UniversalChain 18 1Bat
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Fast and simple sawing
The UniversalChain 18 saws branches and trees at a speed of 4 m/s. The ratio of chain speed to weight is balanced to ensure a quick finish. The stop hook also allows clean cuts from below.
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Practical SDS system
Equipped with the Bosch SDS system, the saw’s chain is particularly simple to replace. The tensioning system ensures that you can tension the chain and get the saw operational in just a few minutes.
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Battery charge level indicator
The saw displays the current battery charge level, so you always know when the battery needs to be recharged. A full battery charge allows up to 450 cuts without interruption.
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Battery charge level indicator
The saw displays the current battery charge level, so you always know when the battery needs to be recharged. A full battery charge allows up to 450 cuts without interruption.
Technical details
•Battery voltage/capacity: 18 V / 2.5 Ah
•Cutting performance/battery charge: Up to 450 cuts
•Blade length: 200 mm
•Chain speed/type: 4,2 m/s / Oregon 90 SG, 1.1 mm
•Weight: 2.5 kg/3.0 kg with battery
 UniversalChain 18 |  AKE 35 S |  AKE 35-19 S |  AKE 40-19 Pro | |
| Cordless tool | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Battery power | 18 Volt | – | – | – |
| Motor power | – | 1800 W | 1900 W | 1900 W |
| Blade length | 20 cm | 35 cm | 35 cm | 40 cm |
| Chain speed | 4,2 m/s | 9 m/s | 12 m/s | 13 m/s |
| Chain | Oregon 90 SG | Chrome chain | Chrome chain | 3x Chrome Extra LongLife chain |
| SDS system | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Weight | 2.5 kg/3 kg (with battery) | 4 kg | 4.4 kg | 4.7 kg |
Flexible, powerful 18 V battery system
Grind, drill and trim hedge with just one battery? No problem. Stay flexible and quickly switch the lithium-ion battery from device to device. Save on the future purchases of additional 18-volt system devices, because there is no need for more batteries and chargers.
Syneon chip for maximum performance
The “Syneon” technology from Bosch affords maximum battery runtime coupled with optimal power usage by adjusting the power consumption depending on the requirements of the task.
| Weight: | 3.2 kg |
| Dimensions: | 34.9 x 23.5 x 21 cm; 3.2 Kilograms |
| Model: | 3 600 HB8 000 |
| Part: | 3 600 HB8 000 |
| Pack Quantity: | 1 |
| Batteries Required: | Yes |
| Batteries Included: | Lithium Ion |
| Manufacture: | 3 600 HB8 000 |
| Quantity: | 1 |
5.0 out of 5 stars Great electric chainsaw better than I thought it would be 👍🏻
Easy to control makes it safer than a petrol one when up a tree just press the button and go better than I thought it would be
Love i
I am a woman in my 60’s, it’s light and easy to use. I sharpen the chain and clean it every time I use it and am very pleased with it. I’ve bought a second battery as the one supplied does only last for 20 minutes to half an hour but is able to cope with all the branches and small logs to keep me supplied with firewood .Obviously not designed for heavy duty but suits me fine.
Awesome saw
Does the job well. Battery runs for a good time and the cutting is good. Don’t go for huge logs as it won’t cut it , just keep them the width of your leg max and you’ll be fine. Happy days.
Just the Job
Would strongly recommend this perfect piece of kit for pruning/trimming and cutting up to 6 inch logs/branches. Light weight makes it easy to use and it feels very safe. Getting about an hour out of the battery.
I liked the beast. However after fitting in the chain for just check up, I realised it is not the easiest to remove. There are no instructions in the manual, nor any reviews on the Internet. Despite fully slacking the chain, the main metal blade has decided not to come off the screw mount. And no instructions how to do it. What a shame
Further to above. Finally it came off. As could find no reason of it coming off, so I put the gloves on, tried to pull it hard and it came off. So point is that you need to put FORCE on it with gloves on without a fear of damage and it comes off. May be it could help others like me trying not to damage the saw while replacing the chain.
Very useful
I am surprised by the performance of this tool, I think it’s excellent.
It came with instructions to put the chain saw together which we found quite straight forward to follow. This weighs no more than your average hedge trimmer so is relatively easy to use. It breezes through thick branches. We used it almost constantly for several hours before the battery needed to be recharged. I am looking forward to getting the extension pole so that I can use it to prune/cut back my apple tree annually. That review will be on the extension stick.
