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Chainsaw Fails

I have been debating about posting this for a while.

Tragic confession – I watch chainsaw fail videos. I can’t seem to help it! It’s like a secret indulgence.

It’s not that I want to revel in someone else’s misery. It’s not that I want to feel superior and look down on the poor souls in the video.

I just can’t resist. What did they do wrong? Could that happen to me? What would I have done differently? Is it shocking? Does it look expensive? It’s like I gotta see it.

Part of the problem is my buddies keep sending me stuff. So I can blame them?

So I had thought about posting something here, but I was reluctant for a two reasons…

1) I was loathe to admit my weakness for this alarming habit.

2) I don’t want to be known as the “chainsaw fail guy”. I really enjoy posting my thoughts about equipment here, and I wanted to shy away from cheap thrills or viral entertainment.

But what can I say, in a weak moment I’m going to throw this out there and see what you guys think.

Clip 1:
This guy looks to be wearing all the proper gear and might be a professional. But the tree is old and rotten, and all hell breaks loose while he is in a very bad position.

Clip 2:
A couple of things went wrong at the same time here. First of all, the guy’s aim was off, and he fell the tree right into another standing tree. When that happens, all bets are off, and in this case it pitched the trunk in his direction. But it looks like he pinched his saw, and instead of just leaving it and getting out of harm’s way, he wrestled with it for a few seconds. Hopefully he escaped with no injuries.

Clip 3:
This is a big boy! Everything appears to be going well until right at the end, when the sky opens up and a bunch of branches land on this guy’s head!

Clip 4:
These guys drop this tree right on this house. Looks like an expensive mistake.

Clip 5:
Whew, based on the way this guy goes about cutting this tree, what he’s wearing, etc. I suspect he has never done this before. The way this thing lands, it is going to be a huge and likely dangerous challenge to finish off. What a mess, and it’s in somebody’s front yard!

Clip 6:
Oh boy. We have an amateur perched on top of a giant extension ladder with a chainsaw. What could go wrong? We see the initial branch drop, and then with the next piece enough weight comes off that limb that it springs up a bit. That was just enough to eliminate the support for the ladder, so down comes our arborist. I would think this resulted in injury.

Clip 7:
I watched this clip several times. It looked like he was wedging this giant tree, and it fell in the direction he intended. But right on top of a house? Yikes. I hope he has good insurance.

Clip 8:
This dude does his sawing, and the heavy equipment operator does his pushing, and the end up with the tree right on a house. Another case that I can’t make any sense of.

Clip 9:
This guy is lucky he didn’t get hurt. You could see the point where he realizes the massive tree he’s cutting is going to end up on the house. Instead of running away out of the danger zone, he attempts to shove it a bit. Nope, not effective. Mayhem ensues.

Clip 10:
Oof, this is scary to watch. They guy is properly secured to a bucket truck, but when the limb comes down on the bucket he is rag-dolled, thrown out like he was a sack of potatoes.

Clip 11:
It’s kind of wild, right at the beginning of the clip you can see the Fedex truck go buy. I guess it was that guy’s lucky day. Then along comes the little economy car, and he or she gets the surprise of their life. The way that car is sitting, I’m guessing it completely ruined the rear frame and suspension. Why these guys were felling the tree right towards a public road in the first place, I can’t imagine. But to not close it off to car and foot traffic was a big mistake.

Clip 12:
This is another scary one. This guy is bucking this long but it apparently had quite a bit of bending tension on it. Once he gets past a certain point, it pops and swats him like a fly. It looks like he is struggling to stand up there at the end, hopefully he was not seriously injured.

Clip 13:
Another amateur, another tree, another house. You can see this guy notched it and put a rope on it in a feeble attempt to guard against ending crashing through the roof. Didn’t work.

Clip 14:
I’m not sure what started this tree tipping the wrong way. It could’ve been bad luck, or maybe there was something on the other side just out of frame for the camera. But the backhoe operator realized there was no saving the situation, and jumped out.

Clip 15:
I guess it’s better to drop a tree on your work truck rather than some customer’s house? I guess I would rather not do either. So suffice it to say, these guys are going to need a new truck!

Clip 16:
It looks like this guy was worried he would get shaken off the tree, so he tethered himself to it. Well guess what, he was right. Assuming he was ok and not injured… I wonder how he’s going to get down from there?

Leave a comment to let me know your thoughts.

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The Best Electric Pressure Washer – My Review of the Westinghouse ePX3500

Sometimes I do my best thinking while I’m driving.

The other day I was on a somewhat long trip, and I was thinking about what kind of product I should talk about next here on my website. I know you guys love chainsaw reviews, but I also enjoy offering up my experience with other outdoor power equipment.

It occurred to me there is one piece of equipment that I use way more than chainsaws but I have never posted about: an electric pressure washer!

I tend to get a lot of satisfaction from cleaning things up. It’s not that I’m a neat-freak. Half the time my truck is a muddy mess. My clothes might be sweaty and dirty from working all day. If you looked at some of the tools in my garage you would think I’ve never wiped them down.

But I really enjoy washing a car, making it look sparkly clean. I love the look of freshly pressure washed concrete sidewalks. It makes me feel good inside to take the dingy, mildewy siding on a house and make it look practically brand new. In that way, pressure washing is a labor of love.

I bought a new pressure washer the other day, so here’s my story.

As you guys know, I tend to work for myself as a bit of a handyman. I guess my specialty is tree cutting and removal, but over the years I’ve done everything from installing sprinkler systems to brake jobs. If you need it done, often times I’m the guy.

For pressure washing, for several years I’ve been using a big gnarly beast of a unit. It is a Simpson Powershot 3228. It is a really good unit.

It has a Honda engine that never gives up. It can get up to 3300 psi, flow 2.5 gallons of solution per minute, came with a 25 foot hose, and is more or less indestructible.

Why in the world would I consider buying a different unit?

Well, the weight. That Simpson weighs 77 lbs. That might be fine if you are just using it at home, wheeling it out of your storage shed over to the corner of the house. But trying to get it into the bed of the truck (or worse yet the cab) is a back-breaking affair.

