Chainsaw Recommendations ?

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

All this talk about batteries has me questioning my choice to buy a new Stihl gas weed whacker. My $80 Weed Eater has lasted 11 years without a thing other than clean, rated treated fuel. Kinda hard to believe a battery-powered unit would last as long? Concerns are both battery longevity as well as lighter materials (to increase efficiency). I've got a lot of defunct electric batteries--Makita sticks, Hitachi packs, etc.

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As far as overall longevity of the battery over the years I cannot speak to it, as it hasn't been long. As for as usage, I ran the trimmer for 90+ minutes on one battery and did not run out. Very impressed with that. After picking up 2 of my weedwackers and neither would start I got pissed and bought electric. I plan on grabbing the hand blower at some point as well.

[Poor Richard]

Lithium polymer (LiPo) is all the rage now because the chemistry is remarkably stable during high current charge and discharge cycles. Additionally, the discharge curve is basically a horizontal line until the safety circuit kicks in around 3v.

Even when core temps rise during usage, the LiPo chemistry retains its efficiency with minimal (if any) chemical memory over the long term.

This was something we could only dream about several years ago and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) was as close as we could get once the NiCad batteries were phased out.

As long as those LiPo batteries are cared for properly, they will last many years and thousands of charge/ discharge cycles.

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Poor Richard

Lithium polymer (LiPo) is all the rage now because the chemistry is remarkably stable during high current charge and discharge cycles. Additionally, the discharge curve is basically a horizontal line until the safety circuit kicks in around 5v, IIRC.

Even when core temps rise during usage, the LiPo chemistry retains its efficiency with minimal (if any) chemical memory over the long term.

This was something we could only dream about several years ago and nickel metal hydride (NiMH) was as close as we could get once the NiCad batteries were phased out.

As long as those LiPo batteries are cared for properly, they will last many years and thousands of charge/ discharge cycles.

It's the care part that bothers me. My current gear will sit for 8 months and start right up in spring when I need it. Not sure what I'd need to do with those batteries to keep 'em healthy.

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[Poor Richard]

Do a search for LiPo care and find that all the reading makes it sound incredibly tedious to charge, discharge, and prep for long term storage.

I've figured the average of all the information out there is as simple as this:

Don't leave them fully charged

Don't leave them fully discharged

For long term storage, bring the cell voltages to 3.85v per cell (the charger should be of the cell balancing type anyway), place in a LiPo storage bag and move it to a cool, dry location.


Yes, there are certain precautions that need to be considered as LiPo can become very unstable if the cells are damaged or over charged/ discharged. Stay within those limits and it's plenty stable otherwise. I use LiPo in my RC truck now and won't look back.....and I was, at one point, a diehard nitro guy.

That all said, for my type of saw work application, an electric is not desireable at this time however the battery technology and chemistry is becoming more tempting to adopt and more difficult to ignore.



Last note...the voltage I stated in my previous post was wrong. The shut off circuit kicks in at 3v per cell, NOT 5v as I originally stated. Post has been edited.

[Biggd]

Personally I think Husqvarna has gone the way of many others and is now making crap, IMO. I had a Poulan lawn mower for over 15 years that always started and never gave me any issues but it began to burn oil and smoke so I thought it was time to retire it even though it still worked fine. I bought a new Husqvarna which was very similar to my Poulan. After sitting the first winter I had to **** with it to get it going.
This new lawn mower is suppose to be maintenance free. No oil changes ever, it has no oil drain plug. No primer pump like on my old mower. I already HATE IT!

[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Personally I think Husqvarna has gone the way of many others and is now making crap, IMO. I had a Poulan lawn mower for over 15 years that always started and never gave me any issues but it began to burn oil and smoke so I thought it was time to retire it even though it still worked fine. I bought a new Husqvarna which was very similar to my Poulan. After sitting the first winter I had to **** with it to get it going.
This new lawn mower is suppose to be maintenance free. No oil changes ever, it has no oil drain plug. No primer pump like on my old mower. I already HATE IT!

I have a Husqvarna push mower too...the high end one with the HONDA motor which I suspected would be trouble free. It’s in the shop now because it won’t start without a hundred pulls...something that gets old when you’re old.
We cleaned a mouse nest out of it this spring and it still hard to start. Hopefully the small engine guy we brought it to will find more mouse shenanigans when he gets deeper into it. He tried it when I dropped it off and said “something is holding the auto-choke open.”

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

I have a Husqvarna push mower too...the high end one with the HONDA motor which I suspected would be trouble free. It’s in the shop now because it won’t start without a hundred pulls...something that gets old when you’re old.
We cleaned a mouse nest out of it this spring and it still hard to start. Hopefully the small engine guy we brought it to will find more mouse shenanigans when he gets deeper into it. He tried it when I dropped it off and said “something is holding the auto-choke open.”

I guess rodents (or lack of) is a benefit for battery-powered gear.

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[Hillcountry]

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

I guess rodents (or lack of) is a benefit for battery-powered gear.

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Apparently, you’ve never heard of these battery eating rodents!

[SIKSUKR]

My 2 cents. Last year I made the change to a battery trimmer. I always dismissed these as not able to do the job. I bought the B+D 40 volt trimmer and absolutely love it. Much tougher than I thought it be on heavy thicker(1/4") growth. Dont know how long it will run on a charge cuz I've never seem to come close to discharging it yet.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by Hillcountry

I have a Husqvarna push mower too...the high end one with the HONDA motor which I suspected would be trouble free. It’s in the shop now because it won’t start without a hundred pulls...something that gets old when you’re old.
We cleaned a mouse nest out of it this spring and it still hard to start. Hopefully the small engine guy we brought it to will find more mouse shenanigans when he gets deeper into it. He tried it when I dropped it off and said “something is holding the auto-choke open.”

When it takes you longer to get these tools started than it takes you to do the job at hand, something is very wrong. I think it's just us old people. Things don't always work properly from lack of use.