One of the best tool reviews of ever seen. It’s not like those reviews where they get to to take it out of the box, use it for an hour and tell you what they think about it, they actually put this thing through his paces for six months!
I have the milwuakee 16 inch . I run a cattle ranch so I'm always dealing with fence lines and good size trees that have been blown down on fence lines. My 13 year old son asked me just the other day if Id ever get a bigger saw? I said "well if Milwaukee made a bigger one I probably would just because that 16 inch can get overwhelmed with some tasks we got to do. But Id never go back to gas.the fact that I can grab that saw and just go instantly is a helluva feature. especially when you think that that whole job of that saw (fence line clearing) is such a hit or miss job. Some years you never have issues with your fences, some years it seems like it's every other day. that saw is always ready no matter what" Ive also used that saw in winter to cut watering holes for cattle in canada in winter. seen its share of -50 degree days. So I could see it being just fine for folks wanting to cut wood for home heating And it seems to preform pretty goodie that extreme cold although thats on the high output 12 battery so Im not sure what those new forge batteries are like. But they sure seem to be all good saws!
If you’re only using it for 20 min I agree. If you do fire wood this is useless. The failure of my Milwaukee is what got me into building real husky saws.
@@bridger_crapos_saws29 If you do firewood professionally, yes. A battery powered saw won't do at all. I've been felling and cutting dead maple and oaks for firewood for the last 3 years with the older M18 battery saw. It's good. Was struggling with 20" trunks, but switching to Stihl bars and PD3 chains fixed that. Hauling and splitting logs takes much more time than cutting. Milwaukee should follow Stihl and release a backpack style battery though. Like, I don't know, dual MX Fuel.
Can this saw be run with a “ raptor” chain. The reason is for fire department use. We run stihl 462’s for “vertical ventilation. Generally, for the steals, we swap out the sprocket for one that counts for a larger pitch such as a 404 but we still run a 20 inch bar
This is an impressive chainsaw! I'm glad you talked about running some longer bars on it, like the 24". I didn't get a chance to meet you at Pipeline, but have a video clip of you guys running the 2 saws in my video that will go live later today.
.325 chain with only a 20" bar puts in the realm of a cheap Rancher 460, but with slightly more power on the low setting. But based on what I saw, their horsepower ratings are quite inflated. You said so yourself that it overheated with a 28" bar. How long did that take? Couldn't have been more than a minute or two worth of cutting. Based on 100% efficiency and running constant at 5.8hp, that gives you exactly 4 minutes of cut time with the supplied 288wh worth of 8.0 batteries. Sure it might have similar peak power as a stock 372xp, but does that really matter when it's overheated two cuts in? I know from experience that a 372xp will pull a 28" bar, 3/8 full house chain, buried in oak non-stop until it's out of gas, and then keep going once you fill it up. No overheating. Burn 5 gallons of gas in a day. It will out work the user. That's what you need out of a saw if you want to call it a professional grade saw. A saw that overheats in a couple minutes of pushing it is not a professional grade tool. That's why it only comes with a 20" bar and a .325 chain. So it never has to work hard enough to overheat. I'm sure it'll run at that 3-3.5 horsepower all day as long as you keep batteries on it, but then we're at Rancher 455 and 460 levels as far as real world capability. To wrap this up, I'm not saying this saw is a fail. It's a huge upgrade over the 16" model. But I am saying this saw is way over hyped and over promised compared to what is actually capable of
You make a lot of good points. I would still say it's a professional saw, we have used it often in a professional setting. Professional doesn't necessarily mean constant high power output.
@@RootedArboristsyea. From what I've seen I would just put it in the realm of a 60-65cc pro saw. Obviously if you are bucking firewood all day this isn't really designed for that application. Would be great for quiet tree work when you get down below what the top handle will do. Also potentially great for storm damage. Highway and fire departments don't use the saws much and really don't make that many cuts just to get the roads open.
Yeah, I don’t think it will be replacing a gas saw anytime soon. Would be nice in some settings. I think it would be cool for leaving near the chipper. Make some prep cuts on large crotches before feeding the chipper. Don’t need to pull start and it would last a long time between refueling/recharging
I watched videos of all these electric saws head to head and Milwaukee is at the bottom in performance and the top at price so dont waste your time with this saw. The dewalt and stihl electrics are the best with the stihl wayyyyy ahead of everyone else.. lol the ryobi saw has more power than Milwaukee 😂😂😂
@@timmygunz7103 I don't think I've seen a single comparison made with this new saw as it just came out. The comparisons with the gen 1 saw had the Milwaukee do decent but fall short in some categories.
