Dewalt 20 Volt Max XR DCCS620 12 inch Chainsaw Review

After the big storm (Helene) raged through the southeast, there has been plenty of tree work going on. I might go more into that later.

I recently got my hands on a Dewalt DCCS620 chainsaw. This is from their Max XR series, with the 20V batteries.

I borrowed it from a friend for a weekend, and mixed its use in with a few other saws. I thought I would list a few of my thoughts and findings here, and give it a proper reviews.

Specs

This is one of the smaller chainsaws out there, with only a 12 inch bar. Not as small as some of the loppers (which are pretty popular these days for some homeowners), but maybe one step above.

Dewalt’s 20 volt battery series are designed to be fairly light duty, lighter weight, and lighter on the wallet. They are a step down from the 60 volt product.

It’s listed at 7 pounds, but I believe that weight is without its battery. Weight increases to 9 pounds with the battery.

Dewalt’s 20v saw performed well in my tests | Click >>HERE<< to check latest Amazon prices

It has a 550 watt brushless motor.

They claim it can make 90 cuts through a 4×4 pressure treated post on one charge.

It has a tool-free chain tensioning system.

It has fairly soft, grippy, overmolded handles.

I noticed it comes with a 3 year “limited” warranty from Dewalt, which I think is pretty standard for their products.

Review

The first thing I noticed about the saw is of course its size.

It’s very small, and very light. That can be a good thing if you’re trying to get small/easy jobs done. No sense in putting any more strain on your back than you have to.

Torquey motor cuts easily through the smaller stuff!

The battery clicks into place securely. I do think you need to be a bit careful with this saw, as the battery is on the bottom and positioned in the very back. That means it doesn’t have a ton of protection, so just make sure you don’t toss it into your truck bed or drop it on some rocks!

The Dewalt enjoys the benefits of pretty much all battery saws. Plenty of torque, quieter, no fumes, you don’t have to carry fuel and slosh it all over the place trying to refill it. And of course intermittent cutting means you can squeeze the trigger and cut, set it down to do what you need, grab it and go again, all without having to restart it or leave it idling and wasting fuel.

I wouldn’t say it has an abundance of power, but given its size it does great.

I cut off and on with it for a couple of hours at one point. Its battery life is adequate. Of course cutting larger stuff, closer to its 12″ diameter max, puts much more stress on the motor and burns the battery up faster.

I was using this during two fairly cool days. I had no issues with it overheating or shutting down due to overuse. Some battery saws have that issue, but because of the cooler temps in my area I can’t really speak to that with the Dewalt.

During Helene storm cleanup, the Dewalt proved reliable | click >>HERE<< to check Amazon’s latest prices

It has good balance, and no obvious kickback problems.

As small and light as it is, I wouldn’t have any concerns slinging it across my back, climbing a tree, and using it 1-handed to limb something 40 feet off the ground.

Some users have complained about the saw leaking bar oil. I did notice some of that going on in the bed of my truck the second morning when I arrived at the job site.

When I talked to the owner, he said it was a common problem. Some people have addressed it by adding an o-ring to the oil cap. I checked the owner’s manual (you can download it HERE), and interestingly enough Dewalt recommends users always empty the oil tank when finished cutting. Haha, can you imagine what a messy hassle that would be?

Dewalt has sold thousands of these saws, especially through Amazon where it’s as simple as clicking the button and it shows up on the porch a couple of days later.

There is a reason they are so popular. They are not huge, heavy, feature-laden saws. They are small, dependable, and fairly inexpensive.

I think for a lot of homeowners who cut wood infrequently and don’t want or need a bigger saw, this 12 inch 20 volt saw from Dewalt hits the sweet spot.

Here’s the Dewalt DCCS620 on Amazon.

The Best Pole Saw – My Review of the Husqvarna 530i PT5

I ain’t getting any younger.

That’s what I tell myself every time I do something risky.

I are more aware of and take better precautions about safety these days. The older I get, the wiser I get.

Also, it takes longer for me to recover from injuries! I have bills to pay, and I can’t afford to be laid up on the couch with stitches or icepacks. Plus, I can’t stand to be cooped up.

So I “measure twice and cut once” when it comes to felling trees. I outfit myself with PPE – like gloves, pants, boots, eye and ear protection – every time, even if it’s just for a few minutes. And while I’ve never been scared of heights, I’m a lot more careful now when it comes to climbing trees or up on a roof.

I was hired recently to limb some trees.

The homeowner has a 150 yard long gravel driveway. Many years ago, trees were planted or allowed to grow up alongside the driveway. Although they are located well off to the side, over the years they got much bigger and the limbs no overhang the driveway. This has been causing some issues with large delivery trucks. The limbs contact the cab or the box on these big trucks.

In the past, I probably would’ve grabbed a small, lightweight chainsaw, a big ladder or some tree spikes, and taken whatever risks necessary to get this guy’s driveway cleared.

But what about using a pole saw?

I have never owned a pole saw before, but they have a lot of advantages.
1) Safety
You can’t fall off a ladder or fall out of a tree if your feet never leave the ground. This is a big plus as far as injury prevention.
2) Ease of use
Any time you have to climb with equipment, it’s a challenge. Whether you’re going up a ladder or a tree, carrying a chainsaw with you complicates things (even if it’s lightweight).
3) Speed
Whether you’re a weekender or you do this for a living, getting the job done efficiently and not wasting time is a big benefit. If you don’t have to shimmy up a tree or lug a ladder around you can move a lot faster. I’m guessing using this pole saw reduced my job time by 50%!

