Milwaukee top handle is coming

The package deals at Home Depot are wild, for $450 you can get the 16" rear handle saw, 12ah battery, charger and blower, OR for $50 more you can get it without the blower......?

www.homedepot.com

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16 in. 18- volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Battery Chainsaw Kit with M18 GEN II FUEL Blower 2727-21HDP - The Home Depot

This MILWAUKEE® Special Buy Kit includes an M18 FUEL™ Chainsaw with a free M18 FUEL™ Blower. This battery-powered chainsaw has the power to cut hardwoods, is faster than gas, and provides users up to 150 cuts per charge with an M18™ REDLITHIUM™ HIGH OUTPUT™ HD12.0 Battery Pack. This kit also...
www.homedepot.com
 
Phil said:
Does your chain freely rotate on the bar by hand with no resistance? When I rotate mine there is definitely resistance in the motor I need to overcome because it's direct drive. Maybe they changed the design a little bit. Mine is a late stage prototype but acts identical to the ones the YouTubers were sent. Which is what is on the market. Or so I thought. Could be wrong.
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I'll try again and pay attention. Nothing that made me think twice when I have sharpened it.
 
*sigh*

I got curious and just bought the package I'd linked above with the 16" rear handle saw, blower, charger and 12ah battery. Plus some extra chains, spare bar, and two more batteries. I'll be the guinea pig and share some impressions compared to the battery Husky after a few days of use. ETA about two weeks from Home Depot.

(all items will/can become tools for a second crew once I expand my business to that size, or simply be backups if a tool goes down and is away for repairs)
 
ATH said:
I'll try again and pay attention. Nothing that made me think twice when I have sharpened it.
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if it wasn't for you guys, all I would have at this point is youtube. You all have helped me more than anyone I have worked with, and I am constantly teaching guys around here the stuff I get from you guys. If I could personally visit and hug you all, I would.
 
27RMT0N said:
*sigh*

I got curious and just bought the package I'd linked above with the 16" rear handle saw, blower, charger and 12ah battery. Plus some extra chains, spare bar, and two more batteries. I'll be the guinea pig and share some impressions compared to the battery Husky after a few days of use. ETA about two weeks from Home Depot.

(all items will/can become tools for a second crew once I expand my business to that size, or simply be backups if a tool goes down and is away for repairs)
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I can't wait to hear your thoughts
 
I'm always trying to perfect my systems, what I can I say... The money is so minor if you break it down to a tools usefulness over its day-to-day lifespan.

Like the pole saw, I'm sure its heavier than the Husky (less of an issue here) but clearly far more powerful. Honestly the Husky battery saw is only good for limbing, brush cutting and straightening at the chipper. It sucks for felling even an 8" tree. Even if the Milwaukee is heavier, being a two hand ground saw that won't be such an issue, so if it has significantly improved abilities it should be worth it. And even if it's not perfect, it will still act as a good backup saw if the rear handle battery Husky isn't available.
 
27RMT0N said:
*sigh*

I got curious and just bought the package I'd linked above with the 16" rear handle saw, blower, charger and 12ah battery. Plus some extra chains, spare bar, and two more batteries. I'll be the guinea pig and share some impressions compared to the battery Husky after a few days of use. ETA about two weeks from Home Depot.

(all items will/can become tools for a second crew once I expand my business to that size, or simply be backups if a tool goes down and is away for repairs)
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The blower is kinda lacking. Super light and no vibe, about 50% of what the lowest stihl gas blower is
 
Yah, I've seen some videos on it, not super impressive. In this package deal it was essentially free, so why not.... I mostly plan on keeping it around to just blow dust off the chipper and chip truck, and the slab at the shop.

The husky battery blower is impressive, but even with the 7.5ah battery on boost mode (about the only way to use it) it runs for like 5 minutes.
 
27RMT0N said:
Yah, I've seen some videos on it, not super impressive. In this package deal it was essentially free, so why not.... I mostly plan on keeping it around to just blow dust off the chipper and chip truck, and the slab at the shop.