I can see this as a benefit for a guy in a tree needing big power to chunk out a stick. However i’d be worried about run time and the saw overheating which neither are a concern with gas saws. I think the concept is great, and it is a step forward for battery saws stepping up power. But i couldn’t really make it work for me or my crew doing ladder fuel reduction. I see this being useful for a rancher or someone who needs power, not runtime
I have the older single battery version. I've found that even with my 12AH battery I will get only half a dozen or less cuts when cutting through full rounds like done in this video. It works great for limbing, but it eats batteries with extended cuts of thick logs.
Great review. Especially the intro explanation. Saw looks like a beast for a battery saw. I'm an Echo guy myself and use several DCS-2500s to climb and DCS-5000 for limbing. The 5000 is disappointing as a commercial saw. A good residential saw. Unfortunately Echo currently has nothing in the power range of battery saws as this Milwaukee. At $900 though, not inexpensive. I think is probably equivalent to the Echo CS-620P-20 that sells for about $650. An extra set of 12Ah batteries is about $600 putting the investment at $1500 for a 20 inch saw, possibly 24" saw. .
@@RootedArborists We have two 2500s and love them. Would definitely buy another when the time comes. We also have a 355T which I like because of the power. When the wood gets a little too big we switch to the 355T with a longer blade but the 2500s will cut anything you point at it, as long as you have enough battery. The 2500s are light, good torque. You will need a couple of the 2.5Ah batteries. They won't take the 5.0 Ah battery to keep the weight down.
I work in lot clearing and this saw interested me a lot. My only issue is how many cuts I can make with the saw before it taps out. 20-25cuts is roughly 12 trees with notching. Not sure that will keep up with my workflow. I fear I would need 3 pairs of batteries to get through a day of clearing. That's a lot of dough to churn out up front.
Maybe Milwaukee could have a battery pack that hooks on ones belt. With a flexible coiled lead joining the four 12ah batteries to saw. And a 32inch bar.
Why did you not mention runtime ..as in how long you get out of a charge ..I certainly would think between settings that would be significantly different.. you say 40mins to charge. Would you get 40mins runtime.. also in a commercial setting where do those batteries get charged out in the field..and if no place to charge them , then just how many would I need for the day , also they seem big so who exactly would carry them all for me as you guys in the job know you have other gear ..it's funny that none of that was mentioned
Runtime isn't an easy metric to measure - it really depends on usage, species, and material size. You will get noticeably different run times between power output modes. It's ~40 minutes to charge from 0-100%. You won't get any battery to run full power for 40 minutes straight, but I don't really know of any situations where you would need to cut for 40 straight minutes either. You will certainly need a minimum of 4 battery packs to run this saw professionally. When we have access to an outdoor outlet we generally get permission to plug in our charging system, and we have yet to meet a client that was not ok with that. If we are working at a site without power, we try to plan ahead for the job. And we typically carry the battery packs in our work trucks.
@@RootedArborists and also all the wood I cut except for the scrap branches was removed by hand and wheelbarrow . You see that is the real world..my point is unless you have a power source nearby and at least 4 spare batteries these things are useless only good for light duty and even for that far too heavy . My 500i is only around 16lbs with a 20inch bar and full tanks . And it's near enough got twice the power and it's even cheaper to buy once you factor in all the spare batteries you would need ..homeowners who are green minded then yes go for it
@@RootedArborists You don't need to cut for 40 straight minutes? Tell that to a huge pile of wood that I need to cut to a size for furnace. At least 2 hours of work. Speaking of Battery chainsaws - Dewalt 20inch user here - batteries runtime are easy metric to measure. Tell us what wood you cut, how thick it is and how long batteries lasted. Used 51 volt, 12 Amp battery (which in funny way is the same price as a saw) and it last about 10min of work. Take all this into consideration.
Yeah it is hard to quantify, but I can say that you will get a lot of run time during limbing and bucking work. Cutting larger diameter wood is going to drain the battery quicker for sure. Ultimately it's going to be species and cutting style specific. The Forge batteries are definitely going to outperform the Ho batteries!
We have run it with a 28" bar (sprocket change necessary), and a 24" bar several times. I would say that if you are running large Forge packs you should give the 24" a go!
