Short answer: Both have their place. A battery saw is great for lots of small cuts up a tree, because you're not starting a chainsaw over and over. Bigger battery saws drain the battery quickly, so for cutting all day, petrol is easier: you refuel and keep going. For a homeowner doing a little cutting, a battery saw is fine.
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What Phil says
"I think both of them have their place. If you're making lots of little cuts in a tree, like we do, then it can be great, so you're not starting a chainsaw all the time in the tree. The bigger saws, the bigger battery saws, I would say they definitely use the battery quickly. So for the professional context, it's much easier to refuel a saw and keep cutting all day long than worry about having to charge your batteries. But if you're a homeowner and you're doing a little bit of cutting, a battery saw would be fine."
Which suits you?
| Job | Phil's pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lots of small cuts up a tree | Battery | No restarting the saw every time |
| Big cuts, all day | Petrol | Refuelling is quicker than charging batteries |
| Occasional cutting at home | Battery is fine | Small jobs don't drain it |
Battery saws still need protective gear
A battery saw is quieter and easier to start, but the chain is just as sharp. Wear leg protection rated for chainsaw work, whatever powers the saw. Do chainsaw chaps work with battery chainsaws? explains the standard.
What are the downsides of a battery chainsaw?
For heavy use, battery life. Phil says the bigger battery saws "definitely use the battery quickly", so for cutting all day it’s easier to refuel a saw and keep going than to charge batteries.
Free one-page checklist
Phil’s chainsaw troubleshooting checklist
Seven common problems, the checks a working arborist runs first, and when it’s a job for the saw shop. Print it and keep it with your saw.
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From Clogger Answers, episode 1. These are Phil's opinions, based on his professional experience. Always follow your saw's manual and wear the right protective gear.
Phil is a professional arborist based in Invercargill, New Zealand, who runs saws every day with his crew. Clogger makes chainsaw pants and chainsaw chaps.