Electric Chain Saw vs. Gas-Powered Chain Saw

http://www.AsktheBuilder.com Founder Tim Carter tests to see which chain saw cuts faster. Electric or Gas.

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Howto & Style

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• electric chain saw
• gas chain saw
• firewood
• Tim Carter
• AsktheBuilder
• home improvement
• DIY
• Ask the Builder

[workensmart]

People have the same problems with electric cars. Once you leave the house your screwed. "Oh no the battery is dead and were in the middle of nowhere". Oh well so much for going "green"lol.

[AsktheBuilder]

@workensmart Yes, I'm anxious to hear stories about the all-electric cars when the person gets stuck in a traffic jamb on an expressway for hours. They then have to be towed. Add that cost to the MPG to see how green it is.

[spottedcuscus]

@AsktheBuilder Luckily, electric cars use little to no electricity while stuck in a traffic jamb, however a gas car will burn plenty of gas unless turned on and off constantly.

[AsktheBuilder]

@spottedcuscus Uh, what about when it's 10 F outside, raining, and dark? You need power for all those things. Wait till you're in your electric car at 5:15 pm in Cincinnati, OH trying to crawl up I-71N from downtown to Mason with 8 inches of snow on the ground and coming down like mad. That little electric car will grab its juice box and fruit roll up and go over and cuddle up on the pull-over lane and wait for the tow truck.

[Leoneidas]

Tim, electric chainsaws require a 10-gauge cord for anything over 15 feet. Manufacturers don't tell anyone this. They will last forever and give maximum performance if provided with proper electrical supply.

[AsktheBuilder]

@Leoneidas Really? I would think a 12-gauge cord that delivers 20 amps would be plenty.

The saw does not draw that much current. Yes, I know about voltage drop. I used to suffer that when I was at customer's houses. I hate 14-gauge wire and the weak 15-amp circuits.

[haugeb]

Example of a good application for electric: wood sculpting in the comfort of an indoor woodshop.



[AsktheBuilder]

@kbrigsby61 The gag at the end is just that. It's a jest. *Most* people know you can't take an electric saw in to the woods without great difficulty. Electric saw manufactures are quite aware of their limitations. :->>>

[syncmaster710n14]

I have used both gas and electric, and i do prefer the gas but i do a lot of work in and around towns and that is ware the electrical saws are brilliant as they are very quiet and do not attract as much attention as gas, which is good when working round office blocks and schools, also power is not an issue as i have several batteries and i can change them up in my truck anyway.

[MustachioFurioso91]

@AsktheBuilder Though, I'd also like to add that owners of said electric vehicles are more than likely completely aware of the limitations of their vehicles. Most people driving EV's are using them as city/daily commuters (work and back, etc) and not as cross country travels. So it is probably unlikely for them to ever be stranded in the middle of nowhere, or too far from any power source.

I like EVs, but at the moment they are pretty limited. Hybrids and gas cars however, aren't

[MustachioFurioso91]

@AsktheBuilder I kinda agree, at the moment battery/EV technology isn't all that great. BUT it is getting better, in the past few years alone the technology has progressed almost two fold.

As it stands now, using the MiEV as my example, they can last about 20 hours on a charge (at a standstill with heat). Less while the electric engines are running, say if you were driving at a crawl, of say 15mph, the MiEV it would last 65-75 mi. So yeah, not too amazing, but I do beleive it will get better.

[Leoneidas]

@AsktheBuilder (cont'd) If the voltage falls, the inrush current goes even higher. Current is what causes heat. The more starts with as lighter cord equals more heat which equals shorter life for the motor. While 20Amps is fine for full load, inrush current can be 1.5 - 2x full load (depending on motor design). It only lasts a second but it happens every time. Cutting-wise, your 12 was probably just fine for the comparison but for service life not so good in heavy use.

[Leoneidas]

@AsktheBuilder Sorry for the long delay. Absolutley. Inductive motors have "inrush current" which is substantially more than the running current (even full load current). This has to do with the nature of inductive motors and their electric fields. The lower the voltage at the motor, the higher the current. This is where the cord comes in. For this high starting current, a larger conductor is required to maintain voltage.

[Wildbillcooper]

@Leoneidas Hi dad. Obviously the gas powered one won by a long shot.

[drmodestoesq]

Having used a gas and electric I would say if you are within 200 feet of a power source go with the electric. They should make them less cheap and plasticky though. Advantages of the electric not show in the upload are as follows: Gas chainsaws stink. Put it in your tool shed over winter and the whole shed smells of gas. Use the thing and you're breathing that smelly two stroke exhaust. Try inhaling that for 2 or 3 hours. How many times have you had to pull the cord on a crappy 2 stroke?

[ltweintz]

@workensmart - When your gas can is empty in the middle of the woods, what's the difference? I can carry extra batteries just like you can carry more gas. Am I the only one confused by your logic?