Excelle
It’s a really practical thing for light use around the garden. Been using it now for a month or so and been very happy with it.
Brillia
Brilliant little saw but the battery that came whith it is rubbish when fully charged I get 3 to 4 minutes use and goes hot but the saw cuts very good
Dont expect to fell a tree with it.
I know the title sounds critical but this saw is battery powered so you have to accept it’s limitations.
The most annoying thing and the reason it loses a star, is the chain sheath, its forever dropping off and could easily be lost if you don’t see it fall.
Useful chainsaw
Small enough for my wife to use and plenty powerf enough for most jobs
Great for the Occasional Use
This is handy for light pruning of branches up to 3cm or 4cm diameter. Don’t expect it to turn you into a lumberjack.
I was surprised to see it was made in China, although if Bosch is prepared to put its name on the unit I guess the company is happy with the quality.
My only disappointment was the lack of a User Manual. This tool can be dangerous if misused; fortunately I have used chainsaws before so I am familiar with the rules. There were no instructions for fitting the blade but with a little trial and error I got around that problem.
Excellent, safe, tough & reliable
Brilliant product. We have 11 acres of woodland and this tool is an indispensable part of our kit. I would also recommend it for anyone wishing to progress to bigger chainsaws as a starter/teaching tool. Because the kickback zone is inaccessible this tool is a great confidence builder. Excellent for small dia. cross-cutting and low pruning. It goes on, and on, and on and is extremely low maintenance. We also have the telescopic pruner version of this and are thrilled with that too.
Good value for money
Nothing to dislike. Made to the usual Bosch high standard with plenty of torque even on low battery. Battery life is about 40 mins, but dependant on thickness of wood being cut. I bought a second battery which was a good move and advisable.
Great little saw
This is a great little saw.
Over the years I have used many chain saws all of them petrol, but if you cant be bothered to fuel up a saw and prep it then this saw is a tuff easy to use alternative it doesn’t make a lot of noise and you can cut small branches quickly.
The battery lasted well and recharged quickly whilst having a cup of coffee.
It does the job and since it’s a reputable brand I am hoping that this saw doesn’t pack up within 3 months of buying it – which has happened to me with each of two reciprocating saws that I bought previously. I wish the blade was longer but this is a smaller saw well suited to chainsaw tyros like me who would be well advised to use a weaker tool and get some experience before they start using the real deal! In use it is straightforward and efficient. I especially like that the battery is long lasting and doesn’t always need to be recharged before the next cutting session! In use the saw chain quite quickly loses tension and you need to remember to use the tensioner on the side to keep it running optimally. Oh yes, it comes with a 3 year warranty! Seems quite economical so far on oil. A tip: having fully charged up the battery if you’re not planning on using the saw immediately then unplug and remove the battery as my experience has been that if you leave it attached to the saw overnight then when you go to use it the next day you will find that it has discharged!
Gary T.
Easy set up and use. Fabulous tool for my use
Great tool to use. Easy set up and so easy to use. Not too noisy when cutting. My particular battery life is about 40-60 mins when cutting up wood pallets. Well worth the money
Just pick it up and get on with the job!
I’m using it for the smaller chainsaw jobs – so far up to 6 inches diameter branches etc. It does very well.
Battery lasts for a good length of time but handy to have a spare or two (from other Bosch kit).
Of course one of the best things is that is uses the universal batteries of which I already have a number so I can just cut for longer now and swap them out when drained.
The nose guard is great, it prevents any real kick back and the chain goes through anything up to about 8 inches thick or so, like a knife through butter.
It has saved me hours of laborious work with axe and bow saw. It seems happy on ordinary engine oil in the lube reservoir so no extra expenses there.
All in all, superb buy. Can’t think of a negative.
Brilliant little saw, very easy to set up and use.
Brilliant little saw, very easy to set up and use. Good build quality and long battery goes through 6″ logs with no problems. Highly recommended
Good little chainsaw for occasional use
Good little saw for occasional use… You wouldn’t want to do a full day with it, but for removing the odd branch or pruning it’s fine. Needs an additional battery (which should be of a higher amp hour) to get a full 5 stars
Don’t purchase expecting to become a lumberjack, or if you need to plunge cut, but for me (clearing access to over grown sites) it’s handy
Handy Size
Needed a light weight chainsaw I could use up a tree to trim and shape branches – this is very convenient in as much as it’s a press button action as apposed to having to pull start one. Strong enough to do the job I required it for.
