Cordless Chainsaws - your experiences - recommendations

[opticsguy]

Thinking about picking up a cordless Chainsaw and am curious about feedback from those with real experience.

I have 4 gas powered saws, accumulated over many many years of use and various needs. 

I am thinking about the ease and convenience of using a cordless chainsaw.  My uses would be around the sawmill when needed, the occasional downed tree across the road in winter, and sitting in the back of my car or van when I see some wood I might want to cut and haul home for a woodworking project and other light occasional use.

I do prefer quality, pays in both the short and long term.  My first real look was on Saturday, where I examined stihl, makita, ryobi and dewault saws.  Also did a little you-tubing.

My local hardware store (The very BEST BEST hardware store in all the world!!) had on display, the Stihl, Dewalt and Makita.  I felt the best deal going was the cordless Makita with FOUR 18V batteries + charger included.   Makita has an extensive line-up of other tools which use the same batteries.

The Stihl looked OK, seemed to be more money and a very specialty battery system that I most likely might not expand upon.

I mentioned to the salesperson I am invested in Milwaukee.  He said he had seen the new Milwaukee saw and super impressed and advised I wait for its availability. 

Any one using the new Milwaukee cordless chainsaw?  

Thanks for your feedback.

[Dave Shepard]

I think the Milwaukee is going to be a very good saw, for what it is intended for. I am seriously invested in M18 tools, so that is the one I would get. The DeWalt looks like a piece of junk. Ave channel on Youtube did a review of it, and the bar mount was garbage. Warning: ave channel is great, but he swears a lot. I don't think the Milwaukee is available yet. Its supposed to be released this month. 

[sawguy21]

They are connvenient and fine for the occasional light job around the house but don't ask it to clear a fallen tree across the road. I tried an Oregon and wasn't much impressed. Any more than light pressure the breaker tripped and had to be reset by releasing then squeezing the trigger. I am also not a fan of the autosharp chain.

[tawilson]

I would check out the warranty. Stihl and Husky have 2 years and includes batteries. Not sure about the others.

[wesdor]

I have the Stihl for light work around the mill. It comes in very handy for that purpose. As another has said, I wouldn't try to clear a fallen tree on the road. 
In total, the saw, charger and battery ran close to $700, so it isn't cheap.  

In your situation I think I would wait for the Milwaukee and then compare. 

Good luck, having a lightweight battery saw around the mill has been a real good thing. 

[Dave Shepard]

I'd like one for making heavy docking cuts on timbers, and just to have around the mill for the odd quick cut. My mother is talking about getting one for fixing fences in the spring. No more dealing with mix gas and saws that won't start because they rarely get used.

There are YouTubes of the new M18 saw at the Milwaukee tool symposium. It looks very capable. Looks like $399.00 with a 12.0 ah battery and rapid charger. 

[upnut]

I have owned and used a Stihl 120 C for about a year now, have been pleased with the performance. It fits nicely in the saw box on the quad, and accompanies on most trips to the woods. It has trimmed low hanging lilac, pine, walnut, and maple branches around the yard and really shined in an aerial bucket trimming fencerow limbs back. Recently used it to cut off excess 4X6 posts while deck building, and cut a three day supply of campfire wood while camped out in the U.P. It does not hog large amounts of wood, but used as designed and intended works well. I like the charger, shuts off automatically when battery is fully charged, don't like the tool-less chain tensioner. 


 

 

Hope this helps, good luck!
Scott B.

[Magicman]

For the past year I have been using a 40V. brushless 14" Ryobi, and am well pleased.  I also have the Ryobi "weed eater" and hedge trimmer, so the (3) batteries get a nice workout.

The chainsaw was a "recon" from the "Tool Store" for $125 including the battery and charger.

[Puffergas]

Counsel Tool makes a nice cordless axe. 

