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Why Buy a Top Handle Cordless Chainsaw?

When Should Top Handle Cordless Chainsaws Be Used?

Top handle chainsaws are designed to be used in a different environment than the more conventional rear handle chainsaws.

The Makita pictured first here is a top handle design (and perhaps the best battery top handle chainsaw out there)  while the one below it is a rear handle design.

In essence they are both cordless chainsaws driven by brushless motors. To all intents and purposes the difference lies in the design, and not performance!

 

So if there is no marked performance advantage (or disadvantage), what is the point of buying a top handled chainsaw?

This is where things get interesting! That’s because there seems to be a bit of a clash between two schools of users.

The “non officially sanctioned” school of users sees the top handled design as a way to make using a chainsaw one handed easier. In this scenario, the weight of the tool is under your hand, not in front of it. In addition, the position of the handle shortens the tool overall.

Both factors make using it with one hand a lot easier.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE PURPOSE OF THE TOP HANDLED DESIGN!! (Nor should it be recommended)

The primary reason for the development of the shorter top handled chainsaw was to make it easier for operators who were using the tool while halfway up a tree in dense foliage.

ISO Standards and Top Handled Chainsaws

We have all heard of ISO standards. They are standards agreed upon by experts in a field to ensure the quality and safety of a product or process There are literally thousands of ISO standards that apply to a wide range of industries.

The International Organisation Of Standards is based in Geneva, Switzerland.

And, somewhat surprisingly,there is an ISO standard for top handled chainsaws that specifies under what circumstances they should be used! It also outlines design parameters.

If you want to look it up, it is ISO 11681-2

Here are some of the requirements for using a top handled chainsaw as per ISO 11681-2

  • The saw must be operated with TWO hands. The right hand on the top handle and the left hand on the left hand handle.
  • Should only be used when you are up a tree or in a bucket lift

In other words, according to ISO 11681-2, you should not be using a top handled chainsaw when you have 2 feet planted firmly on the ground. That is when you should use the more conventional rear handle design.

Which makes sense as the rear handled chainsaw is easier to maneuver than the top handle variety when space and stability are not in short supply!

Nor should you be using it one handed. The best one handed chainsaw is in fact a mini chainsaw that is designed specifically for that purpose.

Which then brings us back to the question of answering the top handle vs rear handle chainsaw question.

Why should you consider buying a top handled cordless chainsaw?

Consider What You Want it For

If you are a person who just needs a chainsaw for odd jobs around the home, then in all likelihood you would be better off with a conventional design of cordless chainsaw.

On the other hand, if you need to regularly prune and/or cut down trees, then a top handled battery driven chainsaw may be just the tool you need.

Weighty issues?

The common perception is that top handled chainsaws are lighter than their rear handled counterparts. The reality is that the weight differences between the 2 types are so small as to be of no consequence in the practical aspects of working with the saw.

Storage space issues?

A top hand chainsaw, either gas or battery driven, is by design shorter overall than a rear handled counterpart.

So one could argue that a top handled model of chainsaw will take up less storage space. It’s hard to imagine that several inches either way would be a critical storage issue. But if it is, then perhaps it could become a deciding factor.

A Last Word on ISO Standards

ISO standards are there to encourage “best practices”. By meeting an ISO standard, a business indicates to the world that they are up to standard with the latest thinking and procedures associated with their industry.

However, they may not be a legal requirement per se. Something like ISO 11681-2 would be incredibly hard to police at the individual buyer level.

So if you buy a top handled cordless chainsaw, nobody is likely to be watching over your shoulder with regards to how you use it.

However, best practice is best practice for a reason. The guidelines are based on inputs and experience from across the particular industry.

In short – Its best not to mess with best practice guidelines

Examples of Some Top Handled Cordless Chainsaws

When you consider buying a top handled cordless chainsaw, then you might be influenced by a number of factors including:

  • Brand. Do you have a preferred brand of electrical tools? You can see our take on the best brands for cordless chainsaws here
  • Bar length. The most common bar lengths for top handled cordless chainsaws are 10 inch, 12 inch, 14 inch and 16 inch. Shorter than 10-inch bars tend to be Mini Chainsaws while bar lengths over 16 inches tend to be a bit unwieldy in the top handled format!
  • Type of electrical motor. Either brushless (preferable) or brushed.
  • Price. Inevitably price plays a role, even if it is not the actual price, but value for money.

Which Chainsaw Should I Buy?

Here are a few of the best selling and/or well known brands of top handled battery powered chainsaws at the time of writing.