Cold weather performance? Extreme heat performance? Expected lifetime of batteries? Parts availability? Warranty? Maybe in some niche areas it will keep up and even outperform a gas saw. A super mild modification to any 60cc saw sees very noticeable performance gains. It seems like the only gains you can get from this are from larger, heavier, and more costly batteries, and multiples of that if you plan on using it beyond a single charge. Im not convinced its worth the cost outside of construction use where many companies work indoors and already have the M18 platform.
We didn't see much of a dip in battery life during sub freezing temps. We have been using it heavily this summer in 95 plus temps without noticing ambient battery temp issues. Batteries are warranted for three years, but I doubt you'll see issues if you cycle packs. It's not a 1 for 1 comparison to a Husky 372, but it represents a viable alternative to those trying to make the jump to battery.
Milwaukee needs to revamp battery/tool connection. So sick of the “stickiness” that happens with the plastic on plastic connection. Makita and Ego do that part much better.
So is it easy enough to swap in a 3/8" Pitch, 0.050" Gauge sprocket, bar and chain? Is the sprocket a Milwaukee part? That narrow gauge stuff is hard to find locally to me. West coast tree workers would laugh at your comments on how big a saw you need for professional work.
I believe the sprocket is an Oregon part. Pretty easy swap with the right pliers. I am really referring to average yard trees. I now there are big trees everywhere but not all tree crews handle the big stuff. Our crew typically live in would 30"-55", so we still use a lot of larger gas saws. We are mostly in hardwood, unless we get into some monster Tulips or Cottonwoods near the bottom lands. I think this saw will thrive in soft wooded conifers (sub 30") out your way!
I threw my sthil in the river because of bad ignition or fouled plug because it wouldn't start after it warmed up. And when you are working your ass off in the woods and your saw takes 30 minutes to start it got tossed in the river. I would gladly use an electric saw just that reason
If this thing really delivers 70cc power, why isn't it being offered with a 32" bar also, like what a 70cc can pull with no problems? Hell, not even a 24" is recommended. Why? Because those HP numbers aren't real. Someone needs to put this on a dyno.
I can’t speak to any of the brands stated numbers- I generally take manufacturers at their word, but I’m sure they all state numbers under ideal circumstances. We are not saying it’s a direct comparison to gas saws, but we do see it is a big step in the viability of battery saws. It is a great option for those that want or need to start making the conversion. BTW, we stated that the lack of long bar options was a con. We have run 24” and 28” bars with pretty good success (species dependent for sure)!
Why, because electronics are prone to overheating. Smaller bar less load. Those demo cuts produce a very heavy load on the electric motor. Its a good looking saw but longevity is a concern.
Don’t know why a professional would want that unless they are forced to use it. It would be nice for someone like me. I’m not a professional and don’t use it every day. I would basically use it a hand full of times a year. Plus I have the batteries already.
I'm sorry guys that thing will never replace my 462 with 24'28 bar on it stock and ported..NO CHANCE ..drop a few big oaks then let's buck one up and see Maybe 3 since it's more realistic setting..lov ya feller s
@@Sethhaun78 Haha, I was just joking with these fellas. I met Thomas and Andy at the Milwaukee Pipeline event. Maybe it won't replace your 462 for you, but you ought to try cutting with it if you ever get a chance!
I'm not a big fan of rapid or super chargers. Fast charging degrades the batteries a lot faster. I have a lot of Milwaukee batteries both 12v and 18v and the batteries are expensive. I don't want to buy batteries more often.
I totally get that, but I wouldn't have too many reservations about rapid charging Forge packs. The newer packs from Milwaukee, Kress, and Husqvarna are all designed specifically to rapid charge. Rapid charging is vital for the professional user. Side note, All three of those brands have pretty fantastic warranties!
@@RootedArborists I buy homes, fully remodel them, then sell them. I am not an Arborist but I find myself using a chainsaw a lot. I understand the need for fast charging and yes newer batteries can be fast charged. They can handle electricity being forced into the cells hard better and handle the excessive heat better but they will still degrade faster. For example hypothetically let's say a forge battery last 200 fast charges before a noticable degrade (needing replacement). That same battery would probably last 250+ being slow charged before noticable degrade. Also Milwaukee does have a wonderful warranty like you mentioned and I have used it quite a few times.
There is no way this has the power of a 72cc saw. They are running 36 V with the two batteries, at best it’s the power of an MS 291 or 460 Rancher. You should compare it side by side with a 72cc saw or STIHL’s MSA 300.
