electric chainsaw questions

[cal thelen]

Hello everyone looking at getting an electric chainsaw for cutting blanks in the garage. the gas one is just too noisy and the fumes go in the house. so I have been looking around. Craftstman has a 16" 3.5 horse motor for $89 then i ran across this one https://www.snowjoe.com/Sun-Joe-Saw-Joe-18-Inch-14-Amp-Electric-Chain-Saw-SWJ701E . Has anybody ever heard of this saw? is 14 amp as powerful as 3.5 hp? the extra 2" would be nice but if the power is not there or the saw is junk then the 2" is basicall useless. any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated thank you in advanced
cal

[Robert Speier]

Hello everyone looking at getting an electric chainsaw for cutting blanks in the garage. the gas one is just too noisy and the fumes go in the house. so I have been looking around. Craftstman has a 16" 3.5 horse motor for $89 then i ran across this one https://www.snowjoe.com/Sun-Joe-Saw-Joe-18-Inch-14-Amp-Electric-Chain-Saw-SWJ701E . Has anybody ever heard of this saw? is 14 amp as powerful as 3.5 hp? the extra 2" would be nice but if the power is not there or the saw is junk then the 2" is basicall useless. any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated thank you in advanced
cal

Cal, "in my opinion", lol, don't waste your time and money on an electric saw. Big issue is no power which you have recognized. I realize you live in a area where weather is an issue but do your ruffling out just like you do firewood, before it gets cold. I wouldn't be cutting in the garage do to the fact that there's not enough room and it leaves a mess. There are plenty of smaller gas saw to choose from. Buying a saw is like building a shop, it's never big enough, lol. Good Luck.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I guess my experience is the opposite of Robert's. I have used a Stihl and bought the Makita. Both do an excellent job. The Stihl was more money that I wanted to pay. I cut bowl blanks from 16" logs routinely and with a sharp chain, the Makita does an excellent job. Like you, I'm working in my garage much of the time, and the electric keeps me and the neighbours happy.

[Michael Mills]

Here is a fairly good short article on HP and amps. I never look at marketing HP ratings anymore unless it is from someone like Baldor.
http://www.kevinsbrady.net/motors.pdf (http://www.kevinsbrady.net/motors.pdf)
I have a little (no idea of the amps or hp) electric that I got at Northern on sale for about $70 that has done fine for splitting and knocking the corners off of log sections. Not quick but gets the small jobs done; it is probably not good for the long run but works ok for now.
Of the two you listed I would go with the brand I have never heard of before.
PS Here’s a great 6.5 HP shop vac from sears.
http://www.sears.com/shop-vac-6.5-peak-hp-shop-pac-174-back/p-00913412000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1 (http://www.sears.com/shop-vac-6.5-peak-hp-shop-pac-174-back/p-00913412000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1)

[Peter Blair]

Hey Cal. I use a 16" Husky for most of my blank prep BUT when it is wet outside and I want to prepare blanks I have been using electric chainsaws for about 8 years. I wore out the old Craftsman I had and now use a cheap Poulin from Canadian Crappy. Works really well but does go through a lot more oil than the Husky but I would get another electric in a heart beat when I wear this one out.

[Alan Trout]

I also have a Stihl E21 along with a couple of good quality gas saws. The E21 will hold its own with a 40 to 45cc saw. Mine has an 18" bar but a 21" will fit. It has a magnesium frame and just works ever time you pull the trigger. The downside is they are very expensive $500+ but will last a lifetime.

I have never seen the saw you mentioned so I can not attest to the quality.

Good Luck

Alan

[David C. Roseman]

Cal, haven't heard of the Sun Joe saw, but if its amperage is to be believed, the 14 amps looks very good for your indoor work. The Sears "3.5 hp" saw is listed at only 12 amps. Even that's pretty good for light use. I picked up a Harbor Freight 14" saw a few months back for knocking off slabs and corners of large bowl blanks in the shop. It's only 9 amps, yet works great for that. It was under $45 on sale.

David

[charlie knighton]

biggest thing on cheap saw is to have a chain guard, something the chain wraps around if it breaks
i have not used my gas chain saw in about 3 years, use electric outside and inside

[Bob Bergstrom]

Makita electric works very well. I don't remember the last time I cut a bowl blank round on my bandsaw. Go around the half log twice cutting corners and trimming edges, and on to the lathe. The chain seems more durable than my Stihl gas saw. I think it was designed for demoniton and landscape cutting. Comes with brake and overload protection. If the cut get too much it will shut off,but simply ease up and pull the trigger. It has a 16" blade. You can rent it at the big orange store and try it out. They will sell them, but the net is better for a new one. Bang for the buck it is a good one

[Michelle Rich]

no way the saw is 3 hsp on a 110 circuit...makita makes a super elec

[Adrian Anguiano]

I tried an electric... and I wore myself out in one cut. Decided to get a 20" Echo 45CC, and it was like slicing butter. No vibration, no fatigue, no pushing the saw to cut. Buy a good saw if you are going to process wood.

[Rich Harkrader]

I don't know anything about their electric chainsaw, but I have a Snow Joe electric snow thrower that I love. Last winter was snow on the ground from Oct till May and the Snow Joe handled it like a champ.

