Can a Battery Chainsaw Handle Professional Tree Work? The surprising Truth!

[@Brian-Mondeau37]

I've watched enough KZbin from all of you guys on the west coast to know that battery saws are the best going up the tree, topping, and 2-3 logs down. Seems to be how everyone does it, then they switch to 261/361/562/500i. And it makes so much sense. Quiet, no pull start, and the battery lasts pretty much up until you were done with it anyways

[@opendstudio7141]

Battery saws are handy for random jobs around the home. But the battery pole saws are where they really shine.

[@Brian-Mondeau37]

I love my battery pole saw! Even with just a 5ah battery, you're done doing all the pole sawing you could possibly do before you even lose a bar on battery

[@hcwaffles8912]

Yeah or hedge cutters, when you are holding a hedge cutter full whack all day, having one that doesnt vibrate is so nice, especially when hedge cutting is so boring that you wanna chat to your mate when you're doing it so having a quiet one is also great

[@need100k]

No. Battery saws are definitely good enough for everyday professional work. Not yet for big wood, but for the size done in this video absolutely. Battery saws have many advantages over gas but I can't think of one advantage of gas over battery, other than maybe a little difference in power, depending on the model.

[@4.0gpa44]

​@@hcwaffles8912It would take a lot of batteries to get through a full day of hedge trimming.

[@jacobl8877]

Fact

[@inlinesix1187]

Love my Milwaukee top handle specially with the new forge batteries. No more overheating issues. Got west coast dawgs and 16” speed cut nano. Can’t wait to get the 20”. Use them commercially.

[@trvr_inds]

Iv been wanting one of their top handles but wasn’t sure if it was quite up to par or not. Haven’t used one yet in climb

[@Mistered14]

August thank you so much for the videos, your skill never ceases to amaze me. A few years back one of your videos was the first video I watched when I started watching KZbin. I have learned so much from your videos, and proceeded to purchase a monkey Beaver 2.0 saddle and some other equipment from you. This has made climbing fun again. Best wishes to you and your family for the upcoming holiday season. Remain safe and prosperous, with regards from Northwest Ohio

[@sjoshuan]

Fantastic short film August- great to see your daughter getting involved! I too have a red top handle and it’s been a great saw and cuts surprisingly fast for what it is. Hey if it works it works and better for fire season if you need to cut still!

[@johnpappas2060]

Bless Enjoyed the review. They all serve their purposes well; however, when something does a little bit better, it deserves credit. Please do a video on the orange truck. Thanks 🙏

[@mattthetreeguy]

Love the restoration job on the old Ford!!! ❤❤❤

[@havespurswillclimb]

Enjoyed the video, August. Loved the top drop......"dialed" for sure. Great comparison of the two battery saws. Milwaukee is doing a fantastic job in engineering their saws. Unfortunately, they are a little too heavy for me in my old age. I may still pick up the top handle Milwaukee though. Nice seeing Father and Daughter on the job. Note: I enjoyed chatting with you at the Expo.

[@ddalton692]

👍 Happy Thanksgiving to the Hunicke Family and all those watching 🌲🐻 It's great to see Kaitlyn and the truck looks cool all decked out ⭐ and love the grumble. My Dad would've said "Vroom Vroom" 💗 I enjoyed the video. Pleasantly surprised at Milwaukee's power and ease to start design. Have a great day and remember to give a 👍

[@Cinetasten]

Great job, August, nice video !

[@danmcburney3247]

Wow I was surprised to get a new video with you in Maryland 😃 Loved the video ❤ a little surprised with some of the comments... and I get it but you just did a great job with two battery saws on a tall tree that would probably pay for at least half of that Milwaukee saw !!! And you enjoyed doing it !!! Seems like a win 👍 Made me smile Big time when that Ford drove up ❤ it looks Amazing !!! The Hay an stuff on the back was Perfect and Really dressed it up !!!! Awesome to see Caitlin out with ya !!! And good on her for wanting to work, even if it's just moving branches, Atta girl 😉👍 The Milwaukee's look pretty darn impressive. Thank you August, it's just a much better day when you post ❤❤

[@AugustHunicke]

Appreciate you, it was a good day!

