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| experience with electric chainsaws? |
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| message from f... on 1999/11/15 |
I'm debating getting an electric chainsaw for when I'm cutting up
firewood near the house.
How do these compare with gasoline engine powered chainsaws? Same
cutting speed?
Thanx,
fred
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Before you buy.
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| Larry Wingo replied to f... on 1999/11/15 |
I borrowed my neighbors to use once. The one I used was definitely
underpowered compared to a gas chainsaw. I only needed to cut 1 tree
limb, so that wasn't such a big deal. But if I was cutting lots of
firewood, I think gas would be the way to go.
f...@mks.com wrote:
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| phx...@home.com replied to f... on 1999/11/15 |
They're hardly comparable, witness the 12" cutter bar on electrics.
They're fine for pruning branches, etc., but won't begin to do serious
work with most firewood.
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| brian replied to phx...@home.com on 1999/11/15 |
Size and power vary according to how much you are willing to pay. I have been using
electric for quite a few years. Started out with Home Depot cheapies that lasted through
a few cords before the plastic bearing holders in the motor let go and the armatures
began dragging. Low on power too.
But I now have bought more powerful and expensive models with 16" bars and the power to
pull it off. Presently I am using a Remington (don't know who built it). Look at how
many amps the saw draws and get the biggest you can find. The more horse power the
better. The bars and chains are much like their gas brothers and can be sharpened many
time before replacement.
Obviously I really like the electric. Quiet, odorless, much safer, especially if you are
working up in a tree, and no gas or tune ups and they always start at the touch of a
button.
I still have a couple of gas models for those more remote cuts, but around the house
(within 200 ft) I use electric.
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| tim replied to brian on 1999/11/15 |
I think of them as a "disposable saw" -- even tho. I have only worn one
out out of three in the last 15 years.
There's the 12-inch bar (Homelite) I keep at my house and the 16-inch
bar (Wen) I keep at my mother's. The 14" Craftsman died a quick death --
a very poor saw at the time (1985).
I use "mom's" to trim the occasional backyard tree or bush at her "city
house." I use mine to "fine-tune" firewood after it has already been
cut up with my Stihl and hauled out of the woods to my house.
They are fairly cheap -- $29 to $69, but they are also inferior in
quality, etc. -- even the better ones. They are also over-engineered
for safety, which can be bad or good depending on your perspective.
They are difficult to mess with in terms of adjusting chain, oiling,
etc., but for the occassional backyard use or stuff, they are hard to
beat. Just don't expect them to stand up to any serious use/abuse.
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Before you buy.
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| ref replied to tim on 1999/11/15 |
I have an old Craftsman that's tough as nails. An electric is more
than adequate for cutting home firewood, etc. I mean, we're talking
about taking 5 seconds to cut a 6 inch log, as opposed to, say 3.5
or 4 seconds with a big gas saw. Jeez. Plus, gas saws have the oil/
gas mixing hassle, the hard-to-start hassle, etc. Obviously, with
an electric you're limited to the length of your extension cord,
but other than that they're just fine if you're not doing lumberjack
stuff.
Ron M.
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| brian replied to ref on 1999/11/15 |
And, worst case and you find out that you hate the thing, you are out very little money
compaired to a good gas model.
brian
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| foxeye replied to f... on 1999/11/15 |
If your gonna use a chainsaw a lot, then it would be best to buy a gas
powered saw. Electric saws may be ok for occasional use, but they do
not cut anywhere as good as a decent gas powered saw does. Electric
has its advantages and disadvantages the same as gas does. Power out,
trees down, or needing wood cut, your out of luck with an electric.
Gas on the other hand if not used and treated right may not start when
you need it do to stale or varnished gas etc. Still hard to beat a
gas saw IMHO. There are lots of electric saws, but if you buy one the
one with the higer amp rating is generally going to be the best bet
for power and use. Don't forget, the saw is still only as god as the
extension cord used and the electric al circuit feeding it.
foxeye
On Mon, 15 Nov 1999 18:56:26 GMT, f...@mks.com wrote:
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| Steve Spence replied to foxeye on 1999/11/15 |
another advantage of the eletric, is the lack of fumes, so it can be used in
enclosed spaces. also makes less noise.
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| Larry Caldwell replied to f... on 1999/11/15 |
They're OK if you get enough power and have electricity handy. Look for
a 2 hp or better saw that draws 14 or 15 amps, and get a 12 ga cord if
you are within 50' of a 20 amp circuit, or 10 ga cord if you are farther
out.
Keep the chain sharp, and get one with a roller nose. The shorter bar
means you will probably be doing some plunge cutting.
My dad never did get the hang of fuel stabilants, which means every
chainsaw he buys quits running after five years or so. He's much better
off with an electric.
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