Electric Chainsaw Options?

Hey Guys,

Does anyone have experience with electric chain saws. I'm looking to purchase one with similar power to replace my gas. Something like this.

Here is a thread about them:  Electric chainsaw thread

I don't know if any electric chainsaws really have the power of a serious gasoline chainsaw.  However, I can say that electric chainsaws are what I use around my small homestead.  I don't have a ton of use for the chainsaw so most of the time it would sit idle.  I would worry about the gas going bad.  With my electric ones they has thus far been ready to go and start right up no matter how long they've been sitting unused.  At the moment I think my personal favorite is the Oregon cordless chainsaw.  https://amzn.to/2XUfKLM  I have one with a 4.0 ah battery.  I bought an extra battery too so I could swap them out if I find I'm using it for extended periods of time.  I admit I haven't put this to the test yet.  It may happen this fall when I start felling more of my dead ash trees for next years firewood.  Part of what I like about the Oregon saw is the special PowerSharp sharpening system they have which can sharpen up a dull chain in seconds.  (Note it does require a special chain due to this.)

The cordless does have less power to it than a corded electric chainsaw in my experience thus far.  When I got the Oregon Cordless I also got a new Oregon corded chainsaw at the same time. https://amzn.to/2y3Ml2A This was to replace my Makita corded chainsaw.  https://amzn.to/2Y1lHGX  The Makita was working great but then kept locking up like the chain gears were out of alignment causing it all to bind up and stop.  I paid $100 for the local authorized Makita repair shop to fix it... and it still binds up.  Very annoying.  However, when it was running it ran great and I cut up a lot of firewood with it.  My hope is that the Oregon corded chainsaw will work with the same power as the Makita, but have the advantage of the PowerSharp chain sharpening system and hopefully not have the binding/lock up issue.  Again, we'll find out when I really get to cutting down the ash trees.  My plan is to use the cordless to take them down and cut into manageable logs I can then haul closer to the house where my heavy duty 100 foot cord will reach, allowing me to switch to the corded chainsaw to cut the logs up into firewood size.  Then I'll use my kindling splitter ( https://theartisthomestead.com/an-incredible-tool-for-splitting-kindling/ ) to split the logs up into smaller pieces for my Rocket Mass Heater ( https://theartisthomestead.com/rocket-mass-heaters-increase-your-wood-burning-efficiencies-50-to-90-percent/ ).  Depending on the log diameter size I might have to do some initial splitting with a traditional splitting maul until the sections are smaller for the kindling splitter.  

David Huang wrote:...... I also got a new Oregon corded chainsaw at the same time. https://amzn.to/2y3Ml2A This was to replace my Makita corded chainsaw.  https://amzn.to/2Y1lHGX  ........My hope is that the Oregon corded chainsaw will work with the same power as the Makita, but have the advantage of the PowerSharp chain sharpening system and hopefully not have the binding/lock up issue.

Hi David,    I just got done burning up the motor in my McCullough corded chainsaw (decades old) and was wondering how you were liking the Oregon model.  Sounds like we use them for similar purposes.....longer logs brought back to the house and possibly light construction work when needed. I really like our newer Dewalt cordless, but don't want to have to use that if an outlet is nearby.  If others have been using a corded electric chainsaw (16" bar range) for a few years now and like the quality, please add your pros/cons comments as well which will aid in my decision of a new purchase.  Thanks!

I have Makita-UC4051A. I have purchased it in 2020. It helped to carve the heavy timber for my roof and then I felled and chopped around 70 eucalyptus - full size trees, up to 25 m tall. Working with the corded saw (powered from the generator) makes you swear when you have to maneuver between branches.
Power, quiet operation, no fumes and relatively light weight and lack of vibration makes you smile.
I used it for chopping bigger pieces. Anything smaller than 6" I cut with a chop-saw - much faster and the same carbide tipped blade cut probably 30 tons of wood.
In four years I had to replace the bar two times and the sprocket one time. If it broke, I would buy another one the same day.

John Weiland wrote:

David Huang wrote:...... I also got a new Oregon corded chainsaw at the same time. https://amzn.to/2y3Ml2A This was to replace my Makita corded chainsaw.  https://amzn.to/2Y1lHGX  ........My hope is that the Oregon corded chainsaw will work with the same power as the Makita, but have the advantage of the PowerSharp chain sharpening system and hopefully not have the binding/lock up issue.

Hi David,    I just got done burning up the motor in my McCullough corded chainsaw (decades old) and was wondering how you were liking the Oregon model.  Sounds like we use them for similar purposes.....longer logs brought back to the house and possibly light construction work when needed. I really like our newer Dewalt cordless, but don't want to have to use that if an outlet is nearby.  If others have been using a corded electric chainsaw (16" bar range) for a few years now and like the quality, please add your pros/cons comments as well which will aid in my decision of a new purchase.  Thanks!

So far I'm still quite happy with my corded Oregon chainsaw.  It's been running great, without any troubles.  Mind you I am probably only bucking up a cord to a cord and a half of firewood a year with it, but so far no problems.  I just add the bar oil as needed and sharpen the chain with its built in super easy sharpening system now and again.  I don't think I've had to replace the chain on this one yet.  I did on my cordless version last spring.  

Thanks to you both for these responses...I will weigh both options before deciding on my purchase.  The Oregon offering is less expensive which is why I was hoping to hear that it does not fall apart after just a few uses.  But still weighing....and thank you for the input!