[@dmarco5396]

That’s an awesome truck. And by the way, it’s the first time I’ve seen you wearing gloves. I have the same pair. Got them on sale at the good old Home Depot.

[@AugustHunicke]

Nah these are Panther gloves from UK

[@nate-408]

I dont find metal in trees until i put a brand new chain or a freshly sharpened chain on my metal detector..... hahaha. Great work bud as always thanks for sharing.

[@RobGuzek-ul3jr]

I love my Milwaukee top handle. I have a 12ah, 8ah, and a 5 ah and I get great run time. Bought it after August first demo’d it.

[@bobwiese6128]

Mee too. I also have the 6, 8, and 12ah batteries. Rips great but a bit heavy. I started climbing last year and am 60yrs old. Love it. 😊

[@jodipokorski4354]

Thank you for explaining why Stihl's battery saws slow down. I went to my dealership for an explanation, but he didn't know. My husband pushes the Milwaukee saws and breaks chains...😳 Powerful!

[@need100k]

As I mentioned above, I believe Stihl underpowered it to extend the battery life, which was a mistake because a user would much prefer more power and carry spare batteries when they run out of juice. Maybe it's a marketing thing; they want to boast about their saws having longer battery life than others.

[@zorrito74]

Breaks chains because that power level is not adequate for that .325” chain. No idea who signed off on this at Milwaukee or their chain suppliers.

[@jamesrice-qc8xx]

Now I understand why my 14" ,40-volt Ryobi stops in the middle of a cut. Wiggle it a little bit and it starts up again. Also, the safety features in the switch keep us amateurs a little safer . The last couple of hurricanes here in Florida have given us a lot of practice with our saws, both gas and battery powered. Enjoy your videos very much. Good tips to stay safe or if need-be, stay away and call a professional.

[@Zebracat5]

Milwaukee really does make nice Chainsaws,and other Tools. I'm definitely going to buy the Milwaukee Pole Saw after seeing what a great job it does. I like the fact that you could lay it on the Limb,and Cut right through it without binding.

[@need100k]

Good point. Gas saws can't do that because they don't have the low-end torque that an electric saw has.

[@cliffordmontana4562]

Get the telescoping pole saw. It’s a beast and way more powerful than the other one.

[@Bob-o-h4k]

Best trimmer on the market gosh the right way and has plenty of power and holds over 30 ft of trimmer line

[@roaddog1m]

Dude, I have the pole saw and it's badass!

[@robinelston5966]

I don't care for the sparking metal detectors, takes too long to reset with a fresh chain.🙁 I found a 3/4 inch galvanized pipe in the middle of a pecan tree once. Thanks for the saw demo, very informative. Blessings, stay safe!

[@JulieAnnFelgate]

I’m in the UK. I use the Makita battery saw and the modern electric saws are so good. Over here our smaller gardens often mean you can’t just drop trees. We have to nibble them down from the top to avoid property damage. The light weight and easy to handle battery saws make the jobs easy. Plus of course we don’t have the huge trees that are so common on US properties.

[@JoeCornerNetwork]

I love the no noise…. 33 years of screaming saws… here and there that would be really nice to just have a peaceful, quite situation for a few cuts

[@peterparsons7141]

Thanks for taking the time to demonstrate the saws. I need an electric for around the shop. I’ve always been brand loyal like most people because of the battery commonality. I also prefer corded for heavy electric power tools. The red and black have some good tools. I have the Teal brand pole saw, and trimming tools and they have performed well. I was on the fence selecting a cordless chainsaw, Your demonstration showed me more than reading product literature and talking to different people.

[@AugustHunicke]

😁 tell me your logic on not mentioning names?

[@kenbrown2808]

my local power company and my local fire district both run milwaukee. but if you're already on the teal platform, there's a good argument for platform consistency - though my local team teal carpenter has a red finish nailer with an adaptor plate.

[@br-dj2ti]

The 500 I is my absolute favorite as well I absolutely love that saw it's the best saw my opinion. God bless August stay safe

[@DeliveryBryan]

I agree . I sure enjoy my 500i !