[beav]

Check out Echo. I looked and it was affordable, had a long warranty(5 yrs  iirc), and a real chain tensioner with two real bolts holding the bar on. It was the only one that looked really rugged. I have had no problems with it so far. 58 volt model# ccs-58v

[hedgerow]

Glad to see this thread. I currently use a Echo 360T with a 16 bar when I use my bucket lift to trim trees. As I get older I can't keep starting the saw as I am  moving around with the lift to cut another limb and if you let it idle then pretty soon you are a oily mess from letting the saw idle. In general I love cordless tools. I think it is time to get serious about a cordless chain saw and maybe a cordless pole saw too. I didn't buy myself any thing for my birthday. . 

[DelawhereJoe]

If your in a bucket truck and want a battery saw or doing in tree work Husqvarna makes a top handle saw. HolmenTree who isn't really on here anymore,  has his own tree business and thats the battery saw he chooses to use. I think you can even get a backpack battery for it.

[John Mc]

HolmenTree who isn't really on here anymore...

Huh?! He was just on a week ago.

[teakwood]

I talk with Willard (holmen) quite often on PM's. After some heated topics some month ago he withdrawed a bit from the forum. He also tells me that he is not able to log into the forum anymore, just pm's, i don't really know why that is or what's the problem. 

For me that is really sad because i think that he helped innumerous members with his wide chain saw knowledge. The chainsaw forum is half as interesting since Willards departure. 

Ramon

[Southside]

I have a friend who dismantles old buildings for a living, he has three of the Kobalt saws, I think they are 40V, maybe more - he uses them on dry, old beams and loves them, has had one for three years.  He has a four or five man crew that works for him and they are a bit rough around the edges, so far they have not wrecked any of his saws.  

[John Mc]

I talk with Willard (holmen) quite often on PM's. After some heated topics some month ago he withdrawed a bit from the forum. He also tells me that he is not able to log into the forum anymore, just pm's, i don't really know why that is or what's the problem.

For me that is really sad because i think that he helped innumerous members with his wide chain saw knowledge. The chainsaw forum is half as interesting since Willards departure.

I hope that's not a permanent situation. I really appreciated his contributions to the forum.

[Puffergas]

I have Makita cordless tools, no chainsaw, so found this video interesting:

Gas Chainsaw V.S. Electric - SHOCKING OUTCOME ! ! ! - YouTube

[HolmenTree]

I talk with Willard (holmen) quite often on PM's. After some heated topics some month ago he withdrawed a bit from the forum. He also tells me that he is not able to log into the forum anymore, just pm's, i don't really know why that is or what's the problem.

For me that is really sad because i think that he helped innumerous members with his wide chain saw knowledge. The chainsaw forum is half as interesting since Willards departure.

I hope that's not a permanent situation. I really appreciated his contributions to the forum.

Hello John and Ramon, 
Ramon I just found I can post here through this link to this thread you just PMed me, but I still can't log in .
The last link to the logging forum thread you also PMed me s few weeks ago I was also able to post congratulating you on your Costa Rica national timbersport win.
But the last time I posted here as a standing member was on my Official MS261CM versus Husqvarna 550XP test thread.
In that last post I posted a spring sale flyer ad from Stihl Canada on the MS261CM. I mentioned all Canadians and outlying American citizins don't miss this sale. I also mentioned these are German made MS261's.
I guess I stepped on the forum's Stihl USA sponsors toes, oh well if I"m not welcome it's not my loss ...
only to my friends I made here

[Jeff]

Well, not sure what is going on here, but @HolmenTree  you were never banned, and never denied any sort of access by me for any reason. I've also not had any word you had trouble logging in.  If for some reason you got a banned message, it had to be from an old I.P. ban or something.  I can guarantee you have not even come up in any admin conversation about anything related to a ban or sponsor related conduct.

So, now, let me know what the heck has been going on so I can help fix it and end what ever these conspiracy theories that apparently are going on..

[John Mc]

 I was hoping the story  behind the scenes was something like that

[petefrom bearswamp]

good to know this

[Jeff]

All I can figure is that he is having some sort of login problems relating to the server change over earlier in the year that many many people had, which were well documented on here at the time, and the fixes involved to clear them up.

