Six Top Rated Hard Working 6 Inch Mini Chainsaws

Top of the Line Six Inch Mini Chainsaws

11/15/2024 12:22 am GMT

Despite their small size, or maybe because of it, the popularity of 6 inch mini chainsaws continues to increase from year to year.

The reason for this is not hard to find! The capabilities, cost and ease of use of the best 6 inch chainsaws has effectively put using a chainsaw within reach of just about everybody.

And when you first hold a battery powered mini chainsaw in your hand and pull the trigger, you will understand why people get so excited about owning a 6 inch chain saw!

And what’s not to like about them?

For a start these best rated mini chain saws are all battery operated.  No fuel and starting issues! Then they are lightweight and most of them are designed to be used with only one hand.

Importantly, they are powerful and effective when used correctly. They are capable of performing numerous small jobs very well. Think pruning, trimming, cutting up firewood and so on.

As a result, these 6 inch cordless mini chainsaws are becoming very popular and there are an increasing number of manufacturers that are entering the market.

Many of them are not “traditional” chainsaw names, but don’t let that put you off investigating them further.

What is the best mini chainsaw to buy? The answer is not that straight forward but a good place to start would be this summary of our top 6 inch mini chainsaw reviews.

Our Picks for the Six Best 6″ Chainsaws Available to You

So, taking into account price, features and performance, here are our best 6 inch chainsaws on the market at the moment.

Our best 6″ mini chainsaw list is divided into two sections:

Those equipped with a brushless electric motor

–  Imoumlive 6″ Mini Saw

– The OICGOO Mini Chainsaw

– Seesii Mini Chainsaw

– BONUS PICK – The new Greenworks 6″ mini chainsaw with brushless motor is now available! It has one drawback – no oiler so you have to oil the bar and chain manually every couple of minutes.

But it is indicative of the interest now being shown by main stream chainsaw brands in the “mini” chainsaw market segment.

Those equipped with the more common but less efficient brushed electric motor.

11/14/2024 09:23 am GMT

– The Saker Mini Electric Chainsaw

– Seyvum 6″ Chainsaw

– Bei & Hong Mini Saw

These are determined by mini chainsaw ratings in various forums as well as reviews by a wide variety of users (i.e. not just one – possibly paid – reviewer!)

We will start with  three of the best rated small chainsaws driven by a brushless electric motor

IMOUMLIVE Brushless Motor Six Inch Mini Chainsaw

This Imoumlive mini chainsaw review will cover the most important pros and cons of this battery powered tool.

The Imoumlive 6 inch cordless chainsaw is one of the top mini chainsaws on the market and is equipped with a brushless electric motor.

That is a major plus and immediately puts it ahead of any of the competition that is NOT equipped with a brushless motor. You can read more about why a brushless electric motor is such a big deal but think improved efficiencies and better longevity!

A second major plus for this 6in mini chainsaw is that you can buy (separately) a telescoping extension pole ! This will improve your cutting reach by up to nine feet! That really adds scope to what you can reach and do with this mini saw.

So here we have a six inch chainsaw that weighs in at a measly 2.2 Pounds(1 kg) and achieves a very respectable chain speed of 26.2 feet/second or 1572 feet per minute (8 m/s)!

Safety First

Chainsaws, no matter how small, are potentially dangerous tools and so safety features are important. The main safety feature on this 6″ mini chainsaw is the safety button. This has to be depressed at the same time you pull the trigger in order for the motor to run and the tool to do its job.

Its easy to do if you are right handed but tricky if you are left handed!

A self oiling mini chainsaw is still a rarity in this class of chainsaw and so an additional welcome feature is that the saw has a built in oiling system for the bar and chain. On the older model their was a lot of oil leakage but this would appear to have been fixed on this upgraded model. Provided you don’t overfill the reservoir and you don’t store it with oil still in the reservoir!

Batteries are what drive the brushless motor and so need to be up to the job. The overheating and over charging battery feature helps ensure the 21V batteries are kept in optimal condition.

Along with the mini saw you get:

• two 21V batteries,
• 2 chains (One already installed),
• one tool kit,
• 1 charger,
  
• a brush,
• 1 file for sharpening the chain,
• a set of protective goggles
• Storage box
• and a detailed manual.

The mini saw comes pre-assembled so all you need to do before putting it to use is to add some oil to the reservoir and check that everything is properly tightened.

If both batteries are fully charged, then you should be able to keep working for 50 – 60 minutes!

A few gremlins that pop up from time to time include:

The chain tightening mechanism is a little fragile, so be careful when using that.

Also there have been one or two reports of the oil tank not letting the oil flow onto the chain. This was easily fixed by opening the hole at the bottom of the tank.

What this mini saw doesn’t have is a trigger guard! Some might feel that’s a good thing while others may feel it is a potential safety hazard. It’s probably a personal preference. Does a guard interfere with the ability of the saw to operate in confined spaces? Or does a guard actually add to the safety of the mini saw? This by reducing the risk of the trigger being accidentally being activated by something other than your finger?

The latter is unlikely given the safety button but….

