in praise of electric chain saws

Teakettle

Member
I have a 1980s Sears electric chain saw (I think I paid something like $49 for it on sale) that has been sitting on a shelf in my barn for the past 20 years. I keep meaning to put it out whenever we do a yard sale and I always forget. Last night half a tree came down alongside the barn and just for the heck of it I wiped off the cobwebs, ran the chain through the sharpener, put in some oil, plugged the saw into an extension cord and was amazed at what quick work it made of turning the tree into firewood. Over the years of using big saws I'd forgotten how quiet, torquey, fuss-free, and lightweight the little guy was. I need to get another chain for this thing; I think I'll be using it a lot more.
 
A few years ago, I gave up on 2 cycle chainsaws. I purchased a used 3500 watt champion RV genny for $150 and an 18 inch 4 hp electric chainsaw from sears. The saw is made by worx. It cut through an 18 inch red oak log without an issue.

I liked it so much I purchased a second electric start genny and another electric chainsaw from sears.

I waited for them to go on sale at $100. I will never go back. I haven't cut the cord with saw either. For some it may be a struggle, but for me it's not that much of a struggle to handle an extension cord. I don't miss the noise, smell, starting issues, mixing gas.
 
When I got my bucket truck for painting I seen a potential for tree trimming but needed a light saw I decided to try a electric since I had a generator. I ended up with a 3 hp 16 inch and a electric pole saw. They work great and start at the pull of a finger every time, They don't run out of gas either. Also they are very reasonable priced compared to a gas version. A trimming saw will usually stay sharp a lot longer then if you are falling trees as sometimes there is dirt or sand in the bark not to mention wire or nails. I sharpen my own chains so I will replace them as soon as they show any sign of getting dull. I think trying to push your way with a dull chains ruins both the chain and hurts the saw.
 
I have a couple but I don't like the lack of freewheel on the chain. Let off the trigger and it keeps going with full inertia of the motor for a few seconds, almost like the chainsaw version of those big 3/4" wrist breaker drills.

I use them for trimming firewood too long to fit in the stove and carpentry work of the not so fine variety.
 
About 5 years ago I was wishing I had one, have a bottom unloading silo 20 feet wide well the auger that digs out the silage got old and the flights bent over. I had to dig all the way across to get to the sweep auger. I used gas chain saw and in a little 2x2 tunnel laying on my belly wasn't much fun. In order to survive one has to have a fan blowing air in or there is no air. Worst repair job I ever had to do! Tom
 
I was given and ancient Remington. Handy, but I'm not giving up my big gas saws. I think a lot of homeowners would be better off with one than a cheap box store gas job.
 
The electric chainsaws are ok for small jobs or cutting inside basement. I have had three of them over the years and not real empressed with any of them. To me they are slow cutting and don't like dragging cord around through brush. I don't have that trouble with small top handled saws. And your chaps are no good useing electric chainsaw because a electric chainsaw can cut through kevlar chaps.
 
(quoted from post at 15:04:33 09/13/14) I have a 1980s Sears electric chain saw (I think I paid something like $49 for it on sale) that has been sitting on a shelf in my barn for the past 20 years. I keep meaning to put it out whenever we do a yard sale and I always forget. Last night half a tree came down alongside the barn and just for the heck of it I wiped off the cobwebs, ran the chain through the sharpener, put in some oil, plugged the saw into an extension cord and was amazed at what quick work it made of turning the tree into firewood. Over the years of using big saws I'd forgotten how quiet, torquey, fuss-free, and lightweight the little guy was. I need to get another chain for this thing; I think I'll be using it a lot more.

Yep- a generator and an electric c'saw and/or polesaw are hard to beat BUT a cordless with a lithium-ion battery pack gets used the most around here (not up to a gas saw for firewood, tree-felling, etc. quite yet but that's coming) :)
 
(quoted from post at 12:06:05 09/14/14) The electric chainsaws are ok for small jobs or cutting inside basement. I have had three of them over the years and not real empressed with any of them. To me they are slow cutting and don't like dragging cord around through brush. I don't have that trouble with small top handled saws. [b:200dde648e]And your chaps are no good useing electric chainsaw because a electric chainsaw can cut through kevlar chaps.[/b:200dde648e]

I just have to ask, why is it an electric can cut through chaps where a gas won't??? More accurately, since a gas saw will cut through a set of chaps pretty easy, why do you think an electric is any different?

For anyone wondering, chaps will protect you from inadvertent nicks. They won't stop a determined effort at all.
 
Electric chainsaws have a higher rate of cutting through Kevlar chaps because they have more torque than a gas powered chainsaw. If you read the directions on a new pair of kevlar chaps ( I know Stihl&Husky do) will tell you about the use with a electric chainsaw. Have you ever seen a set of chaps actually get hit by a running chainsaw ? The kevlar brings is to all most instant stop and is a mess to get off chainsaw after it happens. The good chaps will keep you from getting a nasty cut but you may get some miner cuts.
 
Electric chainsaws don't have a centrifugal clutch like a gas saw. There's nothing to "slip" when the chain gets into the chaps, so it just keeps gnawing until you let go of the trigger. Even if it takes you only a split second to let go, that saw can do a LOT of gnawing in that split second.
 
Gas saws make there power at wide open throttle and have a clutch that is relatively easy for the Kevlar fibers to stall out.

Electric saws have 100% torque the minute to hit the button and no clutch to stall out, therefor they will saw right through a pair of chaps.
 
The explanations are about what I thought. I think it's inaccurate to say an electric will "cut through chaps" and that a gas saw won't. A gas saw WILL cut through chaps. I can show you the scars and whats left of the chaps. And FWIW, some electrics stall out pretty easy. Just sayin'...be careful no matter what you use.
 
I go along with you we have to be carefull with all of them.You were lucky you had chaps on because it would have been a lot worse if you hadn't had them on.Stihl chaps use to tell you on the tag that they were no ment to be used with electric chainsaws. Also they tell you that if you do any damage to a pair of chaps ( non chainsaw related) they tell you to replace them.
 

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