(Dis)Advantages to using battery powered chainsaws

[Hayden Goseek]

Just a quick question, where does the electricity come from that is charged into electric cars batteries? I guess it just happens

The types that think were getting most of our electricity from 'green' sources are business genusis. Kind of like the South Park Underwear Gnomes.

 

[Jenbirdee]

I have two Ryobi chain saws and they are both broken. Stupid chain falls off track.

 

[gtaus]

Our oldest son had to drag me, kicking and screaming, into the cordless tool world. I notice that once you buy one tool there is a strong incentive to stay with that brand because of the cursed batteries. Once you become loyal to a brand, that too becomes part of the fabric of a family. We're a Makita Family. We live next door to a DeWalt Family.

Once you buy into a brand, I think it's hard to get into another line of tools because the major cost of the tool system is most likely those darn batteries that are incompatible with any other brand. As a DIYer, I bought into the Ryobi 18v One+ system almost 20 years ago and Ryobi has stayed with their same 18v battery platform all this time. My 20 year old Ni-Cad era tools work even better today with my new Li-Ion batteries. I am not a professional, so I really can't compare the Ryobi tools to the more expensive contractor brand (and priced) tools. But I can say that my Ryobi tools get the jobs done for me and that's all I care about.

 

[gtaus]

Seriously, your right on all counts. If I had to start from scratch, I might find the battery system that I liked most and build my managerie from there.

I bought into the Ryobi 18v system with a starter kit years ago because they have something like 260+ different tools that share the same 18v battery platform. I don't need most of those tools, but I could foresee me buying additional Ryobi tools as I had the money in the budget. For me, it was a good investment.

Fast forward 20 years... I now have many, many Ryobi 18v tools and up to 43 18v Ryobi batteries at last count. As many people know, these companies have special sales on tools in kits with batteries that often cost less than the battery and/or the tool alone.

They know how to hook you into their brand.

For example, the last "major' purchase I made in the Ryobi 40v line of outdoor tools was because I wanted an extra battery for my Ryboi 40v chainsaw. The 40V 4Ah battery was selling for $189.00 by itself. However, I got a Ryobi 40v powered snow shovel, plus 40v 4Ah batttery, plus charger all in a kit for $179.00. Makes you wonder if the batteries are way overpriced or if the tools are just cheap to make?

 

[gtaus]

Now I present for you critique my tool situation. ... I am open to any suggestions.

Sounds like you had a good collection of tools and probably know the quality of tools and price point you are willing to pay. I don't make my living with my tools. I bought into the Ryobi line of 18v One+ tools. The brushed tools have a 3-year warranty and the newer, more expensive, brushless tools come with a 5-year warranty. They get the job done for me, but I'm not rebuilding a house. I did, however, build a pretty nice 6X12 foot chicken coop using almost all Ryboi 18v tools.

If you buy Ryobi tools from Home Depot, you might consider using their Home Depot credit card. Ryobi tools normally have a 90 day in store return policy, but if you use the Home Depot Credit card for the purchase, you can return the Ryobi tool up to one year - any reason, including dissatisfaction. That's not a warranty return, that's just in store returns extended to 1 year. I don't know if Home Depot has the same program with other brand of tools, but it's worth asking before you make the purchase.

 

[gtaus]

Cloned Chinese batteries and chargers mean not having to buy a whole set when one goes out cause one battery was practically the price of a set

I know some people report great results with the Amazon Chinese knock-off batteries. I had terrible luck with my off-brand batteries. I ordered a 40v 4Ah battery as a second battery for my Ryobi 40v chainsaw. The off-brand batteries would only go down halfway charge and then stopped. The company exchanged that battery, but the replacement battery also stopped working at half charge. I suspect that the chainsaw was drawing too much power from the off-brand battery and caused the BMS to shut down the battery before it caused severe damage. I don't have that problem with my original Ryobi batteries which run until completely empty. I ended up returning my off-brand battery to Amazon for a full refund.

Some people report that these off-brand batteries are using recycled cells, and therefore do not have the strength compared to new cells. In any case, if you buy an off-brand battery from Amazon, make sure it works to your satisfaction with the Amazon return period. You can read all the negative reviews that the battery failed after the 90 day Amazon return period and the seller/company can no longer be contacted for warranty replacement. Buyer beware.

Believe me, if my $79.00 40v 4Ah off brand Amazon battery worked well, I would have been more than happy with it compared to the $189.00 Ryobi 40v 4Ah original battery. In the chainsaw, the off-brand batteries I got just did not perform.

 

[gtaus]

I live in Argentina. So all I see is mining companies poisoning our water and soil, so someone can cut a tree down over three days.

My hope is that new battery technology will come into market that don't require mining of toxic materials that pollute the environment. I see on YouTube new battery technologies that are being developed, but I think it takes many years to get them to market. Battery disposal is also an issue.

 

[gtaus]

And I don't see why, with our technology now, the used batteries can't be shipped off into space, where they will not harm this planet, or anything else...especially if they are on a one-way trip to the Sun.

My hope is that battery technology will find a way to make batteries out of less toxic materials that can be safely disposed of, or renewed, at the end of their expected life.

Back in the day, those old Ni-Cad batteries were great rechargeable batteries for 2-3 years, but then they more or less were no longer viable. My newer Li-Ion batteries, even after 8 years for some of my oldest, still recharge to about 90% of their rating. That less batteries being dumped into the landfills.

 

[gtaus]

And I don't see why, with our technology now, the used batteries can't be shipped off into space, where they will not harm this planet, or anything else...especially if they are on a one-way trip to the Sun.

My hope is that battery technology will find a way to make batteries out of less toxic materials that can be safely disposed of, or renewed, at the end of their expected life.

Back in the day, those old Ni-Cad batteries were great rechargeable batteries for 2-3 years, but then they more or less were no longer viable. My newer Li-Ion batteries, even after 8 years for some of my oldest, still recharge to about 90% of their rating. That less batteries being dumped into the landfills.

 

[gtaus]

I have two Ryobi chain saws and they are both broken. Stupid chain falls off track.

I have a Ryobi 18v 12-inch chainsaw with a toolless chain adjustment. It worked great until the chain was well used and it stretched out. Then the toolless adjustment could not tighten the chain enough to keep it on the bar. I was very disappointed with it at that time. However, there is a simple fix to remove the stops on the toolless tightener which allows you to once again properly tighten the chain and prevent it from derailing. That one easy fix allowed me to continue to use an older, but still good, chain instead of having to buy a new one all the time. My rating on that Ryobi went from 3 stars before the fix to 5 stars once I implemented the fix.

Chains should not fall off bar track if your chain tightener is working properly.

If you have the same Ryobi chainsaw model I have, I can send you instructions on the easy fix. It really makes a world of difference.