What to Look Out For If Buy a Cheap Mini Chainsaw
If you go cheap, will you hit on the bargain of the century? Or end up dumping it after 5 minutes because of any number of problems?
Most people buy a cheap chainsaw because they are hoping to score a bargain.
But even the cheap mini chainsaws listed on Amazon with over one thousand reviews, and an average four plus star rating from all those buyers, will have people who have had a bad experience with the tool!
So what are the most common failings of these cheap saws and can you live with them or avoid them altogether?
Cheap Mini Chainsaws vs Your expectations
One of the most common problems is that people expect too much from what is basically a small, light weight tool!
These mini saws are not designed to work for long periods of time at the limit of their ability. For example, don’t expect a 4-inch bar mini chainsaw to saw through a bunch of 4 inch diameter branches.
One or two maybe, but the saw will quickly overheat or drain its battery if you keep making it work at its upper limit. That is just common sense and not restricted to these power tools.
So be realistic about what you want to do with the mini chainsaw. You might be better off paying more and getting something that is more up to the task you want it to do.
Battery Problems
Cordless mini chainsaws (are there any other?) rely on battery power to drive them. Dead battery equals no power equals no function.
So the battery or batteries supplied with your mini saw are a critical component of the package.
Unfortunately dud batteries are a reality. But more than that, a common question is: “how long does the battery last?”
And that is a very difficult question to answer because it will depend entirely on how the saw is used! On average they might last for thirty plus minutes and take close to two hours to recharge! That is normal so don’t expect more.
But we digress.
Cheap mini saws come with cheap(ish) batteries. That’s a given, otherwise the saw would not be cheap!
So how to get around the problem of potentially poor or dud batteries. You have 2 options:
- Buy a package that comes with more than one battery. This just increases your odds of getting at least one decent battery!
- Buy a mini saw that has an in-house proven supply of extra batteries OR can accept and function with a readily available third party battery. A few mini saws use batteries that have the Star Protection system and these will often accept the fairly readily available Makita batteries. Just keep an eye on the voltage requirements if you go this route.
Faulty Chargers
Not a very common problem overall, but it does happen. Nothing much you can do about it up front as you won’t know there is a problem until you try charge the battery. And then it might be difficult to decide whether its the battery or the charger!
Your only line of defense? Make sure there is some evidence that the statement “we care about our customers and offer etc etc” is true and been used by other buyers.
Some mini chainsaws will actually come without a separate charger. There is simply an electrical cord that plugs straight into the battery.
Chain Problems
“The chain keeps jumping off” is a common complaint from buyers when they first use their newly acquired mini chainsaw.
In many cases this is probably just due to a bit of ignorance about how chainsaw chains behave when new. In some cases, the chain might keep jumping off!
The first issue is more easily dealt with. Correct chain tension is a thing with chainsaws in general. If the chain is too loose, it will be inclined to jump off the chain guide(bar). In addition, chainsaw chains actually do stretch, especially when they are new.
It is almost impossible for a manufacturer to ship any sort of chainsaw with the chain fitted and correctly tensioned, ready to go out the box.
So it is likely that a good number of these complaints are due to the user not tensioning the chain correctly before they start work.
BUT WAIT.…
There might well be a problem in some cases.
Cheap mini chainsawscome with cheap casings and very often the tensioning screw is held in place by a cheap and thin bit of plastic. The tensioning mechanism is probably also all plastic.
If any of that cheap plastic fails or is induced to fail by an indelicate (ab)use of the mechanism then bang goes the option to tighten the chain any more. And bang goes the functionality of your tool!
The bottom line here is this. If its cheap and plastic, handle with care!
Extra chains/chain sharpening
Many cheap mini chainsaw packages include an extra chain or two or even three!
Which is great as one has to assume that they will fit the mini saw.
However, if you are contemplating buying a cheap mini saw that doesn’t offer extra chains then it is probably wise to find a source of the required chains and either: buy one or two at the same time OR wait and see how long the chain lasts with your normal usage.
Fortunately, spare chains for 4 and 6-inch bar chainsaws are not hard to find but they could cost you a third or more of what you paid for the whole mini chainsaw. Food for thought!
NB You can prolong the life of the chain by oiling the bar and chain (see more about that below) and by sharpening the chain periodically. This requires a file and a small dose of tech know-how but might be worth it in the long run.
NB2 Sometimes the mini saw will be supplied without the chain being fitted. Make sure you fit it correctly i.e. facing the right way, otherwise it is not going to cut very well. This is probably the source of many “blunt chain” comments that new users often make.
Oil & Oiling
Most mini chainsaws towards the bottom end of the price range do not feature automatic oilers and even fewer will be supplied with bar & chain oil and a little dispensing bottle.
And even if you do get a bottle, general consensus seems to be that they are hopeless for the job and should be tossed out to avoid unnecessary frustration!
Many sellers, when asked about oiling the bar and chain, will advise that you don’t need to (because they don’t supply any oil or oil dispenser!)
Ignore that advice!! You will extend the longevity of both the motor and chain by regularly lubricating the bar and chain. It doesn’t require a lot of oil but the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience of carrying a small bottle of oil around with you and stopping to apply it after every few cuts made.
Cases
You will find many mini saws advertised with a case as part of the package you will get. It is usually part of a package that includes a number of spare batteries and/or chains and a battery charger plus other bits and pieces.
So the idea of a case to keep this all in one place for easy retrieval when you want it, is appealing.
There is one, not uncommon, problem you need to be aware of. When fully assembled, the mini chainsaw might not fit into the case!
Yep, that’s right. In these cases, if you want to store your mini saw in its’ case, you have to take it apart. And then of course, re-assemble it before you use it again.
Kind of negates the idea of having a case in the first place!
So, if keeping your mini chainsaw in its case, ready to spring into action at a moments notice, take some time to establish if this is even possible with the saw you want to buy.
And if your saw comes without a case, you could always buy a carry case for it if you feel it warrants one.
In Conclusion
It is a general truism in life that you get what you pay for. However, sometimes, cheap is good enough!
It all depends what you need your mini chainsaw to do for you. So, by being aware of, and avoiding, some obvious pitfalls, it is quite possible to buy a cheap mini saw that does the job for you.
Get it right and its a win-win!
On the other hand, if you now think that a cheap mini chainsaw is no longer such a good idea, here are a few links to mini saws on the other end of the mini chainsaw price range.
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