Keith Nuttle wrote:

On 4/30/2010 3:23 PM, Andrew Barss wrote:
My wife has asked for a small chainsaw for Mother's Day (my kinda woman).
She doesn't want a heavy gas-powered saw, just somthing convenient for
cutting branches and small tree limbs in the yard. What would be ideal,
if anyone makes such a thing, is one that's convertible between a regular
saw a pole saw for high branches. Failing that, recommendations in either
category appreciated. Corded is fine, cordless would be even better
(again, if anyone makes one).

Thanks,

Andy Barss
I have a 14" Poulan electric chain saw. I have had it for over 15
years. After hurricane Fran the neighbors laughed as I got my electric
out and started on the down trees. At that time I cut up over 30 trees
that had came down in the hurricane. a couple slightly over 28" in
diameter.

If you have a relative small yard, one that can be covered with 100' of
cord, and never need to take it into the field the electric is the way
to go. While all of those people with the fancy gas saws are putting
oil in the gas and trying to get the dumb thing started. You have laid
out the cord, cut up what what you want and have every thing put away.

Electric chain saws are certainly viable for smaller properties. For
emergency uses like after a big storm, you'd better have a generator
that can power it, otherwise you could be stuck with a tree through your
roof and no power for a saw to allow you to remove it and tarp over the
hole to prevent further damage. Just this past weekend I helped a friend
do just that at his lake house that got hit with an F1 tornado and had
two large trees fall on the roof punching large holes. Power was also
out and expected to take up to two weeks to fully restore to some areas.
My Shindaiwa 488 w/ 18" bar and good chains worked great without needing
an extension cord to a generator either.