tied to the top of a fairly large Pine tree (as if he could actually keep it from falling too fast). When the top fell, it went down on the far side and he literally flew past the camera as he was yanked toward the standing base. The height was about 10' less than his distance to the tree and when he reached it, he swung around and slapped against it. He didn't slow the top's fall, a bit.

 

[Mr._Clark]

Watching someone who really knows what they're doing is impressive- watching people who clearly don't is disturbing. I watched a video yesterday where one guy was standing behind the camera as he held a rope tied to the top of a fairly large Pine tree (as if he could actually keep it from falling too fast). When the top fell, it went down on the far side and he literally flew past the camera as he was yanked toward the standing base. The height was about 10' less than his distance to the tree and when he reached it, he swung around and slapped against it. He didn't slow the top's fall, a bit.

I have a couple widowmakers in the woods by my house. My wife asked about my life insurance policy the other day, and she's been bugging me to cut them down ever since I assured her the policy is paid up. I'm sure it's just coincidence, of course.

 

[highfigh]

I have a couple widowmakers in the woods by my house. My wife asked about my life insurance policy the other day, and she's been bugging me to cut them down ever since I assured her the policy is paid up. I'm sure it's just coincidence, of course.

Seemed like a good idea at the time....

 

[KEW]

This guy is so educational and entertaining to watch!
If you have any interest at all on how these are made, he does a teardown with a pretty insightful evaluation (looks like Dewalt is not the best option for an e-chainsaw!)!
BTW, "skoockum" is good (as far as I can tell, this guy has made up his own vernacular)!

Edit: Spelled Skookum correctly per Lovin (thanks!)

 

[lovinthehd]

This guy is so educational and entertaining to watch!
If you have any interest at all on how these are made, he does a teardown with a pretty insightful evaluation (looks like Dewalt is not the best option for an e-chainsaw!)!
BTW, "skoocum" is good (as far as I can tell, this guy has made up his own vernacular)!

Skookum