Battery Chainsaw

stevo

nativebeehives.com
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
1,804
Location
Clontarf, Qld
Website
nativebeehives.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
ryobichainsaw1.jpg


Battery Chainsaw? You're joking right?

Well... I bought one and it's awesome! I got the "Ryobi Cordless Chainsaw 18v"

Yes it looks like a toy, feels like a toy, and it will kill you slower than a petrol chainsaw, but it works very well for it's intended purpose.

If you want to cut big trees down or cut up lots of firewood then yes you buy a good solid petrol chainsaw.

So why would you buy something like this? It's light, one handed use, easy to use, no fuel, no starting issues, no noise, there's no extension cord!!!

The reason I bought it was because I used a neighbours electric corded chainsaw and was impressed and I went to buy one, but I saw the battery ones and thought yeah that looks different. If I want to cut some big trees I'd use a big chainsaw, but I never need to do that.

The work I do is more just standing at the top of a ladder with a Bush Saw trimming branches, so in reality I would just use a small lightweight option so I thought i'd take the gamble. I did have doubts, but after using I reckon it's awesome. It's like a very hardcore trimmer, but it's very impressive on what it can do.

I've been using it all week and have cut a few trees down, reduced stumps to ground level and cut a heap of bamboo. The battery lasts about an hour, which is more than enough for me, I'm pretty much over it by the time the battery runs out. You can buy more batteries and I was going to but i'm not going to now as I think an hour a session is enough. It takes one hour to charge and you can get back in to it, but I haven't found the need to do that yet.

This is part of the Ryobi One+ system, so you can use the same batteries with a lot of different power tools. I think the One+ system is good marketing from Ryobi as you sort of get hyped in to buying tools that take that specific battery.

I would recommend it more for any suburban backyard, it'll do anything you throw at it and wont upset the neighbours, it could also suit any seniors or people that can't or don't want to deal with a heavy chainsaw. No petrol motor and no extension cord!

Negatives? You do have to understand it has it's limitations and use it as that. It's light so sometimes you have to push it and can't rely on the weight of the chainsaw to cut. The blade/chain rotates slower than a petrol saw so can grab more.

ryobichainsaw2.jpg
 

Attachments

  • ryobichainsaw1.jpg
    ryobichainsaw1.jpg
    81.8 KB · Views: 963
Last edited:

Mark

Founder
Staff member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
5,192
Location
Bellmere, QLD
Website
www.selfsufficientme.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
This is great Stevo and a well written review also!

I've been using my Ryobi hand saw for trimming branches etc and although it does a fair job it's not really meant to be used for gardening and is best for handyman stuff like cutting through pvc or plyboard etc so I think one of these electric chainsaws would be perfect for branch pruning in my orchard! I hate arking up my 20" petrol chainsaw for small stuff...

Ryobi RECIPROCATING SAW.jpg

I also have the drill and the spotlight torch (which is awesome also) and all take the same battery - brilliant! I can vouch for the batteries that power these tools as very good quality and reasonably priced too. It's nice to have a spare battery to sit on the charger when you have more than one tool because it can come in handy sometimes but as you say they do charge quickly anyway so getting by with one battery is manageable.

Do they have spare chains for the saw - I suppose they would...?

By the looks of those images it can cut through some pretty big branches!
 

stevo

nativebeehives.com
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
1,804
Location
Clontarf, Qld
Website
nativebeehives.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
cheers Mark

Yes it'd be perfect for your trimming. The description says it'll do 200mm thick which I have no doubt that it would. I've done a couple 150mm thick green branches, and a couple 150mm thick dead stumps which it does easily, just a little slower than the petrol ones. When it was new the chain was awesome but I think it may need some sharpening soon. There's no spare chain but I'm sure you can get new ones. The chain can be adjusted and/or removed very easily and quick.

Something I forgot to mention, the little black knob think on top is where the chain oil goes, and you press the rubber knob to provide pressure to force the oil to the chain. You're supposed to push it regularly while using. Some people say that theirs leaks out when not in use, but mine hasn't leaked. I store mine on a rag just in case.

I've been thinking about getting a second battery drill, and now i'll atleast have a look at the Ryobi skin, seeing as though I have a battery anyway. See, now they've got me trapped in their system! heheh

That handsaw looks like a Sabre Saw, does that do steel aswell? I guess you can get different blades for it.
 

Mark

Founder
Staff member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
5,192
Location
Bellmere, QLD
Website
www.selfsufficientme.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
That handsaw looks like a Sabre Saw, does that do steel aswell? I guess you can get different blades for it.
Yeah mate - it has interchangeable blades for whatever materials. I've used it to cut through our alloy drainpipes, pvc plumbing, wall studs (installing my new TV), reo mesh, and branches... :)

See, now they've got me trapped in their system! heheh
True, but I reckon Ryobi is a pretty good brand these days and I haven't had a problem with any of their products so far.
 

Director

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Mar 26, 2015
Messages
231
So why would you buy something like this? It's light, one handed use, easy to use, no fuel, no starting issues, no noise, there's no extension cord!!!

So. Zombies then?

serveimage
 

Steve

Valued Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2013
Messages
670
Location
Brisbane Australia
great review stevo.
I've always been sceptical about elec powered big-boy tools, like mowers and trimmers, but you've given my some hope.

I think I'll still buy a petrol chainsaw to start with as I will have fair bit of chopping to do when I start running the fences out on my block.
Then when i get some 'normal' trees established then the elec version might be a good option for industrial pruning.

good info.


Cheers.
 

