Since I only have to cut up wood that's already near my house (never have to go out & cut down trees), and since I'm not really familiar with chainsaws, and live alone, someone recommended that I just get an electric chainsaw to do the job. They said I'd never have to mess with gas, it would start every time, they were cheap, and would be adequate for what I have to do.

Has anyone else used them? What did you think of it? What are the pros and cons?

Thanks for any help.....

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), January 02, 2002

Answers

they are used alot for pruning,,lightweight,, always start,,as long as you have power,, not made for contiunes use,, no maintanence,, but once something goes wrong,,time to trash it,,unless you cut your own cord. For a "newbie" chain sawer,, might be a good idea,, but hen you would have to "relearn" if you ever decide to get a gas one. Why not get a small gas one,, they run about the same price

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 02, 2002.

A very good friend of the family uses one to prune her rather large trees in her yard, she also uses an electric riding mower as well. She retired from working from Nela Park General Electric company explains why she has all these electric yard implements, she got it at "employee discount" prices very cheaply, but it has outlasted by far the gas powered kind, some are over 25 years old and run just fine.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 02, 2002.

Annie, they really make electric riding mowers? How are they at going up inclines? I hate gas-powered mowers (pollution and noise), but we have a bit of a hill and were told that electrics just don't have the power.

I will have to check into them for when this one (bought at Montgomery Ward's) dies.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 02, 2002.

We have 2 electric and three gas saws. The electrics are great saws but not meant to cut a lot of wood at one time. We use our electrics for building/demolition, pruning, and I use it to resize logs in my basement that don't quite fit my furnace. Electrics are NOT good at cutting large peices of green wood. They are pretty cheap to buy and not a waste if you end up buying a gas saw later as they have many uses.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), January 02, 2002.

You betchum, Red Ryder! I am not a logger, but I have felled hundreds of trees on the homestead, mostly white pine from barely marketable up to 2' diameter at the butt end. For that you need a fairly moosey saw, and I have a moosey saw with a rather dimunitive 18" bar. I also have a lightweight 14" saw, and between those 2 (gas) saws, I can handle anything I encounter. However, I also have a 14" electric saw, and I use it quite a lot when I'm "close to the barn". Gas saws can get balky, and you must a have a close relationship with them, and be nearly religious as to maintenance. But the electric saw is much more maintenance free, and a very good choice if you are within a reasonable distance from your most obscure electrical outlet. Attention to chain oil and sharpening don't differ, but the attention to the sometimes balky gas engine disappears. Besides that, they are incredibly inexpensive. Get one, probably about 50 bucks for your perceived needs. If it "ain't" enough, THEN get a gas saw. Sounds to me that whoever "someone" was gave you good advice. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 02, 2002.

I am shocked! I was certain the guys would be to embarassed to admit even having an electric chain saw :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 02, 2002.

Vicki, Vicki, Vicki! You have obviously been hoodwinked by the male members of your entourage. There are many of us who have enough confidence in our "alpha male" personage that we fear little from the lesser males as to our preferences. I, for instance, am not at all remiss in my attitude toward better and lesser products. Hence, my previous endorsement of electric chainsaws. I have never, nor ever will, subjugate my position nor beliefs to those less endowed, whether mentally or physically. If you have a "honey" that finds modern appliances to be less than "manly", then I suggest you have found a mate with some serious male problems. Electricity is probably going to be with us for a while. If your signifigant other can't figure that out, I suggest you find a real man with a brain. Sorry if I have insulted either you or the dork, but GL, anyway!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 02, 2002.

I have an electric chain saw. Hubby has a gas one. Of cause half the time his isn't working because he doesn't maintain it well and he's always borrowing mine.

I also have an electric weed wacker and hedge trimmer.

-- anita in NC (anitaholton@mindspring.com), January 02, 2002.

Iuse a 14 inch electric to cut up wood up to 4 inches thick for my smoker. Works great for light duty and is lightweight to boot.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 02, 2002.