[John Mc]

It's been a strange change over. I got my computer and my phone set up on the new system and it worked fine for a while, then some time later, the both stopped working again, and I had to clear out the cache and cookies again to get them to work (it happened at different times for each device)

[opticsguy]

OP here.
Returning to electric Chainsaws, and after watching a few more you-tubes, my impression is the Makita is a good saw, the consistent complaint is the "on" button which is only on for 4 seconds, then you need to turn it on again and again every-time you want to use the saw.   When I first handled the Makita, I noticed this small difficulty but passed it by as I examined the saw more deeply.  Thinking about it later, I found the "on" button somewhat irritating.  Supposedly the on button is supposed to be on for much longer time but there seems to be a consistent issue with this one design issue. The power-on button seems to be negatively mentioned on most You-tube videos. 

I do like the 2 battery Makita, and both batteries can be used on other Makita products.  Looks like a very good saw . . . .

Still waiting to get my hands on the new Milwaukee.  Comes with "only" one 12 amp-hour battery, probably more than enough for most of us but a reserve battery is always nice.  This new 12 amp-hour battery at $199 is kind of a set back.  I am curious if this saw can still do some work with the smaller 4, 5 and 6 amp-hour batteries.  This Milwaukee saw is coming out soon, was hoping for an introductory price to get people on-board but looks like every outlet has the same price for pre-orders. 

All the saws I mentioned here and in my first posting look like a tool that will certainly fill a convenience gap and possibly much more.  

Excitingly waiting . . . . .

[Dave Shepard]

Yes, the Milwaukee saw will run on smaller batteries, but available power will be reduced, and of course run time. 

[HolmenTree]

Well, not sure what is going on here, but @HolmenTree  you were never banned, and never denied any sort of access by me for any reason. I've also not had any word you had trouble logging in.  If for some reason you got a banned message, it had to be from an old I.P. ban or something.  I can guarantee you have not even come up in any admin conversation about anything related to a ban or sponsor related conduct.

So, now, let me know what the heck has been going on so I can help fix it and end what ever these conspiracy theories that apparently are going on..

Hello Jeff, 
I'm able to post here through the link you tagged me with by e mail.
It is weird alright why I can't log in. I enter my user name and password then when I hit submit up pops 
 " An Error Has Occured"
"Your session timed out while posting. Please go back and try again."
Like I said earlier this all started right after I made my last post with my Stihl Canada MS261 sale advertisment . When I made that post I was getting second thoughts about hitting Post  thinking it may cause a conflict with  the Stihl USA sponspor here.
And sure enough I couldn't get back on the forum.
All the years I've been on here I have never logged out and had to log in without any trouble. So yeah I was suspicious  with the timing after I made that last post.

Willard Holmen

[btulloh]

All the years I've been on here I have never logged out and had to log in without any trouble. So yeah I was suspicious  with the timing after I made that last post.

Seeing any orange helicopters overhead?  :D  Could be the Stihl Security Agency checking you out.  Be careful and be sure to wear tinfoil hardhat.  

[John Mc]

Willard - 

Those are the exact symptoms I saw when the forum software was upgraded. I followed the instructions elsewhere on the FF to clear it up (cleared the cache and any Forestry Forum related cookies, if I recall. It took me a while to figure out how to do that on my iPhone.)

All was well until a while ago (possibly also around the time you made your Stihl post?)  My Cell phone stopped being able to access the site again, with the same errors you noted. Clearing the cache and cookies got it back on again.

To OP: my apologies for the topic drift. Electric chainsaw related post to follow.

John McNerney

[John Mc]

OpticsGuy -

My brother has a Makita electric saw. He does not have to re-pull the trigger every 4 seconds. He just cuts normally.  I just watched a YouTube video where the operator cut cookies continuously for 60 seconds with no problem.

[Corley5]

The new Milwaukee chainsaw is on my shortlist.

[opticsguy]

OP here again . . . . .

Yesterday A neighbor asked me for help to pull his tractor, out stuck in the mud.  Wandered over to help. My tractor a lot larger than his and we needed to cut some overhanging branches. He pulled out his Harbor Freight cordless saw and started cutting.  Asked to use the saw and was impressed with what it could do.  This brief exposure to cordless chainsaws has only increased my enthusiasm and now more excited to check out the Milwaukee when it comes available.

Waiting . . . . . . . . . .