Like many gas powered pressure washers, the Simpson is big, heavy, loud, and stinky. I have been eye-balling a plug-in electric unit for a while now.

Gas vs Electric

Traditionally, you would pick a gas PW over an electric PW in cases where you needed more power. But pump and motor technology have improved over the years, and at this point you can buy plug-in electric versions that are basically as powerful as petrol.

And of course the electric versions are lighter, smaller, and more convenient. I toss an extension cord in the truck along with the PW, and don’t have to worry about a gas tank.

Pressure washing can be a noisy affair, but without the gas engine added to the mix, the electric versions are much quieter.

The emissions isn’t a huge deal for me, but I guess if you spend several hours washing stuff you end up getting tired of smelling all that exhaust, and it’s honestly probably not healthy anyway.

So at the end of the day, for probably 90% of the jobs out there, I feel like an electric pressure washer is the better fit.

Westinghouse ePX3500 Specs

Here are the basics for the Westinghouse that I bought.

2500 PSI max pressure
1.76 gallons per minute max flow rate
16.5″ tall
19 lbs total weight (are you kidding me!!)
25 foot hose
35 foot power cord
5x nozzles included (turbo, 0 degree jet, 15 degree blast, 25 degree wash, soap)
lockable wheels
built-in soap/solution tank

Westinghouse EPX3500 pressure washer
The Westinghouse EPX3500 pressure washer is packed with features – check latest pricing ->CLICK HERE<–

A pdf of the ePX3500 owner’s manual is HERE.

My Review

When I first took this thing out if its box, I was shocked by how light it was. It only weighs 19 lbs. Compare that to the Simpson that I had been using, which is 77 lbs. This a gamechanger.

I was actually a little worried. I was thinking how can this thing be durable, it feels so light it’s like a toy. But it does come with a 3 year warranty, and Westinghouse is a pretty famous name brand.

Setup was easy, and all of the attachments were well packaged.

I immediately put this thing to work.

The 25 foot hose is plenty long enough to walk all the way around a vehicle, or a driveway etc. And the small unit is on 4 lockable wheels, so rolling it along is no trouble.

The casters at the base are spread pretty wide to help keep it from tipping over. That’s a good thing, since it’s so light it can be easy to accidentally pull it off balance.

The 35 foot extension cord is nice and beefy. It stores on a little loop on the top of the washer. Of course a longer cord may always be needed, but I keep a 100 foot extension cord handy for this very reason.

Without the hum of a gas engine, this thing runs much quieter. It actually turns its pump off when you aren’t squeezing the trigger. It is almost eerily quiet compared to that big gas-powered Simpson.

It has plenty of power. It took the grime off vinyl siding with no sweat. I think tackled a big section of a concrete driveway. Even though I used it on the driveway continuously for over an hour, it did not overheat or flinch. It really seems to have as much power as the 80 lb behemoth I have traditionally used.

I took this Westinghouse unit with me to a job last week. An elderly lady had asked me to cut down a big pine tree in her back yard, and I had casually asked her if she needed any pressure washing done while I was there. Apparently her son had pressure washed her driveway the previous year, but her two-story house was a bit too tall for him and she agreed to pay me to do the whole exterior of her house.

I brought some soap solution with me, as well as a 100 foot garden hose and a 100 foot extension cord. The Westinghouse powered right through all of it, and must’ve saved my back quite a bit of ouch since hauling the little 20 lb thing around was child’s play.

Really the only two negatives I can think of-
1 You have to be careful not to pull on the hose or it will tip over. This is just a function of how light it is, and I don’t really mind it.
2 The on-board soap tank is a little on the small side. It is easy to re-fill, so it’s no big deal.

If this tells you anything, know that after owning the Westinghouse for two weeks, I sold that Simpson pressure washer and I haven’t looked back since!

So I will give this thing two enthusiastic thumbs up.

Two thumbs up
I give the Westinghouse 2 thumbs up! – to check latest pricing – CLICK HERE
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Proyama 62CC 22″ Chainsaw – My Review

I have heard a few folks talking about Proyama saws lately, so I thought I would give one a try.

I ordered a “kit” and within a few days it was sitting on my front porch.  My plan was to unbox it, assemble it, check it over, and take it with me on a trip into Tennessee the following weekend where I had been hired to clean up a 35 acre property.

Saw Setup

I was pleasantly surprised at all the extras included in the box.  It really is a “kit”.  Included are:

  • Owner’s manual
  • 22″ bar and chain
  • 18″ bar and chain
  • Ear muffs
  • Work gloves
  • Fuel mixing bottle
  • Face shield
  • File, 2 gaskets, and a small tool
  • Bar/chain guard for storage
  • Scrench
  • Dogs
  • Hardware
  • Storage bag

It only took me a few minutes to everything assembled.  There was nothing special or unique about loosely bolting the 22″ bar on, unboxing and untangling the chain, looping it around the bar and clutch, and then using the flathead end of the scrench to set chain tension.

I fueled it up, added bar oil, and started it of course.  No way am I driving somewhere to spend a couple of days cutting without making sure the saw runs!

It was not difficult to start.  I primed it and gave it two, maybe three yanks.  It was probably 75 degrees F outside when I cranked it up.  I avoided giving it full trigger throttle.  I prefer to break my saws in a bit easy, even though I’ve been told by engine “experts” I don’t have to worry about it.

The storage bag is a nice touch.  It is pretty thin material, and might not take much abuse, but it’s more than most manufacturers include.

Features

This saw did not cost me a fortune, but at the same time it wasn’t the cheapest 22″ option out there.  I would say it’s closer to opening price point than mid price point.

Proyama offers a surprisingly good saw for the money – click HERE to check latest pricing

I am told it is made in China, but it is packed with features.

It has a magnesium case to help reduce weight.  It weighs around 14 pounds.

It has a primer bulb, which I’ve found typically helps get a saw started with fewer pulls.  Would you rather rip your arm off a couple of extra times pulling on that cord, or just push the primer bulb?!

