Getting my hurricane supplies together, question about chainsaws

[draggar]

Since my cordless screwdriver / drill died the other day I went shopping for one.

I decided on a Ryobi One+ kit (18V - drill / screwdriver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and a flashlight). The nice thing is that one battery works with all of these tools and the kit came with two batteries and a charger. (the kit was $160, just a screwdriver with this amount of power was going to cost me about $100 since the batteries and chargers are sold separately for most of them).

I see that they also have a chainsaw for the One+ line for $50. Not a bad price at all. I've been debating of using part of my incoming rebate check to get that, or should I go all out and get a gas powered chainsaw (they run $130-$150 minimum).

I'm mainly concerned for when storms come and we have no power. Our (tiny) generator can charge batteries with no problems (along with keeping a small fridge semi-cool). So the batteries will not be a problem (and my emergency radio / TV will also crank-charge batteries, too).

The battery powered one will be cheaper to run in the long run (no gas to buy) and is a lot less expensive than a gas powered one ($50 as opposed to $130-$150). I've also used Ryobi tools in the past and been happy with them.

The gas powered one will most likely give me more power and last much longer on a tank of gas than one battery would. The less expensive chainsaws are "generic" and unknown brands, though.

I wouldn't use it often, only when needed after a storm. We live in a townhome so our own "yard" is a small fenced in patio (no trees in the patio).

Thoughts?

 

[Donald Aquilano]

I own a Husqvarna chainsaw. I have found that they are most reliable I have every owned but probably a little more than you are willing to pay for($250+). You can find them at Lowes Home Improvment stores. I have found that the Ryobi cordless chainsaw is OK for little stuff but not no ware near good enough for cutting down bigger tree limbs. It just doesn't have the power.

If you don't have trees in your yard why do you need a chainsaw?

 

[draggar]

If you don't have trees in your yard why do you need a chainsaw?

Hurricanes can blow things far, very far.

There are trees nearby and it wouldn't be too far fetched for some of them to end up in my patio or yard area (or just clearing the roads, etc..).

 

[south]

I agree. Not much use to a chainsaw if you have no trees.. But if you feel you need one, get any cheap gas powered one. For as little as you will probably use it, you don't need anything special, but electric is not a good idea when there is none. You also could ask to borrow mine if you really need one I should recycle my gas come to think of it. Got 25 gallons in the shed from last years prep. Don't look forward to dumping $2.50 gas in my tanks, and paying close to $4.00/gal to refill them. Maybe i'll mix 50/50 with old and new this year.