Battery Operated Chainsaw/Blower combo

[donut757]

I dont need a chainsaw, i have a super nice decent sized stihl that hardly gets used as is. (And a cheap Stihl that in my eyes isnt worth repair)
But i am considering getting a batteey operated one to keep in truck for hunting/going to farm and great for shooting lanes and trail maintenance... would be useful at times around the house. If i go the battery route ill get the blower as well for the wife to use. I love the idea of using the 18v for use of other normal power tools.

So in my mind i have a few choices.

1- nothing. Save my money
2- least likely and most expensive saw/blower combo (and long term) Go with Milwakee/Makita that use 18v batteries and slowly move over power tools to which ever brand. I dont have a need to move away from the Porter Cable stuff that i have and work fine for me... but wud allow me to have spare set of tools
3- Ryobi... cheap and good reviews for my intended use. Saw and blower decent price. Batteries arent bad. And would allow me to use batteries on odd tools i could use such as air pump, stapler, etc. for cheap.
3- Stihl- my buddy has a few reimbursements that need to be used... easily the best performing saw and blower. if i were to get the saw and blower that use same battery it would only be like $60 more than Ryobi including a second battery. But batteries wud be only for those two tools.

Opinions?

 

[Jeepnik]

Battery powered hand tools Milwakee is my go to. But for chainsaws it’s got to be Stihl.

 

[Mobuck]

We had a discussion here about the good/bad of cordless tools last weekend. I admit cordless power is a great advantage most times but all the new technology doesn't always really improve the equipment. The latest RIGID batteries have Bluetooth connection with my phart phone. REALLY???????
I don't need that. I need a long lasting high amp output battery that works. All that techno-crap is wasted on a fair percentage of users.
A battery operated chainsaw might be handy in the vehicle IF the battery is always charged when you want it(or wan't left at home). A cordless blower might be of some small value for an urbanite who needs to use such a tool for a few minutes at most.

 

[Dan in MI]

Watch for Makita sales. I got a 36v blower (2x18) with four 5 hour batteries last fall. The wife loves it. I love it because it is only about 65 Db (no ear muffs needed) and doesn't like the gas monsters my neighbors love to use for hours at a time. I looked hard at their chainsaws and string trimmers this spring, but haven't pulled the trigger. I need to find the magic price point.

Just picked up another Makita tool with 4, four hour batteries. Two extra batteries goes a long ways if they don't jack up the price.

 

[OVERLOADDED]

Dewalt all the way for us. Have 4 Makita inpactors, then bought dewalt, never looked back! Overloadded

 

[donut757]

I cant disagree with anything that has been said. I dont need new power tools cause they dont get used often, nor saw or blower.

I really hate idea of batteries being for only saw that gets used sparingly at best, and blower pretty regularly But with that said i can get 30% off anything stihl.. it makes it hard cuz not costing much at all compared to switching over to another brand power tools for battery uses.

Even going Ryobi would only be a little cheaper, but possibility of needed to add odd power tools would be available.

 

[Mus408]

2 years ago I bought the Kobalt 40 volt chainsaw and later the weed eater that shares same battery.
The chainsaw works really well and the weed eater OK after upgrading the head for larger .090 line.
Very happy with it down at my range property when you want to make a few quick cuts.

 

[Rook]

For hedge trimming battery power is the only way to go in my opinion. Dragging around the electrical cord gets old not to mention cutting the cord with the trimmer. I can't count the times I've cut the electrical cord with my old electric trimmers. Well actually I can count the times by counting the splices I had to make to the cord.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I looked at battery operated equipment such as hedge trimmer, vacuum, blower, etc. I started adding up the costs and determined that an inexpensive light generator is more cost effective. I found a brand new 2000 KW generator for 250 bucks at a local liquidation store, and it runs everything I already have.

Problems solved!

 

[kmoore]

Just talking chain saws. My go to is a 18 inch Stihl, east start and no problems after 12 years. Before that I wore out a gas powdered Remington and a Homelite saw. name.
I got a Ryobi 10 or 12 inch 18v around 10 years ago. It is fine, light weight and still cuts great. Not sure what it cost, it came with several other tools in a package. They make 3 grades of batteries and the cheap ones will always be dead when you need them. The more costly ones stay charged a long time. In your case the down side would be to remember to have 1 or 2 batteries charged and ready. And is the blade big enough to cut your way out of the woods. Around here even the 18 inch can be too short. For me the Stihl is carried in the truck, the Ryobi gets used around home.

 

[blume357]

If you are talking about cutting limbs and heavy brush you might be better off with a sawzall and wood blades.... Last time I checked Milwaukee did not have a true leaf blower but they do have pretty good hand held blower that does a pretty good job on light stuff....

they also make a duel voltage charger for the batteries that operates off of 120 ac or 12 dc... but the problem with the 12 volt is you need over 12volts for it to work and so it usually won't work in a vehicle unless the engine is on.

 

[donut757]

If you are talking about cutting limbs and heavy brush you might be better off with a sawzall and wood blade.

Yeah those pruning blades work very well, that is what i use for hanging stands and around the house if little stuff.

 

[powder smoke]

Battery powered hand tools Milwakee is my go to. But for chainsaws it’s got to be Stihl.

I like stihl fine used them for years! Then I purchased a husky Husqvarna and never look back. Naturally i'm comparing a new saw to an old one but I like it what can I say? ps

 

[Rook]

I looked at battery operated equipment such as hedge trimmer, vacuum, blower, etc. I started adding up the costs and determined that an inexpensive light generator is more cost effective. I found a brand new 2000 KW generator for 250 bucks at a local liquidation store, and it runs everything I already have.

Problems solved!

I have a generator but I'd rather drag an electrical cord around as mess with it. It's even got wheels on it that makes it easy to roll around.

 

[BearBio]

Dewalt all the way for us. Have 4 Makita inpactors, then bought dewalt, never looked back! Overloadded

I had several power drills and drivers. My last two decided to give up the ghost coincidentally at the same time. I was in the middle of repairing the door frames from the damage caused by my wheelchair while I was laid up. Home Depot had a a seven tool kit with several batteries by De Walt (20v), Included impact driver, saws-all, grinder, et al. So far, I've used 1/2 of the tools. Bought two additional 6 hr. batteries, then a chain-saw with two 5 hr. batteries. Just finished repairing the door frames, the support for a barn door in the hallway and everything has worked great.