@chienfou@highonpez@Ten9Eight Please check out the Amazon reviews then come back and tell me if you’re willing to stand by that statement in regard to these specific tools.
@highonpez@PusherBot@Ten9Eight
Maybe your Amazon search skills are better than mine but I was unable to locate this specific (ie hammacher schlemmer branded) tool there. I’ll be happy to review it if you could send me the link.
If on the other hand you’re referring to this “type” of tool (mini chainsaw), the first ten that pop up when I search all have 4.4+ star ratings. I consider that to be pretty good.
@narfcake@seraphimcaduto
I miss the days of free stuff (flashlights/screwdrivers/moving blankets/magnetic tool holder bars/etc) if you showed up with a coupon at the HF store… Still using a bunch of their stuff.
A couple weekends ago, there were free moving blankets, alkaline batteries, or wrench sets with any purchase for ITC members, $35+ for non-members. A month ago, 5-gallon buckets – which BTW, are made here in the USA.
@narfcake@PooltoyWolf@serap those happen anymorehimcaduto
I think there is a minimum purchase now (like the ones narfcake mentioned). Used to be just for showing up… Don’t think those happen anymore.
@narfcake oh I know, I have a fair bit of their stuff in my garage, along with some German and pricey American stuff. I also remember when it was a lot worse lol.
@dahobbs9@narfcake Looks like Home Depot’s and Lowe’s buckets are also made in the USA. (And HD’s 5-gallon bucket is about $0.50 cheaper than a similar bucket at Lowe’s, in case saving half a buck is more important than a bucket in blue…)
@seraphimcaduto I remember back when they were named Harbor Freight Salvage Company. Had the usual assortment of crap but also refurb and overstock of name brand tools too.
@narfcake@seraphimcaduto
Many (25+) years ago I would buy cheap battery powered tools from harbor freight. Problem was they would change the format on the damn batteries by the time I needed new batteries and they were not easy to find. Amazon wasn’t a thing then.
That was when I picked Ryobi to be my primary battery powered cordless tool product line. Their battery format has been unchanged in the 25 years that I’ve been using them. The technology of the individual batteries has changed but the tools themselves still use everything from the old nicad batteries to the new lithium plus. The new tools use brushless motors and are much more efficient and powerful, but the old tools still work.
Probably about 10 years ago, my MIL was having a recliner delivered. Shipping company would only deliver to the curb, not up to her 5th floor apartment, so my wife asked me to go to UHaul and rent a furniture dolly. I looked up what UHaul wanted for a day and then found that HF sold them for the same price. I ended up buying the more expensive, better quality model and I’ve used it for so many things since then.
HF is my go-to when I need something that I don’t plan on using all the time…like I needed a hammer drill to drill thought concrete one time and I bought it there and got the job done. I’ve got a pile of moving blankets, some super long socket extenders from when I needed to reach a sensor deep in my car’s engine, and a handful of other random things that are nice to have when I need them, but that I don’t use every day.
@kodiak55
Exactly, I’ve had very good luck with their non-powered hand tools. And I’m still using several of their power tools (like my angle grinder…). I must admit though, since I live about 30 miles away from the closest one, my go to has become Amazon now.
I have a similar mini chainsaw and use it often. In fact I trimmed a bunch of crepe myrtle shoots 2-3 inches in diameter a few days ago. It’s super handy in tight spaces.
@Kyeh
While I have an 18-volt and a 40 volt (10 inch and 16-in respectively) Ryobi chainsaw, my mini-chainsaw is a no-name brand that I got “free” through the vine program. TBH I use it at least as often as the other two…
@chienfou see I’ve considered something like this for pruning because I don’t always need to break out even my smaller chainsaw. But sometimes I need more than the loppers and my pole saw is typically a pain in the ass to adjust. But I just always think they will be garbage. Maybe I should just take the plunge.
@chienfou@sillyheathen
Nope, I wouldn’t if I were you- there is no mention anywhere of what kind of batteries they use- could be ni-cad, nmh, or if you’re lucky, maybe Lithium ion.
@chienfou@PhysAssist yeah that’s fair. Maybe I just need to buy one locally or that I can research a little more. I am a sucker for a chainsaw. Hell I’m a sucker for power tools full stop. Actually that’s a lie. I love all the tools. I’m a nut for hand tools in woodworking as well. I’m just a girl that loves tools!
@chienfou@Kyeh@PhysAssist@sillyheathen OK so there are a lot of good quality products in this market now (but not for this price). If you already have a battery system I’d recommend sticking with that.
