Gas or electric?

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sumterdad

sumterdad

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OK so i know we use a gas chainsaw when we are in the woods but I was wondering if anyone uses a electric one around the shop. I know several people that swear by them. I just didn't know if they were good enough. So let your thoughts be known either gas or electric.:confused:
 
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I don't see the point, personally...if I'm cutting a tree that's close enough to the house to use an extension cord, then I likely should have called in professionals!

Gas chainsaws are useful just about anywhere you'd need a chainsaw - electric are underpowered and only useful for small jobs in which a Swede saw might be just as useful (and safer)

Andrew
 
The benefit to electric is there is little to no maintenance except for sharpening and you could use it in the shop. So if you use it once a year you don't have to worry about bad gas or plugs.

That said, I love my Stihl and wouldn't use an electric chain saw.
 
I've got and use both. I have one of the smallish elecric saws that the good folks at HD/Lowes use to cut a fresh cut on Christmas trees. It's good for anything 6" or less for the most part cross cut wise. To split the log may require something a bit stronger. Like Andrew said-all the maintenance I do is a fresh chain everynow and again. My gas powered one I use for the big stuff. Saftey is the key.
 
I have a 20" Stihl and am considering an Electric saw now for smaller quicker cuts. The Stihl will be my go to for larger or more numerous cuts but for one log here and there an electric may be the way to go. If you can only have one though, get gas to start.
 
I use one quite often, the odd time you cut a bowl blank and it is just a bit big to go on the lathe, out comes the electric chain saw and no smell in your shop.

Lin.
 
I've got both. A Stihl with a 25" bar and an electric with a 16" bar. Cut logs into pieces suitable for bowl blanks that I can lift! Use the electric inside the shop when I need to cut something smaller that is either too big or too heavy to cut with bandsaw, etc.
Use a 19" bandsaw to saw blanks for bowls after they are small enough that I can lift them to the bandsaw table. Also use it to rip offcuts into pen blanks.
 
electric is perfect around the shop..got one off amazon several years ago, just oil for the blade once a year is all I have had to do..at the time was less than $40 delivered

majority of the stuff I cut is maple so I got my money worth and then some
 
Have a craftsman 14" electric I think, I carved up an entire deadfall black locust a couple years ago with it when I didn't want to take the gaser out of storage yet. It can do the job, just takes a bit longer.

In the shop I've used it quite a few times.

It isn't a replacement for a good gaser, but it is handy.
 
A buddy loaned me his 12 electric so I cut up some smaller stuff in the shop rather than dragging out the big old 22" McCullough. I love it for in-shop work and will probably pick one up for myself one of these days.

That said, If I had a big enough band saw I probably wouldn't miss it. Hmmm...
 
76winger said:
A buddy loaned me his 12 electric so I cut up some smaller stuff in the shop rather than dragging out the big old 22" McCullough. I love it for in-shop work and will probably pick one up for myself one of these days.

That said, If I had a big enough band saw I probably wouldn't miss it. Hmmm...
Click to expand...

There's a thought I didn't think of. Yea I am thinking of getting an electric for around the shop.
 
I would use an electric tree/branch trimmer type, but for all else stick with my Husqvarna.
 
I have a small Harbor Freight electric for in shop and since it is used only occasionally. On sale and with the 20% off coupon can't beat it. Just make sure you pour out the chain oil when done as The first time I hung it up all the oil dripped out.
:clown:
 
I like the electric for the small trimming stuff. It is light and fits a pole saw. They are hard to bog down with a sharp chain. I fine them very quiet and running a cord sometimes is better than messing with skunked gas. Bang for the buck is awesome, I find myself using mine more than the 22 in poulan!!!
 
if I had an electric - I could trim up bowl blanks without ****ing off the neighbor.

on second thought - I enjoy that.

:biggrin:
 
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