The husky battery blower is impressive, but even with the 7.5ah battery on boost mode (about the only way to use it) it runs for like 5 minutes.
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If you’re anything like me… I only bought a blower to blow out the radiator of the chipper in the summer months. Its use is kinda just incidental stuff, in my contract it says we will rake the work area. If they get lucky they might get the sawdust blown off their rhodies
 
evo said:
If you’re anything like me… I only bought a blower to blow out the radiator of the chipper in the summer months. Its use is kinda just incidental stuff, in my contract it says we will rake the work area. If they get lucky they might get the sawdust blown off their rhodies
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I don't even promise that much when I do my solo work. Thats all extra cost.
 
Anyone who wants to boost their referral business might consider doing more blowing than that. I work primarily in a market where if people want it they get it, not if they can afford it.

I blow and leave everything as clean as their surrounding yard or better, nothing remaining to be done. People are fairly fanatical about recommending me largely do to this. (In my opinion.)
 
Not too stray too far from the original top handle intent of this thread but.... got all this stuff today, way earlier than expected.

All I've done is open the box and throw the batteries on the chargers. I'll try out the saw and blower tomorrow. Just picking it up though, it is very clear the saw lacks the professional feel, ergonomics and refinements of the Husky 540i. I knew that from the photos and videos I'd seen though, so not a surprise. It's sort of weird, because the Milwaukee pole saw feels like a much better, more refined tool.

It's less than half the price of the Husky though...

000 milwaukee package.jpg
 
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27RMT0N said:
Not too stray too far from the original top handle intent of this thread but.... got all this stuff today, way earlier than expected.

All I've done is open the box and throw the batteries on the chargers. I'll try out the saw and blower tomorrow. Just picking it up though, it is very clear the saw lacks the professional feel, ergonomics and refinements of the Husky 540i. I knew that from the photos and videos I'd seen though, so not a surprise. It's sort of weird, because the Milwaukee pole saw feels like a much better, more refined tool.

It's less than half the price of the Husky though...

View attachment 92663
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Thought you got the top handle. It felt like a heavy toy when I handled it. One big perk is it versatile with batteries, if you have other Milwaukee tools. The husky battery only is for a small handful of tools.
 
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Nah, I could tell from the videos I would absolutely not like the top handle. Especially when I have.... 6 other climbing saws to choose form. I may have a chainsaw problem... and still waiting on the ported 201 I ordered....

I do occasionally wish I had a second rear handle battery saw for brush and stuff, so figured this was worth a shot. I do have some other Milwaukee tools and may get more (non tree tools that is). Worse case scenario this saw hangs out at my other property for occasional use if I'm there without my work truck.
 
27RMT0N said:
Nah, I could tell from the videos I would absolutely not like the top handle. Especially when I have.... 6 other climbing saws to choose form. I may have a chainsaw problem... and still waiting on the ported 201 I ordered....

I do occasionally wish I had a second rear handle battery saw for brush and stuff, so figured this was worth a shot. I do have some other Milwaukee tools and may get more (non tree tools that is). Worse case scenario this saw hangs out at my other property for occasional use if I'm there without my work truck.
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What I love about battery saws is how easy it is to toss the saw and a battery in the trunk of a car. Camping or storm season when you might not get back into your house.
 
80% off is practically free, it would be absurd to not take advantage of that deal. Even though I'm sure the paperwork takes time.

Both the Husky 540i and Stihl 220 are great, I'd recommend looking into them as well as their climbing saw versions. I've said this in a few other places, but battery saws are the best thing to happen to tree work in the modern era since SRT climbing.
 
CHAUNC3Y GARD3N3R said:
true, it'd be pretty crazy to not take advantage. I'd really like to try a battery pole saw. Thanks for the recommendations. It looks like it's pretty easy to sign up for the voucher.
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If you didn't see it, check out my post on power pole saws from the other day:

Milwaukee top handle is coming

It's time! That's why I posted the link. On one hand I wish I waited for that deal...but on the other then I'd not have been using it for the last several months and I'm glad I have. I know its an awesome deal, but I have used up my tool allowance until my house is finished
www.treebuzz.com
 
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