Milwaukee M12 : nice small chainsaw called the Hatchet.
Also the mini Sawzall is always a classic.
Rotary cutter. And about 100 other tools.
M18: same, but bigger. Larger more capable version of "the hatchet:
Ryobi: has a bunch of new stuff; haven’t tried it. Generally a bit cheaper and good promo deals (Home Depot is main dealer).
Makita: has some good stuff. Have not tried mini-saws.
… TL;dr but if you just got one annoying branch in your yard and want to risk it, the price for this no-name special may not be bad.
@chienfou@Kyeh@pmarin@sillyheathen
You mentioned a few, but missed including the Metabo/Hitachi brand, my Li-ion tools of choice, although we did adopt a couple of the orphan Ryobi tools recently.
@chienfou@PhysAssist I’m all about the tools but I also love a really good tool belt! I was recently gifted one by the Englishman that he got for a steal. It’s kind of amazeballs! It has suspenders which I was on the fence about in the beginning but absolutely adore now! It’s so stinking handy!
@chienfou@PhysAssist There are so many loops and pockets. I think I may sew a few extra bits so I can secure a level and have a second loop big enough for a second hammer or mallet though. It’s so ace though!!
@PooltoyWolf Yeah, that’s an underpowered angle grinder. They probably don’t want to advertise it like that because this thing is going to really struggle to get through metal. Plus the cutting wheel is smaller than normal so replacements might be tricky to find.
That said, I have the mini-chainsaw (really an identical one with a different brand sticker on it) and for trimming branches it is perfect. It’s light, easy to maneuver into tight spaces, fast enough, and the battery hasn’t been a problem yet.
@jandrese@PooltoyWolf The preferable mini-chainsaws use a Makita-style battery terminals, so if when they crap out, batteries are commonly available.
Now whether it’s worth that is a different question. I’ve seen similar mini-chainsaw kits with two 10-cell batteries for under $30, which is cheaper than buying two single-row batteries.
No idea on the 12V saw, but on the “21V” mini chainsaw, the battery appears to be a Dayi type battery – which is NOT common here in the US. And I put 21V in quotes because they’re using the charge voltage of the Lithium Ion cells as their basis. 4.2V charge, 4.0V peak, 3.6V nominal. Multiply that by 5, and that’s where 21V, 20V, and 18V power tools all come in at. There’s no power difference between them!
@narfcake
That battery looks a lot like several on the small hand tools I’ve gotten from vine lately. I have a pruner,mini-chainsaw and some pole mounted trimmers that all use that same battery style.
@chienfou So this style with only 3 terminals? This is the battery cropped from the pic here at meh:
And this is the more common “Makita style” with 2 wide terminals closer to the outer slides and one smaller temperature terminal in the middle:
(Actual Makita LXT battery have a yellow connector in the middle for charging and communications, but the power connections are the same so they are interchangeable.)
So I bought a very similar chainsaw last year from Temu, for about $12, IIRC. Fairly handy and powerful, but… the chain slips off, like, a lot. Seriously, like every 5-10 minutes or so. Not dangerously, just falls off the gear spinning it. It is due to the weird (read cheap) design of a wingnut to hold things on. Easy enough to fix, but annoying to deal with allll the time.
That said, I do like it. The small form factor is super handy for thicker branches, especially where clippers and hedge trimmers fail. For $12 (with two batteries!!) I can deal with the annoyances. For $40, I probably wouldn’t be happy. Obviously not sure if these have the same issue, so take my anecdotal story for the anecdote it is…
@haydesigner
Yeah I’ve had two of these and one of them had a tendency to slip off more easily than the other. I found that if I kept the chain lubricated sufficiently and checked the tension every now and then I did fine…
And yes. As far as working outside in the yard these and my electric pruners are game changers.
Kind of embarrassed to report that I couldn’t resist the adorable wee angle grinder. It could potentially be handy for cutting up bits of stuff for craft projects.
/giphy baffling-hazardous-railway
@sillyheathen Right? I wish we had intarweb met when I was still in Washington. An in person craft weirdness day could have totally happened. Just another reason for me to miss the PNW. Sigh.
@haydesigner@silyn
Actually I’ve been pretty happy with the “generative AI slop” returned as summaries for reviews from Amazon as well as Google search results. They give me a quick basic overview that I can confirm or debunk by looking at further search results.
@DrunkCat: i’ve never failed to get a reply thus far
So you’re only doing this for engagement??!? And it doesn’t matter that 98% of those replies are increasingly annoyed at you?? And that you add ZERO to the community here?