Hubby and I do chainsaw carvings for a living. He uses a electric chainsaw..as most of our work is done inside the shop. We only use a gas saw on stuff that is 5 foot tall or larger. BUT..there is a major difference between cheap electric saws and expensive pro models. We use Milwakakee saws and they cost us $350 each. We usually go through 2 per year and rebuild them as needed. That is with us using them every day..every week..just like a regular job.

Its just like most things...you get what you pay for.

-- Lynette (fear_the_bear@webtv.net), January 02, 2002.

they are extremly handy i rarly use my gas saw if the electric will reach and its not cutting realy heavy duty wood the electric saw is cheeper to run very!light wheight and very quiet they last a long time and are very cheep to obtain mine came from a yard sale 10$ for a 14"id buy a new one if this one went bad

-- george darby (windwillow@fuse.net), January 02, 2002.

We have an electric to keep inside so if I cut a piece of wood a littli long we can cut it without taking it back outside.

-- Don Amon (peacelane@certainty.net), January 02, 2002.

GT, to my knowledge GE no longer makes electric riding mowers, which is too bad, because the one our friend has is over 30 years old now and works just fine. Her yard is flat with no real hills to speak of, about a half acre to mow. She said it runs three hours before needing recharged, the only thing that needs replaced are blades, belts, and of course, the rechargeable battery as needed.

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 02, 2002.

Bummer! Oh well, maybe some other company will step up to the plate. We can only hope.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 02, 2002.

My dad and I operate a tree service. We use an electric saw when we're up in a tree because they are lightweight, there's no fuel to leak out, and no exhaust to burn yourself on when it's dangling from your belt while you're climbing. Although not considered safe practice, it's easier to use one-handed when you have to, like when you're trimming around power lines. We had a $45 14" electric saw that saw plenty of rugged use and it lasted several years before it died. It died only because it's made for the homeowner and we were using it far more than it was ever intended for. For light stuff and branches up to 8 or 10 inches thick, an electric saw works fine. You don't have to mess with mixing gas and oil, and they always start. The only thing I can see wrong with paying $45 for an electric chain saw is that you can only operate them within an extension cord's length of an outlet or a generator.

-- Brian Q Public (foo@bar.com), January 02, 2002.

My buddy heats his house with pallet wood, which often comes in 48" lengths of 2x4 and 4x4, and he uses an electric Sawz-all reciprocating saw. These are found in the power tool section at your nearest store. One might come in handy since you are restoring a house.

PLEASE remember, these are NOT intended for cutting logs or cutting down trees! Just idea since you didn't note exactly what type of wood you are cutting.

-- clove (clovis97@Yahoo.com), January 02, 2002.

Brad loved the post! Always wanted an entourage! :) Glad your not one of those who needs to compensate with bigger and better tools! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 02, 2002.

Hey, THANKS for all the encouragement! I believe I'll look into getting one. Sounds like it will do the job for what I have. All of you are GREAT!!

-- Bonnie (chilton@stateline-isp.com), January 03, 2002.

My mate has one in Russia, he is a Kiwi. They are a 'soft' substitute for the real thing and he is finding that it is not up to the job (you need a long extension cord - not always available on a camping holiday) and besides he is getting 'stick' from the boys for having an electric 'toy'.

Good for cutting the fire kindling and trimming the Xmas tree in the living room but not much else. Go for a gas powered 'Huskie' - you won't regret it (unlike our mate in Moscow)!

Try the following link on chainsaw selection: http://www.safnet.org/archive/chainsaw401.htm

-- Chris Starsmeare (chris.starsmeare@btinternet.com), March 18, 2002.

Electric chainsaws are great but only for light cutting. They're cheap, reliable, lightweight, convenient and they don't produce any fumes, which means you can use them indoors. I like to use them for cutting small firewood and brush around the house as well as for cutting posts and 2x4's that are hard to reach with a circular or reciprocating saw. It's a wonderful tool to have just don't expect to cut up any big trees with it. For that you're going to need a gas saw. You really don't need a large bar on an electric. 12" is more than adequate. You shouldn't be cutting anything bigger than that anyway.

-- curt (curtislarson177@hotmail.com), May 06, 2002.