Best Small Chainsaw – Black & Decker 20V Max 10-inch Chainsaw

Once upon a time, a chainsaw was just a big, noisy, smelly gas-powered thing that could be intimidating to contemplate using. Electric chainsaws have changed all that.

Sometimes you just want to be able to cut a few branches quickly and easily and take down some saplings without the hassle of mixing oil and fuel and yanking a pull cord incessantly every time you start up.

We did the research for you and found just the thing – the Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw. Compact, lightweight and easy to use, this is a lot of chainsaw in a small package.

In a hurry? You can see the current price of the Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw here on Amazon.

Check out some of the features of the Black & Decker 20V Max chainsaw (model LCS1020B).

Cordless operation keeps you moving

Just like a gas saw, you aren’t tethered to a cord that keeps you in cord’s length of the power source. No tether to trip over or accidentally sever with the saw.

No inconvenient mixing of fuel and oil

If you’ve had a gasoline-powered saw before, you know the drill. You’ve got to make a special fuel mix for your saw, have a separate container handy, calculate the ratio of 2 stroke oil to fuel and make sure you drain it when you are ready to store for the winter.

You don’t have to do any of this with a battery-powered chainsaw. Pop in the battery and go. Well, yes, you still have to add bar and chain oil, so there’s no getting away from that, but this is considerably less messy. We promise.

Quiet for a chainsaw

This little guy is pretty quiet. I’d still recommend ear protection, just because. But it’s just not near as loud as the gas-powered ones, and it doesn’t have any idling sounds because it doesn’t have to remain running between cuts. You’ll be happy about that.

Quick, reliable start up

No chain pulling. Just squeeze the trigger along with the interlock and you are in business. Release the trigger and the chain and motor stop. Easy on, easy off.

Tool free chain adjustment and bar tightening

There’s no need to have the correct tool on hand when the chain needs tightening. And it will need tightening, because chains do stretch and change, believe it or not. But you’ll be ready to go with the built-in adjustment knob that can be turned by hand. Easy peasy.

Super compact and lightweight for less user fatigue

At 7.2 lbs, this chainsaw is so lightweight that it can be used by just about anyone, without a requirement for a lot of arm strength. You don’t have to be a substantially built lumberjack to take care of business on your property.

The short body allows you to keep the weight balanced closer to your center. It’s just under 17 inches long from the back of the bar to the back of the handle, but the majority of the body is only about 9 inches from the back of the bar to where your right hand would hold it.

The battery is mounted on the left side of the unit just behind your left hand, giving the unit more side-to-side stability.

Visual oil level indicator keeps you in the know

It is so important to keep the bar and chain oiled and keeping enough oil in the reservoir is a challenge. The Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw has an easy way to keep track, with a little window to see the amount of oil.

This may not seem like a big thing, but most electric chainsaws don’t have this. You just have to remember to add bar and chain oil, which most people do by adding it whenever they change the battery.

Low kick back Oregon bar and chain for extra safety

Of course it’s still a chainsaw that can do you some damage if you aren’t careful, but the low kick back chain is a good feature and adds a bit of a safety factor. The specially designed chain features an extra link that minimizes the “grabbing” that occurs when cutting at the tip, as the chain rounds the tip.

Healthier no-emissions operation

One of the great advantages of an electric chainsaw is the absence of exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine. You’ll breathe easier when you use this saw and the environment will thank you.

Batteries are interchangeable

The Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw uses the Black & Decker 20V Max line of lithium-ion batteries. These batteries will work in any Black & Decker 20V Max power tool so you won’t have to buy a new charger or have multiple batteries and chargers for all your Black & Decker power tools.

So what’s not to love about this chainsaw?

There really aren’t a lot of negatives to this saw, if it’s the right size for your purposes. Probably the biggest bummer for this saw is that it technically does not have an automatic oiler. Yes, it has built-in oiler, but it doesn’t dispense the oil onto the chain automatically.

You will have to push the oiling plunger 3 times before you make a cut. And some people have had difficulty with the system clogging up and they end up manually oiling the chain externally anyway.

But this could happen with an automatic oiler too. Chainsawing is a messy business and stuff gets up in the parts. It’s a fact of chainsaw ownership that you’ll probably have to clean things here and there.

This will also have a slower chain speed than its gas-powered counterparts so you can expect longer cut times for larger limbs and trunks.

Why we like the Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw for best small chainsaw.

We love the compactness and light weight of the Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw. It is lighter than most saws in its category while still providing sufficient power to complete a substantial amount of work between battery changes.

You’re going to be able to do a lot of limbing and trimming with this small chainsaw with less fatigue. It’s going to be easy to store and ready to use in a matter of minutes.

There’s going to be less for you to maintain and keep clean. No carburetor to clog. No fuel to mix.

And you can swap out the batteries quickly and easily and share them with your other Black & Decker 20V Max power tools as well.

Is the Black and Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw the right one for you?

The Black and Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw works best for the following users:

• Homeowners with light chainsaw needs such as limbing, brush clearing and occasional tree removal up to 6 inch diameter
• Homeowners who process small amounts of firewood
• Infrequent chainsaw users
• Chainsaw users who are smaller of stature or weight

See the current price of the Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw here on Amazon.

Not the right saw for you? See our overview of the best chainsaws in multiple categories here.

FAQs for the Black & Decker 20V Max 10 inch chainsaw