Once I convinced myself I was ready to make the investment and purchase one, I didn’t screw around. I bought the mother of all pole saws!

The Husqvarna 530i PT5

This pole saw from Husqvarna is battery powered and has a 10″ bar.

Unlike some of the other saws on the market, Husqvarna calls this “weather proof”. You don’t want to go swimming with it, but it is classified as rain resistant.

Husqvarna’s 530i PT5 is a beast – CLICK HERE TO CHECK LATEST PRICING

The telescopic tube uses collars to lock and unlock the telescopic function. At maximum length, this thing is 157.5″ long. To calculate it’s maximum reach, you would usually consider a person who is 6′ tall using it, so it’s close to 20′ of reach!

For convenience, here’s the 530i owner’s manual.

It uses Husqvarna’s usual group of 40 volt batteries. It has an embedded, pass-through battery attachment design that I think is both unique and really cool.

This sort of protects the battery. Having the machine itself wrapped around the battery case minimizes the number of bumps and bruises it takes.

Also, they use a ventilated design so the battery stays cool and won’t need to take a break during hot weather use. This pass-through design reduces the amount of debris, dust, and sawdust that gets sucked into the battery or gums up the battery connector.

Because they’ve made this thing out of aluminum and other lightweight materials, it only weighs 11 lbs.

Now that’s a little deceptive. Just the saw weighs 11 lbs, and once you add a battery it gets heavier. Also, this thing is obviously long, so once it gets fully assembled you have to be careful as it can tend to get away from you.

My Review

There are several pole saws on the market. Why did I pick this one?

I decided I preferred a battery saw. It just made sense.

I’ve talked about some of the advantages and disadvantages of a battery chainsaw versus a petrol chainsaw before.

In this case, trying to reach over my head to get to branches way over the ground with a roaring gas engine was not an attractive option. The lack of heat and noise made me focus on battery for this application.

I’ve reviewed and used many different chainsaw brands. Husqvarna has been in the game a long time. They make really good saws, and have a great reputation in the industry.

I was looking to make an “investment” in my business, my safety, and my capability. I wanted the longest reach, and I didn’t want something that was disposable, that I would have to fix or throw away after just a season or two.

There was basically no learning curve with this thing.

Right out of the box, it was ready to rip. Adjusting the length of the boom with the locking collars is intuitive and easy.

The push button controls are easy to understand and operate.

The battery clicks in with a positive feeling latch, and feels solid.

The thing has more than enough power, especially if you keep the chain sharp.

Run time was excellent. I limbed six trees. The job took close to 4 hours, including cleanup. Of that, I was probably cutting off and on for a total run time of maybe 30 minutes. The battery still had 50% or more capacity left, and I had a spare battery in the truck.

Are there things I don’t like about the 530i?

Hmm…

Like I mentioned above, at maximum extension this thing is like trying to swing a 20′ long axe. You have to really plant your feet and be intentional about keeping the power head under control.

I specifically bought this model because I liked it’s super-long reach. So I wouldn’t change this, just something to keep in mind.

The oil/lube tank on this saw is listed as 0.32 pints. That seems pretty small. You have to keep an eye on it to keep from running it dry. Not a big deal, and I’m not sure it would be worth the extra weight to have a bigger tank.

One other thing, you are going to want a helmet. Working overhead, you have to be strategic how much of the limb you are cutting, which direction it is going to fall, and where you are standing.

If you save yourself from falling out of a tree but end up giving yourself a concussion or a broken collar bone from a branch falling on you, that might not be a good trade after all!

I like the visor on the Husqvarna helmet, which in this case keeps all of that sawdust and bark from dropping down into your eyes.

So overall, I’m really happy with my purchase. I give it two thumbs up, and I’m ready to use it for the next job!

Two thumbs up for Husqvarna’s pole saw ->>CLICK HERE<<– for prices

Snow Peak Titanium Cutlery – My Review and Why You Need These!

I am sick – really sick – of using little tiny plastic forks.

I’m a big dude. I stay active, I work up an appetite, and so I tend to eat big.

You have to admit, it sucks so bad to dig into a meal with a goofy plastic fork only to accidentally snap it in two or break off one of the tines.

Okay, I realize this strays pretty far from my normal chainsaw topics. But let me explain.

How Titanium Forks Relate to Chainsaws

I’ve mentioned before that some saw jobs I do are in deep country.

Not too long ago, I was describing a chainsaw backpack that is great for getting all of my gear to the middle of nowhere if I get hired for a job like that. You can check out my backpack review HERE.

It’s not unusual for me to pack a lunch.

Whether I’m working out of the back of my truck, or backpacking gear several miles, I definitely don’t like to go hungry.

I’m not against going out to lunch, but I’m all about getting work done. It just seems more efficient if I pack my own meal, sort of eat on the run. It saves me from driving somewhere, waiting in line, etc.

Sometimes that’s just a sandwich, sometimes it’s more like a real meal. By real meal I mean like leftovers from the night before, haha.

After breaking off 2 of the 5 plastic tines of my plastic fork the other day, I was pretty exasperated. It’s pretty hard to eat a leftover chicken breast with a damaged utensil that resembles a toothpick!

So I started looking for some camping or backpacking utensils that I could use to eat my lunch while on a chainsaw job.

Moe’s Southwest Grill Plastic Fork Tease

Issue number one, chainsaw job vs plastic fork.

