The Best 5-inch Mini Chainsaws Out There.
Is this the best 5-inch mini chainsaw out there? It’s not often that you get a main stream chainsaw manufacturer dropping into the mini chainsaw segment.
But Worx, better known for their more conventional chainsaws has done just that! This somewhat out of character 5-inch model compliments their range of bigger cordless chainsaws
It would be surprising if other well known brands did not follow suit. But in the meantime, Worx has got the jump on them with this offering.
While both 4-inch and 6-inch bar mini chainsaws are the more common sizes on the market, a 5-inch bar does perhaps offer more flexibility.
It might in fact be the ideal compromise for those who are not sure whether a 4-inch or 6-inch bar would best suit their needs!
So lets look firstly at the Worx 5-inch mini saw and then we will see what the competition looks like.
Worx WG324 5-inch Cordless Pruning Saw
Now its interesting that they throw the word “pruning” into the name of this saw.
This just re-enforces the fact that these size saws are designed and built specifically with small jobs in mind.
That of course does not mean they can ONLY be used for pruning! However it does re-enforce the fact that these little saws are not designed for big jobs. Or for cutting particularly hard woods in a carpentry environment.
As mentioned, this is a foray into a different market segment for Worx. The upside of that is that it is part of the Worx 20V Power Share platform.
This means that there are 2 ways you can buy this little tool.
- If you already have other tools from their 20V range. You will already have a Worx 20V battery and charger so you need only buy the bare tool.
- If the above does not apply then you need to buy a battery and charger as well. It then obviously follows that you can buy other Worx tools in the 20V Power Share range and use this battery and charger for them!
There will obviously be a price difference between the above two options. So do make sure you select the correct option before you hit the “buy” button.
Pros & Cons
There are 2 more interesting aspects to this mini saw.
- The bar is offset giving you a clearer line of site of where you want to cut
- This tool is NOT fitted with a brushless motor.(If brushless is important to you, then see the T Tovia next)
One would have thought that Worx would by now have embraced brushless motors across their entire range, but that is not the case. Perhaps it is a case of “don’t fix what ain’t broke!”
The chain speed of 18,4ft/sec (5,6m/s) is not great! But its not awful and clearly is enough to get the job done for which it is designed.
On the plus side, this mini saw features a one step, tool-less chain tensioning system. This will save a lot of fiddling and hassle when needing to tighten the chain.
Another useful little feature is that the safety button can be operated from either side of the saw. This is a bonus for left handed people who usually battle with these small saws as they are often designed for right handers!
As a mini chainsaw that one can usually only operate with one hand, the weight of the tool can be an important factor. At 3.86 pounds (1.75kg) this is not the lightest mini chainsaw around. However, it is certainly light enough for most potential users.
That is also light enough to easily control it in small spaces or when you have to stretch out to cut that elusive branch at the outer most limit of your reach! 🙂
NB Their blurb claims the WG324 has a self oiler. It does – but it’s you!
Final Thoughts
Always ensure you keep the bar and chain oiled. This small action increases the longevity of both, as well as the mini saw as a functional tool.
Finally, this little tool is up to scratch with its safety features. These include the bilateral safety button, the hand guard protecting the trigger, and the bar and chain guard.
If you are looking at this for pruning then also:
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- Compare this with the Worx Lopper
- Have a look at the more job specific cordless pruners
T Tovia 5-inch Mini Chainsaw
T Tovia is probably better known for its excellent range of cordless pruning secateurs rather than mini chainsaws.
This does mean though that they have a good understanding of how to make small cordless tools which is a bonus!
And perhaps that is why this tool is equipped with a brushless motor which is also a major plus.
Chain speed is quoted at 19,7ft/sec (6m/sec) which is marginally faster than the Worx.
It weighs in at 2,8 pounds (1,27kg) with battery which gives it a significant weight advantage over the Worx.
So throw in the normal safety features as well as the carry case, this package is hard to beat.
Probably the only reason you would select the Worx over this was if you already had at least one other Worx tool that already uses the battery and charger you need.
Lets move onto the POPULO
Populo 5 Inch Mini Chainsaw
The Populo also features a 5-inch bar and, unfortunately, is also not equipped with a brushless motor!
It also comes from a brand that makes other tools, but they are not chainsaws and so this tool doesn’t have the pedigree of the Worx mini chainsaw.
A chain speed of 21ft/sec (6.4m/sec) puts it slightly ahead of the Worx in this important department, so that is a plus for the Populo!
Another distinguishing feature is the brake which stops the chain quickly when you take your finger off the trigger. That’s a useful and effective safety feature which is not very common in mini chainsaws across all price ranges.
A storage and carry bag is of course always a useful addition to have. Yes you can always buy one but to have it included in the package is another small win for the Populo.
So perhaps not such a well known brand as the Worx, but you perhaps get more bang for your buck with what this package offers at this price.
Sun Joe 5 Inch Mini Chainsaw
Is it or isn’t it available?
Does it or doesn’t it have a brushless motor?
At the time of writing the above 2 points are unresolved which of course is not helpful and hence this goes at the bottom of the list.
However, Sun Joe does have a pedigree in the cordless chainsaw market, so that is an encouraging point.
An additional positive is that this Sun Joe is part of their 24V iON tool system which means the battery and charger can be shared with more than 100 other Sun Joe cordless tools.
This also means that, as with the Worx, you can buy only the bare tool if you already have other Sun Joe cordless tools from the 24V iON system.
All the standard safety features are included which is what you would expect from a more mainstream manufacturer.
In Conclusion
Although 4-inch and 6-inch bar mini chainsaws are far more popular and numerous than the 5-inch variety, these 5-inchers certainly have a place in the mini saw market segment.
It is also interesting that some big brand names – Worx and Sun Joe – have elected to use this length of bar for the mini saw offerings.
Other lesser known brands are also beginning to offer 5″ bar chainsaws. The new 5-inch Seyvum is a case in point
Has to be something in that!