20 Best Chainsaw For Homeowner (2022 Updated)

If you have never operated a chain saw, imo, this one is an excellent one to start with if for no other reason than the instruction manual. It is written in plain English. I had very little knowledge on the actual hands-on use of a chainsaws until I received this one, opened the box and read the instructions in the manual included with the saw.

The use of head gear did not occur to me until reading some into the instructions then getting to a part about kick back during use. well let’s just say you DON’T want to find out the hard way that it’s a good idea to use something to protect your face as a precaution rather than find out the hard way.

by say, having an accident where the saw kicked back in a nasty way which could very well happen under certain circumstances. The manual lays out examples though not too explicitly of potential dangers.

Myself, I have a motorcycle helmet I plan to use when I start it up. I could go on and on and applaud the manufacturer for including the manual but it won’t do you a bit of good if you don’t read it from start to finish.

For example, I would not have thought to check the oil every ten minutes of actual operation. I would not have thought to check the tension of the chain, especially new chains that are more susceptible to stretching a little in addition to the concept that heat expands (gets bigger) and cold contracts gets smaller.

) Elementary yes, but it really did not register until reading the manual where it serves to refresh the memory that the heat from the friction of the chain will cause it to stretch some from the heat generated through operation of the saw.

You don’t want the chain to fly off its track and hit you in the face do you? I don’t. So it is wise to follow that instruction and check the tension of the chain every ten minutes of actual use, not including a break, but actual use of the saw and check the oil so the chain will remain safely lubricated while you are at it.

The manual explains how to adjust the tension, but as a brief overview reminder DON’T make the chain too loose OR too tight. Follow every instruction read the short manual cover to cover and you will likely have absolutely no incidents to report or have to be explained to some attendant at your local ER.

Seriously. Finally, don’t forget that as that SAW’s ‘CHAIN’ GETS HOT AND EXPANDS GIVING RISE FOR THE NEED TO CHECK THE TENSION, THAT WHEN YOU ARE DONE WITH THE TASK AT HAND, REMEMBER. the saw’s chain is going to cool down (cold contracts remember?) Okay, so don’t forget to loosen the slack after use so the saw’s CHAIN does not expand too much around the saw’s guide bar (that’s the part the chain rotates on.

) You don’t want that to happen for one reason because it could require purchasing a new chain sooner than necessary. So safety first and last and in between as well and all should go without incident other than completing the task at hand you set out to do with no surprises.

Definitely read the manual as there is more to consider but I included some of the really important considerations before use, though there are more considerations to consider. Seriously.

I bought this specifically to trim several crepe myrtles. This saw really impressed me. It cut through the branches like a hot knife through butter. This saw does not have a brake which may be a deal breaker for some.

I am truly surprised how good a saw can be for less than $60. If you have trouble cutting with this saw you’ve put the chain on backwards. I would definitely buy this saw again. Call me impressed.

I am a farmboy now living on a half acre lot. So I thought I’d get me a city boy saw to trim and claer a bit. Thought electric would be enough. Well we had a set of pine tree fall from the ice storm, at the base about 18″ across.

This Wen 16″ electric saw easily did all the necessary work. Plenty of power. So long as I had cord enough I could just keep going. I am pleasantly surprized! For the price, this is a power house! So long as I keep the bar oil flowing and keep the chain sharp, this saw will do about everything I need.

If you are looking for a saw for around your property, and you have enough cord to get yourself to the worrk, buy this — you will not be disappointed!.

I just purchased, by far, the best electric chainsaw I’ve ever owned. My last chainsaw was an electric McCulloch, which I’ve had for quite a few years, and it served me well. It finally developed a problem with the self-oiler.

The oil line dry-rotted and it began leaking oil. I took it apart and replaced the line, but, because of it’s design, was unable to secure the line properly to the oil tank. I had a tornado hit my neighborhood a few months back, and didn’t have a working chainsaw, to deal with a BUNCH of fallen limbs in my backyard.

