Best cordless chainsaw for professionals and new gardners

Gas chain saw vs. Cordless chainsaw

When shopping for a chainsaw, the choice often comes down between the best gas chainsaw and a battery-powered chainsaw. Each has its advantages and disadvantages depending on the job you need to do and your preferred way of working.  

In general, gas-powered models are better-suited for heavy-duty work. If you need to cut a large volume of timber or if you routinely have to take down several large trees, you might be better off purchasing a gas-powered chainsaw. 

On the other hand, if most of your work involves trimming small trees and shrubs, general yard work, and occasionally cutting up wood to throw on the fire, a good battery-powered model might be the only tool you need. 

Cordless chainsaws have a number of other advantages over gas-powered models as well. You won’t have to worry about running out of gas or stopping work to refuel, and you won’t have to deal with powerful fumes either, that stench you.

And if you are going to be around family members–especially young children–you will be glad to know that you won’t have that gas smell that lingers on your clothes for hours afterward. 

Cordless chainsaws also tend to run a lot quieter than gas-driven models, which is a huge plus in itself.

Why a longer blade is safer

When choosing between a long-bladed chainsaw and a short-bladed model, I would always opt for the long blade design. Why? Like a lot of bladed power tools, chainsaws are prone to kickbacks, which could potentially result in serious injury. Although kickbacks can occur with any type of chainsaw, long-bladed models are a bit safer because they have less movement. 

Long-bladed chainsaws are also able to cut more branches at one go, which means that you could get a lot more work done. They also have more teeth, so you won’t have to sharpen the blade nearly as often as you would a short-bladed chainsaw.

Top-handle chainsaw vs. Standard chainsaws

In general, you will want to use a standard chainsaw for cutting down trees and making big cuts in timber slabs. For maintenance work, however, a good top-handle model is seen as a better choice in many cordless chainsaw reviews, for both working ease and flexibility and gets the best chainsaw ratings.

I like using a top-handle chainsaw as it can be used one-handed to cut higher branches, and if I climb a tree I have one hand to support myself in the tree, or on a ladder, while I make a cut. Instead, look into a safer tool like a pole saw, or pole saw chainsaw attachment that runs of a string trimmer.

Makita XCU09PT vs. Makita XCU04PT

Makita is of course known for some of the best power tools around. So it probably wouldn’t surprise you to know that the company also makes some of the best cordless chainsaws on the market today.

The XCU09PT and the XCU04PT, in particular, stand apart from most other portable chainsaws with their winning combination of cutting-edge design and outstanding performance.

The XCU09PT is a top-handle design that allows for easier handling even when working one-handed. It also makes it easier to reach top branches, making it better suited for trimming work around the yard.

Although the XCU04PT is undoubtedly a quality tool, the top-handle design of the XCU09PT makes it a more versatile option.

Is a short-handled chainsaw better?

Not everyone needs a powerful gas-guzzling monster of a chainsaw that can bring down a hundred-year-old oak tree. Most people only need to do basic trimming and yard work around the house, and a big chainsaw is often too powerful and too difficult to handle.

For most home users, a good short-handled chainsaw might be enough to get all their trimming and yard maintenance work done.

Some chainsaws are light enough for anyone to use, and they are very low maintenance as well for even novice users. Besides, your granny is a lot more likely to pick up a cordless saw to trim some hedges than an oversized model that will make her blouse reek of gas!

Top-handle Chain saws are really designed however for cutting work that requires you to climb a tree or ladder and you want a spare had to support yourself.

Making a final decision

#1 Best short handle cordless chain saw

The Makita XCU09PT is a great choice for all-around cutting and trimming. The top-handle design makes it easy to maneuver even single-handedly, so you can reach up and cut top branches and even work up on a ladder with it.

The dual 18-volt batteries provide enough juice for long cutting sessions and give the XCU09PT sufficient power to handle most trimming jobs without a hitch. There is also a variable speed trigger and a high chain speed control that lets you handle a variety of jobs with consistent performance.

And with a torque boost mode, the XCU09PT lets you slice through even dense timber. 

#1 Best long-handled cordless chainsaw

The Makita XCU04PT delivers the power and performance that you have come to expect from Makita in a familiar rear handle design. Two 18-volt LXT batteries provide enough power to handle even demanding cutting and trimming work. The XCU04PT also boasts of a brushless motor that has a direct drive system for maximum efficiency.

In use, the XCU04PT delivers almost as much power as your average gas-powered chainsaw, without the drawbacks associated with a gas engine. The XCU04PT also has the same variable speed control seen in other Makita chainsaws, which delivers 0-3, 940 FPM.

Best of all, you don’t have to worry about oil mixing or spark plug replacement.

#1 Best lightweight cordless chainsaw

Many of the chainsaws reviewed here can handle a wide variety of tasks, including gardening work. But if most of your work involves trimming shrubs and bushes and cutting down small trees, these two models are the best choices by far. 

The DeWalt DCCS620P1 is versatile enough to handle light landscaping and construction jobs, but it really comes into its own when used for outdoor cutting.

The low kickback design ensures safe operation, while the brushless motor delivers efficient performance and long run times with very little maintenance.

