Electrical chainsaw

[Boskaerm]

I have two small Remington electric chainsaws with 14" bars. (One my neighbor nearly destroyed.) They work great for limbing and small stuff. I thought about getting a more powerful electric saw but after looking around decided against it. The problem with the more powerful electric saws is the amps they draw and the associated cord length and size limitations.

since I´ll be cutting just next to my garage, power is not the problem! But can´t seem to find anything larger than 2100 - 2200 w.

 

[Aled Owen]

I've never found an electric saw more powerful than 2kw, that said if you're just gonna be logging why need more?

 

[Boskaerm]

I've never found an electric saw more powerful than 2kw, that said if you're just gonna be logging why need more?

you´re probarly right, just because I´ve got a cheap China eltric chainsaw. It´s also claimed to be 2000 w, but i really think it´s lacking power, and speed, compared to my 50 cc (2,3-2,4 kw) saws. but really like the sound level, and no smoke design.
And maybe if I spend a Little more, and buy from a wellknow brand, the outcome will change?

 

[B_Turner]

Both the Partner/Husqvarna clones and the Makita is good saws. You are right on the chain tension system it's a back draft and another back draft is that you can only get 3/8 sprocket for the Makita. But it has good chains peed for an electrical saw, and good torque.
You can visit me and try them all Husqvarna, Makita, and Stihl and then you can decide.

You should definitely take NEP up on the offer, as it's largely a personal preference. I may not have as many electrics as NEP, but I have four that I can think of.

For me for strickly bucking, a 220v mse220 would be the ticket (mine is 120v in US). It's heavy a bit akward and not as balanced as say the Makita UC4000, but it is so much stronger.

For smaller stuff actually I really like the stihl ms140 or 180 although the ergonomics are much worse than the Makita (or Dolmar). But they are smooth, fast and light for normal trimming. And the smaller electrics have a after run brake, which the mse220 does not (it has like 6-7 seconds of afterrun which takes a different mindset when operation).

A few minutes with each of NEP's saws and you'll probably know which one you want.

One things about the stihls is that they come with sprockets, so running a different pitch chain is easier.

 

[Aled Owen]

A Stihl MSE chainsaw would be on my consideration list for an electric saw, bit on the pricey side by comparison to Makita's, yet there may be a quality difference. I read somewhere the electric Makita chainsaws are made in China.

 

[fearofpavement]

The reason you can't find electric chainsaws with more than 2000 watts is because 2000 watts at 110 volts is 18.2 amps. Considering most breakers/fuses in a load center are either 15 or 20 amps, one can see the limitations here. ie, anything larger would blow the breaker and a 2000 watt unit would likely blow even a 20 amp breaker from time to time.

Milwaukee Electric (Sawzall) used to make electric chainsaws. Not sure if they still do but I have used one of those and was very impressed with it. It even survived a fall from about 25' up a tree (that's a different story) and if those are still around and I wanted an electric, I myself would try to hunt one down.

 

[Boskaerm]

You should definitely take NEP up on the offer, as it's largely a personal preference. I may not have as many electrics as NEP, but I have four that I can think of.

For me for strickly bucking, a 220v mse220 would be the ticket (mine is 120v in US). It's heavy a bit akward and not as balanced as say the Makita UC4000, but it is so much stronger.

For smaller stuff actually I really like the stihl ms140 or 180 although the ergonomics are much worse than the Makita (or Dolmar). But they are smooth, fast and light for normal trimming. And the smaller electrics have a after run brake, which the mse220 does not (it has like 6-7 seconds of afterrun which takes a different mindset when operation).

A few minutes with each of NEP's saws and you'll probably know which one you want.

One things about the stihls is that they come with sprockets, so running a different pitch chain is easier.

As for the balance, and handling, I don`t care that much, since I will mostly use it in my saw buck, where it is boltet on a pivot.

 

[TwistedHiCap]

i do feel sorry for you guys on 110 over there we here in europe use 230 volts and hell it makes a difference ! we use 110 on building and construction sites only !

 

[Boskaerm]

The reason you can't find electric chainsaws with more than 2000 watts is because 2000 watts at 110 volts is 18.2 amps. Considering most breakers/fuses in a load center are either 15 or 20 amps, one can see the limitations here. ie, anything larger would blow the breaker and a 2000 watt unit would likely blow even a 20 amp breaker from time to time.

