chick wants electric saw!

[SusieJennings]

Hi guys -
A while back I asked about electric saws and lost the info I downloaded from you burly tree guys.
I truly want an electric. My ears can't take the volume of gas powered models, and I also have neighbors to consider.
I'm willing to linger over my work a little longer, and know that electrics don't have the speed or power of gas ones.
Question 1: Does Consumer Reports count with you guys? Can I trust what they say, or did they do it all in a lab intead of on trees? [LOL]
Question 2: What is the biggest chain/ horsepower available?
Question 3: What diameter trunk could I cut with this electric beast?
Question 4: Favorite brands?
Question 5: What is the longest distance I can run a cord without endangering the motor?
Thanks in advance - you guys are obsessed and I love it!
Susie

 

[Kevin]

Here chick ...
http://arboristsite.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2250

 

[Walt Galer]

Howdy Susie,

I'd say 100 feet of #12 cord is about it. #14 cord would be pushing it if more than 50ft. Most household cords are not this heavy, being #16 all too often, and should not be used for electric chain saws. Stihl recommends not over 50 ft of #10 cord for the model E180, by the way!

The power limiting factor is the energy available in a household 110V circuit unless the saw is really cheaply made, like say rated at 8 amps or so. Ideally, you would like something rated 12 amps, but this might be hard to find these days. Look and Shindaiwa or Stihl for a bit more quality unit. (And these kinds of ratings)

I'm looking at a current Stihl catalog, and see three models listed:

E-140 (claimed 1.4Kw power at 12.7 amp draw)

E-180C (1.7 Kw at 15.5 amp draw, with thermal overload protection, slip clutch, and 'quick chain adjuster system"). My opinion is you are better off without this last feature, but you have no choice!

E-220Q same power as 180, but heavier construction for commercial use. (3 lbs heavier saw!)

I'd recommend the second one, and avoid the smallest one. (I've seen a couple of these fail prematurally).

Regards,
Walt Galer

 

[sedanman]

Susie, Do not beleive for a minute that an electric saw is less powerful than a gas model. In the size range of the average home-owner saw the electrics may be the power-houses. Everyone is hung-up on horsepower but the real measure of the ability to do work is torque, and no gas saw in the less than 50cc range will have a prayer of out -tourqing an electric motor. Read what all the manufacturers of "chainsaw resistant clothing" say about electric saws, basically the the torque of the electric saw will defeat the fibers that are supposed to stop the chain. Also if you don't have to go over 50 feet from an outlet and are not going into the firewood business then even an el-cheapo remington electric would do the job. My grandfather used a WEN for over 15 years just cleaning up around his house. With some of the more expensive units a 20" bar is available and you could in theory cut down a 50" tree with advanced cutting techniques (NOT for the faint of heart!)

 

[tundraotto]

agree completely with sedanman - the electrics are not the fastest cutting necessarily - but they produce their maximum torque all the way up from 0 rpm. 2 stroke disadvantage has always been a relatively low torque output. true also about the chainsaw clothing being somewhat less safe with electrics. a 12/3 cord should do you well for 50ft its made for maximum draw appliances and industry, although thicker is always better but always more expensive, much more expensive...

 

[SusieJennings]

new chainsaw attitude

Wow -
From all of your replies I guess I'm going to have to reconsider!
My lot is necktie-shaped, with all of the work being done in the back, and I may have to go in as far as 175-200 feet!
So now my question is: what is the quietest gas model?
Sooz

 

[Kevin]

You can use an inverter plugged into a 12v lighter socket in your automobile which can supply 110volts but it will add to the cost.

 

[tundraotto]

the inverter you woul;d need to run a electric chainsaw from a 12v battery will cost hundreds of dollars (im guessing around $300) so i would really reconsider if the distances are that great.

 

[sedanman]

Susie, About the noise issue. When I moved into my house there was a long-neglected hedge row along the back border. When I cut it down with my Stihl 026 (only saw I owned at the time) my neighbor made a semi-joking comment that "This used to be a quiet neighborhood". I let it pass. This summer when he had a backhoe digging his inground pool for three days I got him at the fence with "Hey Art, this used to be a quiet neighborhood". He got the point. We all have things at our homes that must be done, if it makes a little noise so what it's not an everday ocurrance.

 

[tundraotto]

lol - neighbours -if you dont rent i would not worry about chainsaw noise during the day. i run saws at 1am here in my residential neighborhood sometimes - i try to limit that but heck, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do - they can only tell you (the cops) to stop revving your saw - they cant evict you...