I finally decided to do a little electric chainsaw research online, and came upon this “Oregon” model. It got great reviews, and the price was reasonable, so I purchased one online. When it arrived, and I took it out of the box, It looked & felt impressive!!.

a bigger, heavier duty saw than my McColloch. The next day, I headed out to the back yard, put some oil in it, plugged into a heavy duty extension cord, and pulled the trigger. THE 18″ blade, with a more aggressive chainsaw pattern than my old saw, cut threw those leg-size limbs like butter.

It’s quiet running, well-balanced, not an oil guzzler, and even comes with a “built-in” chain sharpener for when the time comes, as well as other great features. I couldn’t be happier with this chainsaw, and would recommend it to anybody needing a saw around the house.

I’m not saying it would take the place of a gas model for cutting down large trees, but it’s exactly what I wanted/needed. just sayin’.

awesome light powerful saw, ive had echo products in the past, and i needed a light powerful one handed saw, and this fit the bill. starts easy, runs perfect out of the box, and is fairly quiet. still breaking in with non ethanol fuel 50:1, and the compression is awesome already.

super happy with it, and maxtool that sent it!.

Bought for removing an out of control locust branch arching over the house. 14” at the base and 50’ up. 5” diameter at the top down to 10” where I was able to fell it from the base. Had to take out in sections 12”-18” long.

The saw powered through 20 cuts without missing a beat. Good balance and easy to use 50 feet in the air on a boom lift.

I’ve had a similar saw before, and loved it for power, handleability, and ease of use. Expect this one to do as well. These saws are excellent for one handed tree work, limbing, smaller logs.

I bought this chainsaw last month and used it for the 1st time on yesterday (14Apr2022). It performed without any hiccups and my nephew was able to cut an upright dead branch off my dogwood tree in about 15 minutes.

Although I did not have any chainsaw oil, I was able to substitute vegetable oil/canola oil (after I Google-d alternatives for chainsaw oil). I am glad I bought this chainsaw. It’s not heavy at all. even for me (a woman).

I was able to register the warranty info online. My only problem was determining the serial number. There is no reference on the chainsaw nor the packaging stating “Serial number is _______”. There were two numbers with no reference, so I chose one and entered it.

The WORX website accepted it; therefore, I assume that on was the serial number.

I recently had a fire at home. It was mostly outside. The 50+ mph winds intensified the fire. I had quite a few trees that were burnt and killed. Insurance would only pay a small amount for what they call ruble removal.

I had a professional come in and fell the trees and cut up the really large sections of trunks. The balance, I have been working on with this Worx electric chainsaw. So far, it is doing a remarkable job.

I believe that I will have firewood for the fireplace for several years, thanks to the ability of this saw. Time will tell.

Purchased thru Amazon, read instructions and couldn’t get it to start. I called troubleshooting after verifying my power & 1st asked if there was anything else I could try. The rep didn’t hesitate, started process to send another.

As we finished she suggested I try moving the safety bar back then forward again(truth is, the step I forgot). It fired right up! Then the work began. This chewed thru branches & within 30 minutes I had trimmed up the felled branches.

Then I went after the 5’ tall trunk that was a good 18-20” in diameter. It took about 4 minutes but it’s down & outta my yard. It’s light weight but worked great! I have a battery operated saw but the battery isn’t holding a charge and the replacement is $25 less than this chainsaw.

So, cost, efficient, hard working, easy to handle and then customer service, I’m sold and so happy I bought. (FYI, I’m 68 year old woman retired from telephone industry).

I have run many saws over the years, both gas and electric. I also service and refurbish saws. This cordless battery operated saw when used with care and maintained as needed, works well and can do even some bigger jobs.

I use this saw in tandem with a gas saw for maximum efficiency and noise control as I work with day sleeping night security fella, quiet is a huge plus. Treat the saw with care and it will reward you.

Good simple yet effective design. You must wait for the electrical relay to close and saw to come up to speed, caution on small branches, stay humble. , or be humbled. It is not gas , so don’t expect it to work like gas, differant animal but good saw.

It’s value is dependent on You. Service regularly, and as needed. Be Safe. John.