ClissAT

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
1,842
Location
Pomona, Qld
Climate
Sub-Tropical
Hey Steve, is that battery still performing at peak capacity?
Did you tighten the chain ;)
About 13yrs ago I bought a professional Husqvarna branch lopping saw, very tight one handed operation, easy start, etc to accommodate my failing body. It was good enough to cut down 45cm iron barks for fence posts.
These days I wonder whether I can get something even lighter for the mandatory annual pruning rounds on this property.
Perhaps one like yours would suit me too. I'm about a hour at a time person now too. :sawwood:
 

stevo

nativebeehives.com
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
1,804
Location
Clontarf, Qld
Website
nativebeehives.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
yeap it's still going strong. I've used it a fair bit in my yard to take trees and stumps to the ground. The trusty bush handsaw hasn't been pulled out for ages.

hah yeah I have tightened the chain a couple of times. It's an easy task, there's an allen key clipped in the handle and you just give the adjustment screw a small turn.

I've noticed it drips some chain oil when in storage so I keep it on a rag in the shed. It's just because it's a pretty basic oiling system but I'd rather it drip a bit of oil than not actually, atleast you know it's working.

I reckon you, or anyone would love it. Compulsory item for the garden shed :cheers:
 

stevo

nativebeehives.com
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
1,804
Location
Clontarf, Qld
Website
nativebeehives.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
I had some fun with the local kids for Halloween lastnight. A bit of a dodgy costume, mask, dreadlocks hat, white lab coat, and greeted the kids at the door with my chainsaw. Scared them pretty good. It was quite entertaining, for me anyway...
halloween2015.jpg
 

Steve

Valued Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2013
Messages
670
Location
Brisbane Australia
I too have just moved over to the Ryobi dark-side.
I've just got gifted a 18v Impact Driver from their One+ range and now I find myself looking at what other One+ tools I can buy.......well it came with two batteries so it'd be a waste not having other tools that use can make use of all that power, true? :sawwood:
 

ClissAT

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
1,842
Location
Pomona, Qld
Climate
Sub-Tropical
I've been an Ozito person for a few years since getting the 100mm battery angle grinder to do the horses feet with. All the other brands have a 115 or 125mm angle grinder which is too big to do a good job. I use the course flap discs. Ozito is Aust/NZ designed & I wanted to support the locals.

However Ozito do have a bit of a bad name due to cheapness of batteries & I have one that has been almost collapsed since I got it new with a 2 drill kit. I wanted more batteries because I use up 2 batteries to do 3 sets of feet & if I have to do other people's horses then I would have no batteries charged.

So the drill set came on special & I said what the hell, may as well replace the original battery Makita I built 2 houses with in the early 90's. But one battery was not very good, but I didn't want to take it back because Ozito was in the process of changing over their designs to the new red skins & I wouldn't have been able to get a replacement from the green range, hence no extra batteries for my green angle grinder.
So I am putting up with 1 suspect battery & 3 good batteries. I just have to be careful not to rely on it as my only charged battery. Sometimes it goes for ages & other times it goes flat very quickly.

But I have to say how on earth did we ever get things done before cordless tools were invented?!?!
My next cordless will be something to prune with. Light enough for small twig sized branches but big enough to saw through arm sized stuff. I hunted for a wood saw blade for the angle grinder & was told they are too much of a safety hazard (not having any proper protection sheath mechanism)to be for sale in Australia. But I have since seen a battery powered wood saw thingo for cutting up firewood. That's what I need but it was expensive. So just waiting for the Chinese version to hit Bunnings!! :D
 

Steve

Valued Member
Premium Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2013
Messages
670
Location
Brisbane Australia
Yeah I hear ya, I've got a few Ozito power tools but all are corded versions at this stage.
I dont use them a heap so they do the job for me. I've never had a problem with them.
Once I was building a deck where I need to use a hammer drill into concrete and my reasonably expensive drill gave up half way through. I ended up buying a $15 hammer drill from K-Mart (yep that's right) as it was the closest shop and it's still going strong 15 years later! My logic is I could have bought 8 drills for the same price as a decent one. Sometimes it pays off going for the cheaper alternative......but not always!
 

Ash

Valued Member
Premium Member
Joined
Mar 26, 2015
Messages
679
Location
Preston, QLD
Website
asmedical.webege.com
Climate
Temperate (all seasons)
Got myself a Ryobi One+ drill set from Bunnings for $199 on recommendation by a brickie friend of mine. I don't need an impact hammer drill (yet) so it suffices for me. I did have to buy separate drill bits (should have come with some to start off with) but otherwise I am pleased with the system. It is no professional tradie-level drill but for the home user, it should suffice. Plus the battery power is good that gives the drill plenty of grunt for just about any handy job around the house.
 

stevo

nativebeehives.com
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Jun 13, 2013
Messages
1,804
Location
Clontarf, Qld
Website
nativebeehives.com
Climate
Sub-Tropical
Update...

For some reason either the charger or battery had died and I couldn't tell which, but the battery wouldn't charge. I thought about buying another battery but there'd be no point if the charger was no good.

So I gathered up all the bits, chainsaw, battery and charger with receipt and went to Bunnings. The returns desk lady was doing five things at once and called the garden tool fella? He was only doing three things at once, the battery tested out ok but the charger didn't work properly, so he disappeared off to the garden tool area and brought back a whole new product. New chainsaw, battery and charger.

I'm pretty happy with that outcome :thumbsup:

The only shame is that, I'd assume they might send it back to Ryobi, and what would Ryobi do... throw the perfectly good working chainsaw in the bin because it's been used and they can't sell it?
 

ClissAT

Valued Member
Premium Member
GOLD
Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
1,842
Location
Pomona, Qld
Climate
Sub-Tropical
"throw the perfectly good working chainsaw in the bin"

Sad but true Stevo, its a wasteful society we live in these days.
 
Top Bottom