Por que, por que , por que ?????????????? Por que si ya habían logrado un largo historial con excelentes herramientas sin tener que usar 2 baterías al vez y ahora vienen a salir con estos prototipos 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️ Los tenía en un pedestal y criticaba fuertemente a Makita por esa tontería y vienen a salir con esto🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I think they recognized that they needed to produce more power to compete in the professional tree care space. I wish they could have generated enough power with one 18v battery, but I just don't think the technology is there yet.
Yeah, I own both of the previous saws from Milwaukee and after experiencing battery overheating issues while bucking I’ll stick with gas…. Sorry Milwaukee still love you though.
Okay, so you briefly allude to the possible need for extra battery packs at 13:45 - WHAT IS THE ACTUAL BATTERY LIFE?? The fact that you glossed over this topic is a MAJOR red flag. Thorough review, otherwise, but it's all moot if you can only use the thing for 20 minutes at a time, and have to put everything on hold for an hour while you wait for batteries to charge. This is the number one concern for any user who is doing more than 15 minutes of work at a time, and continues to be the major barrier to battery-powered replacement options for typical small-engine work. Can it actually do the job that a gas-powered chainsaw can do, or is it just another expensive boondoggle that tree-huggers and people who never do their own yard work are trying to push?
At that kind of weight I will put a 20” bar on my 660. Such a waste of time and money. After 2 years of use when batteries don’t hold a good charge let me know how your making out 😂
I feel you on the weight, but If the batteries crap out after two years, I will probably just warranty (3 year warranty) them and get a brand new set!!
They overpriced thia saw big time. Id almost garuntee this saw will not be in the same ball park of durability or longevity of stihl, and i have a bunch of milwaukee products and 3 of their chainsaws. All are lite duty in the realm of contractors or lumberjack. By the the time my stihl burns the equivelent value of gas as the battery and charger of this saw it will be worn out and the stihl will go on for more years to come.
equivalent to a 70cc chainsaw???.... never in life it will be equivalent to a 40cc professional line I've tried all battery-powered chainsaws from all brands and I'm still not impressed
Great vid! Are you sure the warranty on the saw is 5yrs because all their OPE tools are 3yrs and tools are 5yrs?
You are correct, thanks for catching that! The warranty is 3 years for both the saw and the batteries.
One of the best tool reviews of ever seen.
It’s not like those reviews where they get to to take it out of the box, use it for an hour and tell you what they think about it, they actually put this thing through his paces for six months!
I have the milwuakee 16 inch . I run a cattle ranch so I'm always dealing with fence lines and good size trees that have been blown down on fence lines. My 13 year old son asked me just the other day if Id ever get a bigger saw? I said "well if Milwaukee made a bigger one I probably would just because that 16 inch can get overwhelmed with some tasks we got to do. But Id never go back to gas.the fact that I can grab that saw and just go instantly is a helluva feature. especially when you think that that whole job of that saw (fence line clearing) is such a hit or miss job. Some years you never have issues with your fences, some years it seems like it's every other day. that saw is always ready no matter what" Ive also used that saw in winter to cut watering holes for cattle in canada in winter. seen its share of -50 degree days. So I could see it being just fine for folks wanting to cut wood for home heating And it seems to preform pretty goodie that extreme cold although thats on the high output 12 battery so Im not sure what those new forge batteries are like. But they sure seem to be all good saws!
If you’re only using it for 20 min I agree. If you do fire wood this is useless. The failure of my Milwaukee is what got me into building real husky saws.
@@bridger_crapos_saws29 If you do firewood professionally, yes. A battery powered saw won't do at all. I've been felling and cutting dead maple and oaks for firewood for the last 3 years with the older M18 battery saw. It's good. Was struggling with 20" trunks, but switching to Stihl bars and PD3 chains fixed that. Hauling and splitting logs takes much more time than cutting.
Milwaukee should follow Stihl and release a backpack style battery though. Like, I don't know, dual MX Fuel.
👏Great review guys!
@MilwaukeeTool new saw is looking good!
Can this saw be run with a “ raptor” chain. The reason is for fire department use. We run stihl 462’s for “vertical ventilation.
Generally, for the steals, we swap out the sprocket for one that counts for a larger pitch such as a 404 but we still run a 20 inch bar
This is an impressive chainsaw! I'm glad you talked about running some longer bars on it, like the 24". I didn't get a chance to meet you at Pipeline, but have a video clip of you guys running the 2 saws in my video that will go live later today.