You are the very definition of a troll. And that’s both sad and pathetic. Blocked.
@haydesigner No, I’ve explained why I’m doing it in the past; quite a few times in fact. Just in case you forgot, you said “Seriously, no one cares.” and thus my counter-argument is that if no one cared, no one would be replying. It has nothing to do with why I’m doing it.
I’m not entirely sure where you got your strawman from but it sounds like it’s really raising your blood pressure. I recommend to throw it away and just relax.
At any rate, people are starting to outwardly reject “AI”, what with blocking Project Blue and other “AI” datacenters. So the only trolls are the ones that think “AI” is anything but a glorified Bonzi Buddy.
Cuts up to 20mm? Heck, an inch is 25.4mm. And that’s a switching power supply charger that puts out around one amp so that battery must have very little capacity if truly a two hour charge. Nope
@craigcush This is probably due more to the diameter of the blade and the interference of the guard than the power. I would be more concerned with the low rpm (1600) and the weird blades on it.
@craigcush
On the tools I have with similar batteries, most of the ones that are that size are listed as 2Ah so that tracks.
Wait … No. Sorry… That’s for the mini chainsaw. Never mind.
Purchased one of the yellow knock-off saws that’s similar (has longer bar) and uses the 20v DeWalt battery.
It’s actually held up quite well and is quite usable
@phendrick
I’ve gotten to where I am basically using mine as having disposable chains. You can buy pretty cheap ones and they’re not very difficult to replace. But yes absolutely keep that bar oiled. It will protect the chain and the bar (and cuts drag on the motor).
@chienfou@phendrick It’s so funny that in the reviews of the “good” brands like Milwaukee and Makita, the kind that take real oil to lubricate the real chain (and don’t forget bar), people give negative ratings for “leaks oil”
I’ve used chain saws for about 40 years, and yes, if it has an oiler system, it MAY dibble some oil out during storage.
People that had older sports cars may be used to that same phenomenon. “Oh yeah, they ALL do that”
People that had British cars may be used to that same phenomenon. “Oh yeah, they ALL do that”
@chienfou@phendrick@pmarin FTFY. Of course, “active undercoating system” is a fancier term. Kind of like how intermittent wipers is a feature, not a defect of Lucas electrical systems.
I checked the HS site for reviews. Couldn’t find any, but did see that the cutting size is Way wrong in this write-up. Their site says 80mm, Not 20mm. Gonna take a swing at it.
I’ve got another brand’s version of the mini chainsaw and I have to say that I use it a LOT for quick pruning. It’s considerably faster than a pruning saw (and less physically onerous) and capable of deeper cuts than large clippers.
That said, I have no idea what the circular saw could possibly be for. Anything that it might cut would be better cut with a rotary tool, IMO.
@TomDavidson I’m not sure what to make of the blades or capabilities of this one.
But I have the M12 version (called a cut-off tool) meaning it was intended for cutting metal (like rebar) or limited grinding. (not wood cutting usually).
I have used for cutting steel chains (don’t tell the warden…)
I remember the Hammacher Schlemmer catalogs from the 80’s and 90’s. IIRC, they had a Rodeo Drive return address and were full of lots of overpriced “luxury” items, seemingly for people who don’t know what to do with all their money.
@kodiak55 They are a very different company now, but still selling overpriced goods to people with too much money. Don’t have the lifetime guarantee anymore though, they’ve apparently decided they no longer stand by their products more than 30 days out.
I got a very similar finger-lopping chainsaw from an alphabet soup company on Amazon a while back. Similar in the sense that they used the exact same molds, just in red instead of yellow. The weak point in these is the battery; mine took a charge twice and then gave up and died, and even opening the pack up and nursing individual cells back up to charged with a bench power supply didn’t bring it back to life even once. Even if the battery works, the included charger is a miserable 1A, meaning even with two batteries you’ll run out of juice and need an overnight charge.
Anyway, the dead battery meant I tried to return it, but they just refunded me and let me keep it. So I 3d printed a housing to fit my DeWalt batteries and swapped it in, and now it runs great. Just wish it had a decent self-oiler.
@gdorn
I’ve had a pretty good luck with mine. But I have probably 8 or 10 batteries all the same format with different Ah capacity that I keep charged at any given time since I have three or four tools that use the same battery type.
Of course YMMV.
(But yes… an improvement would definitely be a chain oil reservoir…)
@gdorn The 5-cell (18V nominal, 21V full charged) battery is probably either 1500-2000mAh “power cells” or maybe 3000mAh energy cells. Regardless, a 1A charger should charge it in less than 3 hours.