OICGOO 6 Inch Mini Chainsaw

The OICGOO 6 in chainsaw is another mini saw that is powered by a brushless electric motor. This is a serious little tool with some serious cutting power!

At the time of writing there are two similar but different options on offer which is somewhat confusing!

There is a version powered by 20V Dewalt batteries but the batteries are not included in the package! (this is the one pictured first)

Then there is a  21V version (pictured left below) that comes with its own batteries but also provides an adapter that allows for the use of the 20V Dewalt batteries with this tool

It would seem that perhaps Oicgoo has taken on board the fact that one of the limiting factors with these mini chainsaws is the availability of replacement batteries.

This would seem to be a neat solution to the problem.

Perhaps we will see more of this kind of thing in the months and years to come. Time will tell.

They both have an oil reservoir that oils the bar and chain as well as a safety button to prevent accidental starting.

 

It does not come with chain oil, so remember to purchase that separately.

Some Weaknesses?

The biggest weakness at the moment is unrelated to the actual tool on offer.

Here we have, on the face of it, the same basic tool :

– 21V vs 20V

– battery & charger included vs no battery or charger included

– 2 chains vs 3 chains

but both selling for the same price. On the face of it, it would seem to be a no brainer to go for the option supplying the batteries plus an adapter for the Dewalt batteries.

Apart from that, there are 2 main reasons that we feel that the OICGOO is shaded by the Imoumlive.

Firstly the lack of the possibility of attaching an extension pole to the chainsaw to increase reach.

Secondly, the Imoumlive has way more reviewers on Amazon and they have rated it (slightly) higher than the OICGOO.

With regards to the above statement. As we have mentioned before, this yardstick is a far more accurate reflection of the capabilities of the tool than a review by one person who might well be getting paid for the review (influencers!).

Even if they are not being paid, they are basing their review on a single example of the product. It might be a good example or it might be one of those where everything has gone wrong in the manufacturing process.

Either way, a composite picture formed by hundreds of reviews will always be a more accurate reflection of the tool than one person’s opinion!

SEESII 6 inch Mini Chainsaw with Brushless Motor

This SEESII mini 6 inch chainsaw is also equipped with a brushless motor and weighs in between the two brushless mini chainsaws already mentioned ( 2.9 pounds or 1.32kg).

However, unlike the other mini saws highlighted here, this one does not self lubricate so you will need to apply oil yourself.

You can view this either as an advantage or a disadvantage. If you are using it for small jobs that don’t take long then you probably only need to oil the chain once at the beginning of the job. That means one less messy bit of admin to have to remember to do (put oil in the oil tank before you start, drain it when storing for any length of time).

On the other hand, if you usually need it for longer periods of work time then you either need to keep a
little oil can close by or consider one of the other options above.

If you do use it for long periods then a useful safety feature is that the motor will automatically stop working when the temperature reaches 200°F (90 C). Once it has cooled sufficiently, it will start up again and you can continue to work.

Chain Speed

So although the Seesii has an equal rating on Amazon as the Imoumlive, we rate it slightly lower based on the lack of an inbuilt oiler and a lower chain speed (5m/s for the Seesii vs 8m/s for the Imoumlive)

However, Seesii does have an advantage over the 2 mini chainsaws mentioned above in that it manufactures a selection of mini saws of varying size and capabilities. This gives them an advantage in terms of experience in the field of manufacturing these small tools.

So there are minor differences between all three 6 inch mini chainsaws. They have all sold well and are well rated by actual users.

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SIDEBAR

You will notice that the Milwaukee, possibly the best 6 inch battery chainsaw out there at the moment (pictured above at the start of the article)  does not feature in this list. There are 2 reasons for this omission.

One is price.

The Milwaukee is one of the best rated small 6 inch chainsaws manufactured by a mainstream chainsaw brand. It’s an awesome tool but significantly more expensive than the other six listed.

If you are going to spend that type of money then you need to be absolutely sure you don’t need a bigger chainsaw!

Secondly, it is usually sold as the bare tool. In other words, you also need to buy the battery and charger separately. That’s fine if you already own some Milwaukee tools with the appropriate battery and charger, but if you don’t……

Despite those potential drawbacks, it remains probably the best 6 inch cordless mini chainsaw on the market.. It is well worth considering if you would prefer buying a known chainsaw brand. You can find out more details about this brushless motor powered mini saw here.

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Best of the Brushed Electric Motor 6″ Mini Chainsaws

These are generally cheaper than the mini chainsaws with brushless motors, and for good reason. Brushed electric motors simply cannot match the performance and/or longevity of the brushless motors , and so can’t command the same price.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t buy one of these small chainsaws. They still do a great job and might well be just what you need.

Saker 6″ Mini Chainsaw

This Saker 6 inch mini chainsaw is the upgraded big brother version of the very popular 4-inch bar Saker mini chainsaw.

Unusually for chainsaws, their is a PINK OPTION available. So you could have “His” and “Hers” Saker Mini Saws lined up for use in your garage! 🙂

As is the case with ALL mini chainsaws, and PARTICULARLY those equipped with standard brushed electric motors, they are designed for light work. Read pruning and trimming small diameter branches from time to time.