Issue number two, OMG Moe’s are you kidding me?

I tend to like Tex/Mex food. There is a Moe’s Southwest Grill not far from my house, and I eat there frequently.

They have the cheapest, most useless plastic utensils in the universe.

I’m not kidding you, they aren’t even fit for a four year old. They bend and break, and they are tiny.

Maybe all Moe’s restaurants don’t use these, I don’t know. Maybe it’s only my local place that is too lazy to wash and use metal forks. Leave a comment down below if you get a chance and let me know what your experience has been.

This, combined with my need for something to pack in my lunch for chainsaw job had me looking for some kind of backpacking utensils.

Snow Peak Titanium Utensils

Enter this little kit from Snow Peak.

snow peak titanium utensils
No more broken forks! Click –>>HERE<<– to check latest prices on Amazon…

I found a few options online for normal, basic stainless steel utensils. Some of them were even collapsible. Err, ok, but I don’t want “some assembly required”. And leave it to me to lose half of my fork under a tree stump!

I ended up choosing the Snow Peak set for several reasons.

They make them out of aerospace-grade titanium alloy mainly because it is such a light material, which can be important for backpackers. That’s cool, but a few ounces of weight isn’t really a deal killer to me.

The titanium is very stiff. Which I like. And also it’s inert, and won’t rust.

I liked the little velcro pouch the knife and spoon come in. It makes it easier to toss into my gear bag without losing them or having them become separated. It’s made out of nylon, so when it gets dirty I can just throw it in the washing machine or even give it a scrub outside under the garden hose.

Lastly, I liked the fact that their company has been around for 60 years.

They make good quality stuff, and they are proud of what they do. It’s not US based, bummer, but it’s a craftsman-like Japanese company and I give them a certain amount of credit for standing out in a crowd.

So go buy yourself a set, and quit screwing around with plastic forks!

I’ll try to remember to tell you guys sometime about the tactical lunch box I use.

Chainsaw Backpack Review – My Recommendation

I was recently hired to do some brush and tree maintenance on a trail.

The trail is three miles long. It starts at a public parking lot here in my hometown, and winds its way up through some pretty rough country.

Much of the trail is not accessible by any type of motorized vehicle.

The city hired me to cut down some risky trees, saw up and clear some previously fallen trees, and clear away any brush that was closing in on the trail.

This took me several weeks. Although it was quite a bit of work, I found it really enjoyable.

This was the first time I’ve tackled a job like this. I learned so much!

A few lessons I’ll share with you…

1) You can never have too much water. Well, okay, if you took a zillion gallons and the weight was more than you could carry, of course that would be too much. My point here is doing all that hard work will make you sweat, and you are going to need to hydrate.

2) A saw that’s too big is not ideal for this type of job. Using more fuel than you need is a terrible idea if you have to backpack in all of your supplies. I used a small 16″ Husqvarna saw to keep things light and make fuel use manageable. I’ll have to remember to review the saw for you sometime.

3) Pack some toilet paper. I don’t want to get too personal here, but in some cases I was an hour or hour and a half walk from the truck. At even then, I would have to drive to a nearby gas station or store to find a bathroom. That’s not going to work, guys! I packed some TP, and when I had to go I did so behind a tree.

One piece of equipment that I found very hand for this type of work is a chainsaw backpack.

I guess they are a bit of a niche product, made popular by firefighters who have to carry their chainsaws for long distances.

If you have a big piece of property or a trail that is not accessible by vehicle or even UTV, this type of carrying solution is exactly what you need.

True North Chainsaw Backpack – Review

I purchased this knowing that carrying my chainsaw, fuel, water, and axe was going to be very difficult towards the back side of the trail (3 miles away from my truck).

Although it is a solid piece of equipment, the True North pack is not overly heavy. It weighs in at just 5.5 lbs.

True North’s chainsaw backpack is packed with features – CLICK HERE to check latest prices

The straps and pouches are made from nylon webbing and a type of extreme-duty synthetic material.

The pack has shoulder straps as well as a waist strap. They are double-padded thick, and the thing is fairly comfortable. I mean, you are strapping a bunch of heavy stuff to your back, so it’s not like taking a nap on your couch, but they have really thought the design through for both comfort and strength.

Sling it on and get to marching!

This thing is pretty much everything-proof. I sweated on it, drug it through heavy branches and briar patches, and tossed it in the back of my truck bed.

I guess one criticism is the heavy duty material is pretty rough, and tends to collect mud and debris. I actually used a garden hose and a soft bristled brush to clean my periodically.

They don’t list a weight capacity, but I figured my back would probably give out before this pack would!

It has 3 pouches – one for fuel, one for water, and one for miscellaneous. It also has an axe scabbard.

There is a leather reinforcement on top of one of the straps which protects the strap when you carry your saw or a big nasty piece of wood on your shoulder. I thought that was a pretty innovative feature.

It is basically one size fits all. All of the straps are adjustable. I’m a pretty bulky guy, and it fit me just fine. Maybe if you’re more than 300 lbs or less than 100 lbs it could give you some trouble, but outside of that it was just the right size.

I used True North’s chainsaw backpack for a solid two weeks.

I walked somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 miles with it fully loaded on my back.

I put it on and took it off dozens of times per day, and never once did I take it easy on it or give it a break.

I think True North developed this specifically for commercial firefighters who needed a dependable, fool proof way to backpack their saws over rough terrain… and it shows.