A few years old now. Started right up this spring. 2years Ago I cut 30+ Dead ash trees avg 80+feet tall. I cut one down the year before. After realizing i had to take 30 down I bought a 2nd batter. I cut almost all threes down 1 after another.

Delimbed. Cut trees in 8 feel lengths dragged into piles. Gave half to my neighbor and cleared tree area in a few months Working full time. Cut ,cut , charge , move stuff and repeat.

Works great for maintaining the yard. Would be great if it came with it’s own tool for tightening the chain and sharpening. Lightweight and easy to use. Had trouble at first because it came with a dead battery that wouldn’t charge, but contacted custo.

er service and they sent a replacement because it was under warranty. Definitely need a second battery if you plan on doing a lot of cuts and you are further away from a power source to recharge. This is where a gas saw is better.

Ive got a couple of gallons through the saw. The honeymoon is over. Firstly: Its an arbor saw. The intent is to use a top-handle saw when up a tree or in a lift. This is not for groundwork. This is not for one-hand work.

If you enjoy having a left hand and/or a right leg, you should do some research before buying a top-handle chainsaw. Please dont be considering a top-handle for groundwork or as your first chainsaw or as your primary saw.

Get yourself a conventional rear handle saw as it will afford you more leverage and a greater margin of safety. Pros: It has enough power for the 16-inch bar (wouldnt go longer). The narrow-gauge chain helps.

You do need to get the RPMs up before connecting or it bogs. Its much more cost-effective than the Stihl 201t (which I tried to purchase elsewhere but was on backorder). Its a very reasonable weight-to-power ratio.

The top switch placement is a learning curve thing, but Ive come to like it. The oiler works better than my 460R but worse than my Stihl. The air filter lasts about a gallon. Easy access and easy to clean.

And, compared to other two-strokes in the collection, its the quietest of the lot. Cons: The fuel tank is small (yes, it would have to be larger and weigh more cant have it both ways), but it’s so small that you have to bring fuel up the tree with you.

The tolerances on the chain side are tight, which will only tolerate about a half-day of cutting live pine before the sap and sawdust will be thicker than the saw can withstand. Likewise, a splash of Spanish Moss is all it takes to lock it up, and it lacks the power to punch it back through.

Bring the tools with you. External clutch meh. Lots of nooks and crannies especially the inside of the chain cover. I hate cleaning this thing. Ok, so I never thought Id have an Echo tool in the truck, but Im duly impressed.

If it somehow became irreparably damaged tomorrow, Id readily order the same thing again.

Put included chain on, filled with gas, oil and Out of the box took down and processed 20 oak as if it was made for the job. No hesitation and the extra cc vs the smaller was evident. We wear out the smaller cc engine after about two years, so we will see how long this lasts, but thinking the additional engine size will translate to more power and longer endurance.

Also like that we could go to 16 if we wanted. 14 fulfills all our firewood cutting needs as well as our cedar tree cutting/clearing. The top handle is preferred for our needs. Great design improvements with primer bulb and grip adjustment.

I bought this saw due to an injury received while throwing rather large logs from a former tree that was standing on our property. I learned it is not a good idea but due to that injury, cranking up a 20 inch Husky or a Stihl in cold weather was just not an option any more so I turned to electric.

No more yanking on a starter rope. Plug it in, change batteries and keep it sharp. The chain is the key. I had a lot of cherry and a larger lot of poplar that needed to be whacked. The poplar is a breeze as it should be but I was amazed at how fast this EGO 1804 went through a cherry log.

A full battery lasted just under an hour on the poplar. and those logs averaged about 18″ diameter. I had purchased a EGO 56 volt blower earlier and was real happy that the batteries are interchangeable.

I pull one battery out and pop the second one in and I get another nearly an hour while the first one is on charge. Now you have to understand that’s constant cutting on logs laying on the ground. With standing timber, I would not be cutting steadily for an hour at a time.

You do have to map out what you are going to cut and where to drop it so the saw is not running full tilt for an hour. That gives time for the second battery to come up to full power. And whoever made the blade for this saw did a great job.