[@shawntrevordaniel]

'why don't you just cut smaller tops??' 'No Thank You' hhaha damn right Hunicke

[@stokermeister3]

Are there any directional lines on the saws for felling the trees like on the husky’s or sthil or was it just rough guessing?

[@AugustHunicke]

There are

[@PuskwaskaOutdoors]

“Back in the day” folks were using the battery powered sawzall with a demolition blade to cut firewood while out camping…. Fast forward 25 or so years and and they have a few reasonably priced and reasonably powerful battery chainsaws on the market… good on em for finding a niche in the market and filling it with something that’s enjoyable to run.

[@peternewman958]

AUGUST I’ve been watching you for over a year using this or that brand E-Saw and have been very impressed with the torque the Milwaukee has, especially that Top Handle single battery a year ago. The Stihl definitely lacks the power the Milwaukee has in this video you can notice a huge difference between the two just in noise from power dropping in the Stihl. Great video as always and perfect tree placement. Love the honest reviews. QUEENSLAND Australia Peter.

[@mississippijohn1432]

How are the vibrations on your hands and wrist verses a gas saw? Great job

[@AugustHunicke]

I am not bothered by Saw vibration of any modern saws, gas or electric.

[@timeorspace]

August, have you tried Milwaukee’s 18V hatchet yet? It may seem silly to a one handed master, but it cuts about everything I ‘m comfortable pushing around with my other hand. The Hatchet’s compact form factor greatly expedites mobility intensive climbing projects while bush whacking & reaching for dead wood/crown cleaning/clearance pruning. Since trying out Milwaukee’s 18V hatchet this summer, I rarely reach for either of my company’s battery husky or 201 top handle saws. Last week I enjoyed the flow of stripping down a red oak to a 22” spar carrying both an 18V hatchet and a 50cc rear handle saw in the bucket.

[@AugustHunicke]

You’ll see it in a video soon. I just have an uploaded it yet.

[@alexworks9659]

Forge batteries are gold! 6.0 in top handle is my go to 💪🏽

[@wrstew1272]

Will a 200T pull a twenty inch bar? Is there a quarter pitch 20”??

[@AugustHunicke]

Ya

[@need100k]

But why would you? Once you get to a point where you need a larger bar you can just switch to a larger saw, but running a 20" all day climbing wouldn't be fun.

[@carlshealy5839]

impressive . looks like your back in catching up with you.. the trade is tough.

[@AugustHunicke]

Yeah my back is shot

[@Holodomor4.0]

Should try out the echo dcs 3500 battery saw mate. It’s pretty good too for what I use it for (firewood on camping trips). It’s way faster than the Stihl and husky battery saws. Would be a good comparison against that Milwaukee

[@mbm2355]

"Listen to this satisfying sound.." August, you're a monster LOL

[@SwitchUpYt]

At 8:50 I literally felt your parent brain engage when you heard the big vehicle approaching knowing your daughter was potentially near its path

[@troyerthedestroyer]

Bro, truck looks awesome!!!!!! The Milwaukee really impressed me but mine is collecting dust just because it's way too heavy for one handing all day. The dogs thought that top was bad ass 🤣 I have the Stihl 300 and those buttons are just ridiculous, the price was outrageous, and yeah it won't dig so I pretty much never use it. I often go straight to the job from home while the crews are getting equipment, energy drinks, junk food, and pooping at the gas station and I like to have battery saws in my pickup to get started so I can enjoy some peace and quiet before things get insane in the membrane. After watching this I am immediately buying that saw.

[@AugustHunicke]

Real contractor 👆🏼 😁

[@mvblitzyo]

Happy Thanksgiving to the Hunicke family and it’s so nice to see the young folks wanting to get in a tree work most of the younger people I work with don’t want to learn anything.. was it me or at 10:25 you were looking for the site lines that do not exist on the Milwaukee saw ?

[@AugustHunicke]

I think it has em 🤔

[@julianalderson3938]

Got a stihl 220. Its got nuthin on the walkee' great vid

[@antryan]

i was having problems with my MSA300 as well and thought i had a bad unit. Glad to see its not just me. Maybe stihl will come out with an updated battery or something.