When it comes to off-brand tool batteries, 2/3rds of its stated capacity is typical. 6Ah rating? Expect 4Ah. 3Ah? Expect 2Ah. 2Ah? Expect 1.3Ah. There are outliers, but generally speaking, to cost so much less, something has to give, and the quality of the cells is a big one.
@caffeineguy I mean, my batteries were the 5s2p variety, but they took much, much more than 6 hours to charge. I can see a few possible reasons:
the charger doesn’t actually put out 1A
the charger is extremely stupid and the closer the pack is to full, the fewer amps are drawn, and the slower it charges (given it’s a barrel plug, I’m almost positive this is the case)
the wires from the wall wart are painfully thin copper-coated aluminimum so a bunch of power is wasted as heat…
@daveinwarsh@stazja01 Yeah, having a more common battery format is a key aspect to longer term usability. A few years down the line, a readily available battery will still fit.
I got the saw/grinder and it was what I was expecting. Not a heavy-duty tool, light and easy to work with, and worth the price if I can get around six jobs done with it.
After a few grinding jobs and recharges, one of the batteries died. I looked for a replacement and found plenty (including a much cheaper version of this Hammacher Schlemmecher item) on AliExpress - though with the Trump bribe, this Meh turns out to be a better deal. Now, about the dead battery. There are not only many replacements (in different charge capacity) on AliExpress, but they even sell all the components of the batteries: cases, protection boards, possibly 18650 cells so you can assemble your own battery. Emboldened with this knowledge, I began to disassemble the dead battery and right away found that there was a loose solder joint, which I resoldered and the battery is back from the dead. By the way, nearly all cordless tools use the 18650 lithium ion cells which you can get on Amazon, if you want to go to the trouble of building your own battery pack. I use an 18650 for a flashlight and have a charger for 18650 cells. It’s a pity to have appliances use 18650 cells, because lithium ion is inferior to LiFePO4 for tools, but costs more. In manufactured products, LiFePO4 is mainly used for vehicles. Lithium ion is better for phones, flashlights, and assorted electronics that don’t drive powerful motors.
Specs
Product: Hammacher Schlemmer Rechargeable Mini Circular Saw and/or Chainsaw
Model: 7035245010, 7061174010
Condition: New
Hammacher Schlemmer 12V Mini 3" Cordless Circular Saw
Hammacher Schlemmer 21V Mini 4" Cordless Chainsaw
What’s Included?
OR
OR
Price Comparison
$79.95 at Hammer Schlemmer
Mini Circular Saw | Mini Chainsaw
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Dec 15 - Thursday, Dec 18
These look like amazing tools.
Like my grannie always used to say, “bah, Hammacher Schlemmer Shlammacher Schlschlemmer!”
I know this this meh, but c’mon guys. This isn’t even fun crap.
@highonpez I disagree, these are so adorable!
@highonpez @Ten9Eight
If you have trees you maintain these (or similar) are great.
@chienfou @highonpez @Ten9Eight Please check out the Amazon reviews then come back and tell me if you’re willing to stand by that statement in regard to these specific tools.
@highonpez @PusherBot @Ten9Eight
Maybe your Amazon search skills are better than mine but I was unable to locate this specific (ie hammacher schlemmer branded) tool there. I’ll be happy to review it if you could send me the link.
If on the other hand you’re referring to this “type” of tool (mini chainsaw), the first ten that pop up when I search all have 4.4+ star ratings. I consider that to be pretty good.
You know it’s meh when even harbor freight tools look luxurious by comparison.
@seraphimcaduto Some of their power tools hang out at the top.
@narfcake @seraphimcaduto
I miss the days of free stuff (flashlights/screwdrivers/moving blankets/magnetic tool holder bars/etc) if you showed up with a coupon at the HF store… Still using a bunch of their stuff.
@chienfou @narfcake @seraphimcaduto Do they not do those anymore?
@chienfou @PooltoyWolf @seraphimcaduto They do every once in a while – so check this weekend.
A couple weekends ago, there were free moving blankets, alkaline batteries, or wrench sets with any purchase for ITC members, $35+ for non-members. A month ago, 5-gallon buckets – which BTW, are made here in the USA.
(Some Icon tools are made here in the US too.)
@narfcake @PooltoyWolf @serap those happen anymorehimcaduto
I think there is a minimum purchase now (like the ones narfcake mentioned). Used to be just for showing up… Don’t think those happen anymore.