[teakwood]

After reading alot i purchased the MSA120 C from Stihl, with my still pending 400$ shop credit from the timbersport championship. It was sent from the main dealer in the capitol (250km away), arrived today, full of enthusiasm i went to town and picked it up at the bus station, dove home to inspect the saw. first impression, it's very small and light. cute little saw. i'm eager to try the saw pruning my plantations tomorrow.
The tiny little chain made me laugh, but then noticed: where is the bar, the bar cover, the file,....
Long story short, the guy who fill the boxes forget to put all the parts inside  , how dumb do you have to be??  They send the parts tomorrow and i get it saturday

Welcome to Costa Rica!!

[Dave Shepard]

There are few Youtube's on the new M18 saw, but I found this one to be almost watchable. 

Real World Cutting | Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16" Chainsaw Kit Review 2727-21HD - YouTube

[Bruno of NH]

I have had the DeWalt 60V for two weeks now at the mill.
Use it quite a bit.
I haven't had any problems with it.

[weimedog]

I have a Husqvarna 120i. Its a $250 dollar option ( Included is saw, battery, and battery charger) and I've used this one for a few months now. Its plenty of saw for riding around in the tractor. I've used it on everything from a tree across the road to in the house carpentry. Love it. And the advantages over a small gas saw are shocking. No gas to go bad. No gas smell in the cab. Enough power to actually get something tactical done. Battery last around 25-30 minutes. For the dollar its a steal. And with everythin else , you can over analyse this stuff to death. For around the yard and riding the tractor I have found I really don't need any more than what it is. A surprise as former "tractor" saws included 555 and 455 derivatives. And a few others all about power speed and hopped up gas powered small saws..but the lack of noise, no need to pull the thng to start it and enough power and battery life to be functional win the day...I am beyond surprised at how well that saw has fit into the mix. I bumped a 543 for my wife as well...and when I can't find it...its always on her work bench. I would call it a game changer.

[HolmenTree]

My Husqvarna T536 Li XP has been working flawless for me. Only use it up in the tree and as a trim saw at the chipper infeed. 
But don't let its size and quietness fool you, it's a very dangerous saw.
This happened a few weeks ago while about 50 feet up a tree, bar tip got a little too close to my left knee. Wasn't even at full power and the kevlar fibers never even got to the drive sprocket on that short 10" bar.
Further inspection I found a 6" cut  that went through 4 layers of kevlar.
Good thing the padding has alot more layers.


 

[HolmenTree]

My T536 LiXP which is a professional grade saw may be a little overkill for someone who just needs a occassional use saw and the 536 price is very high too, but I make a living with it.
Like weimedogs 120i and the suggestion of Dewalt and Milwaukee these are good choices. Even better if you have other power tools of the same brand to share the batteries with.

And on the subject of one handed use with a top handle battery saw....don't do it!
People have mentioned about these little saws working good on the ground clearing willows or brush with one hand holding the brush with one hand and  cutting with the other hand. Sooner or later that saw will bite you and cut off your fingers or cut your arm half off. These saws may not have alot of chain speed but they have a amazing ammount of torque as I found out on my saw pants.

It may not happen to you but it may happen to your kids or wife when they see you doing it.

[lxskllr]

And on the subject of one handed use with a top handle battery saw....don't do it!
People have mentioned about these little saws working good on the ground clearing willows or brush with one hand holding the brush with one hand and  cutting with the other hand. Sooner or later that saw will bite you and cut off your fingers or cut your arm half off. These saws may not have alot of chain speed but they have a amazing ammount of torque as I found out on my saw pants.

It may not happen to you but it may happen to your kids or wife when they see you doing it.

I cut my hand once doing machete work holding limbs, and cutting. Went through a leather glove, and I had to make a trip to the clinic for stitches. It doesn't take much for things to go sideways, and a 99% success rate isn't good enough imo.

[teakwood]

Holmen, did you stop the saw within the cut? or did the kevlar? i have heard that the safety pants won't stop a electric saw!?

[HolmenTree]

Holmen, did you stop the saw within the cut? or did the kevlar? i have heard that the safety pants won't stop a electric saw!?

