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Battery powered Stihl?

Started by ljmathias, November 12, 2017, 10:18:53 PM

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ljmathias

Long story short: partially tore a tendon in my right arm rotator cuff that means no pulling on a starter rope for a while. In desperation (needing fire wood for one thing), checked out and bought one of the 40 volt Stihl electrics. Tiny little thing but easy to start (just pull the trigger) so I can cut again while the arm heals. Seems to be a functional little saw. Won't take down any real trees but holds charge for about an hour of steady cutting. One thought: might be a whole lot safer up a ladder or tree doing trim work than a gas powered one you either start in the air or have running while you climb. Thoughts?

LJ
LT40, Long tractor with FEL and backhoe, lots of TF tools, beautiful wife of 50 years plus 4 kids, 5 grandsons AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS all healthy plus too many ideas and plans and not enough time and energy

Don P

Another contractor had one on this job, they did a whole lot of the log notching with it. The oil lasts about the length of the battery so oil and "fuel" is about the same as a gas saw. Nice smooth, no fumes a good joinery saw. Now my partner has one. As soon as my rotator heals up a little more I'll give it a whirl. I used it a little before surgery and like it. Finding files has been a problem, have you got a cheap source?

Now about that rotator... that is one of the spots on us that doesn't heal, it will probably calm down but you just keep tearing it. I've been hoping I didn't jump the gun on this repair too bad Friday, somehow got wired with too slow a dope slap gene  :D.

ljmathias

Dope slap gene? I must have inherited that one, too. Mine was starting to heal some awhile back, so I foolishly tried putting up fascia with my SILs when I reached over my head and pushed the drive in: WHAM! If it didn't tear more, it sure let me know not to do that for a good long while.

Hope yours heals up- mine is ever so slowly getting some better.

LJ
LT40, Long tractor with FEL and backhoe, lots of TF tools, beautiful wife of 50 years plus 4 kids, 5 grandsons AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS all healthy plus too many ideas and plans and not enough time and energy

Don P

I was feeling good and sawed siding for the guys for awhile the other day. Went to PT this morning.
Its been awhile since that's happened, I'm grounded  :D


Kbeitz

I tore the tendon in my right arm rotator cuff.
So I started using electric chainsaws.



 
Collector and builder of many things.
Love machine shop work
and Wood work shop work
And now a saw mill work

johnny newburgh

If I had battery saw up in tree I would throw that thing on the ground! HAHAHAHA. When you are climbing It would be a major frustration if the battery ran low or If the saw did not have enough power In general. When you are taking down a tree you need to have a saw you can count on it is critical! But hey what do I know being light and not struggling to start up In tree would be nice.

WV Sawmiller

   Have you tried the Sthil EZ start saws that crank on the reverse stroke so no hard or fast pulling required? Just pull the cord and it winds a spring and at a certain point it releases and cranks the saw. My wife bought one years ago because she can't pull the cord hard enough or fast enough to crank my bigger saws. Sthil built them for women and people with limitations such that they can't pull start a big saw. Pull as slowly as you like and it still works just fine.
Howard Green
WM LT35HDG25(2015) , 2011 4WD F150 Ford Lariat PU, Kawasaki 650 ATV, Stihl 440 Chainsaw, homemade logging arch (w/custom built rear log dolly), JD 750 w/4' wide Bushhog brand FEL

Dad always said "You can shear a sheep a bunch of times but you can only skin him once

DelawhereJoe

I just got a stihl ms 180 c-be from my brother who just moved to an apartment. I am very hesitant to show my 11 year old son how to start it, I feel if I do there will be no trees left on my property and or he will be missing arms or legs. He doesn't yet have that voice in his head that says "perhaps this isn't a good idea", but he is working on it. Just about anyone who can pick up a 10lb dumbbell off the ground could start the saw its that easy.
WD-40, DUCT TAPE, 024, 026, 362c-m, 041, homelite xl, JD 2510

thecfarm

I could of damaged the woods at that age.  :D
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

HolmenTree

I keep my battery saw when not in the back of my pickup in my garage. Where it handy if I have to cut a piece of lumber or something. No exhaust no warm-up and quiet.

But the quiet part can be a issue around small boys and girls.
Example was when I was about 8 years old on the farm. My brother was home from the logging camp and his 80cc or so Homelite XL was sitting in the shop.
I sneaked it behind the barn when only my Mom and younger siblings were home. They couldn't hear from the house right?
Well in my shorts and rubber boots I figured out how to start the old Homelite, even felled a few half dozen small poplars from the cow's wind break.
Would have probably felled more (Or myself) if Mom hadn't stopped me. :o

Normally my parents would have tanned my young hide if I started a camp fire in the grainery or something. But I think they were so surprised and relieved that I didn't kill myself with that saw that I got off without a sore behind.

So yeah a quiet battery saw may not be a good idea around children :D
Making a living with a saw since age 16.

HolmenTree

I just went out to the garage and locked up the battery saw as the kids are getting on the school bus :D
Making a living with a saw since age 16.

TKehl

My kids are also my biggest concern with the electric saws.  I currently just have an Oregon 40V pole saw (Very happy with it to.), but have been considering adding a battery operated chainsaw.