@chienfou @narfcake @seraphimcaduto I will have to go see! There’s one up the street.
@chienfou @narfcake @PooltoyWolf @seraphimcaduto A Bucket that’s actually made in the USA
!!!
@narfcake oh I know, I have a fair bit of their stuff in my garage, along with some German and pricey American stuff. I also remember when it was a lot worse lol.
@dahobbs9 @narfcake Looks like Home Depot’s and Lowe’s buckets are also made in the USA. (And HD’s 5-gallon bucket is about $0.50 cheaper than a similar bucket at Lowe’s, in case saving half a buck is more important than a bucket in blue…)
@seraphimcaduto I remember back when they were named Harbor Freight Salvage Company. Had the usual assortment of crap but also refurb and overstock of name brand tools too.
@narfcake @seraphimcaduto
Many (25+) years ago I would buy cheap battery powered tools from harbor freight. Problem was they would change the format on the damn batteries by the time I needed new batteries and they were not easy to find. Amazon wasn’t a thing then.
That was when I picked Ryobi to be my primary battery powered cordless tool product line. Their battery format has been unchanged in the 25 years that I’ve been using them. The technology of the individual batteries has changed but the tools themselves still use everything from the old nicad batteries to the new lithium plus. The new tools use brushless motors and are much more efficient and powerful, but the old tools still work.
Probably about 10 years ago, my MIL was having a recliner delivered. Shipping company would only deliver to the curb, not up to her 5th floor apartment, so my wife asked me to go to UHaul and rent a furniture dolly. I looked up what UHaul wanted for a day and then found that HF sold them for the same price. I ended up buying the more expensive, better quality model and I’ve used it for so many things since then.
HF is my go-to when I need something that I don’t plan on using all the time…like I needed a hammer drill to drill thought concrete one time and I bought it there and got the job done. I’ve got a pile of moving blankets, some super long socket extenders from when I needed to reach a sensor deep in my car’s engine, and a handful of other random things that are nice to have when I need them, but that I don’t use every day.
@kodiak55
Exactly, I’ve had very good luck with their non-powered hand tools. And I’m still using several of their power tools (like my angle grinder…). I must admit though, since I live about 30 miles away from the closest one, my go to has become Amazon now.
The cute mini saw toys were a big hit at the birthday party until Tommy lost three fingers.
@zachpennington That’s why the donkey needs his tail pinned back on?
I have a use for saws, but I’m really particular about noises and the sound of a saw cutting into certain materials really irritates me.
@AaronLeeJohnson
I generally use hearing protectors for that reason.
“Hammacher Schlemmer” really rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
@dvermilion yeah rolls off the tongue down the back of your throat as you choke on it.
@dvermilion kinda sounds like I’m not gonna last very long after you buy me.
I have a similar mini chainsaw and use it often. In fact I trimmed a bunch of crepe myrtle shoots 2-3 inches in diameter a few days ago. It’s super handy in tight spaces.
@chienfou Is yours a Ryobi?
@Kyeh
While I have an 18-volt and a 40 volt (10 inch and 16-in respectively) Ryobi chainsaw, my mini-chainsaw is a no-name brand that I got “free” through the vine program. TBH I use it at least as often as the other two…
@chienfou @Kyeh Do you know how much effort a cat took to create that brand name?!?
@chienfou see I’ve considered something like this for pruning because I don’t always need to break out even my smaller chainsaw. But sometimes I need more than the loppers and my pole saw is typically a pain in the ass to adjust. But I just always think they will be garbage. Maybe I should just take the plunge.
@chienfou @sillyheathen
Nope, I wouldn’t if I were you- there is no mention anywhere of what kind of batteries they use- could be ni-cad, nmh, or if you’re lucky, maybe Lithium ion.
@chienfou @PhysAssist yeah that’s fair. Maybe I just need to buy one locally or that I can research a little more. I am a sucker for a chainsaw. Hell I’m a sucker for power tools full stop. Actually that’s a lie. I love all the tools. I’m a nut for hand tools in woodworking as well. I’m just a girl that loves tools!
Maybe I need to avocado myself.
@chienfou @PhysAssist @sillyheathen
I love them too!
@chienfou @Kyeh @PhysAssist @sillyheathen OK so there are a lot of good quality products in this market now (but not for this price). If you already have a battery system I’d recommend sticking with that.
Milwaukee M12 : nice small chainsaw called the Hatchet.
Also the mini Sawzall is always a classic.
Rotary cutter. And about 100 other tools.
