Battery Powered Chainsaw/Hedge Trimmer

[macrocarpa]

36V top handled makita is pretty much the same price as the 18V it appears. Wonder what the pros and cons would be in comparing the two?

36V - https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XCU08PT

18V - https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XCU06Z

 

[Jan_]

36V top handled makita is pretty much the same price as the 18V it appears. Wonder what the pros and cons would be in comparing the two?

36V - https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XCU02Z

18V - https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XCU06Z

The 36V Model uses 2 batteries where the 18V model uses 1. It therefore has more battery capacity. The 36V also has a higher chain speed, which means it is more powerful. This is not fully correct from a physics standpoint, if it has the same Force it is more powerful. This should be the case though, since it would make no sense for makita to make it have less force than the 18V one. In general a higher chain speed of course does not equal more power.

 

[macrocarpa]

The 36V Model uses 2 batteries where the 18V model uses 1. It therefore has more battery capacity. The 36V also has a higher chain speed, which means it is more powerful.

So the 36V would have several advantages and the only cons would be slightly heavier?

 

[Jan_]

So the 36V would have several advantages and the only cons would be slightly heavier?

I'd see it that way from their product website, maybe someone who has used both saws can comment on it.
edit: The 36V one is, to my suprise, not brushless and instead uses a brushed motor which is not as reliable. That'd be a downside.
edit 2: Makita makes a brushless 36V tophandle too, it can be found under the name "DUC256Z"

 

[macrocarpa]

I'd see it that way from their product website, maybe someone who has used both saws can comment on it.
edit: The 36V one is, to my suprise, not brushless and instead uses a brushed motor which is not as reliable. That'd be a downside.
edit 2: Makita makes a brushless 36V tophandle too, it can be found under the name "DUC256Z"

Thanks! I'm going to try to speak with a Makita distributor to sort through all these different models. (sadly its hard to find knowledgeable sales reps for stuff like this)

 

[Treetopflyer]

Thanks! I'm going to try to speak with a Makita distributor to sort through all these different models. (sadly its hard to find knowledgeable sales reps for stuff like this)

I think I have the guys card from expo I'll have to look for it..

 

[ppsavage]

the battery powered husqvarna hedge trimmers are pretty lame

 

[colb]

I'd see it that way from their product website, maybe someone who has used both saws can comment on it.
edit: The 36V one is, to my suprise, not brushless and instead uses a brushed motor which is not as reliable. That'd be a downside.
edit 2: Makita makes a brushless 36V tophandle too, it can be found under the name "DUC256Z"

The DUC256Z comes up in foreign language in my google search. It's new news to me. Do you know if it is available state side, or when it will be? That would be an improvement over the brushed motor. Then the only further improvement would be to drop a battery to make it lighter. Milwaukee has an 18v ground saw with a 16" bar. I have it. They sell it with the 12ah 18v battery, which helps diffuse heat. It does not increase power compared to the 9ah and 5ah 18v battery. The power is fine in up to 10 inch wood. It is narrow kerf. Sucks for bore cuts.

 

[Jan_]

The DUC256Z comes up in foreign language in my google search. It's new news to me. Do you know if it is available state side, or when it will be? That would be an improvement over the brushed motor. Then the only further improvement would be to drop a battery to make it lighter. Milwaukee has an 18v ground saw with a 16" bar. I have it. They sell it with the 12ah 18v battery, which helps diffuse heat. It does not increase power compared to the 9ah and 5ah 18v battery. The power is fine in up to 10 inch wood. It is narrow kerf. Sucks for bore cuts.

Oh, it must be a model we only just got in Germany. I'll see if I can find out more about it.

 

[macrocarpa]

I ordered the 18V Makita XCU06T. I figure if I need more power I have plenty of other gas powered saws. Can't wait to play with it on some pruning. I prune a lot of pin oaks loaded with dead lower branches that I hope it fills a niche.

 

[colb]

I ordered the 18V Makita XCU06T. I figure if I need more power I have plenty of other gas powered saws. Can't wait to play with it on some pruning. I prune a lot of pin oaks loaded with dead lower branches that I hope it fills a niche.

I look forward to your review after you've used it on a few climbs.

 

[Jan_]

These are all the top handle saws I can find on the German makita website, they dont seem to be available in america...
They also market them specifically as pruning saws for arborists.

 

[macrocarpa]

I went with the lightest option

 

[macrocarpa]

This video shows the 18V Makita cutting through some bigger wood. (I do not endorse the saw handling, but DO endorse the mullet)

 

[Treetopflyer]

That's some sweet mullet action
I couldn't find that gents card from makita sorry..

 

[macrocarpa]

I have used the Makita 18V climbing saw on a couple small pruning jobs and was impressed with how light it is! I will test it out on some dead spruce removals next week. I have seen some Japanese arborists put a thinner bar on it (carving bar?) and would like to figure out the advantages to a thinner bar and which bar is best that is available in the US. I have my eye on the 36V climbing saw (below video). It seems to have a lot more power. In the video they cut some big white oak. I do wood working so its nice the same batteries/charger can be used for this too and just got a sweeper https://www.berlandstools.com/blog/2020/1/7/makita-xcu08-chainsaw

 

[macrocarpa]

This guy is going to make a video comparison of the 36V Makita VS the Husqvarna soon he said:

This is a pretty good video showing battery life of the 18V Makita:

 

[southsoundtree]

Gas saws are not so rain or temperature-affected.

 

[ppsavage]

one reason we quite the battery saws was greatly diminished ease of use in cold temps. If you have a shop probably not so big a deal but in the end decided it was just more practical to use gas.

 

[Basswood]

I really want an electric top handle, and didn’t realize until this thread that makita is a real contender but Food for thought; chainsaw pants/chaps may not be as effective. I’ll have to dig up the video but it was from wranglestar on YouTube doing a test on some cheaper ($40) chaps.