treebing
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Detroit, Mi.
The 36 volt is too bulky and heavy. Better off getting the husky or a pro saw. I am still pleased with the 18 v. It is a wimpy little thing but it has its place.
Lithium powered saws?
- Thread starter Recoveryeh92
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DumpyMcDoodleface
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- My house
DeWalt has a top handle and rear handle. They aren't really geared towards pros though.
Makita has made a new top handle geared towards pros with even a place to attach your lanyard.
I like the idea of the Makita for the higher voltage without a special battery system if you have their hand tools.
Last edited:
- Location
- Cleveland,OH
The 36 volt is too bulky and heavy. Better off getting the husky or a pro saw. I am still pleased with the 18 v. It is a wimpy little thing but it has its place.
Kevin I know you have the 18 but is this the 36 volt top handle you tried?
Makita USA - Product Details -XCU08Z
18V X2 (36V) LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 14" Top Handle Chain Saw, Tool Onlywww.makitatools.com
Burrapeg
Been here a while
- Location
- Puget Sound
I have a 20v DeWalt and love it. Auto oiling, brushless, 4ah or 5ah batts last a long time. I am not a pro but I do use the little saw a lot with my own trees and firewood. No complaints so far after almost a year of semi-regular use.
DumpyMcDoodleface
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- My house
The only complaint I've heard has been there isn't a sight line, and I didn't see a place to connect a lanyard aside from the handle itself.
I really want an electric saw, but I can't justify the husky.
I would have never considered it before, but I got a killer deal on a toro string trimmer, and my gosh, that thing is a beast. I can edge my whole property and then some with one charge on the smaller battery, even wasting time chopping up ivy! In the thickest stuff it struggles a little, but it's so light, super quiet, and tough enough for everything else that I have no complaints. It's truly changed my mind and has me wanting electric everything.
My battery drills and stuff are all dated NiCd stuff so I've been kicking around buying into a new lithium based system but Im having trouble when they work fine and I can buy a pair of knockoff batteries for 30-40 bucks.
treebing
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Detroit, Mi.
No that is not the 36 v. I think the one I tried has brushes it is pretty awkward looking. That looks better.
I took one for a spin - light reduction and structural corrections in 5"" or less on a white oak. It worked. It was really light weight. It bound up in the 3-5" cuts just because it was gutless and it was oak. I had to ease off a bit and it got better as I readjusted my expectations. I would climb with it again, but the echo 2511t is still much better for me - just need earmuffs... I can imagine it being a pleasant saw for limbing a conifer.
Joeybagodonuts
Participating member
- Location
- Boondocks
This style 36v Model is currently being updated... & From what it seems, it's being done so to be alot more compatible to be carried aloft.. I can't speak to it's balance with this dual battery design, but i saw a short clip of it in action & it was pretty dang impressive.. Personally (& it may have already been mentioned in the thread) i believe chain speed & ability to maintain it in a cut are the two biggest factors in having these tools be useful..
I tried to get some info regarding the updated version, but Makita wouldn't give me ANYTHING AT ALL! It was very odd..
Here's what i saw.
DumpyMcDoodleface
New member
- Location
- My house
This one seems much more balanced, putting the batteries under the handle instead of behind.
- Location
- Cleveland,OH
Thanks for the responses!!!
treebing
Been here much more than a while
- Location
- Detroit, Mi.
I am really waiting for the top handled battery saw from Stihl. Been waiting a long time. That echo 2511 is a great saw. Beats the pants off the stihl 150 as far as I can tell.
SumoClimber
New member
- Location
- Fox Cities, WI
I've thought about this before as well. I have a set of the B&D Alligator lopper chainsaw(takes 2 hands on the paddles to start, great "saw" to pass my 10 year old when reducing the brush pile). I've envisioned a beefed up version of this with a gauntlet style grip. Possibly keeping the jaw system, though that would need to have some other form of clamping.
I just feel like saws are such old technology that traditional companies don't have the same market space that they used to. If the Stihl saw is good, I'll be interested, but I've happily moved on in my small range - Echo and Milwaukee (of all brands...). I'm ready to switch to a superior brushless lithium tophandle as soon as Milwaukee makes one, lol. If Stihl wants my lithium business, I've got to check out their line of drills, band saws, sawzalls, angle grinders, etc., lol. I'm not sure what their plan is, to be honest. They have this great brand and they are losing market share as lithium becomes capable of running bigger saws. What's the plan?!
I still swear by my ms661. It's great, and unlikely to get displaced by lithium power too soon, right?
SumoClimber
New member
- Location
- Fox Cities, WI
I watched the teardown video someone posted on here regarding the Milwaukee vs DeWalt chainsaws recently, it would be a simple matter for Milwaukee to change the case molding and make a top handle version of the M18 chainsaw.
move the battery compartment down to the bottom, rather than the angle it's at, freeing up space for the top handle. Already a thin enough chain, standard bar is a 16", might be a hair long for in tree, depending on what you're used to. Top handle version of the M18 would be a pruning demon with a 12" dime tip carving bar.
move the battery compartment down to the bottom, rather than the angle it's at, freeing up space for the top handle. Already a thin enough chain, standard bar is a 16", might be a hair long for in tree, depending on what you're used to. Top handle version of the M18 would be a pruning demon with a 12" dime tip carving bar.
The few cordless lectric trimsaws I've used aloft now are cool, but they're a far cry from matchin a 200T, not even close.
It'd be worth a grand easy tho if n when they do!
Even my 1974 monkey ward 14 inch plug in electric was pretty dang close back in the day. We cut down date palms with em, and that takes an awful lotta torque.
Jemco
It'd be worth a grand easy tho if n when they do!
Even my 1974 monkey ward 14 inch plug in electric was pretty dang close back in the day. We cut down date palms with em, and that takes an awful lotta torque.
Jemco
I think quarter tip is the smallest with pico-type chains, right? Same sentiment though - I'd love to get one if it was good, and they can make good stuff. The Milwaukee ground saw is surprisingly "cheap" in hand for the brand, but it cuts very nicely. Just had a bar tip sprocket bust. Not sure if I forgot to top off the bar oil or if my ground guy just got into some bendy twigs...
I’ve had the Milwaukee for a few months and have split two bar tips. Both times making an undercut piecing up a branch on the ground. The bar and chain are a little thin/light duty...
JTree
Participating member
- Location
- East Texas
I'm honestly ready for the tech to catch up and make battery saws actually feasible. Love me some cordless tools. My cordless impacts get used way more than my air tools, and nowadays they even out power the air wrenches. I don't see battery saws ever being as powerful as gasers, but if they could do 80% and be just as durable, I'd make the switch for the climbing saws. Until then Imma keep make potatoes.