M18: same, but bigger. Larger more capable version of "the hatchet:
Ryobi: has a bunch of new stuff; haven’t tried it. Generally a bit cheaper and good promo deals (Home Depot is main dealer).
Makita: has some good stuff. Have not tried mini-saws.
… TL;dr but if you just got one annoying branch in your yard and want to risk it, the price for this no-name special may not be bad.
@Kyeh @PhysAssist @pmarin @sillyheathen
Oh, it HAS a name, just not one generally associated with tools!
@chienfou @Kyeh @pmarin @sillyheathen
You mentioned a few, but missed including the Metabo/Hitachi brand, my Li-ion tools of choice, although we did adopt a couple of the orphan Ryobi tools recently.
@chienfou @sillyheathen
Tool-loving old guy here…
@chienfou @PhysAssist I’m all about the tools but I also love a really good tool belt! I was recently gifted one by the Englishman that he got for a steal. It’s kind of amazeballs! It has suspenders which I was on the fence about in the beginning but absolutely adore now! It’s so stinking handy!
@chienfou @PhysAssist There are so many loops and pockets. I think I may sew a few extra bits so I can secure a level and have a second loop big enough for a second hammer or mallet though. It’s so ace though!!
@sillyheathen
Noice!
'Spenders are mandatory and can be really helpful for weight transfer to improve comfort.
My favorite backpacks have all had both sternal straps and waist belts for similar reasons.
That looks more like an angle grinder or cut off wheel than a circular saw, but what do I know?
@PooltoyWolf Yeah, that’s an underpowered angle grinder. They probably don’t want to advertise it like that because this thing is going to really struggle to get through metal. Plus the cutting wheel is smaller than normal so replacements might be tricky to find.
That said, I have the mini-chainsaw (really an identical one with a different brand sticker on it) and for trimming branches it is perfect. It’s light, easy to maneuver into tight spaces, fast enough, and the battery hasn’t been a problem yet.
@jandrese @PooltoyWolf The preferable mini-chainsaws use a Makita-style battery terminals, so
ifwhen they crap out, batteries are commonly available.Now whether it’s worth that is a different question. I’ve seen similar mini-chainsaw kits with two 10-cell batteries for under $30, which is cheaper than buying two single-row batteries.
No idea on the 12V saw, but on the “21V” mini chainsaw, the battery appears to be a Dayi type battery – which is NOT common here in the US. And I put 21V in quotes because they’re using the charge voltage of the Lithium Ion cells as their basis. 4.2V charge, 4.0V peak, 3.6V nominal. Multiply that by 5, and that’s where 21V, 20V, and 18V power tools all come in at. There’s no power difference between them!
@narfcake
That battery looks a lot like several on the small hand tools I’ve gotten from vine lately. I have a pruner,mini-chainsaw and some pole mounted trimmers that all use that same battery style.
@narfcake and you know they used top quality lithium cells.
@dahobbs9 @narfcake
So far mine is still going strong 18 months in…
@chienfou So this style with only 3 terminals? This is the battery cropped from the pic here at meh:
And this is the more common “Makita style” with 2 wide terminals closer to the outer slides and one smaller temperature terminal in the middle:
(Actual Makita LXT battery have a yellow connector in the middle for charging and communications, but the power connections are the same so they are interchangeable.)
@narfcake
TBH I can’t really tell 100% but looks pretty similar.
@narfcake
He a pic of mine
@chienfou Those are Makita style – so yes, different from the one offered here.
@chienfou @narfcake looks like it might be pretty similar to this offering from Woot!
FABOKA FA0201 Drill 21V 2.0Ah Replacement Battery - $16.99 - Free shipping for Prime members https://tools.woot.com/offers/faboka-fa0201-drill-21v-2-0ah-replacement-battery-2?utm_medium=share&utm_source=app
@chienfou @pcunning218 Similar, but it looks like the clip is wider on that Faboka.
Here’s some larger pics off meh’s listing.
I foresaw today’s offering
@OnionSoup Your intuition is sharp!
@Kyeh @OnionSoup Cut it out you two.
@Kyeh @OnionSoup @yakkoTDI
/youtube Simpsons Ow! Quit it!
So I bought a very similar chainsaw last year from Temu, for about $12, IIRC. Fairly handy and powerful, but… the chain slips off, like, a lot. Seriously, like every 5-10 minutes or so. Not dangerously, just falls off the gear spinning it. It is due to the weird (read cheap) design of a wingnut to hold things on. Easy enough to fix, but annoying to deal with allll the time.