If you’re in the market for something like this, I don’t think you can go wrong with their product!

If you need the ultimate chainsaw backpack >> CLICK HERE << to check pricing!

Cement Mixer Review

These days I stay pretty busy as a local handyman.

Rarely a day goes by that I’m not cutting something up with a chainsaw, but I tend to get my hands on a lot of different types of equipment, as you’ve probably noticed reading over my reviews here on the site.

Recently, I was hired by a local to pour a concrete walk and storage area for their trash cans.

I am definitely not a concrete expert, but I’ve done a few projects before. When you look at a project this small, it really doesn’t make sense to hire a concrete team. Anything less than a full truck load of cement makes them very cost inefficient. So that leaves do-it-yourselfers like me to mix concrete a bag at a time.

The local hardware place wanted $60 per day to rent out a cement mixer. I thought it would take me probably a day and a half, and when you look at transport time and cost, it was going to cost me right at $150 to rent one. It was apparently I could buy an inexpensive one for not much more than that, so I pulled the trigger!

Fenbeli 4.2 Cubic Foot Cement Mixer Features

You can find cement mixers as small as 1.6 cubic feet. Of course the smaller the machine, the less expensive it is. But you will ultimately be slowed down by how many batches of cement you have to mix up. Since what I was pouring was larger than just a few feet, I bought basically the biggest electric mixer I could find.

I’m not going to lie, assembly sucked!

I liked the size of this thing! – check latest prices >>Click HERE<<

The thing came in a box completely disassembled. I am pretty mechanically inclined, so it wasn’t that hard to figure out. There’s just a lot of parts and it takes a lot of time. That’s three hours of my life I will never get back.

I didn’t expect many features at this low price point. But Fenbeli baked a few into their mid-level cement mixer that I was happy about.

First, let’s acknowledge this is electric. The motor that spins the rotating drum is powered via standard 110/120 volt outlets. I have used gasoline powered mixers before, and I didn’t want one of those. You are constantly having to add fuel, rut out to a gas station, tinker with the carb, etc.

Having an electric one could be a drawback if your jobsite is far away from an outlet. In my case, I just ran a long extension cord around the corner of the house, and I was set.

Pro tip: You always want to position your cement mixer as close to, or actually IN the jobsite, as possible!

Also, it has 10″ solid rubber wheels. You guys know from my previous comments about wheelbarrows that I hate flat tires. They have a way of showing up when you are ill-equipped to fix them, and in a big hurry. Solid tires are much more expensive, but they are a good guarantee against flats, so this gets two thumbs up from me.

Solid tires mean no risk of flats! – Check latest mixer pricing >>HERE

Lastly, they designed this with a good, wide base, so it’s stable. When you are tossing 80 lb bags of concrete in there, you don’t want something that sits like a house of cards in a hurricane.

Rotating the handle around to dump the barrel of contents into a wheelbarrow, or ideally inside the concrete forms themselves, is a simple matter. The wide base, solid tires, and flanged support leg make this quick and easy.

My Review

My initial impression was the Fenbeli unit was good quality. It is made of reasonably thick, high quality steel. The parts line up and go together well. It seems to be well-designed, carefully packaged, and they weren’t cutting corners or scrimping on the basics.

+ Solid and stable
+ Seems durable
+ Easy to use
+ Just the right size!

– Assembly sucks
– Hard to clean
– Not a lot of good storage options

I have made some notes above summarizing my thoughts about the mixer.

Regarding my criticisms, some of these aren’t exactly fair.

Clean-up for any cement mixer is painful. Even if you go old-school and mix in a wheelbarrow with a hoe, getting the leftovers cleaned out of your wheelbarrow always seems to take forever.

Maybe Fenbeli’s mixer is about the same as all of them. But it did seem like the powder coat orange paint they used was a little rougher than it needed to be, and I wondered if that encouraged the leftover concrete dregs to adhere to the surface that much more strongly.

Plus, like any other mixer of this type, once you are finished using it, storing it isn’t ideal. I wanted to keep mine out of the rain and weather, so it’s occupying a spot in my shop, where space always seems to be at a premium.

More Stuff You’ll Need

Let me save you some time and tell you all of the other stuff you’re going to need while you’re at it.

If you skip over some of this stuff, depending on what type of job you’re trying to do, it will mean you have to stop and head back to the hardware store for the stuff you forgot.

I hate unscheduled interruptions!

Bucket – You will want a 5 gallon bucket or two. Most big box hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowe’s sell these pretty cheap.
Extension cord – Hopefully you’ll be reasonably close to an electrical outlet. I keep a 100 foot outdoor cord handy, similar to this.
Gloves – You don’t want to go commando here. I like using chemical resistant gloves, preferably PVC coated. Mine are similar to these.
Finishing trowel – An 11″x4″ is pretty standard, like this one.
Float – There are a lot of different options for floats. Some people swear by magnesium floats.
Edger – I tend to use a small edger. But it doesn’t hurt to have several different sizes.
Bag/kit – The best way to keep all of these tools together is to throw them in your concrete kit back… or just buy one to start with!
Snips – If you are going to use wire mesh for reinforcement, you’ll need some side cutters. Link
Angle grinder – You will not be cutting rebar with snips! Easier to just throw an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel in the bag.
Shovels – Yes, you need shovels. All kinds of shovels. Pointy ones, flat ones, short ones, long ones!
Hammer – For the forms, you’ll use a hammer to attach the stakes to the form boards.