[@leonvanengelen1824]

i use makita and am now starting to mill with that 20ms 2x18v lxt tophandle (no meter wide oak slabs, but still). really fiddly to make it spinn up. made 12.0 ah batteries for it with china 15x21700cases and some of the simplest pcb's without transistors(they just burn) and some beefed up bussbars and power nor runtime is an issue. you are so right about how annoying all of the safetyfeatures are, almost as frustrating as makita refusing to make some good batteries for their 18v stuff. when they become available i will certainly start milling with the bigger milwaukee. love the concept!

[@jedsideas9717]

"some people use a metal detector but I have a 20-in metal detector right here" got me 😂😂

[@John-cj3ve]

I may not watch ALL of your videos; but when I'm in the mood; I find them informative and entertaining.

[@stevenletzelter3388]

Are you in high torque mode or regular for the Milwaukee? - steve, rooted arbor care

[@AugustHunicke]

i’ve never heard it called high torque, but I choose the higher speed setting is the way I understood it.

[@arborjackstreeservice714]

I have the new stihl top handle and had to drop it off yesterday red light is on and want work it's new new too

[@AugustHunicke]

Bar oil in it?

[@davebloggs]

Great video I have to say the Milwaukee cuts like a charm. for the stuff I do i would only need the top handle. but they sure bite in there good.

[@IloveSPIDERZ]

I love my T542i, but my biggest problem with the batteries is after they have been recharged a few times, the battery life diminishes... a lot

[@TheFanatic340]

that hasn't been true with lithium ion batteries from Milwaukee in at least a decade

[@ssible]

I’ve been using mine for three years, professionally. No problems. We also run the pro-series Stihl battery saws three years and good to go.

[@jakeowens1770]

Can i put a 43 gauge bar and 3/8picco drive gear on that big Milwaukee? Problem with my dewalt is only one size drive gear

[@bobwiese6128]

I have the Milwaukee top handle. It is a bit heavy but it too has good power.

[@canoetipper019]

Seems impressive power, but like you say there are other things to compare. Like repair parts availability/cost, battery life, and others. But also pretending we will still be able to buy gas in the future, how it compares to an off the shelf gas saw. Thanks for taking us along for this job.

[@MikeBrooks12550]

Hey August! Nice work. I got to demo the 20" Milwaukee for a couple cuts at TCIA last week and it was impressive (as well as their pole saw which was also impressive) how do you like the new forge batteries? That part for me seems to be the downside for electric saws-the cost of having multiple batteries would be significant if trying to keep up at a professional tree work pace.

[@AugustHunicke]

Ya

[@MikeBrooks12550]

​@@AugustHunicke O and btw the truck looks great! Certainly apropos for the season😁

[@TheLandscapeGiant]

I feel like that Milwaukee finest saw could run a 24” if the oiler can pump enough

[@AugustHunicke]

Yeah

[@brianfloyd8033]

Happy to see you got new gloves!!!!😅😅 milwaukee for the win big time

[@geoffap0]

Great work! Impressive!

[@matthewknight5641]

Looks like the Milwaukee for the win for sure

[@jamesbruce1183]

I have a couple of Milwaukees and I love them.

[@thim8009]

Neat comparison, I do a little construction in the winter, tree work spring summer fall. I probably end up getting a Dewalt. The Milwaukee looks sweet, but I already have a line up of Dewalt stuff and batteries. Idk I want one for overlanding.

[@_plinse]

Well the Milwaukee is impressive but it is rated at 4265W (I don't know whether it is input or output) while the Stihl MSA300 is rated at 3000W input and 2500W output. If the Milwaukee-rating was input it would be 142%, if it would be output it would be 170% as powerful as the Stihl and in the times this is about what we can see. Milwaukee names the saw to match up with a 70cc gas power. Actually you forgot to mention, that you compared a 70cc saw with a 50cc saw, the Milwaukee has the power of a MS462 while the MSA300 is in the range of a MS241 to MS261. This was also indicated by the weight ;) and the Milwaukee is quite expensive as well. Doing the comparison against modern 2stroke competitors like MS241/MS261/MS462 both will probably loose ;) , still I like the startup of the Milwaukee comparing it to my Makitas but then I compare 250$ saws using screwdriver-batteries with a 1200$ saw having 8Ah or 12Ah batteries technically, which is not fair as well. My Bulldozer pulls more then your Chevy! Yeah but the Chevy is faster ;) ...

