SAW SHOP
By Greg Helton, Chainsaw & Logging Safety Trainer
Product Review: Battery Powered Chainsaws and Pole Saws
A
s time changes, so does the equipment that we use. Technology has come a long way from the first chainsaws on the market to the saws we run today. We have seen a change from the carbureted saws that we love to tinker with, to the M-Tronic and Auto-Tune carburetors that we can’t adjust with our little screwdrivers. Even now we have seen the introduction of the MS 500i, a fuel-injected chainsaw. We will review that product in another article. With that change has come the development of battery-powered equipment. The market has been flooded with battery-powered chainsaws, pole saws, blowers, weed eaters, and hedge trimmers, to name a few. Several different companies have made their appearance in the battery world. In this issue of The Saw Shop, I would like to review the MSA 300c made by Stihl. I will give my honest opinion of the chainsaw, the pros and cons. Like I said, “my honest opinion”. You may agree or disagree but try it for yourself. I will also talk a little about the battery-powered pole saws.
So, if you asked me six months ago if I would run a battery-powered chainsaw I would have probably laughed at you, which might be what some of you are doing now. My words would have been, “I’m not cutting timber with no battery saw!”. But you know what, crow is not too bad with a little salt on it. I was given the opportunity to try out the new Stihl MSA 300c. It is Stihl's most powerful battery chainsaw. It is comparable to the Stihl MS 271 gas-powered chainsaw. It weighs approximately 14.1 lbs. with the AP 500s battery and has a run time of about 44 minutes.
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FMIC 1ST QUARTER 2024
Can you guess what the first thing I did with the new saw? That’s right, I put it in some wood. I will have to say, I was very surprised. The little saw fell a 12” red oak with no hesitation, even doing a boring back cut. I felled several small trees with it and continued to limb and buck them. Just as specified, about 45 minutes, and the battery was depleted.
I will start with the “cons”. Now remember, this is my opinion. For a timber cutter felling timber all day, the battery might not be the right fit. Many other gaspowered Stihl chainsaws are better equipped for continuous run time and high production. Even though the MSA 300c has a good bit of power for a battery chainsaw, it lacks when it comes to largerdiameter wood. It wants to struggle a little in the big cuts.
Another concern when it comes to any batterypowered saw is the operators' failure to use the chain brake. Since the chain stops when the trigger is released, many operators do not feel the need to apply the chain brake before removing a hand from the saw. The issue is when the operators return to using a gas-powered saw, they have gotten out of the habit of using the chain brake. This could result in an injury. Now let’s look at some “pros”. One big benefit is the convenience of the battery. There is no need to carry gas. This makes the chainsaw handy for trail work, yard work, trimming on a hunting lease, or even around the log deck. Another location where the chainsaw would be useful would be on the green