That said, I do like it. The small form factor is super handy for thicker branches, especially where clippers and hedge trimmers fail. For $12 (with two batteries!!) I can deal with the annoyances. For $40, I probably wouldn’t be happy. Obviously not sure if these have the same issue, so take my anecdotal story for the anecdote it is…
@haydesigner
Yeah I’ve had two of these and one of them had a tendency to slip off more easily than the other. I found that if I kept the chain lubricated sufficiently and checked the tension every now and then I did fine…
And yes. As far as working outside in the yard these and my electric pruners are game changers.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!
@relm256
What are these, tools for ants?!?!
Kind of embarrassed to report that I couldn’t resist the adorable wee angle grinder. It could potentially be handy for cutting up bits of stuff for craft projects.
/giphy baffling-hazardous-railway
@Pony be sure to let us know if it should have been in an instant regret box.
@Pony I really do wish you lived closer to me. We could geek out together pretty hardcore methinks.
@sillyheathen Right? I wish we had intarweb met when I was still in Washington. An in person craft weirdness day could have totally happened. Just another reason for me to miss the PNW. Sigh.
“AI” Garbage.
Seriously, no one cares.
Give it up. Grow up.
@DrunkCat
Such fascinating words
From such a creative cat
The world is on edge
Waiting for your next smattering of letters mashed together
@haydesigner if you dont care about the issues with AI generative slop you are brain dead
@haydesigner @silyn
Actually I’ve been pretty happy with the “generative AI slop” returned as summaries for reviews from Amazon as well as Google search results. They give me a quick basic overview that I can confirm or debunk by looking at further search results.
@yakkoTDI lol okay mr. “incorrect fact”. bot some more
@haydesigner i’ve never failed to get a reply thus far, and I don’t even have to use “AI” like some commenters here.
So you’re only doing this for engagement??!? And it doesn’t matter that 98% of those replies are increasingly annoyed at you?? And that you add ZERO to the community here?
You are the very definition of a troll. And that’s both sad and pathetic. Blocked.
@haydesigner No, I’ve explained why I’m doing it in the past; quite a few times in fact. Just in case you forgot, you said “Seriously, no one cares.” and thus my counter-argument is that if no one cared, no one would be replying. It has nothing to do with why I’m doing it.
I’m not entirely sure where you got your strawman from but it sounds like it’s really raising your blood pressure. I recommend to throw it away and just relax.
At any rate, people are starting to outwardly reject “AI”, what with blocking Project Blue and other “AI” datacenters. So the only trolls are the ones that think “AI” is anything but a glorified Bonzi Buddy.
Does the Circular Saw also cut Cheese??
/showme a man using a mini circular saw to cut a block of limburger cheese while a group of people hold their noses because of the horrible stench.
@MrGoodGuy well if it can’t cut the cheese, it’s not a good buy
Cuts up to 20mm? Heck, an inch is 25.4mm. And that’s a switching power supply charger that puts out around one amp so that battery must have very little capacity if truly a two hour charge. Nope
@craigcush This is probably due more to the diameter of the blade and the interference of the guard than the power. I would be more concerned with the low rpm (1600) and the weird blades on it.
@craigcush
On the tools I have with similar batteries, most of the ones that are that size are listed as 2Ah so that tracks.
Wait … No. Sorry… That’s for the mini chainsaw. Never mind.
Purchased one of the yellow knock-off saws that’s similar (has longer bar) and uses the 20v DeWalt battery.
It’s actually held up quite well and is quite usable
This one
if you get the chain saw be sure to get some bar chain oiL and use it! The teeth will dull soon enough as it is.
@phendrick
I’ve gotten to where I am basically using mine as having disposable chains. You can buy pretty cheap ones and they’re not very difficult to replace. But yes absolutely keep that bar oiled. It will protect the chain and the bar (and cuts drag on the motor).
@chienfou @phendrick It’s so funny that in the reviews of the “good” brands like Milwaukee and Makita, the kind that take real oil to lubricate the real chain (and don’t forget bar), people give negative ratings for “leaks oil”
I’ve used chain saws for about 40 years, and yes, if it has an oiler system, it MAY dibble some oil out during storage.
People that had older sports cars may be used to that same phenomenon. “Oh yeah, they ALL do that”
@chienfou @phendrick @pmarin FTFY. Of course, “active undercoating system” is a fancier term. Kind of like how intermittent wipers is a feature, not a defect of Lucas electrical systems.
@chienfou @phendrick @pmarin
…and motorcycles…
My saw-based punnnery is off the hook.
You mitre might not get it.