[@deniseanderson7895]

That was a very fair comparison and milwaukee gets the W . You didn't mention price point surely the milwaukee is more budget friendly than the stihl . I bought the milwaukee top handle based on your usage and it makes a solid addition to my lineup... Thank you, brother.

[@terryinozland]

Bought the AP300s but i wish i had the dough for the biggest in the range next level up. I think its something to do with the chains it comes with make it bind up a bit. Bought another chain for it seemed to bite in better without stopping.

[@unddannkommtbierinsspiel]

How do you like the forge battery on this one? The saw seems to have a lot more power than mine with the high output battery.

[@need100k]

The larger battery won't give it any more power; it only gives it longer run time.

[@larrydarosa4867]

Great video! Thanks

[@tecategt5]

Not starting the saw in the tree is 100% the reason I bought one. No issues no oh ran out of gas no oh it started running weird… -also jobs in HOA’s are forcing E-saws in my area… ma’am that’s 48” oak… my saw is 20” I need my big gas saws😂

[@TheTimmehtimmeh]

Miwakee also is running more teeth which makes it smoother cutting also improving speed. Test both wth same chain

[@AugustHunicke]

More teeth is more drag. The fact that this thing doesn’t bog down whilst chewing wood the entire length of the bar is amazing.

[@zorrito74]

It has a small motor and a gear. That is where the torque (and the weight) come from. Also, if you add the scrench to the saw at the bottom, shows they were not too concerned with the weight.

[@davehimlin]

I wonder why this 36 volt millwauke cuts quicker then the other brand name saws that are 60 volt or 80 volt ? Is Millwauke using some unique gearing inside the saw or could it be something as simple as the type of chains used on the bar ?

[@John-cj3ve]

The Milwaukee DOES use a proprietary geared drive system; so if you like it the way it is; great! It will be difficult to make modifications to.

[@nilsgreibich2104]

The 20 " metal detector always works best...😂😂

[@DeliveryBryan]

I thought about getting a Stihl MSA 300 for packing in my truck along with my Ms 261c to go onto logging or forest service roads with .

[@julianalderson3938]

Just like the pole saw. Bit heavy but its worth it. Nice milwalkee'

[@chrislowes1335]

I knew a tree surgeon here in the Uk, and he used battery Husqvarna saws in London because a lot of the jobs he did early in the morning and people dont want to be woken by noisy chain saws. He and his crew also wore the same helmet as August to save shouting!

[@kernalsharp]

“WhY dOnT yOu JuSt CuT sMaLlEr ToPs?” “No thank you!” 😂

[@roaddog1m]

Try the Milwaukie pole saw and M18 Hatchet. Pretty damn impressive actually. I run 95% Milwaukie tools, so i also own the 16" M18 saw. I might have to pick the up to fill the gap between that little 16" and my 592

[@jaredthompson8188]

Do you know if there is a 1/4 pitch conversion for that m18 top handle? I can't find one but would like to try it out

[@ridcully]

The Jim Gaffigan character voicing of the predicted youtube comments are gold

[@John-cj3ve]

Very eye opening comparison with the Stihl. I have seen another comparison video, (which has been pulled now. Probably at the behest of Milwaukee); where the EGO CSX5000 smoked the Milwaukee.

[@dgoodman1484]

Top handle electric with batteries on a belt with a pigtail ambilical lanyard I can see being a thing soon. But they still aren’t going to be cost effective. Unless battery prices come way down. Wish I’d had someone on the ground the other day. Would have saved me from having to cut my climb rope! Long story of basically incompetence 😞

[@John-cj3ve]

Engaging the chain brake all the time is like calling 911 every 5 minutes just to make sure they'll be there for you if you need them. Years ago I ran the biggest Stihl chainsaws available; and I didn't have a chain brake, and never wished I did.

[@rickstafford5316]

Isn’t that always the question? How high should I go. That big M saw was spitting chips. Impressive

[@njkay0033]

What model was the Milwaukee?