Both, 
it wasn't a kickback and when the chain made contact a split second earlier I had already released the trigger. Good thing I was holding the saw 2 handed as I had a solid grip on if preventing the bar nose sucking in deeper.
Cutting up high in a broad limbed poplar tree with a climbing rope and lanyard offers lots of work positioning flexibility, but you're always cutting with the b/c alot closer to your body then what's done on the ground.
Hardwood limbs are alot different to cut then say a spruce. Their heavy and twist and fall all over the place so you have to cut above them at about knee level.
 I was trying to avoid cutting my rope, moved the rope away but  it popped back near the area where I was cutting causing the bar nose to hit my leg.
I will do a video test on a old pair of safety pants with the battery saw. My 14 year old daughter will help me get it on YouTube ;D
But I think the stories about kevlar not stopping electric saws may be related to the big corded saws that are plugged into a wall outlet.

[Al_Smith]

I don't have a battery chainsaw but I do have several battery drills,one a hammer drill and also a sawzall .They do fine for short work but for a long job,especially with a chainsaw it would be hard to beat a gasoline powered .

[Ljohnsaw]

So, I have lots of DeWalt 20v equipment and batteries.  I just want a small saw for slab cleanup around the mill.  I have a Sthil 290 for everything else.  Looking over the Amazon reviews on the 20v, 40v and 60v saws, most are favorable (homeowners and arborists, not tree fellers).  The main complaint is the narrow chain jumping off when getting bound up and that it uses oil fast/oils heavily.

I really don't want to go to 40v or 60v mainly because of the cost of batteries but the tool is twice the price as well.  Anyone have the little 16" 20v DeWalt model and care to comment on it?

[HolmenTree]

Today I took off the 10" .043 Stihl 61PM chain off my Husqvarna T536 LiXP and put on a 16" .043 Oregon 90PX 3/8 lo profile chain.
Cut really nice doing a little light ground work today in poplars. Made the saw seem a lot more useful.
Customer's neighbor said "nice Stihl!"
:D

Going to try it tomorrow up a dead 20" dbh dead poplar.

[teakwood]

I think that saw feels pretty uncomfortable with that bar on! 

[HolmenTree]

Its actually balanced really good. Those thin .043 bars chains are pretty light.
The battery at the rear of the saw is quite heavy. 

[teakwood]

I meant that the saw itself feels bad being a Husky because you put a stihl bar on her!

Is that a pro level saw?

My new 120i from stihl (hobby line) is ok for what i do, stock pruning the teak but i wouldn't feel comfortable to take down a tree. the saw nether has the power nor the chainspeed for such tasks.  

[HolmenTree]

Yup my T536 Li XP is a full XP pro saw. Lots of torque and battery life if the chain is kept sharp. I can bury the 16" bar and fell a good size tree as I found out yesterday. But I only bought the saw to dismantle trees from the top down in confined areas, the 16" will be nice when getting down lower in the stem  while blocking. Give a little more reach limbing 2 handed too.
Stihl doesn't sell a top handle battery here in North America, lots in Europe though. But I hear they can only be sold to licensed arborists over there.

[HolmenTree]

Used the 16" bar for the first on the 536 battery this morning up a tree.
I'm keeping the .043 16" bar on the saw. Worked really well in limbing and blocking down the tree. It cut better then the 10" b/c even in the smaller limbs from what I figure is there is a lot more clean fresh cutters to haul way the chips. 

Only got a few pics before and after of the 60 foot stone dead poplar.
I offered my elderly customer my phone to take pics while I was cutting aerilally but when the time came he touched the screen wrong and couldn't figure it out.

I felled the last of the 30 feet stem between his powerline and garage with my 066 mag.


 

 

 

[opticsguy]

OP here again . . . yes, again . . . .  :-)

My local and very best hardware store in all the world will not have any Milwaukee Cordless saws until September.  I would like to have one before this time and am thinking to buy one online.  So, recommendations for where to buy this saw?  

Also I briefly chatted with a Milwaukee rep yesterday.  He mentioned Milwaukee is coming out with a 15 amp/hr battery, larger than the 12 amp for the chainsaw. 

