Take On Seasonal Tree Work With The Skil 18-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw
More and more folks are making the switch to battery-powered OPE simply for a variety of reasons. The Skil 18-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw lets you skip the hassle of gas engine maintenance in exchange for cordless convenience. We took it for a spin to see how it stacks up against the competition.
Pros
- Metal bucking spikes
- Tool free tensioning
- Responsive trigger
- Well balanced
- Affordable pricetag
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Skil 18-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw Performance
- Gas Equivalent: 40cc
- Chain Speed: 17 m/s
- Motor: Brushless
- Chain Pitch: 3/8 in.
- Chain Gauge: 0.050 in.
- Oil Capacity: 5.0 fl. oz.
Cutting Power
At its heart, this 18-inch chainsaw is powered by a brushless 40cc gas equivalent motor that spins the 0.050 gauge chain up to 17 m/s. That’s right on par with what we expect from the 18-inch homeowner class.
This chainsaw has a very responsive trigger and reaches its top speed very quickly. It’s a capable saw, melting through thick logs with relative ease. It doesn’t have as much torque as some of the top-performing chainsaws we’ve tested, so you may need to cut a little slower. However, if you let the motor keep the chain speed up, it’s up for the storm cleanup and seasonal maintenance of just about any species.
Pro Tip: Keeping your chain sharp is critical to getting the best performance out of any chainsaw. Click here to learn how.
Runtime
Nailing down an exact runtime is always a challenge with chainsaws since branches vary in diameter and different species have different densities. However, Skil ships this saw with a beefy 6.0Ah battery and a 320W charger that’ll take you from 0 to 100% in just one hour. That should give you more than enough runtime for seasonal trimming and light storm cleanup.
Skil 18-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw Design Notes
- Model: Skil CS1800C-00
- Power Source: Skil PWRCore 40 battery
- Weight: 9.2 lbs (bare), 14.4 lbs (with kitted 6Ah battery)
- Length: 34.75 in.
- Bar Length: 18 in.
- Chain Length: 62 links
- IPX4 Rated
Size and Weight
The Skil CS1800C-00 tips the scales at 9.2 pounds as a bare tool and 14.4 pounds with the kitted 6.0Ah battery. It measures 34.75 inches from tip to tail and features a grooved rubber overmold on the grip to help channel away sweat and debris.
Chain Tensioner
You need to adjust the chain tension over the course of using the saw, and Skil makes this very easy. Just loosen the large dial (you don’t have to take it all the way off) and then either tighten or loosen the chain with the red wheel.
Once you have it set, tighten the large dial back down and get back to work. No tools, no stress.
Metal Bucking Spikes
We’re seeing fewer plastic bucking spikes on cordless chainsaws, and that’s a good thing. Steel ones like Skil’s bite into bark and wood better and don’t wear down the way plastic can.
While this saw isn’t geared towards the Pro market, the metal spikes are a nice nod in that direction.
Additional Features
- Electronic chain brake
- Translucent oil reservoir
Skil 18-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw Price
This chainsaw retails for $299 as a kit that includes a 6.0Ah battery and charger. Skil backs this saw with a 5-year limited warranty.
The Bottom Line
The Skil 18-Inch Battery-Powered Chainsaw has a very approachable design and can handle a wide range of seasonal tree maintenance and storm cleanup tasks. While there are stronger battery-powered options in this class, Skil PWRCore 40 fans should expect a very capable saw for small to medium-size trees and branches.
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