Battery Chainsaw

[Mary Playford]

Love it, thank you for the link Stevo

 

[David - coona]

Stevo, great review, I agree with your comments. We bought 1of these with a 5 amp/HR battery. First time out started with 50-100mm trees, then started looking at bigger stuff. We have cut down 450mm trees with this. You need to change attack vectors pretty often, but it is do-able. Fresh trees are easier than old dry stuff.

 

[stevo]

450mm! Sounds like a new record! heh yeah that might take a while but if you're not doing it all the time then that's ok.

I've been doing a heap of work with it lately. I did a 250mm tree last week. Chopped it all up and did a couple of loads in the ute to the dump. I like being able to do it at 7am without the noise of a petrol chainsaw annoying the neighbours.

 

[Mark]

That's pretty good for that sized chainsaw and being battery powered! The noise factor is a huge plus particularly in suburbia.

 

[Ash]

Victa have just released an 82V battery series of gardening gear that was demonstrated to me by a Bunnings storeperson. It was highly promoted by him on account of the power it can output, rivalling its petrol counterparts. He even mentioned a 3 year warranty on the battery, which I wonder about the conditions placed on such a warranty. Plus, there was recently an 80V variety of equipment Victa had (apparently produced by Kobalt) that was promised to be a line of longevity for tradespeople to trust in, and the line was quickly discontinued, leaving all the buyers with a dead end product. Would it be this way with the 82V series, nobody knows. Tough decision to buy when it costs $800 for the mower alone and there is such uncertainty. But the equipment does look impressive...

 

[stevo]

I had a try at someones Ryobi battery mower. It worked ok. It seems to have enough power to keep your "already nice" grass in shape, I'm sure it'd be fine for small yards. The only issue I had was that the outside plastic body seemed too low and scraped along the grass making it hard to push and turn. I didn't have much time to investigate that further.

I'm sure the Victa would work ok, though as you say.. who knows how well the whole battery range will go, which may be limiting.

 

[stevo]

I've also got the Ryobi 18v Line Trimmer and a Drill. That way I can share the batteries between tools. 90% of the time I use the batteries on the drill.

The Line Trimmer is awesome too. I've had a couple of petrol line trimmers, and while they're pretty powerful and can destroy anything, I always found them a pain to maintain and start ( I tend not to maintain things that well). I'd spend 10 minutes trying to start the damn thing.

I whip around the yard with the Battery Line Trimmer in 10 minutes and it's an easy job, not a major task.

 

[David - coona]

Stevo, we bought the line trimmer as well. What a great piece of kit, we bought the 2 solid plastic 'blade' attachment as well, great on tufted grass, useless on small scrub though

 

[Ash]

I've had a look at the 82V mower again, it appears to have power beyond its lower voltage predecessors. Maybe they're getting good at doing it by battery power, more so than Ryobi's 36V offering but the 80V variety from Victa was discontinued abruptly for no apparent reason and there is always that risk that a line can lose its support when consumables are needed form the company for them to be of any use.

How do the other 18V tools fare? The pole trimmer and the hedge trimmer? Does the pole trimmer have enough to get through a 40mm branch for example? I saw the design of the pole trimmer. It is a little cumbersome to lengthen/shorten.

 

[stevo]

David, i didn't know you cold get different attachments for the trimmer, i'll have to have a look.

Ash, I just looked, there's a 18v Ryobi Pole Hedge Trimmer, but it has a max "Path" diameter of 17mm, so I assume that means 40mm wont fit in the blades.


I have a tree down from last nights Cyclone Debbies high winds. Looks like the chainsaw is getting a workout this weekend.

 

[Mark]

I tend not to maintain things that well

Neither do I...

But I expect small motors to work as they should for several years at least without me having a trade in mechanics or requiring to service it.

I've wondered what battery trimmers were like - it's good to know they are up to the job.

 

[Steve]

...I've just stepped deeper into the Ryobi 18V (One+) abyss.
This time i bought a cordless jigsaw.
It seems for me that every time a corded tool goes toes-up I go buy the equivalent in the cordless Ryobi range.

I will sleep sound tonight knowing my range is expanding.. <evil laugh>

 

[GKW]

Old thread dig but new bargain from Bunnings on topic.........and who doesn't love the Bunnings bargain bin / trolley!

So today was buying some bibs and bobs and near the check out was the bargains trolley. Had a look as you do and Bunnings were selling / running out the Ozito 36v cordless 14 inch chainsaw with 2 x 3ah batts and dual charger. Back in Sept 2019, Bunnings had this combo for sale at $279.00....(refer image below).

Bunnings in my part of Sydney had it marked down already to $189.00 and today it was $100.00....so I thought why not. If I only get a couple of years out of it and there's some hard sawing to come shortly, then that's $100.00 well spent.

I'm a big fan of the Ryobi 18v 1+ range and have a gaggle of their tools (garden, garage / auto, lights but no decent chainsaw (note the Ryobi 18v pole pruner chainsaw is a must have) and could never justify the cost of the Ryobi chainsaws....

Note...for the Ryobi 18v 1+ fans out there, you can buy a misting fan that sits on a bucket and sends a delightful fan forced mist your way. Sensational to use out in the garden on a hot day or just kicking back on a barmy evening with an ale.

 

[reeeen4]

We recently bought ourselves this Sthil battery powered brush cutter for a pretty penny but it's mighty powerful and the battery is fantastic! Lasts about an 1 hr 1/12 then only takes 30 min to charge! Now that we have the battery I've been thinking of getting a battery powered chainsaw, since the brush cutter is so powerful I have high hopes for the chainsaw! Highly recommend Sthil though they are great!

 

[DTK]

Stevo, excellent review in OP. I have just read this thread. In a former life (seems that long ago) I was a mechanic. I have always bought the heavy duty tools. A few years ago, we were on an extended caravan trip. It was September and warmish, comfortable, but my bride wanted a camp fire. I walked about 500m to find wood and dragged it back, then cut it up with hands saw. When next in Bunnings, still on that trip, I went looking for a chainsaw to keep in the van. The Ryobi seemed, and also proved to be, perfect for the job. The guy in Bunnings suggested I buy the hand drill / battery / charger combo that was on promotion and get chainsaw skin. Ended up not much more than buying the saw. I have been pleasantly surprised by the Ryobi 1+ range ever since. I do have DeWalt stuff too and it is good but I seem to gravitate to the Ryobi mostly.

 

[DTK]

Stevo, excellent review in OP. I have just read this thread. In a former life (seems that long ago) I was a mechanic. I have always bought the heavy duty tools. A few years ago, we were on an extended caravan trip. It was September and warming, comfortable, but my bride wanted a camp fire. I walked about 500m to find wood and dragged it back then cut it up with hands saw. When next in Bunnings, still on that trip, I went looking for a chainsaw to keep in the van. The Ryobi seemed and also proved to be perfect for the job. The gut in Bunnings suggested

 

[greg egle]

I picked up a Stihl 14" electric chainsaw a couple of years ago. I was getting tired of all the adjustments and engine problems with my gas powered saw. I'm amazed at the productivity of the saw. With two batteries I can go all day and get a hell of a lot accomplished efficiently and quietly. Great tool.