Thank you.

[Dave Shepard]

I've bought all my Milwaukee tools at the BORG. (Home Depot). Free and fast shipping or in store pickup. In the case of the chainsaw, you may have to just search the web to see who actually has one in stock. 

[Dave Shepard]

Starting to get some actual videos in use. 

Milwaukee Chainsaw in ACTION - YouTube

[Ljohnsaw]

Dave,
I found it amusing that your old habits were still holding on.  You were gunning the engine before and after your cuts :D  Pretty impressive cutting for an electric.

The amp hour should have NO effect on the "power" of the saw, only how long it can cut before it is used up.  Your 4ah battery is having issues, IMHO.

I'd like to see the same kind of video with the DeWalt saws.

[Ianab]

The amp hour should have NO effect on the "power" of the saw, only how long it can cut before it is used up.  Your 4ah battery is having issues, IMHO.

It might have in a high drain application. The larger A/H batteries usually also have a higher peak current. Doesn't matter in a low power device like a flashlight or a screwdriver, but something like a chainsaw might be pushing the limit of what a smaller battery can supply. 

[John Mc]

The amp hour should have NO effect on the "power" of the saw, only how long it can cut before it is used up.  Your 4ah battery is having issues, IMHO.

It might have in a high drain application. The larger A/H batteries usually also have a higher peak current. Doesn't matter in a low power device like a flashlight or a screwdriver, but something like a chainsaw might be pushing the limit of what a smaller battery can supply.

What Ianab describes is exactly the case with the Milwaukee saw. Yes, as ljohnsaw notes, AH ratings are generally a measure of how long a battery will last. However, in the case of the Milwaukee M18 12 AH battery, it is capable of delivering a higher current than the smaller M18 batteries. This is also true (though to a slightly lesser extent) with the 9 AH M18 batteries. It shouldn't hurt the smaller batteries, since the M18 system is smart enough to limit the current the battery delivers to what it is capable of handling, and will completely shut down if the battery start to get too hot.

[Dave Shepard]

That wasn't my video. 

Both the batteries, and the tools, protect themselves. My 7 1/4" saw on a 5ah battery does not run as well as it does on a 9ah. The 12ah battery is used on the chainsaw and the new 15 amp corded equivalent tools not just for run time but also for available amperage. 

[John Mc]

I wonder where the guy in the video found the special promotion where Milwaukee added the extra 9 AH battery in addition to the 12 AH that normally comes with it

[Tin Horse]

Not sure where in the US. But Canada I just found it from Federated Tool and ordered one.
Wife doesn't even know yet. 8)

[gspren]

Question for you Milwaukee fans, will the new higher amp batteries work in the older M18 tools? I'm tired of my cordless tools going obsolete every few years, I like my 14.4 Makita drill but can't now get a hedge trimmer, saw to match. I also have a 18V Dewalt at the shore house and that style battery is also gone. I can get batteries rebuilt but when adding a new tool you go to a different battery >:(. 

[Dave Shepard]

Milwaukee has promised that all batteries and tools on the M18 platform will be compatible going forward. There are a couple of tools, such as the magnetic drill press, that need new plastic parts to accommodate the 12.0 battery, but I have read that Milwaukee will be providing them for free. I consider this to be a huge selling point, especially as I have 15 M18 tools and almost 90 ah of working batteries. 

[Corley5]

  I got a Milwaukee from my local dealer today ;D 8)  Wasn't planning to buy one now but he had one in stock and has sold several and said everyone loves them.  Saw, 12.0 battery, and a Rapid Charger.  He threw in a saw wrench when I told him a new Husky came with a tool kit ;) ;D  Battery is charging now.  We'll try it in the morning   It's got an Oregon chain and bar on it

[HolmenTree]

Oregon 90 PX chain?

[Magicman]

You will love it.  I never cease to be amazed at how handy my 40V Brushless Ryobi is and what it can do.

[John Mc]

You will love it.  I never cease to be amazed at how handy my 40V Brushless Ryobi is and what it can do.

