Thread: Mini one-hand chainsaws

I know a few people who swear by these small saws but I reckon you are simply safer all round with BOTH hands at all times on the saw. By far the greatest number of chainsaw injuries occur when people use a chain saw with their right hand and hold a branch or piece of wood with their left. A slightly bunt chain and moment of inattention sees the saw skate down the branch and cause serious injuries. 33% of all chainsaw injuries occur on the left hand of gardeners.

Both hands on the saw at all times is the way to go. This is also better for guiding the saw in the cut.

If you want a pruning saw consider a standard battery powered reciprocating saw. If you already have a budget range of battery tools the skin for these costs about $100. Ryobi also make a dedicated pruning reciprocating saw but it is only one handed.

The other issue on any chainsaw is chains; they do go blunt and folks with $$ just replace the chain but otherwise you are up to having to sharpen or pay someone to sharpen then chain. With reciprocating saw a tungsten tipped demolition blade will usually outlive the saw.

I have a Makita cordless reciprocating saw bought to cut holes in walls but I end up using it mostly in the garden. It's brilliant.

Originally Posted by BobL

If you want a pruning saw consider a standard battery powered reciprocating saw.

I have a Makita cordless reciprocating saw bought to cut holes in walls but I end up using it mostly in the garden. It's brilliant.

Yep, I put a Swiss made Bosch 3tpi blade in my Makita 18v Recipro and it is a BEAST in the garden! No smell, no smoke, much less noise.

The arrival of these saws in the marketplace has been a game changer for me. I work as a volunteer bushland regenerator, and for the removal of privet, lantana and other woody weeds, these saws have doubled my productivity. My only experience is with the 4" 24 volt versions, of which there are many. The only downside I have experienced is a short battery life of about three months. The batteries have all failed with one cell going open circuit, rendering the battery useless. The batteries contain five lithium-ion cells and a charge controller chip, making them 18V, not the 24V as stated in the marketing blurb.
I have several of these saws, as it is easier and cheaper to buy a saw with two batteries in Australia than it is to replace batteries from China at $30+ each plus shipping. Also be aware that there is a variation in the physical form of the batteries, those with my latest saw cannot be fitted to the earlier saws. The saws have also evolved, they now have a safety interlock on the switch, and there is a variety of guards fitted. Most have the Stihl sized 1/4" pixel .043 chain. I am advised this can be sharpened with a 1/8" chainsaw file from Stihl.
As mentioned, Stihl make a 4" saw of professional quality with a single battery which sells for $279. This is a good saw, but battery capacity is small; two batteries are a must. My son-in-law uses one in his landscaping business, and finds the battery capacity frustrating. He has recently bought a 6" Chinese saw which can take a Makita 18v battery, but I have not heard from him about its performance.

Chas

I just got one. A Milwaukee 12V, only because I had a lot of batteries.

I find it better for pruning 1" limbs than a reciprocating saw. The limbs are unsupported, and simply move back and forth with the reciprocating saw blade.

It will still get hung up if you are not paying attention.

I like it for pruning when I am on a ladder, especially.


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I see some el crappo brand come up on mt FB page regularly, with the caption 'buy now almost sold out". i commented they must have trouble selling them as they have been advertising the same thing 3 months. I got some nasty comments messaged to me, politely telling me to shut the F up.

Originally Posted by Tonyz

I see some el crappo brand come up on mt FB page regularly, with the caption 'buy now almost sold out". i commented they must have trouble selling them as they have been advertising the same thing 3 months. I got some nasty comments messaged to me, politely telling me to shut the F up.

I believe some have plastic (Nylon) gears - nothing wrong with this for light use but don't expect them to last too long under prolonged use. My next door neighbour asked me to look at his Ozioto corded chainsaw which has stopped working after a couple of years. It also had plastic gears and one had a few shredded teeth, the Oil pump was leaking and the chain tensioning mechanism was broken. I left it on his doorstep with a post-it note on it that said "bin it"

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've bought a Diablo carbide pruning blade for my reciprocating saw. I will try it out this weekend before I commit to a cheapo chainsaw!

My brother has the Stihl mini-chainsaw with the small battery. He has a 6 hectare plot of land in the Coromandel pennisula in New Zealand and swears by this little chainsaw for cutting down pest exotic trees while they are small in diameter; before he used to lug a cordless bushwhacker with a circular saw blade around his land.
He came over to help me prune a maple tree and what would take me half an hour to do with a hand saw, he did in 10 minutes using this mini-chainsaw - however the price in NZ $ is too high for me. I am hoping that Makita will come out with their 18volt version of these mini-chainsaws as I have other Makita cordless tools.
I have read the many comments for the mini-chainsaw on the NZ Stihl website and they are positive; many of them are by women who rate it highly as they don't have the strength for large loppers. Their main complaint is that their husbands borrow it "just once" and they never see the mini-chainsaw again.

Originally Posted by paul.cleary

I am hoping that Makita will come out with their 18volt version of these mini-chainsaws as I have other Makita cordless tools.

Looks like Makita do have an 18V one but it is more of a 2 handed version, but still compact.

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Looks like Makita do have an 18V one but it is more of a 2 handed version, but still compact.

I've seen that one at a store and picked it up. it's light enough to use one handed for the average strength user but the second handle is a no brainer - ie rule number one for chainsaws is both hands on the chainsaw at all times.Proper chain brake and a 5 year warranty too so it must be well made.