Lithium powered saws?

I have had good luck with my 20v DeWalt and battery life. It will make a lot of cuts on a 4ah or 5ah battery. In any case, IMHO a second or two swapping batteries beats pouring fuel in a small saw. I took a round file and made a groove all around the case of my three batteries, for small lanyards with hooks, so I can hang the spares on my saddle or a pull-up line if I need them. (These same batteries also fit the heavy DeWalt 1/2 inch drill on my DIY power ascender.) I have not actually graduated to using the saw up a tree very much, but so far I feel safer using it at height than using a gas saw. It completely stops instantly when I let off the trigger and best of all, NO pull starting. It seems great for pruning stuff slightly too big for a hand saw.
batteries.webp
 
yoyoman said:
I know mines are DeWalt and not a Makita and I like it that they really do have their place. If I try to do too much with it, repeated cuts, the battery will overheat and the thing was shut down for a while.
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I start smelling motor when it gets in over its head.
 
So....DeWalt or Makita is the new question!

Dewalt is $271 (after buying Extra battery at $72.)
25.2 feet per second
9 lbs with battery
12" bar
Toolless chain tightening

Makita XCU06T is $80 more
4720 feet per min = 78.6 feet per second
7.2 lbs with battery
10" bar

I'm inclined to think that 3x chain speed and 2 lbs less with worth $80. Don't expect either saw to use all 12" of a bar, so not sure that is a factor. Toolless tightening is nice, but not necessary.

Thoughts? (anybody use both side-by-side?)
 
I got my DW top handle for one fifty, no battery
It does cut slow...about as fasst as a silky sugai

My workshop is filled with DW tools so that made huge points.

I'll ask my brother about his M's
 
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Yeah...if I had more tools from one brand or the other, that would make it easier. I have Milwaukee hand tools. The Resistograph is fitted with a Bosch. I have a Green Works lawn mower, weed wacker, and blower. Would rather not have another set of batteries, but here we are!

Thanks!
 
I got the Milwaukee m18 (16” bar I think), a month or so back and have been really happy with it. I didn’t have much for expectations and now the stihl 026 I have doesn’t get used unless I forget to charge the battery. Really hoping they make a top handle now so I can keep things compatible just one set of batteries
 
stheis004 said:
I got the Milwaukee m18 (16” bar I think), a month or so back and have been really happy with it. I didn’t have much for expectations and now the stihl 026 I have doesn’t get used unless I forget to charge the battery. Really hoping they make a top handle now so I can keep things compatible just one set of batteries
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All of my newer battery powered shop & wood working tools are Milwaukee: if they come out with a Top Handle, I’m going to have to try one.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
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I can't say enough good things about the little Makita. I use it every day - it's all pruning (up to 6-7 inches diameter but usually smaller) or very small "removals" (like cutting the basal sprouts around a redwood tree, which was really nice to do without huffing exhaust). It is really easy to move about in a tree with it. I like the creative mod above, cutting the handle off. I may go there some day, but I'm still getting acquainted with it. I *have* actually used the wrap handle and made plenty of two handed cuts, but you really can one hand the saw much of the time since many of the cuts are so small and fast. It really is that light. It really is that well balanced. I've done a little experimenting, and I can't get the thing to kick back or bounce around. It feels much safer and mellower in tight spaces than my 200T. I haven't had a big day with it, but the two batteries last just fine on a normal day. FWIW, this is the only battery saw I have used (though I have briefly tried the Husky on a soft piece of incense cedar).
 
Burrapeg said:
I have had good luck with my 20v DeWalt and battery life. It will make a lot of cuts on a 4ah or 5ah battery. In any case, IMHO a second or two swapping batteries beats pouring fuel in a small saw. I took a round file and made a groove all around the case of my three batteries, for small lanyards with hooks, so I can hang the spares on my saddle or a pull-up line if I need them. (These same batteries also fit the heavy DeWalt 1/2 inch drill on my DIY power ascender.) I have not actually graduated to using the saw up a tree very much, but so far I feel safer using it at height than using a gas saw. It completely stops instantly when I let off the trigger and best of all, NO pull starting. It seems great for pruning stuff slightly too big for a hand saw.
View attachment 60045
Click to expand...
Not very secure. Put in a ditty bag. Protect the electrodes, etc.

$0.02
 
my Saw shop swapped out the 12” bar for a 14” and .043 gauge chain, w/ 2 x 200 series batteries and quick charger plus 3 chains for something like 980$
 
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