They use a filter to reduce the amount of grit and dirt that circulates through the case and around the motor, which in theory should help it run better and cooler for longer.  But the drawback… you have to clean the filter.

They have a rubber sleeve/grip on the handle.  They claim to have an anti-vibration system, but I’m not sure if it’s anything more extensive than just that grip.

I’ve heard this saw is similar to the SupMix 62cc saw, or possibly made by the same parent company.  But I’ll point out Proyama advertises this as a 3.5 HP motor, 12k rpm speed, where as the SupMix I reviewed a while back was 4.2 HP and 8500 rpm.

My Review

This thing is typically easy to start, whether it is warm or cold.

It cuts well, and has reasonable power.

My saw sometimes had just a bit of a stumble off idle, but it was not annoying and didn’t seem to affect it running or cutting at normal RPM.

It cuts fairly fast, ergonomics and balance are good, and it cuts straight.

I would give the chain durability a solid C, maybe a B.  I did end up with some burrs on some of the links.  I actually wish instead of packing the saw with both a 22″ chain/bar and an 18″ chain/bar they would have just sent it with a spare 22 bar and chain.

I took this saw along with an old trusty PoulanPro.  I wouldn’t say I preferred it over the PP, but it is not a bad saw.

Along those lines, I don’t like it as much as the Supmix behemoth I reviewed last year, but it’s a different size saw and frankly I didn’t pay as much for this one.

All in all, I rate it a “B” and I think it’s worth the money.

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Bluetti AC200L – My Free Solar AC Setup

Here in North America, it’s spring and temperatures are warming up.  It’s the time of year where we know summertime is just around the corner.

My house has central AC, handled by a big heat pump. The unit is only about 4 years old, and is relatively efficient.

It’s great that with a heat pump you can buy one device and it can then provide you with warmth in the winter and cool air in the summer. But that also means it takes a beating, working hard essentially all year long.

I like it to be cold in my bedroom when I sleep. Like around 65 or 68F.

That means during the height of summer, I work my heat pump pretty hard. Ignoring the electricity costs, which can be pretty high during really cold or really hot months, I hate beating on this big expensive heat pump, knowing that it will cost a fortune to replace or repair once it wears out.

A few years ago, I started dabbling with solar power as a hobby.

I’m no expert, but I’ve learned lots of tricks and tips and secrets. I’m pretty frugal by nature, so one of the things I’ve learned is how to get the most solar bang for my buck.

The last couple of years, I’ve been air conditioning my house almost exclusively with solar. That makes it essentially free. And it takes a huge load/burden off my heat pump.

My Setup

I have 3 main parts to my setup. I will go into detail for each element separately a bit later. But at a high level…

Solar panels – these generate the free power I use to power my AC
Portable power station – this takes the power from the solar panels, converts it to AC to run my AC, and also stores it
Air conditioner – this keeps me cool!

Although there’s a certain amount of flexibility, you have to coordinate these 3 things in a way that ensures they work well together.

So I’ll guide you through my specifics, but understand that there are a million different ways to skin this cat, and no single way will be ideal for everybody.

Air Conditioner

I started this experiment out a couple of years ago with a el-cheapo used air conditioner I bought off Facebook Marketplace.

Since then, I have upgraded to a new unit I bought off Amazon.

You will be limited in size to more or less 5,000 BTU’s. The reason for this is a larger air conditioner will use more power, driving up the cost of the other equipment (the solar panels and the power station).

Generally, 5k BTU’s will cool about 150 square feet. But I use it to cool my bedroom, which is more like 300 square feet.

How well-insulated your space is, how hot your location gets, all these will factor into how effective this will be.

I run my little AC unit wide open pretty much all day/night, so this helps keep things frosty! And for the most part I’ll keep my bedroom, bathroom, and even closet door shut to maximize performance.

Midea AC
Inexpensive and effective – I’m happy with this Midea – check latest pricing on Amazon –HERE–

I’ve had good luck with this Midea unit. It’s reasonably efficient, with a CEER of 11.0. You can assume it will use about 450 watts. I will do a bit of math later on where this will be important.

Here’s the Midea MAW05M1BWT owner’s manual…

Solar Panels

I purchased 8 used solar panels off Facebook Marketplace. They are Trina 230 watt panels.

I wired 4 in series, creating two different groups that I then wired in parallel.

The total installed wattage of 8x 230 watt panels should be 1,840 watts. But of course they don’t output to their maximum all the time.

I have plenty of property, and zero interest in bolting/screwing anything to my roof. So my panels are ground mounted.

You can spend a lot or a little on mounts. In my case, I used some free pallets and pallet wood to create a base and adjustable kickstands. This is very basic, and free. I have had zero issues with wind or weather. There is a bit of inconvenience related to trimming and mowing since the panels are fairly close to the ground.

Portable Power Station

I use a Bluetti AC200L.

It has an extremely safe, quite durable lithium iron phosphate battery, with a 2,048 watt-hour capacity.

Its inverter can supply 2,400 watts continuous, or 3,600 watts intermittently which is more than enough for my AC unit.

And it can take up to 1,200 watts of solar power.

So let’s do a little math.

If my AC unit uses about 450 watts running wide open, and the Bluetti has a 2,048 watt-hour battery, that means the Bluetti could run my AC unit for 4.5 hours continuously (or 2,048 divided by 450).

Bluetti AC200L
I’m astounded by the AC200L’s performance! – check latest Amazon pricing –HERE–

In reality, after the sun goes down, the AC unit doesn’t have to work as hard to keep my bedroom at 68 degrees, so it tends to cycle on and off. Depending on time of year and temps, that reduces its power usage and means the battery stretches out to more like 6 or 7 hours.

But the Bluetti also has a pass through function that I can easily set/adjust with their app. This is really nice, as it allows me to set up my system to run off battery for as long as it can and then simply switch over to powering it from the all outlet (when or if that even becomes necessary).