.325 chain with only a 20" bar puts in the realm of a cheap Rancher 460, but with slightly more power on the low setting. But based on what I saw, their horsepower ratings are quite inflated. You said so yourself that it overheated with a 28" bar. How long did that take? Couldn't have been more than a minute or two worth of cutting. Based on 100% efficiency and running constant at 5.8hp, that gives you exactly 4 minutes of cut time with the supplied 288wh worth of 8.0 batteries. Sure it might have similar peak power as a stock 372xp, but does that really matter when it's overheated two cuts in? I know from experience that a 372xp will pull a 28" bar, 3/8 full house chain, buried in oak non-stop until it's out of gas, and then keep going once you fill it up. No overheating. Burn 5 gallons of gas in a day. It will out work the user. That's what you need out of a saw if you want to call it a professional grade saw. A saw that overheats in a couple minutes of pushing it is not a professional grade tool. That's why it only comes with a 20" bar and a .325 chain. So it never has to work hard enough to overheat. I'm sure it'll run at that 3-3.5 horsepower all day as long as you keep batteries on it, but then we're at Rancher 455 and 460 levels as far as real world capability. To wrap this up, I'm not saying this saw is a fail. It's a huge upgrade over the 16" model. But I am saying this saw is way over hyped and over promised compared to what is actually capable of
You make a lot of good points. I would still say it's a professional saw, we have used it often in a professional setting. Professional doesn't necessarily mean constant high power output.
@@RootedArboristsyea. From what I've seen I would just put it in the realm of a 60-65cc pro saw. Obviously if you are bucking firewood all day this isn't really designed for that application. Would be great for quiet tree work when you get down below what the top handle will do. Also potentially great for storm damage. Highway and fire departments don't use the saws much and really don't make that many cuts just to get the roads open.
Yeah, I don’t think it will be replacing a gas saw anytime soon. Would be nice in some settings. I think it would be cool for leaving near the chipper. Make some prep cuts on large crotches before feeding the chipper. Don’t need to pull start and it would last a long time between refueling/recharging
I watched videos of all these electric saws head to head and Milwaukee is at the bottom in performance and the top at price so dont waste your time with this saw. The dewalt and stihl electrics are the best with the stihl wayyyyy ahead of everyone else.. lol the ryobi saw has more power than Milwaukee 😂😂😂
@@timmygunz7103 I don't think I've seen a single comparison made with this new saw as it just came out. The comparisons with the gen 1 saw had the Milwaukee do decent but fall short in some categories.
NOW ITS WORTH THE $900 but I will wait till it goes on sale at Home Depot Around KMAS should drop too $750
I can see this as a benefit for a guy in a tree needing big power to chunk out a stick. However i’d be worried about run time and the saw overheating which neither are a concern with gas saws. I think the concept is great, and it is a step forward for battery saws stepping up power. But i couldn’t really make it work for me or my crew doing ladder fuel reduction. I see this being useful for a rancher or someone who needs power, not runtime
For the price I will stick with a 261C, but at some point I will definitely get this saw eventually.
Mr. Riggs, Don't you know that those things cause cancer!
I have the older single battery version. I've found that even with my 12AH battery I will get only half a dozen or less cuts when cutting through full rounds like done in this video. It works great for limbing, but it eats batteries with extended cuts of thick logs.
Seems like the noise would be a huge plus on residential jobs.
It's got low vibration already, but it could also be improved for the wrapped handle by making it antivibration like most gas saws have.
Nice review! Thanks
Great review. Will be
Purchasing!!
Great review. Especially the intro explanation. Saw looks like a beast for a battery saw. I'm an Echo guy myself and use several DCS-2500s to climb and DCS-5000 for limbing. The 5000 is disappointing as a commercial saw. A good residential saw. Unfortunately Echo currently has nothing in the power range of battery saws as this Milwaukee. At $900 though, not inexpensive. I think is probably equivalent to the Echo CS-620P-20 that sells for about $650. An extra set of 12Ah batteries is about $600 putting the investment at $1500 for a 20 inch saw, possibly 24" saw. .
How do you like the ECHO 2500? I love the 2511T's. Good comp comparison of the 620P. This saw represents a good step forward!
@@RootedArborists We have two 2500s and love them. Would definitely buy another when the time comes. We also have a 355T which I like because of the power. When the wood gets a little too big we switch to the 355T with a longer blade but the 2500s will cut anything you point at it, as long as you have enough battery. The 2500s are light, good torque. You will need a couple of the 2.5Ah batteries. They won't take the 5.0 Ah battery to keep the weight down.
