Chain of Cool
David A. Dodson

Black & Decker 18V Cordless Chainsaw

I have a love/hate relationship with my gas chainsaw. It's definitely my go-to tool when it comes to major projects like taking out large trees. Unfortunately, due to lack of an alternative, I'm also forced to turn to it for smaller tasks like storm damage, trimming thicker limbs and cutting down smaller trees, saplings and chutes. Though extremely useful for tree removal, I often find a gas chainsaw to actually be overkill and a bit dangerous for smaller jobs that require precision and control. Let's face it, gas chainsaws are noisy, heavy, messy and keep an ever-present exhaust cloud around your face no matter how you hold them. Not to mention the constant hassle and upkeep that all small engines entail. Electric chainsaws are all right, but you have to make sure that you are near an outlet or generator and that you have plenty of extension chord. Then there's the cord itself: always ready to get into a bind, snag on every stray limb until it manages to find its way into a blade. There must be a way to combine the light weight and convenience of electric saws with the freedom and mobility of a gas powered units. Well rest your weary arms, for those Prodigies of Pruning over at Black & Decker have you covered with their 18V Cordless Chainsaw.

The Big Idea: use an 18 volt rechargeable battery to power a light duty, eight inch electric chainsaw. No pull ropes. No extension chords. No precarious mixing of gas and oil. No hunting for outdoor outlets. No harmful emissions of any kind. Simply pop in the battery, pull the trigger and carve some foliage.

Sounds great, but can it cut? Amazingly well. I used the 18V Cordless Chainsaw in situations ranging from trimming live limbs to sectioning fallen branches to cutting down tight clutches of small trees and was simply blown away at the ease and convenience of this tool. The wraparound handle gives you plenty of griping options when making the odd-angled cut. Weighing in at a svelte 6.2 pounds, the 18V Cordless Chainsaw is a breeze to handle and its blade is small enough to work between branches, yet powerful enough to make short work of limbs up to seven inches in diameter. It also sports a handy onboard oiling reservoir that keeps the chain lubed and ready to go, just pump the thumb bulb a few times between cuts and carve away. Maintaining the proper chain tension is a snap with the handy hex wrench adjustment tool that stores conveniently in the handle of the saw.

On a full charge, the 18V Cordless Chainsaw is supposed to be able to give you one hundred 1-1/2 inch cuts in pine. Even though I worked with branches of varying sizes and types of wood, I'd have to say that this is probably pretty accurate. Even though the battery was struggling towards the end, I was able to cut a lot more than I thought I would considering I was using a battery operated saw.

Bottom line is if you have trees in your yard, you need to get Black and Decker's 18V Cordless Chainsaw. It's the perfect solution for small to medium cutting and trimming tasks that simply don't merit dragging out the big chainsaw. It is also the ideal companion tool to the gas saw when those major projects do come around. The 18V Cordless Chainsaw is also great for the deer lease or campsite. An amazing gift for that special lumberjack in your life, for about one hundred dollars you get the 18V Cordless Chainsaw, blade cover, blade adjustment wrench, battery and charger. Grab one wherever tools are sold or from one of the dealers listed at www.BlackandDecker.com.