It is sharp as a razor and is still cutting fast after probably a hundred cross cuts through those two types of wood. I made a mistake on one tree that needed trimming and I popped the chain off. It was time for a break anyway so I sat the saw on the tailgate of my truck and only had to loosen the large adjustment handle and take off the bar.

I noted the chain lube was working well. I brushed out the dust and debris and lined up the blade into the bar and put it back on the chain sprocket and put the cover back on like it was brand new. Then I tightened the knob.

It applied the exact amount of pressure to tighten the blade,. No screws or bolts to adjust. And it tracked perfectly. That’s simple. Later in cutting some logs, I saw the chain had loosened a little and was drooping.

I loosened the knob and saw the chain snap right back into tight and I simply turned down the adjustment knob and kept cutting. Our son came over and said he thought he heard an electric toy truck and was amazed to see it producing all that sawdust.

I need to wear ear guards when he is using his gas powered 20″ saw but this EGO is as quiet as running the dryer in your house. I’ve owned about 8 chainsaws and this one is the best buy I’ve made in chainsaws ever.

I’m very happy with my new chain saw. It is the third EGO product (lawnmower and hedge trimmer) I have purchased and I remain impressed. I write this review in response to an automatic email from EGO after submitting my product registration and have been offered no compensation nor incentive.

I have a home in a heavily wooded area and have been greeted by downed branches and trees. Starting up my gas powered saw can be a stinky and tiring hassle. With the battery powered saw you’re ready to go, as long as the battery is charged and the chain oil tank is checked.

Not only does it cut like budda, but the reduced weight and vibration is a pleasant surprise which delays fatigue and promotes safety. Battery life is also quite impressive (even with a 2. 5 Ah battery).

One negative is that the chain comes off the bar pretty easily if you don’t pay absolute attention to keeping the chain from torquing while sawing. I did initially have a problem sharpening the cutters on the chain: the recommended 4.

5 in round file just barely fits between the cutter and the depth gauge. I thought that the file was too large. So be forewarned that, at least for the first sharpening, you’ve got to have the file at exactly 30º for it to fit into the narrow slot.

One general bit of advice for any power saw. think safety: chain saws are serious machinery, and associated injuries, especially to hands, legs, eyes can be gruesome.

As my first gas-powered chainsaw, this has been excellent so far. Moving to a wooded farmhouse with several trees that have fallen over the past couple years and knew my electric saw was completely out of the question.

So far, I only have about 3-4 hours total working time with the Husqvarna, and some of that was obviously arranging the downed trees and logs to be cut up. Several of the logs cut have been hardwood and it has cut right through with little issue.

The chain slipped off the sprocket once, but that was user error in getting the bar pinched and not realizing quickly enough, just a few minutes to get the side plate off, reposition the chain, side plate on and bar tensioned and it was back to work.

The only thing I was concerned with prior to purchasing was the 20″ bar instead of the 24″ on the 465, but so far I have been able to handle everything I’ve come across. One downed tree I got to a a section that was about 22″ in diameter and just made my cut from both sides.

Sure the longer bat would have been a single cut, but i think for general handling this bar is just fine and I can learn how to cut the bigger stuff if i need to. There is plenty more to cut up and a few dead trees to fell around the property.

Will update if anything changes on my initial thoughts.

Not your father’s 450. The older 450’s were beast that made other brands look bad but this is a newer style that’s more like the 235’s. The sprocket broke on the 4th tank of gas and it’s not interchangeable with the older sprockets.

It cranked and ran great but then the chain started to drag. I tried a new chain but there’s something inferior with the bar that came with it. The bar sproket still moves freely but the chain is locking up.

There is only one bolt holding the bar. The allows slipping and the chain quickly gets loose. I’m still giving it 3 stars because it cranks so easily and weighs a lot less and the price makes it affordable.

I won’t buy another one if I see one bolt holding the bar. I can’t begin to imagine why the company would change the sproket. It makes my backup parts worthless. Worse. when you try to get replacements its difficult to know what you are going to get.