Best 2-Stage 80 Gallon Air Compressor – Ingersoll Rand 2475N7.5

My twenty year old air compressor finally gave up the ghost.

I don’t use an air compressor constantly, but I need something better than the little pancake jobs that provide only a gentle breeze.

I needed to replace my old one with something beefy! I shopped for a while, focusing mainly on 80 gallon options.

What Kind of Air Compressor Do I Need?

Here’s the rundown on air compressor specs, and how to interpret them.

The “gallon” refers to the size of the tank. This is like a battery. The bigger the volume of the tank, the longer the compressor can run a tool before the motor kicks on.

The motors are typically rated for two things: horsepower and cfm.

The amount of horsepower it has is related to its maximum psi. Typically larger motors have more power, that means they can generate more air pressure and flow more air.

The air flow itself is measured in cubic feet per minute, or cfm.

You will want to pick an air compressor that is compatible with the type of tools you run.

Air Tool CFM Chart

Tool DescriptionCFM @ 90 PSI
Angle Grinder 7"5-8
Brad nailer0.4
Chisel or hammer4-12
Cut-off tool4-10
Drill3-6
Dual action sander11-13
Framing nailer2.2
Grease gun4
Hydraulic riveter4
3/8" impact gun2.5-3.5
1/2" impact gun4-5
1" impact gun10
Mini die grinder4-6
Orbital sander6-9
Paint gun12 (@60 psi)

There are single and dual-stage compressors. You will find single stage are more entry-level, while two-stage compressors are more costly and higher performing.

Basically, the 2-stage compressors do more and do it more efficiently than single stage. But that comes at increased complexity and cost of components, meaning you have to pay more.

I wanted a 2-stage because a) I wanted something a little beefier, and b) I’m ‘Merican and we like big-honkin’ high-horsepower things!

What did I buy?

Ingersoll Rand 7.5 HP 80 Gallon Air Compressor – My Review

Ingersoll Rand is pretty well known in the air compressor world.

Air compressors are somewhat like engines in that they use pistons and cylinders to compress and move air around. A certain amount of precision is required.

I wanted a name brand rather than generic, and I wanted something made in the USA with a warranty that I could trust.

ingersoll rand air compressor photo
Ingersoll Rand’s 7.5Hp compressor is true beefcake! >>CLICK HERE<< to check latest prices…

The 7.5 HP unit 2-stage, and is listed as their part number 2475N7.5. Its specs:
Country of Origin Made in USA
Air Delivery SCFM At 90 PSI 24 CFM 175 PSI
Airflow Volume 24 CFM Maximum Power and Flexibility: 100% continuous duty, 7.5 HP two-stage air compressor, 175 PSIg maximum operating pressure and an 80 gal. ASME receiver tank provide plenty of punch for the most demanding applications
Air Outlet Size 0.25 in.
Compressor Horsepower 7.5 HP
Compressor Maximum PSI 175 PSI
Compressor Tank Capacity 80 gal
Compressor Type Vertical
Compressor Voltage 230V
Drain System Manual
Drive Type 1 Phase – Electrical Vertical Tank Mounted 7.50 HP – Air Compressor Stationary Air Compressor, 80 gal.
Features The air compressor has a durable cast iron pump that is designed to provide 15,000 hours of trouble-free use.
Number Of Power Speeds Single
Number Of Wheels 0
Power Type Electric
Primary Color Brown
Primary Material Cast Iron
Product Height 76 in.
Product Length 48 in.
Product Weight 609 lb.
Product Width 40 in.
Pump Material Cast iron
Tank Fill Time 0 minutes
Tank Orientation Vertical
Warranty 1 Year
Manufacturer Part Number 2475N7.5

If you want to check out Ingersoll Rand’s brochure for this model, you can CLICK HERE. If you want to download a copy of their owner’s manual, you can CLICK HERE.

This thing is really heavy, 609 lbs! Rather than trying to get several people over here to help me load and unload, I decided to just have it delivered right to my doorstep.

Note that this thing is 230 volt, so if you don’t have 230V available in your garage, you may need to consider a different option.

It arrived in a big crate, and I made quick work of uncrating it and moving it into it’s final position with a dolly and some grunting and shoving.

It is fairly loud, which is to be expected for a unit of this size. Speaking of which, that’s the other drawback – it takes up a lot of floorspace.

It is roughly the same size as my previous compressor, so again this is not unexpected.

Wiring and plumbing were easy, and I got the oil and filter kit for the smoothest startup. It fills the tank pretty quickly with that giant, 2-stage motor. No leaks and no problem keeping up with my shop tools.

I have had the beast for about two months now. As I said in the beginning, I don’t need something for daily, continuous use, and I probably over-bought. They claim it is designed for a 15,000 hour lifetime. It is a really nice piece of equipment, and it gives me a piece of mind that I bought a high-quality American brand with a warranty.

ingersoll rand compressor pic
I’m happy with the quality and power – to check the latest prices CLICK HERE

The Best Wheeled String Trimmer – My Review of the Toro 22″ 58620

Raise your hand if you’ve ever lugged a heavy, noisy, vibrating string trimmer all over God’s green earth and then had a backache that evening.

And… all hands go up!

Chainsaws can wear your back out too, of course, but what if there was special kind of chainsaw that rested it’s weight on the ground so that you didn’t have to wear yourself out carrying its load?

Wheeled string trimmers are pretty rare pieces of equipment. They usually only sit out on the salesfloor at rural dealers or maybe a Farm And Fleet. They are not popular at all in the suburbs, and that’s for a reason.