[@kenbrown2808]

the amp hour rating on the batteries is only the size of the gas tank. the arborist I have the most contact with won't carry a gas saw up a tree any more. not having to pull start it is that much of an advantage.

[@briananderson4552]

Battery saw are fine in soft woods but they struggle in hard woods ....i have ran them and there heavy for what they are although im lazy i want everything to take as little effort as possible as long as it doesn't make more effort for someone else....I'll revisit them in a few years im sure they will get much better there just not quite there yet 👍

[@TheFanatic340]

so a brand new product you'll just ignore because you "feel" 😂😂😂 then you base your entire argument on an OLDER design completely. yeah in a few years you'll look at this one

[@jasonfields9678]

Definitely possible yes but for speed and comfort on the chogging down ile call for a mechanical, I’m only experienced with stihl battery saws.

[@JustNobodyButME]

what does the comparable 20" gas chainsaw weigh?

[@AugustHunicke]

Battery Milwaukee is about 5 lbs heavier than the equivalent bar length running gas STIHL MS 362.

[@ddalton692]

⭐ "Listen to this satisfying sound" 🤠 click, chamber loaded, locked and ready 🎯 Love it

[@tomintexas817]

Thank you August for being honest now I'll be I have both alot of old heavy stihls and milwaukee tools the 200t bitch slaps the top handle milwaukee soooooo mine is ported a bit😂

[@Teamvenomracing]

Try the new EGO commercial. Its a beast!

[@John-cj3ve]

I have both; the CS2000 and the CSX5000. And I agree; they are quite powerful. But in recent tests by 'reusefull' on KZbin; the Milwaukee DOES edge them out.

[@trvr_inds]

“I’m a little surprised..” *sits speechless* lol same

[@tealjacks9125]

she probably wanted to stay warm ..

[@ToolHombre]

I'm just here to compliment that truck.

[@bobwiese6128]

Thanks AH. Yer the bomb!

[@drandcb]

good to see the gloves

[@JoeRainis156]

August your daughter is already in the “game” she is sporting a BBR sweatshirt

[@Zogg1281]

I think that Milwaukee have made a battery saw that's worthy of Westcoast saw style dogs!!! It's finally happened! 😂😂😂😂

[@ritafarris1618]

I love my battery Stihl but I only have a 16”. I’d like something with a longer bar

[@lloydfairweather6070]

the walki motor is on the boil just perfect

[@mikerobb5154]

I see you found some good gloves

[@bladewiper]

I have the MSA300, and it feels like a proper chain saw and is nice to use. BUT, the 500 batteries do not last as long as I thought they would, only about 1/2 to 2/3's of what a tank of gas will in my 50cc gas saw. I hate to say I will be buying the milwaukee, but 🤷‍♂️.

[@gregparrott]

Thanks for posting both how you down such a large tree and comparing the Stihl vs. Milwaukee saws. The verdict is self evident and a surprise. I'm looking for excuses.... Hmmm. The bar lengths are the same. Do both saws use the same chain width, the same tooth profile, equivalent tooth sharpness, and batteries starting with a full charge? If all those are equal, I wonder if having two batteries and two electrical connections permits a greater maximum current. (as opposed to Stihl's motor being inherently weaker) This is more than an academic question. A couple months ago, based on the name and tests documented on another channel. I bought the same Stihl MSA 300 and AP 500 battery. P.S. I'm not a 'pro', and don't need blazing speed. But I willingly paid a premium for something which should remain serviceable, with parts being available for well over a decade.

[@baldbear5609]

Howdy August, my only issue with battery saws....they sound to much like a dentists drill. Have A Day! ;~)

[@adkarborist]

I am looking for the 542ixp😊

[@TheArborMonkey]

Cool. I want one😉

[@michaelboyle4553]

Thank you

[@Brad-z3b]

Electric saws are pretty good. The batteries last about as long as a tank of gas in a smaller saw, so for this application it’s perfect

[@jamesnelson6848]

Seems I remember a Sthil commercial where that battery saw cut faster than ms261....

[@happyhippr]

yeah I think this milwaukee cuts up near the 362 and close to the 462 in big wood