Because the Bluetti unit can take 1200 watts of solar, and the AC unit is only using 450 watts, on a sunny day the system can both recharge the battery and run the AC at the same time.

The solar panel setup I mentioned above is able to more or less max out the Bluetti’s input capacity starting mid to early morning and keep it there until the evening as the sun starts setting.

I have used one of Bluetti’s AC200P units in the past. There was nothing wrong with it, but the AC200L is a giant step forward.

There are two big reasons I so strongly prefer the 200L.

The first is the upgraded solar capacity. The 200P has 700 watt solar capacity, while the 200L has 1200W. This is a huge improvement, and a big deal.

If my load is 450 watts (from the window AC unit), and the power station can only take in 700 watts from solar, that means at times it can only charge the battery with the 250 watt surplus. This can take a long time, and during periods when it’s cloudy might mean it’s not charging at all.

But with a 1200 watt input vs the 450 watt load, now it has a 750 watt surplus, which gives me a lot more extra capacity and peace of mind.

The other big thing is the integration of the 200L with Bluetti’s app, which unlocks a lot of different abilities. Not only can I remotely monitor and control it, but I can also use a “pass through” power option that allows me to maximize the savings of a solar/battery setup without risking interruption once battery power is exhausted.

I run the power cables from the solar panels to the Bluetti using a fairly simple setup with cable entry glands not unlike what you might find on a boat.

I use connectors on both the inside and the outside of the wall to make this very modular. Because I also use the setup in the wintertime to provide some extra (free) heat, I have one of these glands plumbed into my downstairs, and also one upstairs in my bedroom.

Free AC

Considering the capacity of this system, and the cost of electricity in this area running around $0.13 per KWh, it can offset around $2 or $3 per day from my power bill. Considering I spent around $1k or $1,500 for the system, that’s not a bad pay back. $1500 divided by $3 per day would be 500 days, or 1.3 years.

But it also saves wear and tear on my heat pump. And just as importantly, it allows me to get it nice and cool in my bedroom during the summer months for optimal/comfortable sleep without really abusing my central AC unit.

And in that way, it’s also “guilt-free”!

If you have a question about my setup or want to tell me about yours, please feel free to leave a comment below.

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DEWALT 60V FLEXVOLT Chainsaw | DCCS670X1

With a great balance between raw power and ease of handling, the DEWALT DCCS670X1 chainsaw is designed with homeowners in mind. It’s ergonomic and quite efficient, so it’s ideal for cutting needs around the yard and house. No, it’s not a pro saw, but it’s suitable for the majority of folks in the market.

In this article, I’ll cover a broad range of topics, including what I think about this saw, general info about Dewalt’s Flexvolt system, and how the DCCS670X1 stacks up against the competition.

DEWALT FLEXVOLT 60V Tools
DeWalt’s 60V FLEXVOLT battery architecture is a smart move. They know that one of the biggest concerns consumers have is making sure their tools have enough power. DeWalt has jumped through a number of technical hoops to give us a battery that works to provide excellent power and runtime.

Once you go through my review, you’ll have a solid understanding of how the 60V battery works in this saw, and whether it would be right for you. Regardless of what I think when I try it out, if your needs for a saw, or your application, are different then we need to consider what technology is best for you.

Features:

  • Up to 70 cuts per charge (on a 6″ x 6″ pressure treated pine wood)
  • Low Kick Back 16″ Oregon bar and chain can be used in construction and outdoor cutting applications
  • Tool-Free chain tensioning and bar tightening knob (simplifies bar clamping force adjustments)
  • Auto-Oiling for continuous lubrication
  • Quarter-turn oil cap for quick oil re-fills
  • Chain brake for kick back protection

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the DEWALT DCCS670.

Review | DEWALT DCCS670X1 Flexvolt Chainsaw

The familiar yellow and black brand coloring of the DeWalt immediately gives me a sense of ease. It’s a brand that has delivered quality and cutting edge technology for almost a century. This, in itself, goes a long way toward selling it to anyone who’s familiar with DeWalt tools.

From the moment you take hold of the DEWALT DCCS670X1 60V Flexvolt Chainsaw (wow, that’s a mouthful to say), it’s apparent that it’s going to be a pleasure to use. The ergonomically designed soft-grip handles make handling the DeWalt super easy and comfortable. You can forget about those pains that you get from using a gas chainsaw, with constant vibrations that run all the way up your forearms. The large trigger switch gives you excellent control over the ample power provided by the brushless motor. A weight of only 12.2 LBS, makes it even easier to use.

The size is really great, a 16” Oregon bar gives you a good length to cut through most logs or tree trunks with a single stroke. The chain is self-lubricating, so maintenance is virtually done away with. Filling the chain oil reservoir is no problem, there’s a well-marked filler cap on the side that opens with a quarter turn and locks tightly into position when you’re done filling it with oil. It’s a chainsaw that you can pick up, start with a touch and get to work in seconds. Even the chain tensioning and bar tightening is made really easy. There’s no need to use any tools for this, as it has a handy tightening knob.

Safety is a big concern with chainsaws and the DeWalt DCCS670X1 60V Flexvolt chainsaw has got this well covered. The large well-designed chain guard makes one feel very confident operating the saw. In addition to this, the chain and bar are designed for low kickback and it also has a chain brake to protect you in the event that you do experience a kickback.

What really sets the DEWALT DCCS670X1 apart from other comparable chainsaws is the 60V Flexvolt battery. The Flexvolt range has not been around very long, it’s the latest and greatest battery technology from DeWalt. The 60V FlexVolt battery provides the best working time out of all their batteries (up to 70 cuts on pressure treated pine 6” X 6”) but is also backward compatible with other Dewalt 20V MAX and 120V FlexVolt MAX tools. This versatility makes it highly desirable to invest in the Dewalt FlexVolt line of tools. The standard 3AH lithium-ion battery will give about the best battery life for a battery of this size and if you need more, you have an option of 9AH battery.