They are really made for cutting acreage. And even then, depending on your terrain and what you’re trying to cut, they may not be suitable.

But they are perfect for long fence lines, or long ditches.

After mulling it over for years, I finally bought a wheeled string trimmer last summer. What did I get, and what is my honest opinion of it? Read on…

Toro 22″ 58620 Specs

Toro’s 22″ Wheeled String Trimmer powers through it all – check latest prices by clicking >>HERE<<

Briggs & Stratton 163 cc engine
4-cycle
22″ cutting path
14″ large wheels
Foldable, tool-less handle height/angle adjustment
Steel deck
2/5 year warranty
0.26 gallon fuel tank

If you are looking for it, I have uploaded the owner’s manual and you can find it ->> HERE

My Review

This 22″ trimmer from Toro came in a medium-sized, heavy box. It was right at 80 lbs, so speaking of back pain, keep that in mind if you are going to load one in your truck/SUV at the store, or if you are ordering one.

Assembly was pretty easy, and only took a few minutes. The handle height can be set to your liking. It is tool-less, but that’s less of a benefit for adjusting on the fly and more about dropping the handle down to take up less space in your shed or your garage.

Toro includes a little discharge guard that mounts to the side. This seems to help keep some of the debris off your legs and shoes.

They also include engine oil. Like your pushmower, this thing is 4-stroke. That means you don’t mix oil in the fuel (which is handy), but you do put oil in the crankcase. My point in mentioning this… don’t forget the oil! If you do, your engine won’t last very long.

Your back may thank you later! ->> LATEST PRICING
The “string” is actually a thick cord. It snaps into place and is easily replaceable.

The healthy B&S engine starts right up with one pull of the cord. What black magic is this??

I wouldn’t call this thing quiet, but it is a big quieter than most gas powered push mowers.

I found that it had plenty of horsepower to cut through even the thickest and tallest weed patches. If you run it up against something that is just too thick for it to cut, the strings beat it up a little bit and just keep going. This thing is not prone to bogging down.

Yes, the 80 lb package weight surprised me, and made me a little apprehensive. After all, it was the weight of must handheld string trimmers that I was trying to avoid with this purchase.

But once you plop this thing on the ground on it’s giant 14″ wheels, it practically floats along, offering little in the way of resistance. Much easier on the back! In fact, about the only thing I felt like it was missing to be a true luxury is a beer holder and air conditioning (ha ha).

There were overgrown patches that were waist high, and this thing just rips right through them.

I did encounter some sections of blackberry brambles. Those vines are thick, and give it a bit more trouble. But it’s still way more powerful and effective than a handheld trimmer.

I found the strings to be quite durable. I cut along a fence line for probably 200 yards, and then I spent another hour cutting along a ditch that was probably 4′ wide by another 100 or 150 yards long.

I have noticed if you cut along a brick or concrete wall, that seems to be the hardest on the strings, and wears them out a little faster.

I didn’t time myself, but I am guessing there was maybe a 10% improvement in efficiency as compared to do it with my handheld trimmer. The 22″ diameter certainly helps, but then you offset that against slightly less maneuverability – pushing the thing on the ground rather than pivoting at your hip with a regular trimmer. And you also still have to take care not to bash into things, it’s not like I was in a race.

I have tried a Craftsman, and felt like it didn’t track straight. I have tried an off-brand, but it was hard to start. The Toro really impressed me, and I’m happy with the purchase.

I give the Toro 2 thumbs up!

I was happy with my purchase…

Ego CS1804 18 inch 56 volt Battery Chainsaw – My Review

If you’re a regular reader of ChainsawsToday, you know I love getting my hands on various chainsaws and trying them out.

In this case, one of my buddies bought a brand new Ego Power+ CS1804 battery chainsaw. Before he even pulled it out of the box, he let me use it for a weekend!

Ego CS1804 Chainsaw Basics

18-inch bar and chain
LED work lights
11,000 RPM operating speed
IPX4-rated weather-resistant design
Tool-free chain tensioning system (tighten the chain by simply twisting the dial)
Brushless motor for longer life
3/8-inch pitch, .050-inch gauge chain, 62 drive links
5 Ah battery
5-year warranty for the tool
3-year warranty for the battery
14.5 lb operating weight

Tons of features on the EGO CS1804 Chainsaw – Check latest pricing on Amazon -> RIGHT HERE

Pulling this thing out of the box, assembly was pretty quick and painless.

I put bar oil in it, and double-checked the chain tension.

The knobs for both the oil fill and the chain tensioning mechanism are almost comically large. They look in some ways like they belong on a toy, especially in the neon-green color. But there is a method to this madness.

Ego designed these intentionally, so they could be used even when using gloves.

The chain brake is where it needs to be and functions as expected. Clicking the battery in place is simple, and starting the saw (just like any battery saw) is as easy as pushing the button rather than priming a bulb and cranking your arm off on a pull cord.

This thing has plenty of power for its size. It is not super-light, mainly because of the beefy 5 Ah battery. I think they offer a 4 Ah battery too, which might reduce the weight by a pound or two if that’s an issue.

CS1804 Performance

Rather than runtime, which would obviously vary according to how hard you’re pushing the saw, Ego advertises 300 cuts per charge. They standardize that to mean cuts on a 4×4 post, which they presumably test in their lab.

I don’t know how many cuts I got, but I worked the crap out of it and it did fine.