Have you had any battery problems with that Ryobi? I've been hearing reports of their 40V batteries and/or chargers crapping out.  From what I'm hearing, if they make it past the first few months of actual use, they will probably be OK, but there is a lot of "infant mortality" on those parts.

[Dave Shepard]

 I got a Milwaukee from my local dealer today ;D 8)  Wasn't planning to buy one now but he had one in stock and has sold several and said everyone loves them.  Saw, 12.0 battery, and a Rapid Charger.  He threw in a saw wrench when I told him a new Husky came with a tool kit ;) ;D  Battery is charging now.  We'll try it in the morning  It's got an Oregon chain and bar on it

Looking forward to a review from someone who doesn't make me worry they are about to take their leg of on YouTube.  :D
The Milwaukee does come with a scrench. It's stuffed up the bottom of the handle. 

[DelawhereJoe]

I'm tired of my cordless tools going obsolete every few years, I have a 18V Dewalt at the shore house and that style battery is also gone. I can get batteries rebuilt but when adding a new tool you go to a different battery >:(.

They make a 20v adapter for the 18v dewalt tools, the adapter, 2 batteries and charger run about $140 from lowes or the depot. You can also get aftermarket batteries from Amazon in 2 packs for $32-35.

[Corley5]

Used the Milwaukee just a little bit today.  Had to prune a tree in front of the shop and cut up the limbs with it when they were on the ground.  Nothing big at all but it worked good.  Might use it a bit more tomorrow at the firewood machine.  I found the scrench in the bottom of the handle 8)  I like a full size one much better but it'll do in a pinch  

[mad murdock]

We have an industrial supply jobber in the area that sells all the milwaukee line at better than HD prices. I put an order in for one as hey have been solid back ordered on the chainsaw since it's announcmemt and release for sale. I have several M18 tools and they are all game changers. Have several M12 as well.  Incredible tools and the conven Ende of cordless Can not be overstated!  My 1/2" drive impacts wrench is more powerful than any 1/2" drive air powered wrench. The circle saw is flat awesome, as well as my weed whacker. I also am really impressed with my shop vac. It works great and has the suction power of an order vac. 

[sumday]

Now that the Milwaukee has been out for a while, anyone have more feedback? 

[Inaotherlife]

Echo CS2511T is much more fun than any battery saw.

I do use a cordless circular saw and sawsall for all but the toughest jobs though.

[wild262]

Gas saws has a purpose like any other saw. No, they can't be compaired with battery saws as far as burte power, or chain speed.  But they do have there place.  I try to have "fun" with all my saws, and that's part of the purpose of them battery saws for "me".  Its not much fun anymore to use my big Jonny 2094 as it used to me 30 yrs. ago. Or even a 60cc saw for that matter.  As I get older, I like lighter, lower maint. options for getting work done.  And thats where these battery saws shine, especially for us older folks.  I have had a 40V Oregon 2nd generation for a few yrs. now and really like it.  If I got a stick of wood that won't go in the wood stove, I can fire it up in the basement and not wake anyone up, or need take it outside . 
     Recently I have been starting to introduce chainsaw use to my young grand boys.  I can't think of any better saw to start a boy (or girl), out on, than a cordless saw.  You can actually coach them while they run it!  Something my dad couldn't do when I was learning. They can learn the basics with them before going to gas saws.  I sure wish I could have done that.    Just my 2 cents.

[opticsguy]

OP here . . . . again......  :-)

A long time since I originally posted this topic and somewhere along the way, I purchased a Milwaukee cordless chainsaw.  This saw works exactly as I had both hoped and expected.  

I can cut up a tree that has fallen across the road.
I can store the saw in the trunk of my car for unexpected emergencies as above.
I did recently find a Madrone Tree that had fallen by the roadside and immediately cut it into chunks big enough to get in my small car and now using this somewhat rare wood for some projects at home.  

Run time is surprisingly good and one can easily buck up a fallen tree into firewood on a charge.  I will still be using my gas powered saws for cutting firewood and big trees and stuff for the sawmill.  The Milwaukee is now THE saw for trimming up around the mill and just about anything that makes this so handy and easily used.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

[sumday]

Thanks opticsguy. That was exactly the kind of feedback I was after.