[Harry Robinette]

I bought a 3.5 Craftsmen and used it for about a year, but got a craftsmen 4.0 and love it runs great and will do everything I've tried. My buddy bought a Craftsmen 4.0 after using mine and loves his.I know someone will say 4.0 hp can't be done with 110 power or they always over rate the saw's but I just know what it say's on the side and how well it works and it was only $99.00 on sale.I sold my 3.5 to my BIL and he's using it to trim with, it needed more power for any slitting cuts but the 4.0 is like cutting butter.

[Darryl Hansen]

be careful of the drive pulley on electrics. The Remington is "plastic" and will not take much to melt it. I went through two of them before I found the Makita. A bit more expensive but after 5 years still going strong when I just want to lop off something and don't wnat to fire up the gas saw. Uses 30 weight oil for chain lube and is oh so easy on the earas at 6:00AM

[Jack Gaskins]

I have been turning now for 3 years and use a Husqvarna gas 20" and a Makita 16" electric. If my Makita breaks I would run out and buy another Makita as they are that good of an electric saw IF you use a good chain. I get my chains made at the local arborists store.

[robert baccus]

I've had the 4 hp Sears for several years and have no complaints. I have worn out several gas saws and find this electric cuts about 2/3 as fast with no effort. The chain seems to stay sharp a very long time?? I like to use it outside the shop but especially trimming wood on the lathe--very controllable and predictable.

[Scott Lux]

I can recommend the Worx electric saw. I have the 16" and really like it. No, it doesn't have the power of a gas saw. But it is adequate for turning logs into blanks. The chain tensioning knob feels cheap, but it hasn't been an issue yet. In fact I think it's quite reliable.

Customer service is top-notch too.

https://www.worx.com/en-US/16-chainsaw-wg303-1.aspx

[Marvin Hasenak]

I have an old Craftsman, I am disabled there is no way I could handle a gas chain saw. I take my time and I have no problems using it.

[Dan Hintz]

no way the saw is 3 hsp on a 110 circuit...makita makes a super elec

Even on a 240V circuit I'd have a tough time believing it, given motor efficiency, power factor, etc.

[Rick McQuay]

I grew up with gas chainsaws, we heated with wood. Recently I bought a 14" electric and was surprised that it has just as much power as a 14" gas saw plus it's lighter and quieter.

[cal thelen]

Hello everyone and thank you for all the replies. I went ahead and ordered the sun joe 18" bar with a 14 amp motor. $88 bucks with free shipping from amazon. it arrived 3 days later and I immediately went out to garage to give it a test. cut up a 20 inch dia wet maple log into bowl, and vase blanks. It handled everything with no problems. I am very satisfied as of now. now how long it holds up and lasts for a while is a different story. check with me in a year or so. thanks again for the replies

[charlie knighton]

congratulations Cal, the pictures showing the use sort of out of hollywood, seems he cuts everthing with the center of the bar, what's with that????????

[David C. Roseman]

Cal, very nice. That's a lot of saw for $88. Look forward to your follow-up review.

David

[Rich Engelhardt]

My 14 amp Bosch reciprocating saw puts my 14" electric chain saw to shame.

[David C. Roseman]

My 14 amp Bosch reciprocating saw puts my 14" electric chain saw to shame.

Interesting, Rich. What type and length blade do you use on your Bosch? I have a couple of reciprocating saws that will handle 12" coarse woodcutting blades, but I find blades that long a bit too grabby for green wood, or anything over 8", for that matter.

David

[Rich Engelhardt]

I used a yellow 8" wood blade. I'll have to check the exact specs on the blade as far as tooth count and brand.
The blade is sitting on the back porch at the rental right now where I was trimming down a bunch of hedges.

I did try some of the Porter Cable pruning blades - they came in a three pak @ Lowes for about $10.
They cut real slick, but, they snapped pretty easy when I pushed them too hard.

The hedges I trimmed were between 5" and 9" in diameter at the base. My wife wanted me to trim them down to about 5 feet high (they were close to 10 feet), but, it was a lot easier and faster to just saw them off flush with the ground.

I'd started with the 14" electric chain saw & decided to just give the recip saw a try since it was there.
It turned out it was more comfortable to use the recip saw. I just stuck it on the back side of the trunk and pulled it back towards me - working it slightly back and forth.

FWIW - I have two recip saws, a 10 amp DeWalt and the 14 amp Bosch.
Hands down, the big Bosch makes short work of hard chores.
IIRC, only the Super Sawzall @ 15 amps has more oomph - but - @ 15 amps, it doesn't do extension cords all that well.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Ok got the details the blade is a DeWalt 6tpi wood/metal blade

[Scott Conners]

I use both a 120VAC and a 18V cordless Makita sawzalls (reciprocating saw) in the shop to trim odd corners on blanks often. The corded saw definitely has much more power. I find that is the cut is deep (more than 3"), you start to have problems clearing the sawdust, especially in wet wood. I use the yardwork/demo blades that are like 6 tpi with larger skip tooths in the middle. The lower the tpi the better in wet wood. The 18V one has served me well on many roadsides, chopping off choice pieces of burl or crotches on limbfalls and such.

Saw this deal today, it lasts 24 hours or so: tools.woot.com has a 16" 12A Homelite electric chainsaw for $45 including shipping.

[terry mccammon]

I have that saw and it is excellent for the money. However the drive gear is plastic and if the saw is used hard the gear will melt. No issue however as there are ready supplies of after market metal gears that fit in place. I got mine at Amazon. If you keep your blade really sharp and don't push you will be fine. I of course did neither, which is how I found out about the replacement gear.