One thing I really like about DeWalt is their excellent warranty and service agreement. Not only do you get a 3-year limited warranty with very few limitations, but you also get a 90-day money back guarantee and a 1-year free service plan. This is a chainsaw that you can buy with confidence and be sure that you’re going to get many years of hard work from it. Congratulations to DeWalt for this.

Tech Specs (DEWALT 60V Chainsaw — DCCS670X1):

Amp Hour : 3.0 Ah
Bar Length : 16″
Bar Type : Oregon
Power Source : Lithium Ion
Weight : 12.2 lbs

60V MAX Flexvolt battery

Batteries have been around for a very long time but until now, they have always been limited to a single voltage rating. This means that you have to use a battery of a voltage that corresponds to the motor that it runs. Now that battery powered tools are so common, this has become quite a problem. This is especially true when we look at the rapid development of these tools. Every few years a new model comes out, often at a higher voltage. This makes the older tools (and their batteries) obsolete.

DeWalt is the first company to offer a solution with the Flexvolt battery that can be used either as a 20V or 60V power source. This is fantastic news for those of us who have a wide selection of tools.

The concept behind the Flexvolt is so simple, it seems strange that no one has thought of it until now. The battery has twelve 5V cells that have two switching modes. To obtain 60V from the battery, all 12 cells are connected in series. This multiplies the voltage of the cells – 12 X 5 = 60. When the battery is switched to 20V, the battery rearranges the cell configuration so that you get 3 banks of cells. Each bank consists of 4 cells connected in series (4 X 5 = 20). The end result can be seen as three 20V batteries connected in parallel. You end up with a 20V battery with three times the amount of current – your amp hours are, therefore tripled in 20V mode.

It’s pure, simple genius. While the theory is so logical and simple, it must take some pretty advanced microelectronics to achieve this in something as small as a battery. It really is a work of clever engineering.

The DeWalt Legacy

So often technology seems to be developed by engineers, for engineers. New products boast new and amazing feats of modern science that look great on paper but don’t actually have any real benefit to us as users. Well, DeWalt started out with a very different approach.

The company’s founder, Raymond DeWalt worked at Seabrook Farms as a superintendent. He sought to develop machinery that would increase productivity and offer the user good versatility. In 1922 he developed his first woodworking machine. Because of his background, he’s machine was developed from the standpoint of the user and not an engineer sitting behind a drawing board.

His ideas were so good that in 1924, the DeWalt Product Company was established at a site in Leola, Pennsylvania. The company grew fast and in 1929 they opened a new facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For its time, this was an ultramodern production plant and was a big advancement for the new company.

The Second World War increased government demand for machinery and DeWalt was one of the companies that rose to this challenge. In 1941, they expanded greatly to meet the increased demand for wartime machinery.

In 1953, DeWalt expanded into Canada and in 1955 the Lancaster plant was extended as the company continued to grow. Over the years DeWalt became a recognized brand worldwide and is seen as one of the leaders in the development of tools and machinery.

For most of its existence, DeWalt specialized in producing machinery for professionals. While they were well known in factories and workshops, DeWalt tools were not made for the domestic DIY user. In 1992, the company introduced a range of smaller tools that was specifically intended for more regular domestic use. Since then, we common folk have also had the opportunity to own DeWalt tools and benefit from their years of development in the professional tool market.

The 1990s saw the development of battery tools and DeWalt was one of the first tool manufacturing companies to embrace this new trend. In 1994 they launched a range of more than 30 cordless power tools. At that time, their 14.4V drill/driver was the most powerful battery powered tool on the market. They continue to dominate the innovation of improved battery tools, culminating in their latest achievement – the Flexvolt battery system.

In recent years there has been a shift in production by most established US and European brands, outsourcing much of their production to other countries, in particular China. For many this has been a disappointment and a lot of people believe that these products are inferior to those that were once made locally.

While DeWalt has also followed this trend in order to remain competitive, they have 7 production facilities in the US. Their more advanced products, including the Flexvolt tool range carry the logo “Made in the USA with global materials”. All products that carry this logo are made locally just as they have been for almost a century.

Whether it’s out of a sense of national pride or a genuine belief that local products are better, you may feel let down when you buy a product that is supposed to be American only to see that it was made in China. If you want to be sure that you’re buying an all-American product, look out for DeWalt’s “Made in America” logo.

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Ego CS1604 16 inch 56 volt Battery Chainsaw – My Review

Back in March, I posted about my experience with Ego’s 18″ battery saw.  You can read about that HERE.

I knew that Ego also had a 16″ version – their CS1604.  I had not tried that one before, so I recently made the purchase in order to do this write-up.

I purchased the saw from Amazon, and it came with one of the 5 amp-hour batteries, along with a charger.  According to Amazon, over 500 people purchased one of these in the last month.  That compares to about 200 people for the CS1804.  This makes sense, as there is a $100 difference in retail price between the saws.

Ego CS1604 Basics

16-inch bar and chain
6,800 RPM operating speed
IPX4-rated weather-resistant construction
Tool-free chain tensioning system
Brushless motor for longer life
35cc gas engine equivalent
3/8-inch pitch, .043-inch gauge chain
5 Ah lithium battery
5 year warranty for the tool
3 year warranty for the battery
18 lb operating weight

Ego CS 1604
A compact saw worth the money – Check the latest pricing –>HERE

If you aren’t familiar with Ego products, one of their claims to fame is that all of their batteries work with all of their products.

This comes in pretty handy.  If you have one of their blowers or string trimmers, you could just buy one of their “naked” chainsaws (one without the battery and charger), and just use the battery and charger you already have.  That can save you in some cases $75 or $100.

The battery clicks into place securely.  It definitely makes up a large percentage of the saw’s weight.  Once installed, the chainsaw is pretty well balanced, but not particularly light.

As I mentioned in the CS1804 review, I think Ego makes a 3Ah battery, which might lighten this thing up by a pound or so.

CS1604 Performance

I was surprised at how different the CS1604 experience is compared to the CS1804.

I was expecting basically the same saw, but with a shorter bar.  But right from the get-go, it was apparent they are two very different saws.