Probably won’t work. Sorry. I’ve cut 100’s of tons of paperwork and couldn’t imagine husqvarna letting me down like this.

This was was purchased to clean up after an ice storm brought down a sycamore and maple. The 18 inch bar on the 450 Rancher was perfectly adequate to bring down an old dead cherry tree with 30 inch trunk.

The saw was comfortable and light enough for a middle aged office working man to handle comfortably. Very easy to start and runs well with a fuel:oil mix. One thing that was not clear to me was how tight the clutch/adjuster bolt has to be after tensioning the chain.

If that nut is not very snug the clutch will not operate correctly and the chain will drag and the motor will stall or not start. The clutch spring mechanism was allowed to slip and the plastic housing gouged.

It still seems to operate fine when sufficiently tightened and if it fails, the plastic covers are available readily at the time of writing this.

As a New England home owner heating with wood for over 30 years, I’ve used a number of gasoline chainsaws. I am extremely impressed with this Greenworks brushless saw. But first. this is not a gasoline engine powered chainsaw, don’t expect it to act exactly the same.

I’ve enjoyed this saw for over a year and two replacement chains. My main occupation for the last 30+ years has been repairing cars, and anything mechanical so I’ve torture tested this saw like any other saw I’ve used.

A+. Working side by side helping a friend cut fallen trees into wood stove size pieces, this saw had it’s first workout, side by side with a gas saw who had to stop and refuel before my battery was down to 1/4.

As I was pushing the saw to it’s limits as I tend to do at times with a gas saw, at the point where the gas engine would be saying “that’s all I got man” when Really Pushed, the electric saw just stops.

no kick back, just an almost instant safe stop. And chain adjustments are so simple. No tools needed, can be done on the spot in seconds. All I need on the job is the saw and chain oil, gloves and eye protection, no need for covering my ears due to noise.

making a safer all around. The saw is not too heavy and is very well balanced in operation. Until I run into a tree requiring a larger bar on a chainsaw, It’s likely to be a while before my gas saw gets used again.

I am very pleased with this Greenworks saw and would absolutely recommend it. – Jonathan.

I got this for my husband’s Christmas gift. We have a small yard and don’t need a huge chain saw. This one is perfect! My husband has already sawed up branches that came out of our trees with the wind we had on Christmas Day.

I originally saw a similar chainsaw when we we camping. A fellow camper was sawing through downed tree branches to use for fire wood. That’s when I thought, “Wow! Perfect Christmas gift!” It is very lightweight, super easy to start up and so much quieter than a gasoline powered chainsaw.

That’s good in a campground where you don’t want to be annoying to other campers. This chainsaw got high ratings everywhere I looked and, so far it’s great.

For the past four years, I have been using the Greenworks 40 Volt Cordless Chainsaw to clear terribly invasive Brazilian pepper trees from the perimeter of my 2 ½ acres. The pop-in battery has incredible staying power and is easily recharged.

This machine is a dream for women like me who like to take care of their own property. I chose the 12 inch blade as I am 71 years old and that length is the perfect fit for my size and strength. My younger sister was so impressed with its performance that she just bought one!.

I put the bar & chain on, put oil in the reservoir, then left it in the garage til the next day. Upon inspection, I saw oil underneath it. Unfortunately, it was sitting on a piece of unfinished furniture I had been working on.

Being a refurbished unit, you think they would address this issue, as many reviews mention it. That said, the chainsaw does do pretty well. Be sure to keep your cut straight, or the bar will get caught & it’ll look like the chain has suddenly gone dull.

I’ve only used it once & cut down about 3-4 trees, with trunks up to about 12-14″. Keep it stored somewhere you don’t mind oil leaking onto. It wasn’t pouring out, but it’s noticeable.

This is quite the bad boy for the size, and being electric. Just like a normal saw, but no gas to spill. I just used this to chop up a huge maple that fell from a storm. Worked perfectly, and flawlessly.

I own a snow joe, an love it, figured a sun joe saw should be just as awesome. An I was right!! If you aren’t a lumber jack ( I look like one) and only need this saw for normal people stuff, you won’t be let down.