Small but powerful saw
WE had a lot of storm damage near us with oak and other trees down on the golf course. Free wood for my stove.
Only tried once so far but it cut steadily and quickly through the limbs I selected.
Easy to use when you let the saw take the strain and light until you finish your cut.
A GOOD BUY unless you want a longer blade.
Powerful little saw
Admittedly, my first saw broke; just span and wouldnt engage but it was replaced without question.
I use a 6ah battery and given it’s tiny size, it’s really easy to bash through a stack of tree limbs, so maybe I overworked it?
Anyway, I’m a bit more careful with the second saw which I’ve used weekly (or more) for about 8 months. Cuts through hardwood no problem, really light and well built.
Powerful little saw
Admittedly, my first saw broke; just span and wouldnt engage but it was replaced without question.
I use a 6ah battery and given it’s tiny size, it’s really easy to bash through a stack of tree limbs, so maybe I overworked it?
Anyway, I’m a bit more careful with the second saw which I’ve used weekly (or more) for about 8 months. Cuts through hardwood no problem, really light and well built.
This chainsaw will easily cut through branches up to about 4 inches in diameter. If that’s what you want, it’s a brilliant choice. The fact that it’s small makes it easy to manoeuvre, and this is where it beats bigger chainsaws hands down. It comes supplied with enough oil to fill the reservoir once, but it’s a good idea to buy more oil at the time of purchase so you don’t get stuck when the original supply runs out. Being a chainsaw newbie, I didn’t originally realise the importance of using the grippers: the main one at the base of the chainsaw, and the smaller one at the far end of the chainsaw. Using these makes all the difference. I’m very happy with my purchase
Unique cutting tool
I would not have bought this tool for general purpose timber cutting, but when certain types of cuts are needed it is a unique tool. I have found it to be very useful. I have cut joints in hardwood newel posts with it and it worked well. I can’t comment on the lifetime of the blade, as some have. I would not consider using at as a general purpose saw nor for garden pruning. It feels too specialised for that. I’ll keep the blade sharp and ready for the next awkward cut.
Good little tool
Easy to assemble easy to use kick back guard a bit annoying
Unique cutting tool
I would not have bought this tool for general purpose timber cutting, but when certain types of cuts are needed it is a unique tool. I have found it to be very useful. I have cut joints in hardwood newel posts with it and it worked well. I can’t comment on the lifetime of the blade, as some have. I would not consider using at as a general purpose saw nor for garden pruning. It feels too specialised for that. I’ll keep the blade sharp and ready for the next awkward cut.
Good little tool
The saw can be quite difficult to assemble. After a while I had to throw in the towel and get some help. Once it’s assembled it’s a sturdy reliable tool that makes short work of most gardening jobs. Only con is the oil dries up very quickly and will frequently need replacing.
At 87 I’m finding my Bosch 14 inch a bit of a handful as it is too heavy for me. However this little wonder allows me to prune quite large branches (over 4 inches) much more easily. Obviously sizeable tree felling is not its forte, nor mine any longer.
Bought as a gif
This product was much appreciated as it is so much lighter than petrol driven machines.
Good investme
Very good piece of equipment. Cuts like a dream. Only thing which I personally did not like was the guard at the end of the blade, it hindered the cut. So I took it off and now I am able to cut at least 100mm cut easy. The battery also as a very good cutting life.
Good investme
Very good piece of equipment. Cuts like a dream. Only thing which I personally did not like was the guard at the end of the blade, it hindered the cut. So I took it off and now I am able to cut at least 100mm cut easy. The battery also as a very good cutting life.
Very good.
As a landscape gardener I was a bit sceptical about battery compared to petral. Bosh are a great brand and the battery saw with a small bar does smaller branches like cutting through butter. It’s good from one in the trade and an included battery cuts the cost by far.
Very good.
As a landscape gardener I was a bit sceptical about battery compared to petral. Bosh are a great brand and the battery saw with a small bar does smaller branches like cutting through butter. It’s good from one in the trade and an included battery cuts the cost by far.