The DCCS620P1 also has a tool-free chain tensioning and bar tightening system that ensures proper clamping of the bar. Amazingly, the DCCS620P1 weighs only 8.8 pounds, so it can be used for long periods without user fatigue.

It even has an auto oiling system that keeps the mechanism lubricated constantly.

#1 The lightest cordless chainsaw

The Makita XCU06Z is another excellent choice for gardening work, with a top handle design that makes it ideally suited for trimming and cutting hard-to-reach branches.

The lightweight and compact form makes it very easy to handle, so you can get your work done efficiently even if you have to climb a ladder and reach the top branches.

The XCU06Z has an outer rotor brushless motor that provides sufficient power for most tasks, and there is even an electric brake that enhances your productivity. Other features include the variable speed trigger control and a high chain speed mode for improved performance.

How many cuts can a cordless chainsaw make?

The number of cuts you can make with your cordless chainsaw depends on the amp hours of your battery. Batteries used in tools such as cordless chainsaws are typically rated by “Ah” or amp-hour.

This indicates the amount of current that the battery provides over a specific period. This, in turn, lets you estimate how long a particular battery will provide a certain amount of current.

However, you also need to account for the voltage of the battery as well. The voltage will affect how much power you have with the AH storage a battery has.

The best way to work out how much juice each tool has is to work out the “watt-hour instead” as it’s a single number you can use to compare the juice each model has.

How to calculate the true battery life

You cannot just look at how many “AH” a cordless chain saw battery has to know its true battery captivity. As each model you might compare might run at a different voltage.

To work this out instead have a look at the chart below: Or follow this formula (Ah)*(V) = (Wh) Watt-Hours will give you a single number to judge each tool’s battery capabilities.

For example, A Makita chain saw operating on 2, 18V batteries run on 36V together, however, the AH remains the same. Each battery has 5AH. This means you have a total of 36V at 5 AH. 5ah × 36v = 190 Watt-Hours (Makita also have 6ah batteries available giving 216 Watt-Hours)

You can access a calculator here.

What maintenance should you do?

A good chainsaw is a precision tool that relies on the optimal condition of all its components to deliver quality cutting performance. You will need to perform regular maintenance on your saw to ensure its ability to handle the required tasks. 

You will need to sharpen the chain frequently depending on how often you use your chainsaw. It is also important to check the chain’s tension and condition and to replace it if necessary. 

You should also ensure that the bar and chain get sufficient oil. While you are at it, check the hose for cracks or breaks. Every few years or so, you should empty out the oil tank and clean the interior thoroughly before refilling it.

The oil will automatically drip-feed onto the chain blade while in use this lubricates the blade and helps chainsaws cut efficiently without overheating and becoming blunt.

The main reason for a chain saw blade becoming blunt is hitting the blade on the ground on dirt. Avoid ever doing this and your chainsaw can stay sharp for a long time.

Tips for using a chainsaw

Even the best chainsaws will become dull over time. Most of these tools are designed for cutting clean timber, and won’t take kindly to sand, dirt, rocks, nails, or even charcoal. Always check the timber to see that it is clear and free of these materials. 

Despite your best efforts, your chainsaw will become dull when used regularly. If you begin to notice that you have to push down on the saw with some pressure to cut through the timber, you are probably overdue for a sharpening. Some experienced users even sharpen their saws between refueling. 

Consider switching out between two or three chains in rotation. Regular use will cause chains to stretch, resulting in a change to the pitch. The drive and nose sprockets of your saw will then wear out according to the new pitch, which will adversely affect new chains as well.

You would then have to change the sprockets to ensure proper operation. By switching between two or three chains, the sprockets will wear at an even rate. And you can more efficiently set time aside to sharpen all 3 chain blades at once

In a previous section, I outlined some important steps for maintaining your chainsaw. Apart from the regular maintenance work you do at home, you should also perform more thorough maintenance once a year. This will help ensure the life of your saw and save you the cost of replacement.

Chainsaw history

The origins of the modern chainsaw can be traced to the “endless chainsaw”, which was patented by Samuel J. Bens in 1905. The design was intended as a static sawing device for cutting through trees. Although it did not have a specific power source, Bens did note that it could be powered by a steam or gas-powered motor. 

Modern chainsaws are a lot more powerful and more efficient. They may have an internal combustion engine running on gasoline or an electric motor powered by a battery or mains electricity. They can also be pretty sophisticated, with features such as electronic carburetors, vibration reduction systems, and different modes for use in the winter and summer.

Comparing the top cordless chainsaws

Conclusion

In my opinion, for the best chainsaw for the money, you can’t go wrong with the Makita XCU09PT and the Makita XCU04PT. Both models boast of the tried and proven Makita quality and reliability, and you could reasonably expect either of these two to provide you with years of dependable service.

They are actually quite similar to each other, differing mostly in weight and base size. The Makita XCU09PT is slightly lighter at 10.3 pounds and has a shorter base than the XCU04PT, which weighs in at 11.7 pounds.

In almost every other aspect though, both are almost the same tool, and you can’t go wrong with either one of them if you are in the market for a reliable chainsaw.