Great video! This saw looks awesome
Does it come with a box to putnit in for $900
Have you done a review on the Ego 20" commercial? How would you say it compares?
Not yet, but we are hoping to do one later this summer. We have enjoyed using it so far though!
The only battery i run is makita drill for grcs..wich thanks to zachuees channel helped me to decide on what drill to purchase..thank you zachuees
Have you guys triedv the latest Ego20" and 24" they have the Pro24"as well.
We have tried the 20" Commercial. We have enjoyed it so far, review to come later this year. No dice on the Pro 24" yet.
What Pro 24? T😮is the first I've heard of it.
As soon as I can afford it I’m getting one to go with my hatchet and single battery M18
Esa motosierra Milwaukee tiene una velocidad y fuerza increíble, tranquilos que esto solo es el comienzo. Saludos desde España
I work in lot clearing and this saw interested me a lot. My only issue is how many cuts I can make with the saw before it taps out. 20-25cuts is roughly 12 trees with notching. Not sure that will keep up with my workflow. I fear I would need 3 pairs of batteries to get through a day of clearing. That's a lot of dough to churn out up front.
Gonna get the 12ah
Great video! What brand is your head protection? Thanks.
Thanks! It’s the Milwaukee Bolt with Husqvarna X-COM!
Batteries are $200 for 8 AMP FORGE and $250 12 amp FORGE
Your helmets looks awesome
Excited to see difference between the new Ego (not Eco hahaha, I keep hearing that on TH-cam videos)
how long does the battery last? Will this do a cord on dual battery full charge?
That's tough to say. If you're cutting in the "eco" mode in soft wood you will get some good run times. What diameter wood are you cutting?
I need to see it run 32 daily..i agree as i get most trees done with ported 2511t..but seriously
I wonder when theyre gonna make a chainsaw that accepts the mx fuel battery
id try some longer skip tooth configurations for sure.
Good call!
Can it run with 1 battery to lighten it?
Unfortunately not.
Maybe Milwaukee could have a battery pack that hooks on ones belt. With a flexible coiled lead joining the four 12ah batteries to saw. And a 32inch bar.
For that price might as well buy a 261 and have it ported
Why did you not mention runtime ..as in how long you get out of a charge ..I certainly would think between settings that would be significantly different.. you say 40mins to charge. Would you get 40mins runtime.. also in a commercial setting where do those batteries get charged out in the field..and if no place to charge them , then just how many would I need for the day , also they seem big so who exactly would carry them all for me as you guys in the job know you have other gear ..it's funny that none of that was mentioned
Runtime isn't an easy metric to measure - it really depends on usage, species, and material size. You will get noticeably different run times between power output modes. It's ~40 minutes to charge from 0-100%. You won't get any battery to run full power for 40 minutes straight, but I don't really know of any situations where you would need to cut for 40 straight minutes either. You will certainly need a minimum of 4 battery packs to run this saw professionally. When we have access to an outdoor outlet we generally get permission to plug in our charging system, and we have yet to meet a client that was not ok with that. If we are working at a site without power, we try to plan ahead for the job. And we typically carry the battery packs in our work trucks.
@@RootedArborists and also all the wood I cut except for the scrap branches was removed by hand and wheelbarrow . You see that is the real world..my point is unless you have a power source nearby and at least 4 spare batteries these things are useless only good for light duty and even for that far too heavy . My 500i is only around 16lbs with a 20inch bar and full tanks . And it's near enough got twice the power and it's even cheaper to buy once you factor in all the spare batteries you would need ..homeowners who are green minded then yes go for it
@@RootedArborists You don't need to cut for 40 straight minutes? Tell that to a huge pile of wood that I need to cut to a size for furnace. At least 2 hours of work. Speaking of Battery chainsaws - Dewalt 20inch user here - batteries runtime are easy metric to measure. Tell us what wood you cut, how thick it is and how long batteries lasted. Used 51 volt, 12 Amp battery (which in funny way is the same price as a saw) and it last about 10min of work. Take all this into consideration.
Pre ordered the top handle so I'll probably get 1
How long is the run time on the 8Ah's? I have the top handle running 8Ho batteries is it kinda similar amount of cuts? Hard to quantify I know.