Perhaps just a little too small
This is a nice, compact saw, which is surprisingly light and wieldy given the added mass of the battery. the manufacture and materials are of typical Bosch quality and charging is simple and reasonably quick. It has taken me a long time to write this review however, primarily because the actual cutting element of the blade is relatively small, perhaps allowing it to cut through branches of no more that 15cm when considering the capped end. This means that for most pruning jobs where a saw of this size might be useful, it is actually almost just as easy to whip out a manual saw and do the job by hand. It is a nice object to have, in the knowledge that if I need to prune a large amount of a moderately sized row of trees this might save me some work, but this is such a rare event that the tool in reality spends a lot of time gathering dust in my shed.
Cool
Very good and exciting used to chop logs for the fire and exceeds my expectations
Brilliant tool. Light weight and cuts more than you think.
We love this little chain saw. The Bosch battery system is great too because the batteries are all interchangeable so you do not have to carry several chargers with you.
Good kit for pruning and small branches
Great little machine . Easy to set up and very good for pruning and cutting small branches . A little expensive when the price of a battery and charger is included but that’s a normal whinge with cordless – why don’t all cordless tools use compatible batteries !
Good kit for pruning and small branches
Great little machine . Easy to set up and very good for pruning and cutting small branches . A little expensive when the price of a battery and charger is included but that’s a normal whinge with cordless – why don’t all cordless tools use compatible batteries !
Lightweight and easy to assemble
Bought to remove a couple of trees. Coped very well with branches and although slow to cut through the main trunk of one of the trees got there eventually but unable to cope with a trunk size of approximately 12″ (30cm). Battery life good but the rotation of the blade good do with a bit of umph
Great bit of ki
Lightweight and functional really useful when the petrol powered chainsaw would be over the top and surprisingly powerful bit fiddly to clean but if you already have the batteries this is a value for money purchase.
Great light duty chainsaw
Nice light duty chainsaw. Good for cutting smaller firewood logs. Easy to handle.
Got this yesterday at a great price from Amazon. Tried it out and works really well.
It does come with a small bottle of oil which was usefull.
Its quite small but ideal for what I need, chopping medium sized branches off trees and hedges.
If the size suits you, then this is great value and well worth the Money. (Includes a Battery which is worth almost as much as the whole package)
Great wee saw
Great wee saw, have a Sthil 029 and an Ama one handed saw, the Bosch is light and powerful for its size, perfect for light cutting, and pruning, the chain stops quickly once the Switch is released. Good for cutting timber under 3or 4 inches.
The Bosch battery chainsaw is an easy choice to make if like me you have other items in the 18 v range with similar power rating.It isn’t as powerful as a petrol model and this model will deal with up to 4 inch thickness of branch due to blade length so make sure it isn’t for heavy duty work.
The only other points I would highlight is that the chain becomes slack in no time so frequent tightening required remembering to slacken off tension after use and beware leaving oil in the resivour after a cutting session .It seeps out all over the place even in an upright storing position.
Hoping that the chain remains sharp for some time to come….
Great product from Bosch. This chainsaw is designed for light garden work and it does that extremely well. The secret is to let the saw do the work and not try to force it. I’ve just trimmed a tree in my garden with ease and I still have three lights showing on the battery indicator. Bearing in mind what this product is designed to do I would thoughly recommend it.
Easy to handle and cuts very well . Periodically need the tension on chain nipping up but this I think is just normal . Battery does charge fast and on an a single battery I managed to cut just over two white pallets in to 10″ lengths for my fire .
Only issue is the chain cover doesn’t fit very well and is a pain to fit to protect the chain so I always remove the battery when not in use so it can not be accident operated ( trigger safety is not the best ). In safe hands it is a very good piece of kit and worth the money .
Easy to handle and cuts very well . Periodically need the tension on chain nipping up but this I think is just normal . Battery does charge fast and on an a single battery I managed to cut just over two white pallets in to 10″ lengths for my fire .
Only issue is the chain cover doesn’t fit very well and is a pain to fit to protect the chain so I always remove the battery when not in use so it can not be accident operated ( trigger safety is not the best ). In safe hands it is a very good piece of kit and worth the money .
Love it! Best purchase I’ve made in a long time. Chain cutting length is big enough for most garden branches, obviously it’s not going to cut down a trunk but it’s not meant for that. Light weight for me to carry up a ladder and into a tree to use one handed, perfect! Battery holds about 45 minutes so more than enough
Brilliant, just brillia
This is a really excellent little cordless chainsaw
It has a reasonable cutting width of around 100mm which means it can be used to trim good sized branches or to trim fence posts to length.
