New Milwaukee Cordless Chainsaw

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And who thinks their battery chainsaw is more stall resistant than any of their gasoline ones? That says corded electric and some battery. Kind of curious if that battery clause is for something that has not hit the market yet.
A gasoline motor has very little torque at low rpms, so when the fibres in a pair of chaps clog up and slow down a gas powered saw, the lack of torque will keep the saw from chewing through them. But electric motors (battery or corded) have a great deal of torque at low rpm and might have enough to work through the bunched up fibres and keep going.

As for HP ratings and comparisons between gas and electric, gas hp rating is achieved while revving the motor, while electric might be rated by measuring current. A lot of manufacturers of electric equipment will inflate their hp numbers by measuring curremt at startup, which will be very high, but have no relation to maximum running horsepower. Therefore a 3hp gas saw might easily outcut a 4hp electric saw due to how the ratings are achieved.
 
A gasoline motor has very little torque at low rpms, so when the fibres in a pair of chaps clog up and slow down a gas powered saw, the lack of torque will keep the saw from chewing through them. But electric motors (battery or corded) have a great deal of torque at low rpm and might have enough to work through the bunched up fibres and keep going.

As for HP ratings and comparisons between gas and electric, gas hp rating is achieved while revving the motor, while electric might be rated by measuring current. A lot of manufacturers of electric equipment will inflate their hp numbers by measuring curremt at startup, which will be very high, but have no relation to maximum running horsepower. Therefore a 3hp gas saw might easily outcut a 4hp electric saw due to how the ratings are achieved.

The assumption is of course that you would let up on the trigger when things go south....

I always got a chuckle with Sears tool ads. They must measure HP the millisecond before the tool self destructs.
 
Wow! I never knew that. I guess chaps jam up a clutch, but electric saws don't have a clutch. Good to know.

I'm surprised there hasn't been chaps developed for electric saws. Or electric saws with safety features to use current chaps.
I think they would get up to full speed instantly, so there is no centrifugal clutch that would work. However, I would hope that all of these electric chainsaws are using a motor with a brake, so if you let go of the trigger it stops right away. I would say that might even be safer than a clutch on a gas saw.

A gasoline motor has very little torque at low rpms, so when the fibres in a pair of chaps clog up and slow down a gas powered saw, the lack of torque will keep the saw from chewing through them. But electric motors (battery or corded) have a great deal of torque at low rpm and might have enough to work through the bunched up fibres and keep going.

As for HP ratings and comparisons between gas and electric, gas hp rating is achieved while revving the motor, while electric might be rated by measuring current. A lot of manufacturers of electric equipment will inflate their hp numbers by measuring curremt at startup, which will be very high, but have no relation to maximum running horsepower. Therefore a 3hp gas saw might easily outcut a 4hp electric saw due to how the ratings are achieved.
Touche, maybe combine the hp or torque rating with a speed to reduce that inflation. But the marketing teams would never let that one slide...
 
Ok, it takes the M18 Fuel battery. I have 4 or 5 Milwaukee M18 power tools; very nice stuff. If only need the saw and not the battery or charger, you can knock at least $50 off the purchase price.

Frankly, I'd like to go in the other direction -- instead of going towards battery power, maybe we should power more hand tools with 2 stroke engines? I already have an ancient Jonsered XD set up for drilling. I'd also love to have a 60cc 3/4" impact wrench. One of the Homelite circular saws. A 70cc Sawzall would be a lot of fun, too.
There was a 090G 1” impact on here a while back......
 
The assumption is of course that you would let up on the trigger when things go south....

I think they would get up to full speed instantly, so there is no centrifugal clutch that would work. However, I would hope that all of these electric chainsaws are using a motor with a brake, so if you let go of the trigger it stops right away. I would say that might even be safer than a clutch on a gas saw.
Not safer, as oldfortyfive notes. If there is an issue chances are most users won't let go until its too late.
The chainbrake mechanism could be adapted to be a kill switch in case of kickback but other than that there is little to stop the chain but the users reflexes.

Electric motors make full power across the rpm band, a gas motor doesn't. When the gas saw hits the chaps, the fibers instantly slow the saw and the motor stalls, usually ending the event before a major injury can occur. An electric motor will cut into the chaps and might slow down some but even at low rpms its making the same power so it will keep going. An electric motor won't ever stall like a gas motor either, it will keep trying to turn at full power until you actually shut it off. There is little chance that an average user will be able to react to an accident in time to prevent the saw from doing at least some damage, no more than if a gas saw was being used with no chaps .
 
Not safer, as oldfortyfive notes. If there is an issue chances are most users won't let go until its too late.
The chainbrake mechanism could be adapted to be a kill switch in case of kickback but other than that there is little to stop the chain but the users reflexes.

Electric motors make full power across the rpm band, a gas motor doesn't. When the gas saw hits the chaps, the fibers instantly slow the saw and the motor stalls, usually ending the event before a major injury can occur. An electric motor will cut into the chaps and might slow down some but even at low rpms its making the same power so it will keep going. An electric motor won't ever stall like a gas motor either, it will keep trying to turn at full power until you actually shut it off. There is little chance that an average user will be able to react to an accident in time to prevent the saw from doing at least some damage, no more than if a gas saw was being used with no chaps .
I've never witnessed a saw accident (knock on wood), so I wasn't sure how the chaps work. I thought thet were just extra thick fabric that allowed you a little extra time to let go of the trigger. which is why I was thinking that an electric brake would work.

I guess those that want electric saws will just have to invest in platemail chaps.
 
I dont know anything about the milwaukee, but I gave the wife a Echo 58 volt last Christmas. Id have to say its kind of badass, and this is from someone who has been using a 288xp with mods for ALL my cutting. Id place it above any top handle gas saw for sure as far as power goes.
 
Have the Echo 58v which I use for light duty (limbing and small saplings, usual homeowner/camp duty dealio). Second battery I got last year died and won't charge so warranty covers that. Also have Milwaukee Fuel tools so tempted when I saw this new offering. Up in Canada, they have a deal where you get a second battery (9.0) thrown in, for $529 Cdn ($400 USD, more or less). If I cld get a decent price for the Echo, I'd jump to Milwaukee. But still let the Husqvarna do the grunt work. or keep my money in my wallet ;)
 
The Echo I tried out had pretty good power, not quite a good 40cc saw but getting there, the tiny chain helped I'm sure. But man it's as heavy as a Dolmar 7900. The saw also didn't feel like it had the best quality for the money IMHO. Keep in mind there are no regulations when it comes to marketing of power tools and the vast majority of the numbers are not only inflated, but often completely made up. The same company that produces Milwaukee tools "Techtronic industries"http://www.ttigroup.com/en/our_brands/ also makes Ryobi and a bunch of other brands, mostly lower end stuff. I believe they're also making the Echo battery saw, but the info on this is not clear.
 
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