The 1604 is definitely quieter, and feels a bit less powerful.  I am guessing this is all due to operating RPM.  You’ll notice Ego lists the CS1804 at 11,000 rpm, versus 6,800 RPM for the CS1604.

CS1604 performance
The saw works well and seems like a good low-cost option – Check the latest pricing –>HERE

Ego doesn’t list a spec for their motor wattage, but we can assume the 1604 uses a smaller motor than the 1804.

The saw cuts well, with very little vibration and noise.  I noticed straight cuts, and I must have gotten a particularly sharp chain right out of the box, as this thing really made the chips fly for the first few cuts.

Ego claims this thing can make up to 250 cuts on a 4×4 post.  You can compare that to 300 cuts for their CS1804.  I suspect they get about the same battery life unless you are really maxing out the saw length.

Which I did on occasion!  Some of the red oak I was cutting was 20″ plus in diameter, requiring a 2-sided cut.  Burying the bar into the wood didn’t stall this saw out, but I could only apply somewhat light pressure.

Like their other saws, the chain tensioning mechanism works fine, and really is tool-less in its adjustability.

For convenience, I’ve added a copy of the CS1604 owner’s manual HERE.

Review Verdict

I give the CS1604 a thumbs up.

I liked the saw, but it’s definitely a bit lighter-duty than the CS1804.

I think that stands to reason, given that it’s smaller and $100 cheaper.

Depending on how much and how often you’ll use a saw, as well as what your own personal budget looks like, it may be worth your money to upgrade to the 18″ version.

But as a more entry-level battery saw, I do think it’s an attractive option.

A good saw, even for the thicker stuff
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Dewalt 20 Volt Max XR DCCS620 12 inch Chainsaw Review

After the big storm (Helene) raged through the southeast, there has been plenty of tree work going on. I might go more into that later.

I recently got my hands on a Dewalt DCCS620 chainsaw. This is from their Max XR series, with the 20V batteries.

I borrowed it from a friend for a weekend, and mixed its use in with a few other saws. I thought I would list a few of my thoughts and findings here, and give it a proper reviews.

Specs

This is one of the smaller chainsaws out there, with only a 12 inch bar. Not as small as some of the loppers (which are pretty popular these days for some homeowners), but maybe one step above.

Dewalt’s 20 volt battery series are designed to be fairly light duty, lighter weight, and lighter on the wallet. They are a step down from the 60 volt product.

It’s listed at 7 pounds, but I believe that weight is without its battery. Weight increases to 9 pounds with the battery.

Dewalt’s 20v saw performed well in my tests | Click >>HERE<< to check latest Amazon prices

It has a 550 watt brushless motor.

They claim it can make 90 cuts through a 4×4 pressure treated post on one charge.

It has a tool-free chain tensioning system.

It has fairly soft, grippy, overmolded handles.

I noticed it comes with a 3 year “limited” warranty from Dewalt, which I think is pretty standard for their products.

Review

The first thing I noticed about the saw is of course its size.

It’s very small, and very light. That can be a good thing if you’re trying to get small/easy jobs done. No sense in putting any more strain on your back than you have to.

Torquey motor cuts easily through the smaller stuff!

The battery clicks into place securely. I do think you need to be a bit careful with this saw, as the battery is on the bottom and positioned in the very back. That means it doesn’t have a ton of protection, so just make sure you don’t toss it into your truck bed or drop it on some rocks!

The Dewalt enjoys the benefits of pretty much all battery saws. Plenty of torque, quieter, no fumes, you don’t have to carry fuel and slosh it all over the place trying to refill it. And of course intermittent cutting means you can squeeze the trigger and cut, set it down to do what you need, grab it and go again, all without having to restart it or leave it idling and wasting fuel.

I wouldn’t say it has an abundance of power, but given its size it does great.

I cut off and on with it for a couple of hours at one point. Its battery life is adequate. Of course cutting larger stuff, closer to its 12″ diameter max, puts much more stress on the motor and burns the battery up faster.

I was using this during two fairly cool days. I had no issues with it overheating or shutting down due to overuse. Some battery saws have that issue, but because of the cooler temps in my area I can’t really speak to that with the Dewalt.

During Helene storm cleanup, the Dewalt proved reliable | click >>HERE<< to check Amazon’s latest prices

It has good balance, and no obvious kickback problems.

As small and light as it is, I wouldn’t have any concerns slinging it across my back, climbing a tree, and using it 1-handed to limb something 40 feet off the ground.

Some users have complained about the saw leaking bar oil. I did notice some of that going on in the bed of my truck the second morning when I arrived at the job site.

When I talked to the owner, he said it was a common problem. Some people have addressed it by adding an o-ring to the oil cap. I checked the owner’s manual (you can download it HERE), and interestingly enough Dewalt recommends users always empty the oil tank when finished cutting. Haha, can you imagine what a messy hassle that would be?

Dewalt has sold thousands of these saws, especially through Amazon where it’s as simple as clicking the button and it shows up on the porch a couple of days later.

There is a reason they are so popular. They are not huge, heavy, feature-laden saws. They are small, dependable, and fairly inexpensive.

I think for a lot of homeowners who cut wood infrequently and don’t want or need a bigger saw, this 12 inch 20 volt saw from Dewalt hits the sweet spot.

Here’s the Dewalt DCCS620 on Amazon.

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The Best Pole Saw – My Review of the Husqvarna 530i PT5

I ain’t getting any younger.

That’s what I tell myself every time I do something risky.

I are more aware of and take better precautions about safety these days. The older I get, the wiser I get.

Also, it takes longer for me to recover from injuries! I have bills to pay, and I can’t afford to be laid up on the couch with stitches or icepacks. Plus, I can’t stand to be cooped up.

So I “measure twice and cut once” when it comes to felling trees. I outfit myself with PPE – like gloves, pants, boots, eye and ear protection – every time, even if it’s just for a few minutes. And while I’ve never been scared of heights, I’m a lot more careful now when it comes to climbing trees or up on a roof.

I was hired recently to limb some trees.