Yeah it is hard to quantify, but I can say that you will get a lot of run time during limbing and bucking work. Cutting larger diameter wood is going to drain the battery quicker for sure. Ultimately it's going to be species and cutting style specific. The Forge batteries are definitely going to outperform the Ho batteries!
Great review!!!
Thanks!
Milwaukee to chainsaws is like ryobi to cordless drills, keep your saw orange
Do you have much experience running them?
My chain constantly gets loose on the single battery version
How many liks does the chain have
Holy mercy heavy !
we need an 18" bar as Australian hard wood is harder than ur hardwood
Sweet!
I’ll keep my ryobi 18in hp 40v brushless
I’m wondering what is the biggest bar you can run
We have run it with a 28" bar (sprocket change necessary), and a 24" bar several times. I would say that if you are running large Forge packs you should give the 24" a go!
What helmets are you running
Milwaukee Bolt with the Impact Armor insert. The orange ears are the Husqvarna X Comms, which are a must have!
@@RootedArborists I talked to my local dealer and will be getting some X comms
I run cardos right now
But those helmets are pretty slick!!!
U sure it 36v Or are the batteries in parallel not series
Cold weather performance? Extreme heat performance? Expected lifetime of batteries? Parts availability? Warranty? Maybe in some niche areas it will keep up and even outperform a gas saw. A super mild modification to any 60cc saw sees very noticeable performance gains. It seems like the only gains you can get from this are from larger, heavier, and more costly batteries, and multiples of that if you plan on using it beyond a single charge. Im not convinced its worth the cost outside of construction use where many companies work indoors and already have the M18 platform.
We didn't see much of a dip in battery life during sub freezing temps. We have been using it heavily this summer in 95 plus temps without noticing ambient battery temp issues. Batteries are warranted for three years, but I doubt you'll see issues if you cycle packs. It's not a 1 for 1 comparison to a Husky 372, but it represents a viable alternative to those trying to make the jump to battery.
Release date?
Looking like August 1st!
if u carry it in cab of tractor or truck it doesn't have gasoline smell simple
Milwaukee needs to revamp battery/tool connection. So sick of the “stickiness” that happens with the plastic on plastic connection. Makita and Ego do that part much better.
Holding off until Buckin' Billy Ray chimes in.
So is it easy enough to swap in a 3/8" Pitch, 0.050" Gauge sprocket, bar and chain? Is the sprocket a Milwaukee part? That narrow gauge stuff is hard to find locally to me. West coast tree workers would laugh at your comments on how big a saw you need for professional work.
I believe the sprocket is an Oregon part. Pretty easy swap with the right pliers. I am really referring to average yard trees. I now there are big trees everywhere but not all tree crews handle the big stuff. Our crew typically live in would 30"-55", so we still use a lot of larger gas saws. We are mostly in hardwood, unless we get into some monster Tulips or Cottonwoods near the bottom lands. I think this saw will thrive in soft wooded conifers (sub 30") out your way!
Where did you get the 3/8” sprocket to run the bigger bars?
I threw my sthil in the river because of bad ignition or fouled plug because it wouldn't start after it warmed up. And when you are working your ass off in the woods and your saw takes 30 minutes to start it got tossed in the river. I would gladly use an electric saw just that reason
If this thing really delivers 70cc power, why isn't it being offered with a 32" bar also, like what a 70cc can pull with no problems? Hell, not even a 24" is recommended. Why? Because those HP numbers aren't real. Someone needs to put this on a dyno.
I can’t speak to any of the brands stated numbers- I generally take manufacturers at their word, but I’m sure they all state numbers under ideal circumstances. We are not saying it’s a direct comparison to gas saws, but we do see it is a big step in the viability of battery saws. It is a great option for those that want or need to start making the conversion. BTW, we stated that the lack of long bar options was a con. We have run 24” and 28” bars with pretty good success (species dependent for sure)!
You can and I have put a 24” bar on my OG top handle. Go check out the videos out there… definitely selling now and upgrading to this!
Why, because electronics are prone to overheating. Smaller bar less load.
Those demo cuts produce a very heavy load on the electric motor. Its a good looking saw but longevity is a concern.
That’s a really good question and I’d really like to see Milwaukee answer that.
Don’t know why a professional would want that unless they are forced to use it. It would be nice for someone like me. I’m not a professional and don’t use it every day. I would basically use it a hand full of times a year. Plus I have the batteries already.
