So you are tired of mixing gas and oil for your 2-stroke gasoline powered chainsaw? But you still wanna cut big stuff? The electric chainsaw market is putting out some really good stuff these days.
We did a bunch of research on what’s the best out there and we think you might appreciate the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw as a great addition to your power tool ensemble.
Already love the idea of a powerful 40V battery powered chainsaw? Go here to see the price of the Greenworks 40V 16 chainsaw now.
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The battery-powered power tool market has come a long way and that applies to chainsaws as well. Solid construction and longer battery life and power mean that cordless electric chainsaws have the ability to compete with gasoline-powered chainsaws and come out on top.
What we discovered about the Greenworks 40V 16 inch battery-powered chainsaw
It may be cordless, but it can really rock
This is not your father’s electric chainsaw. Modern technology has produced lithium-ion batteries with a power output that can rival some 2-stroke engines. It’s no longer necessary to trade power for the convenience of an electrical power tool.
Say goodbye to fuel and oil mixing
You get a whole lot of power in this chainsaw without needing to mix fuel and oil for a comparable saw with a 2 stroke gas engine.
So the whole thing is generally cleaner to operate and you won’t have to be adjusting or cleaning the carburetor.
Long battery life lets you do more cutting between charges
The included 4.0 Amp-hour (Ah) 40V battery can keep you cutting for a good long while before needing a battery change. Please note that the tool-only option can also be purchased, so pay attention when you are ordering.
It is definitely hard to put an absolute time frame on this, because it depends on what you are cutting and how sharp your blade is, among other things. But by some estimates, you can run for 45 minutes to an hour of limbing, trimming and cutting of smaller trees, say 10 inches or less. You can cut a cord of wood on one battery charge or up to 100 4x4s.
The manufacturer claims that the saw will cut a 30 inch log and technically, you probably can, but this is probably going to be pretty hard on the battery life and not a typical use for it, but yes you could.
Most users have the best success with trees and logs that are slightly less than the length of the bar.
Relatively quiet, for a chainsaw
Your ears will thank you for using the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw for even your bigger jobs. It’s much quieter than a gas-powered chainsaw. Do you need ear protection? Well, the pictures always show people using it without ear protection.
So maybe you won’t feel physical discomfort in your ears while using this chainsaw. But I personally want to keep my hearing as sharp as possible well into my old age, so I’d say, yeah, wear your hearing protection. It’s a small thing.
Easy to start and stop
No pulling that cord. Just hold down the safety interlock switch and press the trigger and you are up and running. Release the trigger and the machine stops. That’s what’s to love about running the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw.
Brushless technology means less wear on the motor and on you
Instead of mechanical brushes in the motor, this guy uses electronic technology to do the same job without the physical wear and tear of mechanical brushes. Not to mention the heat build up and resulting voltage drop associated with brushed motors.
You’ll get greater torque and lower vibration to boot! A more comfortable and smooth ride.
Don’t know what I’m talking about? Check out a great explanation of brushless technology here.
Relatively light weight for working size
At only 10.4 pounds, this saw is really a lightweight compared to comparably-powered gas chainsaws. Your energy will last longer and you’ll be able to stick with the job with less fatigue using the Greenworks 40V 16 inch saw, even when handling some big trees.
Batteries do double duty with other Greenworks 40V power tools
If you like the Greenworks product line, you can mix and match 40V batteries between the various power tools. This can be very handy and eliminate the need for multiple chargers and the associated confusion. No chance to get the wrong battery when picking among them on your workbench.
No tools required for chain adjustment and bar change
The Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw has a quick and easy adjustment knob for quick chain tension adjustment. As the chain should be adjusted before every use and sometimes between cuts, this is a very handy feature.
There’s nothing more maddening than having to stop work because you don’t have the right tool with you out in the north 40 on your property.
The bar can also be removed and changed with the tool free adjustment features of this chainsaw.
Automatic oiler for optimal chain maintenance
You would think this feature would be a given, but it isn’t. Chains need oil, like all the time, otherwise you’ll excessively wear the chain and damage the bar and then you won’t be happy. So the automatic oiler on the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw does it for you.
Put in a pint or so of quality bar and chain oil, or SAE30W motor oil in a pinch, look in the oil window to make sure it’s full, and you are ready to roll.