I don’t think this saw would handle logging very well. Backyard a mess, this saw’s got it handle no problemo. With this saw, I save the smoker fuel for my dirt bikes. A few pennies to use each time, and bar oil is dirt cheap.

Cost of using this saw compared to a gas saw, for the home user, well this is the way to go. Only one thing I would change with this saw, the safety button needs to be just a little longer. I have thick small hands of a man meant to move the world.

The button can be a bit tricky to tickle with my short fingers. Other than elongating the button a tad, this saw is the bee’s knees. Very happy I purchased it.

Bought this in May and had the needed to use it in August. At first it started on the first pull, then it idled very rough and kills. After that it took 3 or 4 pulls to get it started and still runs rough even after it warms up.

Need to keep the rpm up to keep it running. After it warmed up I turned it off and tried to restart it a 5 minutes later and pulled ten times and wore the skin off my finger would not start. Came back 30 minutes later and it finally started after 5 pulls.

Idled rough vibrates more than my 40 year old homelite and needed to keep the rpm up to keep it running. Not what I would expect from a quality name like HUSQVARNA. I’d return it if I could, but its past the 30 days.

I had bought this saw to cut a right away to my property. The first day I was satisfied… but the 2nd tank of gas I put in it I COULD NOT get it to stay running. Would idle fine but that’s it! So dissatisfied, especially since I exchanged for a 2nd one and had the same issue.

On the 2nd I bought premix fuel! Long story short I returned it for a sthil (about 30 dollars more). The sthil is an awesome saw. even if the husky worked properly the sthil is twice the saw.

This is the seventh Husky saw I own and overall it is a pretty good saw. I bought it to just trim yard trees mostly and it does that nicely. I have other saws for larger jobs. This saw should never have over a 16 bar on it due to the power of the little 40cc engine.

A lot of people buy these expecting them to cut trees that are as big as the length of the bar. That is stupid and shows the ignorance of the user. These little saws will cut large trees with a sharp chain and enough patience BUT it is EXTREMELY taxing on the saw and should be avoided.

For my use it will never be used to cut a tree over 12 in diameter. This particular 440 runs pretty decent out of the box but like most of these eco models it needs a bit more fuel ( high jet adjustment) at full throttle.

The plastic toy-like chain tensioner actually works pretty well. Time will tell if the plastic breaks off. Overall the saw is exactly what I expected for a 40cc saw and I am pleased with it.

I wanted a lighter saw to “limb” with and this saw is the “berries”! It’s easy to start initially and starts almost effortlessly afterwards – every time! It has plenty of power. I not only use it to remove the tree limbs, but I also cut trees up to a foot or more in diameter with it.

I bought this saw earlier in the year and have sawed almost a year’s worth of firewood with it. I have had Stihl chainsaws throughout the last 35 years and I was somewhat hesitant about buying a different brand.

I’m so glad I took the plunge and bought Echo chainsaws. Within two months after purchasing this saw, I bought another ECHO chainsaw (a Timber Wolf CS-590 (18″) 59. 8cc) for larger trees and it’s a veritable BEAST! This tandem of Echo chainsaws is exactly what a landowner needs to clear timber and cut firewood.

Treat yourself to an Echo chainsaw – you’ll be very, very glad you did!.

I looked closely at the other brands and bought this one. I like Japanese companies, such good quality. This model is assembled in USA. Ive run about 10 tanks of fuel through it. Starts very easy in cold.

I also just bought the CS490 but have not tried it yet. Compared to the reviews of the other “German” brand Echo is first rate. Farm & Fleet is first rate, their staff so knowledgeable and helpful, and they service what they sell – on site! They will even assemble and start it for you (if you want) before you leave the store.

The saw is beautiful. It performed like a champ. A storm blew over a sizable oak tree. This saw cut it up so easy, it went thru that oak trunk like butter. I have other Echo leaf vacuum/shredder and an Echo weed wacker that are 20+ years old and they have never let me down.

Great quality, Great Name.