I can buy a 620p for 600
Yeah no way 🤣 that’s fawking hilarious…
It'll never beat my wankle diesel power chainsaw from 1973
I'm sorry guys that thing will never replace my 462 with 24'28 bar on it stock and ported..NO CHANCE ..drop a few big oaks then let's buck one up and see Maybe 3 since it's more realistic setting..lov ya feller s
I'm sorry my phone keyboard always miss spells .your name ..apologize
I get that daily with my last name .on dad's side
@@Sethhaun78 Haha, I was just joking with these fellas. I met Thomas and Andy at the Milwaukee Pipeline event. Maybe it won't replace your 462 for you, but you ought to try cutting with it if you ever get a chance!
I'm not a big fan of rapid or super chargers. Fast charging degrades the batteries a lot faster. I have a lot of Milwaukee batteries both 12v and 18v and the batteries are expensive. I don't want to buy batteries more often.
I totally get that, but I wouldn't have too many reservations about rapid charging Forge packs. The newer packs from Milwaukee, Kress, and Husqvarna are all designed specifically to rapid charge. Rapid charging is vital for the professional user. Side note, All three of those brands have pretty fantastic warranties!
@@RootedArborists I buy homes, fully remodel them, then sell them. I am not an Arborist but I find myself using a chainsaw a lot. I understand the need for fast charging and yes newer batteries can be fast charged. They can handle electricity being forced into the cells hard better and handle the excessive heat better but they will still degrade faster. For example hypothetically let's say a forge battery last 200 fast charges before a noticable degrade (needing replacement). That same battery would probably last 250+ being slow charged before noticable degrade. Also Milwaukee does have a wonderful warranty like you mentioned and I have used it quite a few times.
The plate style batteries are not affected by rapid charging
Dang! that hottie at 2.10 with the big tan biceps, who that?
No one gives a crap about your opinion
Everyone cares about how long the batterys last on a big log
This review is just a Milwaukee sales pitch
Ok how long will this mf run for cutting thoses “ 20 “ inch thick trees
Wow deleting comments
There is no way this has the power of a 72cc saw. They are running 36 V with the two batteries, at best it’s the power of an MS 291 or 460 Rancher. You should compare it side by side with a 72cc saw or STIHL’s MSA 300.
Por que, por que , por que ??????????????
Por que si ya habían logrado un largo historial con excelentes herramientas sin tener que usar 2 baterías al vez y ahora vienen a salir con estos prototipos 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Los tenía en un pedestal y criticaba fuertemente a Makita por esa tontería y vienen a salir con esto🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I think they recognized that they needed to produce more power to compete in the professional tree care space. I wish they could have generated enough power with one 18v battery, but I just don't think the technology is there yet.
Yeah, I own both of the previous saws from Milwaukee and after experiencing battery overheating issues while bucking I’ll stick with gas…. Sorry Milwaukee still love you though.
Okay, so you briefly allude to the possible need for extra battery packs at 13:45 - WHAT IS THE ACTUAL BATTERY LIFE?? The fact that you glossed over this topic is a MAJOR red flag. Thorough review, otherwise, but it's all moot if you can only use the thing for 20 minutes at a time, and have to put everything on hold for an hour while you wait for batteries to charge. This is the number one concern for any user who is doing more than 15 minutes of work at a time, and continues to be the major barrier to battery-powered replacement options for typical small-engine work. Can it actually do the job that a gas-powered chainsaw can do, or is it just another expensive boondoggle that tree-huggers and people who never do their own yard work are trying to push?
At that kind of weight I will put a 20” bar on my 660. Such a waste of time and money. After 2 years of use when batteries don’t hold a good charge let me know how your making out 😂
I feel you on the weight, but If the batteries crap out after two years, I will probably just warranty (3 year warranty) them and get a brand new set!!
They overpriced thia saw big time. Id almost garuntee this saw will not be in the same ball park of durability or longevity of stihl, and i have a bunch of milwaukee products and 3 of their chainsaws. All are lite duty in the realm of contractors or lumberjack. By the the time my stihl burns the equivelent value of gas as the battery and charger of this saw it will be worn out and the stihl will go on for more years to come.
Junk😂😂😂😂😂😂
Dangerous tool. Keep far away from kids. Too easy to turn on.
equivalent to a 70cc chainsaw???.... never in life
it will be equivalent to a 40cc professional line
I've tried all battery-powered chainsaws from all brands and I'm still not impressed
Can't stand plastic.
That saw is heavier than your friend.