I am RELIGIOUS about removing the battery anytime I set the pole saw down as it is too easy for my curious toddler (or older siblings) to accidentally grab hold of it, "like daddy does".  Especially when they have their own electric toy tool set.   ;)

They are somewhat afraid of gas saws (mostly from the noise) and I do have to watch them around a hot exhaust, but off is off. Not sure if that trepidation would translate to a quiet electric... 
In the long run, you make your own luck – good, bad, or indifferent. Loretta Lynn

Hilltop366

I guess them battery saws could use a trigger lock!

Hilltop366

As far a battery saws go I say if it fills your need why not, I find my little battery circular saw very handy especially for odd jobs at the camp with no power.

HolmenTree

Quote from: Hilltop366 on November 16, 2017, 01:34:49 PM
I guess them battery saws could use a trigger lock!
They do have a safety on switch that you have to push until it turns green to cut. It automatically turns off after sitting for about 30 seconds.
But yes the battery should be removed for kid safety. Just like a firearm clip and rounds.


 
Making a living with a saw since age 16.

TKehl

I like that option.  My Oregon polesaw doesn't have that.  Don't know if their chainsaws do or not...
In the long run, you make your own luck – good, bad, or indifferent. Loretta Lynn

edwin dirnbeck

Another good thing about an electric saw,it is easier to tell how well the cut is progressing because they are quieter and smoother. This is especially helpful for an occasional user. Edwin Dirnbeck

LarryRB

I bought the Stihl battery saw for my wife. She just loves using it for trim branches and small trees.

WranglerSS

Quote from: LarryRB on November 19, 2017, 07:16:02 PM
I bought the Stihl battery saw for my wife. She just loves using it for trim branches and small trees.

Same here.
Kubota L3240
Kubota RTV 900
Woodmizer LT28
Woodmaxx 8h Chipper/Shredder

Don P

If there's a boat and motor at y'alls houses I'd be getting nervous  :D

ljmathias

Update on the electric Stihl: been using it a couple weeks now (shoulder healing REAL slow) and while it has its pros, it's got a few cons. One is battery life: was told by the salesman that it would last at least an hour. Truth be told, make that 20 minutes of steady cutting. Worst part is you only get one battery with it. At least with a 20 v Dewalt driver you get 2 batteries so you can swap and keep going. And cost for a second battery is half the price of the saw and battery new: say what?

Second is power, of which there ain't much. Sure, it will cut through a 6" log if you have lots of patience and keep the teeth sharp, but it won't do it anytime soon.

That being said, the little bugger is the only way I get to saw any firewood right now, so the pros clearly outweigh the cons. It's not so much that you get what you pay for (costs the same as a smaller gas powered Stihl), it's that you better know what you're getting before you pay.

LJ
LT40, Long tractor with FEL and backhoe, lots of TF tools, beautiful wife of 50 years plus 4 kids, 5 grandsons AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS all healthy plus too many ideas and plans and not enough time and energy

Stuart Caruk

I bought one of these for my wife and she (and I) absolutely love it. Stihl makes 2 batteries for that saw. I forget the capacity offhand, but the smaller one sucks and is useless. The larger capacity works great. The batteries aren't cheap, but we have 3 or 4 of the larger ones now and a host of their electric tools. I no longer get tasked with trying to start a flooded chainsaw of weedwhacker because my wife (Bless her heart...) can't figure out how to start a cold Stihl if her life depends on it and she will flood it every time...
Stuart Caruk
Wood-Mizer LX450 Diesel w/ debarker and home brewed extension, live log deck and outfeed rolls. Woodmizer twin blade edger, Barko 450 log loader, Clark 666 Grapple Skidder w/ 200' of mainline. Bobcats and forklifts.

upnut

ljmathias- Make sure you have the correct battery for your saw! I was sold the AK-10 battery for my 120C-BQ, it came as a kit along with the charger. Being disappointed with the initial run-time, I researched and discovered the saw should have been sold with the AK-20 battery. The dealer made it right, and I have been pleased with the performance since. Also, if you catch the leaf-blower on sale you can get a second battery and charger plus the blower for about the same price as a second battery alone.

Scott B.
I did not fall, there was a GRAVITY SURGE!

ljmathias

Thanks for that last comment. Need to check on which I have cause here's the bad news: the dealer assured me battery he included would go an hour of cutting. Just finished cutting some smallish firewood and barely got 20 minutes from the first charge. Put it on the charger, rejuiced it for almost 2 hours till all the green lights were out (fully charged) and again got only 20 minutes of cutting time. That's a full front bucket of wood on my hybrid backhoe/tractor so I guess I can't complain, and having to wait two hours between loads gives me plenty of time for a cup or two of coffee and a reasonable nap...   ;D

Point is: batteries on these Stihls don't seem to last very long, and never believe the dealer. He never actually goes out and uses the stuff he sells (at least at my store here) so he's just blowing smoke.

LJ
LT40, Long tractor with FEL and backhoe, lots of TF tools, beautiful wife of 50 years plus 4 kids, 5 grandsons AND TWO GRANDDAUGHTERS all healthy plus too many ideas and plans and not enough time and energy

POSTON WIDEHEAD

I am glad to read a review on this battery saw. I've been looking at them online. Thanks
The older I get I wish my body could Re-Gen.

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