Milwaukee Electric (Sawzall) used to make electric chainsaws. Not sure if they still do but I have used one of those and was very impressed with it. It even survived a fall from about 25' up a tree (that's a different story) and if those are still around and I wanted an electric, I myself would try to hunt one down.

I can see that, but in our part off the world, we use 220 volt and notmaly 10 amps, in newer instalations 13 amps, which makes 2800 watt possibel.
Besides that, we do have 3 Phases with 380 volt, and 16 amps, and a possibility of 6000 w!
And if You take one phase and the earth, then you´ve got 220 volt, with 16 amps, which makes for 3500 w.
So the power source isn´t that much a problem.

 

[fearofpavement]

I can see that, but in our part off the world, we use 220 volt and notmaly 10 amps, in newer instalations 13 amps, which makes 2800 watt possibel.
Besides that, we do have 3 Phases with 380 volt, and 16 amps, and a possibility of 6000 w!
And if You take one phase and the earth, then you´ve got 220 volt, with 16 amps, which makes for 3500 w.
So the power source isn´t that much a problem.

...............................................................
And you also probably have 50hz power so anything here in the USA is going to be not well suited for your power specs as very few hand held power tools come in 240 volts and it is all 60hz stuff unless you get a motor rated for 50/60hz.

I ship a lot of stuff to ship to Africa and face these power compatibility challenges regularly.

 

[landroverbill]

This is a saw I picked-up for cutting near the power supply. 240 v. Might make a good beam chopsaw.

<a href="http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img9868yu.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/466/img9868yu.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>
<a href="http://img810.imageshack.us/i/img9870o.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3705/img9870o.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>
<a href="http://img525.imageshack.us/i/img9871r.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6760/img9871r.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>
It is just too heavy.

 

[Boskaerm]

...............................................................
And you also probably have 50hz power so anything here in the USA is going to be not well suited for your power specs as very few hand held power tools come in 240 volts and it is all 60hz stuff unless you get a motor rated for 50/60hz.

I ship a lot of stuff to ship to Africa and face these power compatibility challenges regularly.

yeah 50 hz :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Boskaerm]

This is a saw I picked-up for cutting near the power supply. 240 v. Might make a good beam chopsaw.

<a href="http://img717.imageshack.us/i/img9868yu.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/466/img9868yu.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>
<a href="http://img810.imageshack.us/i/img9870o.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3705/img9870o.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>
<a href="http://img525.imageshack.us/i/img9871r.jpg/" target="_blank"><img src="http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/6760/img9871r.th.jpg" border="0"/></a>
It is just too heavy.

that looks like something I need :hmm3grin2orange:
What the heck is that

How big is it in Watts or Amps?

 

[landroverbill]

It is a PM Electroboss
230 volts
1 3/4 hp
9 amps 0-60 cycles

and it has a monster of a chain for an electric saw on a 25+"bar.

 

[CGC4200]

Residential electrical power in US

It is 120/240 60 HZ single phase on most homes, I have never seen a 240 Volt plug in tool. 240 is used for HVAC, water heaters, electric cook stoves and similar.
120/208 3 phase is used on restaurants & similar, 277/480 and more is used on large buildings and industrial.

I have seen electric chainsaws used on wood frame construction jobs where cords
are already available.

 

[fearofpavement]

It is 120/240 60 HZ single phase on most homes, I have never seen a 240 Volt plug in tool. 240 is used for HVAC, water heaters, electric cook stoves and similar.
120/208 3 phase is used on restaurants & similar, 277/480 and more is used on large buildings and industrial.

I have seen electric chainsaws used on wood frame construction jobs where cords
are already available.

Any air compressor over 3 hp is likely to be a 240 plug in. Also there are portable power tools such as grinders, circ saws, drills, etc that run on 240 but they are not common here in the USA.

 

[qweesdraw]

I found a Stihl E14 @ an estate sale for $20.
I use it to cut small stuff for log furniture,plastic wrap for bundles.
I have also used it to rip logs.
NOT a Sthil fan other than my 026.
This is an awesome saw!
(I always ask the Stilhl dealer for a carb kit for it)
Mark