First off buy a chain cover with it if it has the clear plastic over it. Back to the main game here: This chain worked fantastic. I chopped an entire tree to pieces in about 15 minutes. All I have to say is it was like a hot knife through butter.

I will also comment on the gas/oil lids being very user friendly. The grip was nice and I am a left handed guy. Was also able to use one handed without worry… though I am experienced so dont think you can Superman it to show off.

I had several large tree branches fall on to my roof this past weekend that were way to big for anything I had around the house to cut with. Some of the branches were over 12″ in diameter and this chainsaw went right through them.

The only problem was the chain popped off several times however it was getting dark so couldn’t see the best to make sure it was tightened so this may have been the issue. However, even unscrewing the cover and putting the chain back on was incredibly simple and quick and could do in low light within a minute or two right there on the spot.

I probably used it off and on for 2-3 hours total. In the past I have only used gas powered chain saws however after buying a gas powered pressure washer that ended up being so difficult to start that I only used it maybe twice over a five year period I decided then that was switching to all electric yard items.

The pressure washer was so bad that even though I had a $500 pressure washer I would go to neighbors and borrow their electric $120 walmart power washer over going through the hassle to use mine. Also, electric items are just so much lighter which really has benefited my wife the most since when I am out of town, and she has to handle the yard, she now has no problem using the mower, trimmer, and blower where as before she dreaded having to make sure there was enough gas and the correct type of gas.

Then she had to go through the hassle of pull starting but the biggest factor was just the wieght. These electric items are just so much lighter and seem to have equal if not more power than there gas counterparts.

I would highly recommend this item but I would also suggest buying an additional bottle of “Bar and Chain Oil” since the 4. 3 fl oz bottle it comes with did not last very long. I was hoping maybe could use one of the various bottles of oil I already have laying around but unfortunately I am not sure what type of oil this is since the manual only says “Bar and Chain Oil”.

Sometimes it’s just not worth firing up a Stihl lumberjack saw to cut up sticks and limbs around the yard or and small batches of firewood for a marshmallow roast. For that stuff, this is perfect. Plug it in, squeeze the trigger, and cut.

No 2-stroke mixing. No clogged carbs or air filters. No fighting to get the engine started with a pull-cord. If I’m not cutting down a large tree or bucking whole cords of firewood, this will be my go-to saw.

Other than pouring in some chain oil and soaking the chain overnight before using, it couldn’t be any easier to put this thing to work. And, it cuts logs as large as I’m likely to ever need to cut around the house.

I cut up a whole pile of sticks that were too big for my loping shears and then I cut some firewood logs up to 15″ or so. It handled everything with no problems. WAY more quiet than gas – which makes it far more pleasant to use.

Your neighbors won’t hate you for using it. And, when you aren’t squeezing the trigger, the chain doesn’t move. Quite a bit safer than a gas saw (yes, a gas saw should have a clutch but they don’t always work right – an electric saw is pretty fool-proof on this count).

Comes with a bottle of chain oil that looks pretty thin, so I’m still waiting to see how that pans out. Not sure if I’ll have to find more of that or if this saw will handle “real” chain oil. You barely get enough of the thin stuff to fill the saw reservoir once.

Overall, for your average Joe Homeowner who only needs to do some casual cutting a couple of times a year, I figure this saw will get you by for many years with minimal effort or maintenance.

I do not have extensive experience with chain saws. I have used them off and on through the years, though. This tool is not designed for heavy use (for instance – cutting down 10 inch trees) but I am guessing it could if you are real gentle with it.

The problem I’m having is that it gets hot and the chain expands (with plenty of oil, of course) and then jumps the bar. then you have to stop and re-install the chain. which isn’t real difficult but it’s just a little inconvenient.

I bought some new chains for it from Amazon. They seemed to be much sharper than the one that came with it. Anyway, I went to Home Depot and got a 16″ gas powered Ryobi. BIG difference in ease of use.

But, I still have to note, for small stuff, that little 14″ Portland is pretty handy for dealing with the disassembly of the branches and stuff after they are cut from the tree. The two of them make a good team in my opinion.