

With the bar-oil reservoir topped off, it weighs about 12 pounds. This is a reasonably hefty power tool, with a 40-volt motor. That disc count and its rapid performance shouldn’t really come as a surprise. Add to these features how the chain (which Stihl manufacturers itself) is high quality and easy to sharpen, and you have a well-rounded, well-featured saw that cuts firewood, handles yard cleanup tasks, and prunes hardwood and softwood trees with ease.Ībout two cut discs per volt is a good metric for cordless chainsaw performance, and the CS40L412 got there easily and rapidly. When you’ve got the chain where you want it, flip the lever back down and turn it counterclockwise to lock the position of the tightening mechanism. Next, turn the thumb wheel above the bar forward to tighten the chain turn the thumbwheel back to release tension on it. Flip up the lever on the adjustment wheel located adjacent to the bar and turn it counterclockwise to release tension on the tightening mechanism. Adjusting the chain tension is easy, requiring no tools. And when it comes time to add oil, you’ve got a quarter-turn bar oil cap that’s quick to release and tighten. It’s slim and powerful and pivots nicely through the cut without stalling or vibrating. In terms of its power, productivity, safety, handling, quietness, and convenience, it’s as good as many gas-engine chainsaws that we've tested. The MSA 220 C-B is power tool excellence.
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That means knowing how to hone that chain, and you’ll need at least one spare in case you get the saw’s nose into the dirt or hit a nail buried in the log. On the other hand, gas-engine saws excel at big jobs: timber felling for lumber or firewood, storm or disaster cleanup, and tree removal.īoth types of saws require bar oil and a sharp chain. For small jobs, a cordless chainsaw may be faster than a comparable gas-engine model, because you don’t have to take the time to add fuel. The cordless chainsaws we tested weigh anywhere from 11 to about 14 pounds. A fueled 50-cc gas-engine saw, with an 18-inch bar, weighs 11 to 12 pounds. (You still need hearing protection for both, though.) As for weight, cordless electric chainsaws are equal to or a couple of pounds heavier than their gas-engine equivalents. Gas-engine chainsaws are loud–about 105 decibels a cordless chainsaw is roughly equal to a corded electric circular saw, at about 100 decibels. There are many differences between a gas-engine chainsaw and an electric chainsaw powered by a battery and motor.