Safety bonus: Low kick back Oregon bar and chain and electric chain brake
The Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw comes equipped with a 16 inch Oregon low kick back bar and chain. The special links on the chain help minimize the tendency of the bar to kick up violently when cuts are made towards the tip of the bar.
And it’s got an electric chain brake. When your finger leaves the trigger, the chain stops fast.
Nothing replaces good habits and safety techniques and an overall attitude of caution (as well as proper safety gear), but the low kick back feature adds just that bit of extra safety that can make all the difference in a potential injury situation.
No exhaust emissions, better for your health
It runs on a battery. So you won’t be breathing exhaust from a 2-stroke engine. That’s a good thing. Your lungs will thank you and so will Mother Earth. And you can get this saw shipped to California with ease.
Anything bad about this chainsaw?
Not much. It’s an electric chainsaw, so it does have its limitations. In theory it’s going to take a bit longer to get through a log than its gas-powered counterpart, but if you consider start-up and maintenance time between the two, there’s going to be a savings there.
And then some people complain about bar and chain oil leaking during storage. The manufacturer suggests draining the reservoir during storage. This is just generally a good idea. No matter which chainsaw you own. It’s a common complaint. You can also open the oil fill port and release any vacuum that may have built up and this will help it not leak between cuts while you are using it.
What we like about this chainsaw that makes it the best cordless chainsaw
Well, it’s an electric chainsaw and there’s a lot to like about that. As we said before, electric power tools are coming up in the world of tools. They are no longer the step-child of the power tool industry, relegated to minimal use and low power.
But this particular chainsaw has a robust 40V battery that can handle a 16 inch bar and the work that a 16 inch bar can do. It really shines in the mid-size chainsaw category and that’s why we think it deserves the title of best cordless chainsaw.
We like the relative light weight and low noise of the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw. You can do more work with less overall body stress and it’s generally better on you and the environment as well.
And did we mention you can use your 40V Greenworks batteries in other power tools in the Greenworks 40V power tool line.
Is the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw right for your needs?
We think that if you fit into one of these categories, you are probably suited to the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw, though others of you may also like it:
- Homeowners with moderate chainsaw needs such as regular limbing, brush clearing and tree removal up to 14 inches, with occasional larger trees
- Homeowners who process firewood regularly
- Professionals who own other Greenworks 40V power tools
- Construction professionals with modest chainsaw needs such as cutting beams and 4x4s
You can check out the price of the Greenworks 40V 16 inch chainsaw here.
Are your needs different? Or are you just looking for another chainsaw? We outline the best chainsaws in a number of categories here in our best chainsaws breakdown.
FAQs
You should get a quality bar and chain oil. Here’s some – take your pick.
Barring that (no pun intended), you can use SAE30W motor oil in a pinch. It’s not as viscous (that means thick) as bar and chain oil, so it will fling itself everywhere and you’ll end up using more (and getting your clothes oily), but at least you won’t have to stop work if you are out of bar and chain oil. Consider yourself warned.
Pitch is .375 in and gauge is .043 in
Here’s the right chain for the Greenworks 40V 16-inch
We like this flexible chainsaw file kit.
No, it does not. The saw measures 31 x 9 x 8.5 inches.
Here is a generic chainsaw case that meets the measurements.
Okay, we are supposed to tell you that it is appropriate to use all kinds of protection, so we will. Because we don’t want you to hurt yourself. And we don’t want you to say we didn’t warn you.
You should wear:
*Gloves
*Eye and Face Protection
*Ear Protection
*Heavy Chaps and Arm Protection
*Heavy, Non-slip Boots
But we know that you probably won’t listen to us, because the pictures show people casually using the saw with just some goggles and gloves on. And we said it was quiet, didn’t we?
So don’t even fire up your chainsaw without good gloves, boots, and face and eye protection. Bare minimum, no excuses.
Get eye protection here.
You’re on your own for the boots and gloves. You already have these, I’m sure.
And while you are at it, at least stuff some orange spongy earplugs in your ears. You’ll be happy when you are 60, if you aren’t already 60.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Yes, you technically can, but the motor is optimized for the 16 inch bar, so you would do well to stick with that. If you like to live on the edge, that’s up to you. We won’t judge.