My buddy actually supplied me with two of Ego’s 5 Ah batteries, one came with the saw and one he already had. A cool thing about most of Ego’s products is they can all run off the same battery. Now keep in mind that Ego has different sizes of batteries. This saw comes with the big one (5 Ah), but they are smaller capacity batteries too. Regardless, they all click into place and work fine, whether you’re running the Ego chainsaw, blower, string trimmer, etc.

I ran the saw all day Friday and most of the day Saturday. I didn’t use it continuously, just like a gas saw I would set it down to move wood, haul it to the trailer, pull branches and debris out of the way, or move logs with my peavey.

For the most part, one battery kept up with me just fine. I suspect I could’ve put it on a charger whenever I took a break or hauled stuff to the landfill, and that would’ve been plenty. Having two batteries was icing on the cake, as I was able to keep one on the charger and one on the saw all the time.

Maybe it doesn’t make a difference to you, but after sawing for two days, I had used $0 is gas and 2-cycle oil. I’m guessing that would’ve cost me at least $25 or $35 with a conventional saw. Now, I charged the homeowner over $1,000 for this work, some of which I spent renting trailer and on gasoline driving back and forth to the worksite and the landfill. I’m just saying that the saw itself (just like any battery saw) is cheaper to operate than a gas saw.

I found the chain tensioning mechanism worked fine. Slightly more convenient to use since it’s tool-less, some kudos there.

The saw is pretty quiet, but I still wore hearing protection.

Although I saved on gas and engine oil, of course I still ran through a fair amount of bar and chain oil. The oversized knob makes it easy to check and fill.

I gave the chain a quick file and sharpen a couple of times on Friday, and solid 10 minute refresh Friday night, and just gave it a bit of a tweak once on Saturday. It seems to wear well, and does a good job making the chips fly.

Fights above it’s weight on thick logs! Check pricing by CLICKING HERE

I cut some really thick stuff, and the CS1804 never complained. It has good torque, low kickback, and cuts straight.

It was fairly cool out both days when I was cutting, maybe 50 or 60 degrees F. I can’t really say whether it would have a problem overheating the electric motor on hotter days during long cuts. Just something to watch out for if you think you might use it for hours at a time in a hot climate.

Incidentally, if you need them, here’s a link to the owner’s manual->> HERE, as well as the parts list->> HERE.

Review Verdict

I was surprised by how much I liked this saw.

It is one of the more impressive battery chainsaws I’ve used.

I don’t like the looks of it, like I mentioned it looks sort of toy-like and plastic-y. But I definitely like it’s performance.

I am thinking about buying one of my own!

I give this saw two thumbs up!

Most Popular Chainsaw Brands of 2024

Around six years ago now, I made a post here on ChainsawsToday about the most popular chainsaw brands of the year.

I think it’s time we update you guys, and see where we’re at in 2024!

As a reminder, there is a group called OPEI (Outdoor Power Equipment Institute) who periodically puts out data like this for the entire industry. That is my source.

Like last time, I want to lead with the actual cold hard facts, in tabular form, and then we can discuss some of the details.

2024 Chainsaw Market Share by Brand

Brand201920202021202220232024
Stihl76.0%75.8%74.9%76.2%75.7%78.7%
Echo11.4%12.0%12.5%11.5%12.5%10.1%
Husqvarna11.6%11.0%11.3%11.2%10.7%10.4%
Makita0.2%0.3%0.3%0.3%0.3%0.2%
Shindaiwa0.3%0.3%0.3%0.2%0.2%0.2%
Ego0.1%0.3%0.3%0.2%0.2%0.0%
RedMax0.1%0.1%0.2%0.2%0.1%0.1%
Greenworks0.0%0.1%0.1%0%0.1%0.1%
Toro0%0%0%0.1%0.1%0.1%
Oregon0.1%0%0%0%0%0%
DeWalt0%0%0%0%0.1%0%
Jonsered0%0%0%0%0%--
Before discussing these rows and data points, let’s chat about where the data comes from, and what it might mean.

Chainsaw Brand Popularity Data

This is a little tricky. Don’t let me bore you or lose you.

The OPEI surveys a given number of customers who have recently purchased various outdoor power equipment.

This could be chainsaws (pertinent to our discussion here), or a tractor, or a mower, etc.

In the survey, they ask the participants what brand they bought. Typically, the consumer gets back to them with a specific brand, or in some regrettable cases they simply answer “I don’t know”.

I have joked before about people buying a chainsaw and not even knowing what brand it is. I’m sure you find that surprising. I know I do. but it happens.

Sometimes when folks answer, they might misspell or mispronounce a brand. Or in all honesty, the survey may catch them by surprise and they may forget which brand and just write the wrong one down.

Because of some of these inherent inaccuracies, let’s assume any brands within a few percentage points of each other are roughly equivalent.

One last thing, not much data has been published for 2024 yet, so there is plenty that could change between now and the end of the year.

Stihl Chainsaw Popularity

Stihl is still the most popular brand of chainsaw in North America.

They are head and shoulders above their nearest competitor. And with several years of data shown in the chart, you can see they have maintained this market dominance for quite some time.

Stihl has quite a marketing machine, and this contributes to their success. They’ve also had some successful product launches that has driven their popularity in the last few years.

Echo Chainsaw Popularity

Although a distant second place, Echo has been chasing market share for years.

I reviewed their CS-590 Timberwolf not too long ago, and thought it was a great product. They have a compelling lineup, with plenty of solid entries.