The Saker will perform admirably if treated and used correctly. In our opinion, it’s best not to take on 6″ or even 9″ diameter branches as suggested by the seller. That is bound to end in tears!

There is a substantial package on offer here as you can see in the picture. Apart from the actual mini chainsaw you get.

– 2 x 20V 1.5Ah batteries

– Two spare chains (so three in total)

– Gloves and safety glasses

– A charger

– A screwdriver, wrench and small oil bottle

– A handy carry case to store all the above.

So NO brushless motor and NO auto oiler.

However, despite these omissions, this Saker does the job for a good number of satisfied users.

 

Seyvum Upgraded 6-Inch Mini Chainsaw

As you can see, the seyvum mini chainsaw has a somewhat different design to most other mini chainsaws.

However it is still effective and, despite the fact that it is powered by an ordinary brushed electric motor, it has an impressive chainspeed of 26,2 ft/sec or just shy of 8m/s! That is right up there with any of the best rated mini chainsaws..

And at 2.9 pounds or 1.3kg it is also not far off the weight of the Imoumlive mini saw as well.

A neat bonus for left handers is that the safety button which has to be pushed in at the same time as the trigger is activated can be equally accessed by both right and left handed people. This is unusual in this size of chainsaw and so 10 points for the designers!

Another plus is the tool-less chain tightener. New chains always stretch when initially used so being able to tighten it up quickly and easily is a great benefit. Also, should you need to, you can purchase a new Seyvum chain here.

On the other hand, there is no inbuilt oil reservoir. It does come with it’s own little oil bottle (without oil) so you will need to buy some bar and chain oil and apply it yourself!

The Bei & Hong Mini Chainsaw

This Bei and Hong mini chainsaw is the cheapest option of these six by quite some margin.

The latest version of the bei & hong mini chainsaw has been upgraded and the motor now achieves a more respectable chain speed of 19,2 ft/s (vs 13 ft/s for the older model).

The manufacturer also claims to have fixed the battery and smoking motor issues that bedeviled earlier models. The fact that they own up to those is good news

There is no built in automatic chain oiler in this model so you need to apply oil to the chain as you use it.

Also no storage box although you could just keep it in the product box it comes in which is quite sturdy.

NB. There is now also a six inch bei & hong mini chainsaw available that is equipped with a brushless motor and an auto oiling mechanism!

While it costs more than the brushed motor edition, it is still very competitively priced when compared to the other brushed motor mini chain saws featured here.

Your Queries Answered

1. Do mini chainsaws need bar oil?

Yes they do. Even though they are powered by battery driven electric motors, they need oil to lubricate the bar and chain. This reduces the friction that occurs when the metal chain runs around the metal bar. It thus improves both the efficiency and longevity of your mini chainsaw.

You can read more about the function of chainsaw bar oil here.

2. What are mini chainsaws used for?

Mini chainsaws are ideal for jobs that do not require a lot of cutting power or an extended period of activity.

Think pruning back and trimming bushes and small trees in your garden or cleaning up a hiking trail.

3. How safe are mini chainsaws?

Although they are small, mini chainsaws can inflict substantial injuries to the human body. Most chainsaws have a range of inbuilt safety mechanisms that try to reduce the inherent dangers associated with working with any chainsaw. Mini chainsaws are no different. However, at the end of the day, it is up to the operator to ensure that any mini chainsaw is used safely.

4. Do Mini chainsaws really work?

Mini chainsaws are probably the fastest growing segment in the entire chainsaw market. That wouldn’t be the case if they didn’t fulfill a need. So yes, they work – most of them very well!

5.   What size is a mini chainsaw?

Although there doesn’t seem to be any official definition of a mini chainsaw, it is useful to differentiate them from a small chainsaw by describing them as chainsaws designed to be used with one hand only and with a bar length of up to about 8 inches.

In Conclusion

The Best 6 Inch Mini Chainsaws are little chainsaws that pack a real punch. They may not be the absolutely smallest chainsaws in the world, but they come close!

The question is this: Do the best mini cordless chainsaw have a 6″ bar (vs for example a 4″ bar or an 8″ bar)?

It’s hard to say for sure but these 6 inch bar mini chainsaws have a lot of positives going for them. These include size, weight, ease of handling and so on.

On the flip side, they have a few (mostly quality) issues that are due to their size and the difficulty of manufacturing small parts that are durable.

However, the price reflects the reality and in most cases, you get what you pay for.

My advice – for the best mini electric chainsaw, go towards the top end of the price range, and go brushless motor!

You can also read about Other Top Rated Mini Chainsaws here.

And if you want to go slightly bigger, you can find some great 8 inch mini chainsaws here

Or you can go smaller and look for the best 4 inch mini chainsaw in this post.

Maybe rather Consider Cordless Secateurs??

NB. Are you are looking at a 6 inch cordless electric chain saw to do some pruning? If so you might want to consider the advantages of using electric pruning secateurs.

You can click on this link to see our 5 Top Rated Cordless Electric Secateurs.