When in use I have yet to have the battery fail, it gives a very good number of cuts, but the length of time/number of cuts is dependant on what is being cut.
I cannot fault this excellent and very useful cordless chainsaw.
Brilliant, just brillia
This is a really excellent little cordless chainsaw
It has a reasonable cutting width of around 100mm which means it can be used to trim good sized branches or to trim fence posts to length.
When in use I have yet to have the battery fail, it gives a very good number of cuts, but the length of time/number of cuts is dependant on what is being cut.
I cannot fault this excellent and very useful cordless chainsaw.
Lightweight and practical
This is a great little chainsaw, primarily because it is lightweight and cordless. The old one I had been using was inherited from my father, weighed a tonne and was almost impossible to manoeuvre without fearing you were about to lose a limb.
This Bosch weighs just 3kg – with the battery attached. It’s marvellous, and give much more dexterity when moving around to lop branches off trees, as I have been doing.
The lower weight does not mean a drop in cutting power. This is a ruthless little chainsaw, and it has encountered no problems with the branches and small logs (for open fire) that I have presented it with.
However, I should point out that I’m just using this in my garden for small tasks. The blade is on the short side – far shorter than my dad’s old chainsaw – and while this suits me, it may not suit others looking to saw down trees or to go through other thicker items.
The battery lasts half an hour no problem, is a doddle to operate, and I imagine overall, this chainsaw should suit most people not looking to involve themselves in serious, heavy-duty chainsawing operations.
When I was unpacking this item the first thing that surprised me was the small size of the chain guard. I hadn’t realised this saw had such a small cutting area and the end guard makes it a little smaller still. I had a dead eucalyptus trunk that I’d planned to test this saw on, but the blade was too short to cut a big section of it so I had to resort to my BLACK+DECKER 36 V Lithium-Ion Chainsaw, 30 cm to cut that wider bit before I could use this Bosch saw. The Bosch saw was able to manage the part that was roughly 4.5″ in diameter, with about an inch of wiggle room between the wood and the blade guard. So I guess it would tackle maybe 5″ diameter wood. You need a little wiggle room.
The instructions say start the saw and then address the wood. I did this and found that the chain bounced a little before getting a cut started, so a firm hold is needed. It also rattled a little in use, so was just a bit noisier than my B&D.
It cuts ok, but I wasn’t able to see how much charge the battery held. I cut a couple of six foot trunks into three inch logs and the battery seemed as good at the end as when it started, but these batteries die quickly so you don’t get a lot of warning. B&D 36V batteries have a charge indicator built in to them.
The saw comes unassembled, but the chain is attached to the chain guard. There is some fiddling with the tension adjuster to get the hole in the right place for the chain to fit around the drive cog. But once that’s figured out it goes together ok.
The instructions claim that this saw needs Bosch bio-degradable chain oil. It’s just as well enough oil to fill the saw’s reservoir is supplied with the saw, because I’d bought a big bottle of non-bio-degradable chain oil to use with it.
Once it was set up, the battery charged, and the oil reservoir filled, it worked fine. Press a button with thumb to release the trigger, press the trigger, release the thumb and hold tightly with both hands.
Chain saws are potentially dangerous, particularly because they can jump unexpectedly and if you don’t have a firm enough hold can hit flesh while still going. The blade end protector, and short length of exposed chain, I think make this safer than some, so it’s a great addition to the tool shed if you regularly need to prune branches that are too thick for a long handled pruner.
Regarding safety, I had a slight problem with this saw. It is difficult to remove the battery one handed. The design means you have to push a button on the end to release the lock and at the same time pull in the opposite direction with the rest of your fingers on the edges of the battery case. I managed it but it wasn’t quick or easy. For safety I always remove the battery as soon as I’ve finished cutting. With this battery lock/release system it encourages using two hands on the battery, or just leaving the battery in place. My B&D has a lock that slides down and a spring pops the battery out, so it’s easy to remove one-handed.
This is not a bad saw, but I much prefer my B&D. This Bosch is small and great for small pruning jobs and is probably about as safe as you can get with a chain saw, but the short length of blade makes it unsuitable for bigger jobs.
