Whether you are a fan of sprucing up over head branches or simply want something a bit lighter to take on that pesky hedge, a cordless chainsaw is a must have for many gardeners.

As the name suggests, these chainsaws are battery powered and are usually smaller, making for easier storage and lower costs to maintain.
Different to traditional chainsaws, cordless options are limited to using bars that are 18’’ or shorter, meaning that if you have a larger job that requires a bit more power and reach, they may not be the option to choose, and you may want to invest in a gas or plug in option.

Lighter– mentioned earlier, the lack of gas or fuel in the machine makes it lighter. If you have a problem lifting heavy objects but want to get rid of that rotten tree branch, a cordless chainsaw is likely to be your best bet!
Less expense– cordless chainsaws are cheaper to buy and, as they require no ongoing fuel costs and do not guzzle electricity, they are cheaper to run too. Plus, batteries can be recycled and are cheaper too!
Minimal maintenance-fed up with gas guzzling tools needing constant repair? We’ve all been there! Battery operated options require minimal maintenance and if they do break down, can be repaired for a fraction of the cost or replaced without breaking the bank!
Exhaust– one of the main issues with fuel or gas operated machinery is the fumes or exhausts that they kick out; not only bad for the sinuses, but these can also aggravate conditions like asthma and are far from environmentally friendly. Batter operated means no exhaust, so your sinuses are safer!
Quick and simple– electric chainsaws make gardening easier to manage overall; if you need something to spruce up your garden or hedge that is light weight and easy to use and set up, battery powered is the way to go!

So, with the advantages out of the way, what features should you look for in your cordless chainsaw?

Lithium – Ion Batteries

If you owned a cordless saw in the past and were unimpressed by its power, it was all down to the battery. In times gone past, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad) batteries were standard in all cordless power tool but they weren’t efficient and lacked the power we expect today.

Not only this, but these batteries were prone to quick drainage and could take up to 12 hours to recharge. Today. The battery used in almost every power tool on the market is the lithium-ion. Fast to recharge and lighter, these batteries are very powerful and can recharge in an hour or less, meaning you can get back to that garden work promptly.

When choosing a cordless chainsaw, always check the battery for its amps, amps hours and voltage. Higher numbers in all of these areas will make your cordless saw more expensive but they also indicate a more powerful battery.

Also, check the overall weight; just because lithium ion batteries are lighter, it does not mean they weigh next to nothing! Make sure you are comfortable with the tools weight and always ensure that you will be able to move it without creating discomfort.

Brush-less motors

While it is important to be aware that a cordless chainsaw derives its power from the battery, it is not the only important part of the electrical system,

In the middle, there is the saw’s motor, which takes the energy provided by the battery and converts it into the moving parts. Without a good motor, you saw will be inefficient and your battery will drain quickly, regardless of its amp power. Brushless motors depend more heavily on magnets and, unlike traditional carbon motors, they don’t need physical contact with other components to transmit a charge, so there won’t be any issues with the saw due to friction.

So, long story short, choose a cordless chainsaw with a brushless motor.

Automatic oiling

Metal on metal friction is somewhat unavoidable in any chainsaw and so, the bar needs to be constantly lubricated to prevent rust and to allow it to run smoothly. Without lubrication, the inner chair is more likely to break.

So, look for an automatic bar oiler, that will constantly and consistently apply oil to the bar; if it doesn’t, you will need to be vigilant about stopping the oil the bar, which will slow the operation down.

Chain tension

This is important even if you have the skill of a lumber jack!

Chains can come loose, and you don’t want to stick your hand into the machine to tighten it. Make sure that your chainsaw comes with a dial on the side, which allows you to change the tension easily, without needing tools or a hand made of steel!

To test the best cordless saws on the market, we tried the following 5 to see if they had all of these features and assessed their power, ease of use, value for money and obviously, their weight and ability to do the job they were tasked with. Enjoy!

Conclusions and what we found!

In relation to value for money, all of these saws seemed a bit pricey, but given the market rate, we suppose they were reasonable.

All of them were more powerful than expected and we did enjoy the multiple built in safety features. However, to pick a favourite was quite straightforward in relation to prices, weight, ease of use etc and that was the BLACK+DECKER, followed closely by the LiTHELi Cordless Chainsaw.

Both created minimal noise and were easy to maneuverer without too much hassle and we liked the built-in vibration reduction, which allowed for better control. Both of them came with an easy to follow instruction guide which is essential if you are new to cordless saws.

The oddest of the five was the Ryobi Saw; it seems strange that it would come blank so to speak, without either a battery or charger which added an additional cost. But, when finally put together, it was powerful, but we cannot overlook the blatant money grabbing side of this tool; surely when you
buy a TV for example, it comes with a remote and a lead? So, we were not impressed!