 

[Hard wood]

Electric chainsaw

If it's just the sound that bothers you and you can handel the weight of a saw maybe you should try out the hydraulic chainsaws ,they don't run out of power . also sthil has a 220 volt electric saw you can get them in Germany My friend baer has one they to are power full just that the speed and thottle control isn't there

 

[Walkerized]

I f you find the electric saw you like please make sure it has replacable brushes and that they can be replaced with ease.
I have 2 wood carvers using the Husky 316 and they use it inside there workshop and they use it 4-5 hours 5 days a week and the brushes last about 4 months. only takes about 5 minutes to change brushes. They have about a year on them now.
I am at home now and i do not have specs on me but if you wish i can send them tomorrow from work.

John W

 

[deadtrees]

electric saws

I use a Milwaukee electric saw with 200 ft of No. 14 cord for all
my sawing around the yard. Never have had a problem because
it does not draw max. amps. This on a 15 amp circuit. Have done this for a number of years and really like the electric and saw up to 12 in. dia oak with no problem. It is quiet and has no lack of power. The slip clutch is turned up tight and will still slip and the motor not slow down. There are years I have not started the gas
saws. It uses 3/8 low profile chain on a 16 inch bar. It does not have the cutting speed of a gas saw but I would recommend one
if you have power available.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Suzy, John here, I have a 12 volt, as in hook up to the battery, 30 ft. cord, bosch motor. and and picco micro chain, but you will have to wrestle it away from me. This is a real attention getter, trust me ,but you gotta know how to file Suzy. It blasts thru cardboard boxes with abandon.
Love,
John

 

[NevadaWalrus]

electric cords

here's a chart taken from Stihl for cord size needed to handle amps and lenght.

"http://www.geocities.com/nevadawalrus/index-wired.html"

 

[svrfsvp]

I always wear ear protection whenever I run a powertool of any sort - hand drill, random orbit sander, anything. That goes for electric chainsaws, too.

Now, if the concern is the neighbors, well, it's kind of tough to get them to wear earplugs when you are sawing, so that is probably not the answer. A bigger lot, maybe? ;^) I guess I am fortunate that I can run a gas saw during the day without any problems. Last night I even started up my new saw way after dark - maybe 8:30 or so - what the heck, I had to see if it worked! And, the answer is, yes, yes it did. Made lots of chips and small logs out of big ones. I guess I am lucky that my neighbors put up with such silliness. But on the other hand, I have one neighbor who runs his leaf blower for hours on end almost every weekend - a chainsaw is quiet by comparison... heh heh heh...

 

[Walt Galer]

Howdy Susie,

I just had an idea. If you want a quieter small gas saw, take a look at a Shindaiwa 300S. This is a very small saw, rather quiet for a gas saw and just a hair more powerful than a good electric.
Suggested list price on these is $289. Next up in size is a 357 at $349. Then the 377 @$389. The next largest is a small professional gem of a saw, the 488 @ $409 suggested list price. If you are primarily interested in quiet and only light cutting, that 300 is your baby.

I note you are in Florida, where Shindaiwa has a very good presence in the landscaper trade, with some good dealers. I did service schools there for the state distributor, Robert's Supply of Winter Park outside Orlando. Among dealers I have visited were Boca Raton Small Engine, and Green Thumb, a very large dealer in Ft. Lauderdale. (The owner's daughter there has a breath taking collection of big cats. Her Forida Panther was beautiful!) All this means you would have very good service backup in your area. (And some good fishing off the pier in Ft. Lauderdale. Got a 22Lbs Barracuda just casting off the pier).

Regards,
Walt Galer

 

[che]

....whatever you end up with you can solve the 'noise problem' with the proper 'ear wear'. I bought a pair of these at Ace Hardware last year and LOVE THEM!!! Not so good in the summer, they get too hot...but for working out in the elements right now, they're wonderful. Oh...wait a minute....Florida? Maybe not. Oh well....since I copied the link I'll go ahead and post it.


Che



http://www.omarksafety.com/category.cfm?acatid=61&aprodid=784

 

[confused]

Susie,

IF your neighbors don't like the noise, here is my advice. Buy a Stihl 088, send it to Walkers, have them port the muffler to the max and start that big horse up just as the sun peeks over the horizon. Do this a couple days in a row. They will surely ask you to quite. Your reply would be only if you dont mind me using it during the afternoon. Im sure they would comply.

Otherwise an electric works too.

Just a thought is all.