Their 20″ 60cc model is fairly popular, but I don’t actually know of a single Echo saw that is crappy.

Husqvarna Chainsaw Popularity

Husqvarna is more or less tied with Echo for second place.

In years past, Husqvarna also manufactured Jonsered, RedMax, and Poulan Pro saws. In that way, it may give them an edge over Echo just in terms of yearly volumes and overall popularity.

Although I have used Husqvarna saws on and off since I was old enough to help my dad and grandfather cut wood, I have never posted a review of one here on the website. Note to sell- remedy this situation!

But Husqvarna is also known for selling tons of gear, and I did review their protective apparel kit a few years ago – find details here.

I will wrap it up there.

I was checking out the data from OPEI and thought I would keep you guys in the loop.

Best Pipe Insulation and Heat Cable/Tape

Depending on where you live, you may have to deal with frigid temps all the time, or it may just be a cold snap every now and then.

Or maybe you live on a tropical island and you don’t even own a winter coat!

You know what sucks? Frozen pipes.

If you’re really lucky, they freeze and thaw without bursting and it doesn’t cost you a fortune.

When they burst, they can cause extensive property damage. Think about flooding your house or basement, ruining drywall, ceilings, furniture, electrical appliances. It can be a nightmare even with good homeowner’s insurance.

Even in the best case, if the pipes don’t burst, it’s a pain in the butt. Nothing kills a busy weekend full of obligations or plans like having zero water service. You can’t shower, do stuff in the kitchen, wash clothes, and if unlucky you may not even be able to use your toilet. Ya might only get one flush (I’ve been there).

If you come here to ChainsawsToday looking specifically for content about chainsaws, cool. But I get dragged into more handyman stuff than you can shake a stick at, and I recently helped an elderly lady harden her plumbing against cold weather. She had been dealing with the nuisance and the risk of frozen pipes for several years, and for a minimal amount of time, effort, and money I was able to help fix that for her.

I figured I would drop something on the website to help others looking for the best options for pipe insulation and heat tape.

Pipe Insulation

Insulating risky pipes is one of the easiest and most inexpensive options.

Any pipe or connection that is above ground is at risk. Some areas to watch out for…
pipes in a crawlspace
pipes running from a well pump into the ground
outside hose bibs or spigots, and the pipes running to them

Depending on your location and how cold it gets, underground pipes can be a problem too. The frost line varies by region, and hopefully your pipes are a) buried deep enough to be below the frost line, and b) insulated down to that point.

Foam pipe insulation is a great option.

Foam pipe insulation is a gold standard – click HERE for bulk pricing

This is generally made of closed-cell polyethylene foam. It usually comes with a split down its lengthwise run, which makes it very quick and easy to install. It’s flexible, pretty wear resistant, not easy to tear or tear up. It’s not terribly expensive. If installing it somewhere it could be exposed to wind, I would recommend adding spots or even entire strips of tape to seal the slit once installed, that way it can’t blow off.

Also, for connections and T’s, you should probably butt pieces up against one another and seal them with tape.

Purchased in bulk, this will cost you around $1/ft.

Insulating tape is another option.

Winding insulation tape around your pipes for protection – click HERE to see bulk deals

It insulates just as well, or in some cases even better than the split foam tube option, but it’s harder to install.

When I say “harder”, it don’t mean like rocket science. You just have to wrap the roll around each pipe carefully, with (ideally) an even and precise overlap.

Costing this option is a little tricky. Because you’re wrapping it around the pipe, linear feet on the tape roll doesn’t equate to linear feet on the pipe. Plus you need overlap. A rough rule of thumb is assume a 30′ roll of 2″ wide tape will cover around 15′ of 1/2″ diameter pipe. With that assumption, the cost is about the same as the foam insulation.

If you need to up your game, pipe heat tape or heat cable may come into play.

This is basically like a heated blanket for your pipes. You can wrap the tape or cable in a spiral around each pipe, or in some cases you just run it straight down each length. Most kits come with tape or anchors to fasten it around the pipe. You then plug it into an outlet, and when powered a resistance heating keeps the material warm and prevents freezing.

Heat tape can protect pipes even in the Arctic – click HERE to check latest pricing

Nobody wants to stomp around in the middle of a snowstorm plugging their pipe heaters in. I usually recommend plugging them in to one of the small, cheap wifi controllers like this, and that way you can turn each on and off with your phone. Some of the more expensive versions come with thermostats, which is even nicer.

There are a couple of drawbacks to going the powered route. Number one, there are only so many plugs and outlets that can be managed. If you have more than a couple of runs of this, it becomes like a Clark Griswold Christmas Vacation thing where you are just itching to blow a fuse or trip a breaker. And of course electricity costs money, so your power bill may suffer.

On the other hand, if temps are sub-zero and brutally cold, insulation without a heated option may not be enough.

One final item I’ll throw out there, I use a heat lamp in my well pump house. My well pump and reservoir sit under a little 3’x3’x3′ plastic dome. The dome has some insulation on the underside, but not much, and it’s crumbling away anyway from age. I had a problem with some components freezing a few years ago during a cold snap, so I set a heat lamp out there and wired it to a wifi outlet controller.

Of course you have to use an “old school” incandescent bulb. Modern day LED bulbs are too efficient, and produce too little heat to have a protective effect. Any time it gets below about 20 degrees, I turn the well pump house heat lamp on the prevent problems.

A heat lamp in my pump house – click HERE to see pricing