There’s a bit of set up required such as adding the supplied 80ml of oil and charging the battery. There’s a light that indicates the progress of the charge and it was done with an hour. There’s a viewing window for the oil so you can keep track of the level. It’s my first time using such a tool in the garden but a friend who’s a gardener has been helping me get started. I’m glad I had him to hand because I’m not terribly confident using such a tool and he took care of sorting out the chain and the tension. With any such tool safety comes first and he insisted on us tracking precautions such as wearing safety glasses. With the 5 inch blade you’re not going to be tackling bigger jobs but for doing pruning work it’s ideal. We first tackled a pile of thicker branches I had gathered from last year that were far to big to consider composting or even to fit in the garden waste bin without breaking down. I think the thickest wasn’t much over a couple of inches and it work well on them. We’re going to give it a go with some pruning next and he’s got some logs at his home for us to try it with. It will certainly make easier work of pruning and disposing of the branches than with my pruning shears and saw. I’m glad I had a friend to hand to help me as I was lacking a bit of confidence. However, for a first chainsaw it’s recommended
Brilliant pruning chainsaw
This is an excellent choice for a domestic pruning chainsaw. You are never hgoing to be able to cut down trees with this, and it is not intended as a lumberjack’s workmate. But it is a super and effective chainsaw ideal for pruning branches that your lopper simply wont get through. You’ll need to get some proper protection even with this small chainsaw – especially for hands and eyes. Battery life if amazing. And with no electrical lead to get in the way. Very impressed.
Brilliant pruning chainsaw
This is an excellent choice for a domestic pruning chainsaw. You are never hgoing to be able to cut down trees with this, and it is not intended as a lumberjack’s workmate. But it is a super and effective chainsaw ideal for pruning branches that your lopper simply wont get through. You’ll need to get some proper protection even with this small chainsaw – especially for hands and eyes. Battery life if amazing. And with no electrical lead to get in the way. Very impressed.
Bosch UniversalChain 18 Cordless Chainsaw
In the box.
The saw body, assembled chain and bar, chain oil, battery charger with battery and full instructions.
Set up.
Put the battery on to charge — took just over and hour out of the box and around two after using until the battery indicator was on red. Attach the bar — very easy, just undo the adjuster with your fingers, place the chain around the drive and refit the cover and adjust, no tools are needed. Adjust the chain so that there is only 2 to 3 mm slack and fill the oil reservoir up with the supplied oil. Now fit the battery and its ready to go.
Safety.
The instruction book gives basic safety instruction on how to use the saw. However, please beware this saw can still do a lot of damage so take sensible precautions when using it. Plenty of information on the web on how to use a saw like this for new users out on the web — worth a look before using a chain saw.
I did a course at a local college on chain sawing and it was well worth it as I have a lot of trees to look after and have all the protective kit for when I use the big petrol ones. Stay safe!
Size.
This is a small chain saw for general pruning jobs. The bar and chain are smaller than on petrol powered ones being around 15 cm in length (exposed chain to saw with). It is quite light and much easier to use in tight spaces than a petrol one.
This one is great for smaller branches up to 8 cm in diameter. I used it to take off last years growth on a couple of Sycamore trees and it did this with ease. I also used it to cut away some thick Ivy growth that had established itself on many other trees, for this job it is great.
Chain adjustment.
This is so easy, just turn the locking mechanism towards you and then turn the red outer wheel away from you and you will see the chain lift towards the bar. Once you have check for the 2 to 3 mm slack just turn the locking wheel away from you and its done — so much easier than spanners. Also, the Bosch mechanism really works well and much better than other toolless adjuster systems I have used. The chain can easily be replaced when worn out. It can also be sharpened when blunt and I have an electric sharpener for this plus some files. Keeping the chain clean and sharp prolongs its life and keeps it cutting efficiently.
Battery.
The reserve is very good compared to other battery tools I have and this 18-volt battery is universal to all other modern Bosch tools.
It charges quickly and I used it all day yesterday when I needed to get into a tight space or remove low hanging small branches. It is much lighter than my baby Sthil petrol and does just a good a job on small items, plus you don’t have to carry fuel and spanners with you.
Overall.
This is a well made and easy to use saw for the garden or small jobs around a smallholding. It’s the best small battery chainsaw I have used to date and is much easier to use than a big petrol one for small jobs. I can’t see why anyone would not get on with it. Use it as a pruner and you can’t go wrong. I am really pleased with it.
Easy to assemble. Remove the round cover by unscrewing and place the blade assembly over the bolt and the blade around the cog. Replace cover and tighten up the slack in the blade. Add oil (small bottle supplied). NB the level window is next to useless so look down from the filler to see how much goes in – first time takes all the bottle.
