Are Cheap Cordless Mini Chainsaws Worth Buying?
Not That Cheap!
Cheap cordless mini chainsaws run the risk of not being regarded as a serious little tool that can really help you out in a variety of situations.
Some may regard them as little more than a toy.
This would be a mistake. Despite their cheap price tag, these are fully functional tools.
And any electrical tool with a chain that whirls along at a rapid pace is potentially very dangerous and needs to be taken seriously.
What is a Cheap Chainsaw?
When it comes to any type of small battery driven tool, “cheap” can be defined in several different ways.
The first one is perhaps the the most common interpretation when it comes to buying something.
Dollars and cents!
And the problem here is obvious. What might be easily affordable for one person is a stretch, or completely out of reach, for another person.
So for the purpose of this article, financially speaking, “Cheap Cordless Mini Chainsaws” will refer to mini saws on the market for less than around forty dollars (US$40). That’s before any discounts/Special offers etc etc
Why US$40? Its really just drawing a line in the sand. That amount seems reasonable from the point of view of what a mini chainsaw comprises.
After all, it needs (at least) the following:
– an electric motor
– battery
– bar and chain
– trigger mechanism
– and some sort of housing to hold all those bits and pieces together! Oh, and a charger for the battery.
Which brings us to our next consideration of the definition of cheap
Poorly Made/Inferior Quality
The problem with small battery powered tools is that they, as a general class of tool, have a reputation for inferior quality components and poor quality assurance standards when it comes to their assembly.
This is often a well deserved reputation, but it certainly is not universally applicable.
This perception applies to the mini chainsaw segment as well.
The Mini Chainsaw Cheap Price vs Quality Conundrum
So here is something to think about.
As we have already said, battery driven mini chainsaws are physically small tools.
That means they have very limited space to attach or design in a bunch of desired features.
For example, safety features are obviously an attractive feature for potential buyers.
So a protective guard above the bar and chain which prevents sawdust flying into your face is a good thing.
EXCEPT that the area where it has to be attached to the saw is very small and generally flimsy. In addition, the guard itself has to be made from a light material.
In many cases it is impossible to make this a good, solid addition to the mini saw and it becomes an issue as it often breaks off or flops about.
The bottom line is that in all probability you will have paid more for a mini saw with this feature and you end up with a problem!
It could then be argued that a cheaper, basic mini chainsaw without all the fancy “add ons” would be a better buy!
Size vs Cost
It goes without saying that, at a cost of less than $US40, you are not going to get a mini chainsaw that you can tackle a forest with!
Most mini chainsaws fall into three common size categories:
These are the smallest and understandably, the most rudimentary
Perhaps the most common size currently on the market
You can buy a fully fledged chainsaw with a 10 inch bar, so this is perhaps for a more specialized need, rather than for general use?
Under normal circumstances, at a cost of forty dollars or less, you are going to mostly be restricted to mini chainsaws with a 4-inch bar.
You might find one or two 6-inch bar mini saws at that price but, unless they are being offered at a promotional price , you will probably be edging towards the poor quality spectrum of 6-inch mini saws.
Why do want a Mini Chainsaw?
The last consideration when buying a cheap cordless mini chainsaw is this:
What do you expect to do with it?
Lets assume you are looking to buy a 4-inch bar mini saw.
All else being equal, you can expect it to cope quite comfortably with a branch or piece of wood of up to 3 inches in diameter/wide and the battery to have a working time of 20 – 30 minutes.
If you are going to use it for pruning, it is NOT going to give you as clean a cut as electrical pruning shears.
On the other hand, it will have a wider application than the pruning shears which are designed specifically for pruning!
You will also likely need some sort of eye protection. You will also need to get a little oil dispenser and some bar & chain oil to keep the bar/chain interface operating optimally.
Of course the above requirements are not restricted to mini chainsaws costing less than US$40, but its another consideration to keep in mind.
And Finally
Cost vs Quality vs Performance
The age old balance problem.
However, it IS possible to buy a cheap cordless mini chainsaw that is well put together and will perform the tasks you want to do with it.
You just have to be realistic about what a small tool can reasonably accomplish and what features you can do without!
ChainsawChoices.com could help you find what you are looking for.