Emergency Vehicle Chainsaw

[treillw]

Thinking of getting the 8" Milwaukee hatchet chainsaw to keep in off-road vehicles for occasional downed trees - not clearing the entire forest with it. I have other saws for that.

Want something very compact and this seems to fit the bill. With some creativity, effort, and a winch, I could get through some pretty big trees, I bet. Not ideal, but neither is carrying a desert eagle for woods defense.

Saw will be commonly used on ~8” trees, which it should handle with minimal effort. All soft junk trees in Montana too.

Anyone have experience using this saw that could offer some feedback?

Best options for storage in a vehicle, so bar oil doesn't leak all over the place? (I'm thinking harbor freight hard case).

Anything better out there? The electric option is appealing for hunting - quiet, less stench.

Thanks!

 

[Str8shtr]

Silky katana boy 650 will saw through an 8" log in a couple minutes and you don't have to worry about bar oil, batteries or gas.

 

[Marbles]

Empty the bar oil back into the bottle is my solution to keep it from spilling. I'm no help on the saw itself other than the electric saws I have used feel rather anemic.

 

[mthayr]

I'd suggest the M18 top-handle with a longer bar for what you describe - at least, that's what i use for that exact purpose. A Silky would work too, but the M18 will be faster and easier. If you have a pickup with rails you can use something like this to store it in the bed, or as @Marbles said, just empty the bar oil between uses.

 

[mt terry d]

I have a makita battery chainsaw ( and about 9 or ten cas saws)
I'd take a battery powered sawzall if I don't want to haul a real chainsaw.

The blades are a million times tougher than a chain
No oil.
You'll cut a lot more on one battery charge too.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I have one of those m18 hatchets. I use it all the time at my shop for breaking down cardboard boxes Works well for pruning back limbs an such. Not what I would want for cutting out road, though trees are a bit bigger around here.

 

[Lvthntitall]

I have the hatchet and keep it in the sxs to clear trails, it works great. It’s amazing how big of trees you can clean up with it.

 

[Weldor]

I use 2 Greenworks 60V chainsaws regularly. They are outstanding except as mentioned bar oil leaking out. I keep the 16" on my side x side. I use a bolt on vertical mount on the rear rack. The batteries are good for a long time. and you can charge a spare with a plug in 300 watt inverter. As said above, I keep the bar oil dry until I use it, then dump the oil back in the container. Keep a sponge in the storage mount.

 

[Weldor]

Oh yeah, don't forget to look at the 12" Lowe's Kolbalt 18v, I use mine all the time around the property and throw it on the quad once in awhile

 

[Steve300xcw]

The old man likes his dewalt saw. Things as big if not bigger than a 40cc gas saw though

 

[Hatchet]

Silky katana boy 650 will saw through an 8" log in a couple minutes and you don't have to worry about bar oil, batteries or gas.

More like a couple seconds! Silky saws are the way!

Get one with a curved blade and big teeth and just try it out. It’s kinda crazy how fast they cut.

 

[Trial153]

Battery for sure

 

[Blacktail247]

I’m no help with the specific saw you’re talking about but I did pick up a 20v dewalt knock off from Amazon about a year ago. Was just under $40 and came with two chains and two bars. I have used it a bunch and it’s been awesome. I have used it to limb and cut the tops of trees for firewood. Works great up to about 8”. It is no gas saw but cuts better and lasts longer than I was expecting.

 

[majg1234]

I have a 20v Dewalt and couple of the XR batteries on my UTV.It is amazing how much stuff It'll cut through clearing trails.For oil drips I just palced an old dishtowel in the case and don't fill it so full.Top off before I use it.

I've just one issue with it.......TOO QUIET when compared to my Stihl I;ve carried for years