Tools for Gals: Battery chainsaw/loppers choice?

Hope this doesn't offend and if it needs moving to a previous thread, please do so.

My wife, now in her 70s, still wants to be able to prune branches and limbs, sometimes  4-5 inches in diameter, but is getting the usual loss of strength for her age.  She's gotten interested in some of the battery units out there, but in addition to standard chainsaws is fascinated by the battery 'lopper'.   Are there any opinions here on which of the devices shown below would be better for one with declining strength in the hands (gripping) and arms (holding up and steady)?  We understand having to account for battery weight as some of this come with single or dual battery options.  Thanks!

I think she should make sure to actually handle any tool before buying to get an idea of how well it is balanced, particularly with the battery placement, and also the size of the handgrips.

Chainsaws are tricky if upper body and grip strength are issues. Has she tried a battery sawzall or jigsaw? For branches a levered lopper can't handle, a battery sawzall is my go-to pruning tool, with a pruning blade installed.

Frankly, I think the B&D battery "lopper" is more gimmick than tool.

I'd rather have lever/gear/ratchet Fiskars loppers any day for stuff up to 2". My wife was amazed at what she could cut with these:
https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/gardening-and-yard-care/products/loppers/ratchet-lopper-27-76806980j


Other relevant threads:

https://permies.com/t/57572/Tool-thoughts-women

https://permies.com/t/137851/cordless-electric-chainsaw-recommendations

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Chainsaws are tricky if upper body and grip strength are issues. Has she tried a battery sawzall or jigsaw? For branches a levered lopper can't handle, a battery sawzall is my go-to pruning tool, with a pruning blade installed.

Frankly, I think the B&D battery "lopper" is more gimmick than tool.

I'd rather have lever/gear/ratchet Fiskars loppers any day for stuff up to 2". My wife was amazed at what she could cut with these:
https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/gardening-and-yard-care/products/loppers/ratchet-lopper-27-76806980j

Thanks for inputs so far.  Yes, she already uses a Fiskars ratcheted larger pruners for 1-1.5" cutting, but she admits it's getting harder to do each year.  An older corded Milwaukee Sawzall is still her go-to saw for cutting 2X4's etc. in the barn, but she stays away from the McCullough corded chainsaw because the trigger combined with the blade length is just a bit too much.  Her main drill/driver is a DeWalt LiIon Battery unit.  She may actually be more interested, now that it is mentioned, in a battery reciprocating saw with the pruning blade as she is quite comfortable with the configuration and handling.  Perhaps the DeWalt version would take the same batteries....20V/2Ah....as her driver.  Hmmmm.....more to think about.   Thanks!

My 36 v Makita chain saw weighs as much as my 42cc Craftsman. I bought it for my wife, at her request.  She touched it once. It is now my go to saw.

John Weiland wrote:

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:Chainsaws are tricky if upper body and grip strength are issues. Has she tried a battery sawzall or jigsaw? For branches a levered lopper can't handle, a battery sawzall is my go-to pruning tool, with a pruning blade installed.

Frankly, I think the B&D battery "lopper" is more gimmick than tool.

I'd rather have lever/gear/ratchet Fiskars loppers any day for stuff up to 2". My wife was amazed at what she could cut with these:
https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/gardening-and-yard-care/products/loppers/ratchet-lopper-27-76806980j

Thanks for inputs so far.  Yes, she already uses a Fiskars ratcheted larger pruners for 1-1.5" cutting, but she admits it's getting harder to do each year.  An older corded Milwaukee Sawzall is still her go-to saw for cutting 2X4's etc. in the barn, but she stays away from the McCullough corded chainsaw because the trigger combined with the blade length is just a bit too much.  Her main drill/driver is a DeWalt LiIon Battery unit.  She may actually be more interested, now that it is mentioned, in a battery reciprocating saw with the pruning blade as she is quite comfortable with the configuration and handling.  Perhaps the DeWalt version would take the same batteries....20V/2Ah....as her driver.  Hmmmm.....more to think about.   Thanks!

John, I'll second this. I have a big gas saw, a Milwaukee 18v chainsaw, and others... but I love the Milwaukee Hackzall with a pruning blade. The handle configuration is great for reaching out at arms length to make a cut, and the balance is nice. If I go up a ladder with a saw, it's this one.
Dale Hodgins turned me onto carbide-tipped reciprocating saw blades for root cutting, what a difference!! Normally a blade or chain is dulled in the first cut in soil, not these!
Not sure if DeWalt has a comparable saw, to share batteries you already have...

I’m in my 70s and have a Greenworks Pro chain saw.  Takes 2 hours for a full charge, will cut a cord of wood.  Husband sharpened the chain properly so it cuts like butter (instead of like a butter knife).  I love it.  Great little saw and I’ve cut many cords of wood and many trees down and it takes a beating and keeps going.  My favorite tool.  

This is the saw I use. It's quite light without the battery. I really like it.

As you noted, the battery adds a fair bit of weight for the longer lasting ones.

When my mom (your wife's age range) was using these types of tools, she used a battery that lasted about fifteen minutes. It was light and that was about all the active cutting she wanted to do at a time. It worked really well for her.

So I have both the battery Chainsaw and the battery loppers.

The loppers do work well when trimming smaller, flexible, bouncy branches.  The jaws hold the branch in place while the Chainsaw part cuts through.  I would say these work well up to about 2” stock.  Beyond 2”, the branches are more substantial, bounce less and the Chainsaw becomes much superior.

Eric

Kenneth Elwell, I'd like to hear about your Milwaukee 18V chainsaw. Which battery pack do you run with it and what's the total weight of the chainsaw with that battery,if you're able to tell me that?  Is it well-balanced?
It looks like the chainsaw can run with the 5.0, the 9.0, or the 12.0 battery.

I haven't used a chainsaw in forever and need to cut down a bunch of cedar. Don't know if I should spend so much on an electric chainsaw, but the Milwaukee 16 inch one gets really good reviews. I'm terrible about gasoline and did I put the oil in the can with the gas or did I not? And then worrying about gasoline going bad, and not using up the gasoline in the tank and not putting in the chemicals so that it doesn't corrode the tank or whatever the issues are. Blah blah blah. So, electric would save me a lot of grief. I don't know how to figure out if it's too heavy for me to wield safely.

I've been using the milwaukee 18v for a year and a half mainly for firewood.  I love it compared to a gas saw.  It's fast, quiet, much safer, and simpler - it always just works.

With the 12AH battery it's 14lb.  

Two issues I've had:
1. My 12AH batteries have cracked (the plastic case they are in has a crack).  I've looked up ways to replace the case but haven't found a satisfactory answer (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVGPARfviRY, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC6-uHTOr7A).   Milwaukee doesn't sell OEM cases for DIY repair, and the knockoffs have reviews saying they don't fit just right.  So I'm thinking of ways to somehow hold them together, e.g. gorilla tape if I can get it in the right spot and still fit the battery into the saw.   The batteries still work but without a secure case they will eventually get further damage.  

2. The saw leaks oil like crazy when it's not resting on its side.  It didn't at first.  This seems to be common in reviews.  It's not a huge deal, I just always store the saw on its side or store it without oil.  And I use non-toxic canola oil so the spill isn't harmful.