Battery charged and fitted, I was ready for some tasks. Took out some small branches (with care as advised in the must read instruction book). Then some log cutting for the firepit. These required fixing for safety. Thickness of log is an issue, as the working face length of the blades is not big, around 5 inches. Cutting from above means the blades direct the sawdust back at you. Once the blades had got a bite (i.e. first cut can jink) they did a decent job. You have to check slackness of blades often, very often (for safety remove the battery – it was surprisingly easy to catch the safety button and trigger with the same hand). It wasn’t long before I got hand ache, so would not line up a lot of work to do at once – little and often is more comfortable.
Decision to purchase is: what use would I get from it/will be easy than an handsaw?
PS in some of the photos, because of camera angles, the saw looks bigger than it is.
You aren’t going to be clearing a copse with this but that is not what it is designed for. Some great points with the design here and I’m going to pick up first on what I see is the best feature of this saw. I don’t know if they use the same mechanism in the entire range for tensioning the chain but this is brilliant. I have a bigger saw that I bought some time ago. Still going well but setting up the chain is incredibly fiddly. If this winds you up too, this Bosch one fixes that problem entirely.
The device comes unassembled of course so you have to attach the chain before you start. Where on most saws there is just a guide and the chain, in this case there is a ratchet device on the guide. You need to loosen that first so that the chain can go around the cog then give it a couple of turns and the chain is tensioned. In use, there is no need to take of the cover to tension the chain. The ratchet mechanism is engaged by loosening the black dial and the red dial operates the ratchet. It really is ultra convenient.
All you are left to do is charge the battery and put the oil in the reservoir and you are ready to go. I cut through a four inch log with no problem then tackled another piece where it was quite a bit wider due to a branch being there. I had to do a bit of creative cutting but got it cut without too much trouble.
Note that as this has a tip guard too (not seen that before) you are limited with branch thickness somewhat more than you would be with an open chain.
Lightweight of course and quite quite too. It doesn’t rev as fast as my mains one but that is to be expected. Well recommended by someone who had the unenviable task over the years of clearing out probably more than 40 leylandii that were out of control.
The most important thing to know about this chainsaw is just how big/small it actually is. If you look at the photos I have taken, I have placed it alongside my Bosch mains powered chainsaw and you will see that the usable blade length is a little over a third of the size of the mains powered one.
In terms of what this means is what you can reasonably cut. The Makita equivalent calls itself a “pruning chainsaw” and I think this is a good description of its capabilities. It is perfectly happy on things up to about four inches in diameter, but anything further is really too much. In the second picture I have shown a log that it can get through and one that is just a little too big for comfort. The ruler also shows that the absolute maximum usable blade is about five inches. Provided this is big enough for you, then it is a good performer.
I notice that some questions have been raised on-line about whether it is possible to remove the “nose” on the end of the blade (larger chainsaws do not tend to have this). The answer is yes, however you would have to drill out the rivets, probably using a bench press to get the necessary accuracy. However, both the manual and I advise against doing this. The nose is there to stop the end of the chainsaw being put directly into wood and risking kickback. In the market that this chainsaw is aimed, this is a good added safety feature and a lot of experience would be required to use the nose of, say, my mains powered chainsaw.
The battery is a standard Bosch 18 volt battery and, for example, it is completely interchangeable with the 18 volt batteries on my Bosch drill. Interestingly, the charger for the drill won’t take the battery for this, but the charger for this will take all my Bosch 18 volt batteries. The chainsaw comes with a 2.5 Amp Hour battery (which has a recharge time of about 45 minutes) and this should last a run time of about 20-30 minutes depending on the actual work being done.
One surprise is that on most chainsaws the guard in front of your left hand acts as an emergency brake if pushed forwards. This guard on this chainsaw is fixed and does not server that purpose. This is probably OK as releasing the power button stops the blade pretty immediately. On this point, with a normal mains chainsaw it is would be very good practice to unplug the power when doing any adjustments to the chain or testing its tension; the equivalent here is to remove the battery before doing anything like that as, naturally, we do want to keep all of our fingers…
So, in summary, this is fine if you are wanting to do some pruning or cutting up of small branch less than four inches (100mm) in diameter, but certainly no bigger than that. Taking that into account, this is the first ever chainsaw my wife has asked to use for gardening as she seems none too happy with either my larger Bosch electric chainsaw or my petrol one (which can be a sod to start sometimes).