The homeowner has a 150 yard long gravel driveway. Many years ago, trees were planted or allowed to grow up alongside the driveway. Although they are located well off to the side, over the years they got much bigger and the limbs now overhang the driveway. This has been causing some issues with large delivery trucks. The limbs contact the cab or the box on these big trucks.

In the past, I probably would’ve grabbed a small, lightweight chainsaw, a big ladder or some tree spikes, and taken whatever risks necessary to get this guy’s driveway cleared.

But what about using a pole saw?

I have never owned a pole saw before, but they have a lot of advantages.
1) Safety
You can’t fall off a ladder or fall out of a tree if your feet never leave the ground. This is a big plus as far as injury prevention.
2) Ease of use
Any time you have to climb with equipment, it’s a challenge. Whether you’re going up a ladder or a tree, carrying a chainsaw with you complicates things (even if it’s lightweight).
3) Speed
Whether you’re a weekender or you do this for a living, getting the job done efficiently and not wasting time is a big benefit. If you don’t have to shimmy up a tree or lug a ladder around you can move a lot faster. I’m guessing using this pole saw reduced my job time by 50%!

Once I convinced myself I was ready to make the investment and purchase one, I didn’t screw around. I bought the mother of all pole saws!

The Husqvarna 530i PT5

This pole saw from Husqvarna is battery powered and has a 10″ bar.

Unlike some of the other saws on the market, Husqvarna calls this “weather proof”. You don’t want to go swimming with it, but it is classified as rain resistant.

Husqvarna’s 530i PT5 is a beast – CLICK HERE TO CHECK LATEST PRICING

The telescopic tube uses collars to lock and unlock the telescopic function. At maximum length, this thing is 157.5″ long. To calculate it’s maximum reach, you would usually consider a person who is 6′ tall using it, so it’s close to 20′ of reach!

For convenience, here’s the 530i owner’s manual.

It uses Husqvarna’s usual group of 40 volt batteries. It has an embedded, pass-through battery attachment design that I think is both unique and really cool.

This sort of protects the battery. Having the machine itself wrapped around the battery case minimizes the number of bumps and bruises it takes.

Also, they use a ventilated design so the battery stays cool and won’t need to take a break during hot weather use. This pass-through design reduces the amount of debris, dust, and sawdust that gets sucked into the battery or gums up the battery connector.

Because they’ve made this thing out of aluminum and other lightweight materials, it only weighs 11 lbs.

Now that’s a little deceptive. Just the saw weighs 11 lbs, and once you add a battery it gets heavier. Also, this thing is obviously long, so once it gets fully assembled and extended you have to be careful as it can tend to get away from you.

My Review

There are several pole saws on the market. Why did I pick this one?

I decided I preferred a battery saw. It just made sense.

I’ve talked about some of the advantages and disadvantages of a battery chainsaw versus a petrol chainsaw before.

In this case, trying to reach over my head to get to branches way over the ground with a roaring gas engine was not an attractive option. The lack of heat and noise made me focus on battery for this application.

I’ve reviewed and used many different chainsaw brands. Husqvarna has been in the game a long time. They make really good saws, and have a great reputation in the industry.

I was looking to make an “investment” in my business, my safety, and my capability. I wanted the longest reach, and I didn’t want something that was disposable, that I would have to fix or throw away after just a season or two.

There was basically no learning curve with this thing.

Right out of the box, it was ready to rip. Adjusting the length of the boom with the locking collars is intuitive and easy.

The push button controls are easy to understand and operate.

The battery clicks in with a positive feeling latch, and feels solid.

The thing has more than enough power, especially if you keep the chain sharp.

Run time was excellent. I limbed six trees. The job took close to 4 hours, including cleanup. Of that, I was probably cutting off and on for a total run time of maybe 30 minutes. The battery still had 50% or more capacity left, and I had a spare battery in the truck.

Are there things I don’t like about the 530i?

Hmm…

Like I mentioned above, at maximum extension this thing is like trying to swing a 20′ long axe. You have to really plant your feet and be intentional about keeping the power head under control.

I specifically bought this model because I liked it’s super-long reach. So I wouldn’t change this, just something to keep in mind.

The oil/lube tank on this saw is listed as 0.32 pints. That seems pretty small. You have to keep an eye on it to keep from running it dry. Not a big deal, and I’m not sure it would be worth the extra weight to have a bigger tank.

One other thing, you are going to want a helmet. Working overhead, you have to be strategic how much of the limb you are cutting, which direction it is going to fall, and where you are standing.

If you save yourself from falling out of a tree but end up giving yourself a concussion or a broken collar bone from a branch falling on you, that might not be a good trade after all!

I like the visor on the Husqvarna helmet, which in this case keeps all of that sawdust and bark from dropping down into your eyes.

So overall, I’m really happy with my purchase. I give it two thumbs up, and I’m ready to use it for the next job!

Two thumbs up for Husqvarna’s pole saw ->>CLICK HERE<<– for prices

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Snow Peak Titanium Cutlery – My Review and Why You Need These!

I am sick – really sick – of using little tiny plastic forks.

I’m a big dude. I stay active, I work up an appetite, and so I tend to eat big.

You have to admit, it sucks so bad to dig into a meal with a goofy plastic fork only to accidentally snap it in two or break off one of the tines.

Okay, I realize this strays pretty far from my normal chainsaw topics. But let me explain.

How Titanium Forks Relate to Chainsaws

I’ve mentioned before that some saw jobs I do are in deep country.

Not too long ago, I was describing a chainsaw backpack that is great for getting all of my gear to the middle of nowhere if I get hired for a job like that. You can check out my backpack review HERE.

It’s not unusual for me to pack a lunch.

Whether I’m working out of the back of my truck, or backpacking gear several miles, I definitely don’t like to go hungry.

I’m not against going out to lunch, but I’m all about getting work done. It just seems more efficient if I pack my own meal, sort of eat on the run. It saves me from driving somewhere, waiting in line, etc.

