I would like to buy a lightweight, short bladed, battery powered chainsaw or maybe 2.

I want a chainsaw for mostly cutting honeysuckle and branches under 4" in diameter. I also want a pole chainsaw for cutting back trees that are progressively overhanging my hayfields more and .more and 1 of my barns. I already have a larger, gas powered Stihl chainsaw, a small gas powered craftsman and a plug in chainsaw for bigger jobs.

Any suggestions on brands and models?

Do the short chains get dull fast?

Are the tiny one handed chainsaws any good for what i want to use them for?

I went to the local Stihl dealer and they told me it could be up to 6 months to get a battery powered chainsaw in, which is much longer than I want to wait.

Keith

Hi Keith. I really like Ryobi. Although the chainsaw is not one of my tools, I have heard great things about them and with their battery system, they offer a ton of tools. The batteries hold a charge forever and their stuff is built well.

My advice is to buy a saw you already have batteries for from your cordless drills and such.

X2 what adc mentioned. Had a Milwaukee give to me by our hunters an it's a wood cutting beast. The only downfall I have found is the bar is junk. On my second one. Seems like I got 2 Rick cut b4 battery gets low. Dry hackberry

I've got a dewalt 20v 12" chainsaw. For around the house type stuff. Its battery fits several other tools that we own. I've cut landscape timbers with it and blade is still sharp. Its pretty awesome little saw.

I have a Milwaukee 12 volt model and it is surprising what that saw can cut. Chain is very nice and throws large impressive sawdust as it cuts through hardwoods up to 3". You can cut bigger diameter trees but at that point one of your gas saws would be the ticket. $189.00 out the door but no battery or charger as I already had those. Unit uses bar oil too which keeps the bar and chain lubed. Usually always have the saw in my 4 wheeler for the many branches that seem to fall across the trails I drive on.

Chris

I have one of those little one handed models, of course it's made in China..package came with 2 batteries, an extra saw blade, and 2 extra chains. It's surprisingly light, one handed and cuts better then it should. I was using it last month to cut seasoned cherry branches up to 5" thick and it cut fine...It doesn't have a chain oiler, recommend you spray lube the chain regularly.
I don't remember the name, the kids got it for me ,but theres a lot of brands that look pretty much the same and it was not expensive, I did see that Stihl has one that size also, but for considerably more money.

I wouldn't expect it to last with frequent heavy cutting, but who knows, it is very handy for pruning, low hanging branches, cutting back shrubs,etc. it's not a firewood machine.

Theres better saws out there, but for sheer handiness it's hard to beat.

I ran a Stihl for the first time just a few days ago, it belongs to a friend who is actually a feller; no he doesn't use it for felling.
I was very impressed, crazy torque, and long battery life. Not cheap though, I think he said $1500; maybe it's a top of the line model, I don't know.

High end Husqvarna makes a one handed saw that is excellent.

Lower end Makitas are very good but the 18 volts are very limited on power, I use them for trimming more so than removals even small ones

Other option, sawzalls work pretty well especially if your cutting close to the dirt removing small stuff.

I own both Makitas and Huskies, the Huskies are better but way more $$$, personally ide go Makita 36 volt (dual battery)

I just got a small 12-in chainsaw battery operated made by Greenworks about a week ago online. Took a little bit of getting used to and had to get the right chain tension but it cut everything I wanted it to in my yard. The biggest was an old rotten tree trunk about 8 in through. Most of the cutting was dead lilacs anywhere from one to three inches across. The battery life is exceptional. It cost around $160 with battery and charger

I bought a Ryobi (I like their tools) $80 Black friday special for Honeysuckle. DON'T get that one: no power so it either takes some muscle and patience to cut through one or the chain wants to bounce around on the smaller limbs.

Looks for amps NOT volts!

I have a dewalt pole saw and it does a good job.

Pretty happy with my dewalt chansaw for about 3 years -- notches fence posts, cuts stuff out of my way, and cuts up to about 8" wood easy enough. I wouldn't want to put in my yerly supply of firewood with it but it does a great job on blackberries and smaller (river bottom) brush when I need to make a small path. AND it always starts and runs.

Bought the wife a battery powered Stihl for her birthday. She uses it for just the stuff you mentioned. It’s holding up pretty good even with all the roots she’s been using it on. lol

I bought a Stihl cordless chainsaw and a dewalt pole saw. They both see alot of use and I carry them in my utv all the time.

I have 2 Milwaukee Hatchets- love them. I use them almost exclusively for Hack n Squirt honeysuckle.

There's a YouTube video doing a comparison with a Milwaukee sawzall and a Milwaukee battery powered chainsaw. The chainsaw is significantly faster . Just my random 2 cents.

I have the Lowe's brand kobalt. Both the 24 volt chainsaw and 24 volt limb saw. They work great for what they are designed for. I have no complaints. I think Kobalt offers a lifetime warranty.

Ol dad

Thanks to everyone who responded. You gave me a lot of good information.

Keith

I have a Milwaukee and love it. I agree with Flint hill the bar and chain are the weak spot. I’m slowly switching from Dewalt to Milwaukee

I have both the Milwaukee 18 volt chainsaw and the small 12 volt chainsaw. Have used both extensively and find both very much worth the money.

I have a stihl 140 and it’s been awesome. My smaller gas stihls haven’t seen much use since I got the 140.

I ran into a guy today that bought a Milwaukee Hatchet that I have- he runs vegetable oil instead of bar oil and quarters elk and caribou with his- interesting!

Just picked up a stihl 120. Working it this weekend! I will see how it works.

I have a Milwaukee pole saw. Absolutely no complaints with it. I already had Milwaukee batteries and chargers , that made the decision easy. I cleared a bunch of shooting lanes with it in February, made the job easy. Wish I would have bought one years ago.

Keith,

I have GTA 26 battery pruner. It's amazing. It last about 45 minutes per battery. It has stayed sharp through 8 charges now. Well worth the wait for mine. I used it last fall and winter to trim for deer blinds. It will cut up to a 4'' tree but it's hard on it. I use it for exactly what you said- cutting honey suckle. It is well worth the $139.00. Get on a list and tell them if someone doesn't pick there's up you will take it- that's what I did and got it in 1 month. It is one of my favorite tools. It stays sharp. It's a Stihl like all the other tools they make.

I have a Stihl pole saw- the best one they make - it is ridiculously sharp and I have had it about 6 years. I use it to trim around my hay field too. I also pull a hay rack around and saw from on top of that. My arms get tired - so I want a gas pole saw. The power company guys have them and they look like they work really well. This pole saw also works well for honey suckle. I can push it back along the stump and saw the stumps off. A 2'' honey suckle stump takes about 10 pulls. Get the power one if you can afford it.

I run a Stihl 362 . Just cut down 5 walnut trees and got some boards back yesterday.

Keith we use a Kobalt. Got the small chainsaw and pole saw. 3 years of miscellaneous use around the farm with no issues. Keep the batteries charged and I don’t like to run them dead. The kobalt batteries have a light strip to push and test them. I let them get down to 1 or 2 bars and swap out. Very handy tools! But don’t sell your noisy saw, she’ll still be needed for the big chores

Thanks again everybody.

Keith