Sometimes that’s just a sandwich, sometimes it’s more like a real meal. By real meal I mean like leftovers from the night before, haha.

After breaking off 2 of the 5 plastic tines of my plastic fork the other day, I was pretty exasperated. It’s pretty hard to eat a leftover chicken breast with a damaged utensil that resembles a toothpick!

So I started looking for some camping or backpacking utensils that I could use to eat my lunch while on a chainsaw job.

Moe’s Southwest Grill Plastic Fork Tease

Issue number one, chainsaw job vs plastic fork.

Issue number two, OMG Moe’s are you kidding me?

I tend to like Tex/Mex food. There is a Moe’s Southwest Grill not far from my house, and I eat there frequently.

They have the cheapest, most useless plastic utensils in the universe.

I’m not kidding you, they aren’t even fit for a four year old. They bend and break, and they are tiny.

Maybe all Moe’s restaurants don’t use these, I don’t know. Maybe it’s only my local place that is too lazy to wash and use metal forks. Leave a comment down below if you get a chance and let me know what your experience has been.

This, combined with my need for something to pack in my lunch for chainsaw job had me looking for some kind of backpacking utensils.

Snow Peak Titanium Utensils

Enter this little kit from Snow Peak.

snow peak titanium utensils
No more broken forks! Click –>>HERE<<– to check latest prices on Amazon…

I found a few options online for normal, basic stainless steel utensils. Some of them were even collapsible. Err, ok, but I don’t want “some assembly required”. And leave it to me to lose half of my fork under a tree stump!

I ended up choosing the Snow Peak set for several reasons.

They make them out of aerospace-grade titanium alloy mainly because it is such a light material, which can be important for backpackers. That’s cool, but a few ounces of weight isn’t really a deal killer to me.

The titanium is very stiff. Which I like. And also it’s inert, and won’t rust.

I liked the little velcro pouch the knife and spoon come in. It makes it easier to toss into my gear bag without losing them or having them become separated. It’s made out of nylon, so when it gets dirty I can just throw it in the washing machine or even give it a scrub outside under the garden hose.

Lastly, I liked the fact that their company has been around for 60 years.

They make good quality stuff, and they are proud of what they do. It’s not US based, bummer, but it’s a craftsman-like Japanese company and I give them a certain amount of credit for standing out in a crowd.

So go buy yourself a set, and quit screwing around with plastic forks!

I’ll try to remember to tell you guys sometime about the tactical lunch box I use.

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Chainsaw Backpack Review – My Recommendation

I was recently hired to do some brush and tree maintenance on a trail.

The trail is three miles long. It starts at a public parking lot here in my hometown, and winds its way up through some pretty rough country.

Much of the trail is not accessible by any type of motorized vehicle.

The city hired me to cut down some risky trees, saw up and clear some previously fallen trees, and clear away any brush that was closing in on the trail.

This took me several weeks. Although it was quite a bit of work, I found it really enjoyable.

This was the first time I’ve tackled a job like this. I learned so much!

A few lessons I’ll share with you…

1) You can never have too much water. Well, okay, if you took a zillion gallons and the weight was more than you could carry, of course that would be too much. My point here is doing all that hard work will make you sweat, and you are going to need to hydrate.

2) A saw that’s too big is not ideal for this type of job. Using more fuel than you need is a terrible idea if you have to backpack in all of your supplies. I used a small 16″ Husqvarna saw to keep things light and make fuel use manageable. I’ll have to remember to review the saw for you sometime.

3) Pack some toilet paper. I don’t want to get too personal here, but in some cases I was an hour or hour and a half walk from the truck. At even then, I would have to drive to a nearby gas station or store to find a bathroom. That’s not going to work, guys! I packed some TP, and when I had to go I did so behind a tree.

One piece of equipment that I found very hand for this type of work is a chainsaw backpack.

I guess they are a bit of a niche product, made popular by firefighters who have to carry their chainsaws for long distances.

If you have a big piece of property or a trail that is not accessible by vehicle or even UTV, this type of carrying solution is exactly what you need.

True North Chainsaw Backpack – Review

I purchased this knowing that carrying my chainsaw, fuel, water, and axe was going to be very difficult towards the back side of the trail (3 miles away from my truck).

Although it is a solid piece of equipment, the True North pack is not overly heavy. It weighs in at just 5.5 lbs.

True North’s chainsaw backpack is packed with features – CLICK HERE to check latest prices

The straps and pouches are made from nylon webbing and a type of extreme-duty synthetic material.

The pack has shoulder straps as well as a waist strap. They are double-padded thick, and the thing is fairly comfortable. I mean, you are strapping a bunch of heavy stuff to your back, so it’s not like taking a nap on your couch, but they have really thought the design through for both comfort and strength.

Sling it on and get to marching!

This thing is pretty much everything-proof. I sweated on it, drug it through heavy branches and briar patches, and tossed it in the back of my truck bed.

I guess one criticism is the heavy duty material is pretty rough, and tends to collect mud and debris. I actually used a garden hose and a soft bristled brush to clean my periodically.

They don’t list a weight capacity, but I figured my back would probably give out before this pack would!

It has 3 pouches – one for fuel, one for water, and one for miscellaneous. It also has an axe scabbard.

There is a leather reinforcement on top of one of the straps which protects the strap when you carry your saw or a big nasty piece of wood on your shoulder. I thought that was a pretty innovative feature.

It is basically one size fits all. All of the straps are adjustable. I’m a pretty bulky guy, and it fit me just fine. Maybe if you’re more than 300 lbs or less than 100 lbs it could give you some trouble, but outside of that it was just the right size.

I used True North’s chainsaw backpack for a solid two weeks.

I walked somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 miles with it fully loaded on my back.

I put it on and took it off dozens of times per day, and never once did I take it easy on it or give it a break.

I think True North developed this specifically for commercial firefighters who needed a dependable, fool proof way to backpack their saws over rough terrain… and it shows.

If you’re in the market for something like this, I don’t think you can go wrong with their product!

If you need the ultimate chainsaw backpack >> CLICK HERE << to check pricing!