You see, recently, I lost my little hand saw I used to make fine turns in moldings: now I just don’t know if I can cope.
But I can probably hack it.
The jig is up, and this story is getting circular. If this keeps up, I’ll be banned (band?).
@usclawyer boo hiss, it takes a lawyer but i got a belly roll.
@luseruser @usclawyer
Tooth be told that wasn’t half bad…
@chienfou @luseruser @usclawyer
I first saw your username as “US Clawyer.”
@chienfou @Kyeh @luseruser @usclawyer
U.S. Clawyer says
My puns will hold up in court
…Serving you papers
I checked the HS site for reviews. Couldn’t find any, but did see that the cutting size is Way wrong in this write-up. Their site says 80mm, Not 20mm. Gonna take a swing at it.
@Mandamm The circular saw limit is 20mm; the chain saw reaches 80mm.
/image pruning-saw
If you value your fingers, buy a pruning saw instead
Saw
The deal
@user81558731 You’ve found it
I’ve got another brand’s version of the mini chainsaw and I have to say that I use it a LOT for quick pruning. It’s considerably faster than a pruning saw (and less physically onerous) and capable of deeper cuts than large clippers.
That said, I have no idea what the circular saw could possibly be for. Anything that it might cut would be better cut with a rotary tool, IMO.
@TomDavidson I’m not sure what to make of the blades or capabilities of this one.
But I have the M12 version (called a cut-off tool) meaning it was intended for cutting metal (like rebar) or limited grinding. (not wood cutting usually).
I have used for cutting steel chains (don’t tell the warden…)
Meh, good luck finding 3" replacement blade
@txusa03 Yeah, good luck!
@troy
… But shopping is hard…
I remember the Hammacher Schlemmer catalogs from the 80’s and 90’s. IIRC, they had a Rodeo Drive return address and were full of lots of overpriced “luxury” items, seemingly for people who don’t know what to do with all their money.
@kodiak55 they really loved to use the definite article. “THE” home cotton candy machine. “THE” inflatable yacht dinghy…
@kodiak55 @Perfect_Timing DAK Catalog
@kodiak55 @Perfect_Timing @pmarin
@kodiak55 They are a very different company now, but still selling overpriced goods to people with too much money. Don’t have the lifetime guarantee anymore though, they’ve apparently decided they no longer stand by their products more than 30 days out.
I got a very similar finger-lopping chainsaw from an alphabet soup company on Amazon a while back. Similar in the sense that they used the exact same molds, just in red instead of yellow. The weak point in these is the battery; mine took a charge twice and then gave up and died, and even opening the pack up and nursing individual cells back up to charged with a bench power supply didn’t bring it back to life even once. Even if the battery works, the included charger is a miserable 1A, meaning even with two batteries you’ll run out of juice and need an overnight charge.
Anyway, the dead battery meant I tried to return it, but they just refunded me and let me keep it. So I 3d printed a housing to fit my DeWalt batteries and swapped it in, and now it runs great. Just wish it had a decent self-oiler.
@gdorn
I’ve had a pretty good luck with mine. But I have probably 8 or 10 batteries all the same format with different Ah capacity that I keep charged at any given time since I have three or four tools that use the same battery type.
Of course YMMV.
(But yes… an improvement would definitely be a chain oil reservoir…)
@gdorn The 5-cell (18V nominal, 21V full charged) battery is probably either 1500-2000mAh “power cells” or maybe 3000mAh energy cells. Regardless, a 1A charger should charge it in less than 3 hours.
@caffeineguy @gdorn Very doubtful. Those cost $$.
When it comes to off-brand tool batteries, 2/3rds of its stated capacity is typical. 6Ah rating? Expect 4Ah. 3Ah? Expect 2Ah. 2Ah? Expect 1.3Ah. There are outliers, but generally speaking, to cost so much less, something has to give, and the quality of the cells is a big one.
@caffeineguy I mean, my batteries were the 5s2p variety, but they took much, much more than 6 hours to charge. I can see a few possible reasons:
This is a much better value and free shipping
https://www.amazon.com/Oiling-Device-Chainsaws-Rechargeable-Craftsman-Gardening/dp/B0DBHPCWQG/
Or this one free shipping too
https://www.amazon.com/Cordless-Chainsaw-Rechargeable-New-Huing/dp/B0F82Y73KT/
{VMod edit: cleaned up the URLs.}
@Syvehc Lame.
“…weighs only 2.5 lbs. Even women can operate it with one-hand and use it for a long time without feeling tired.”
@mehvid1 huh??? What is that have to do with the ones I posted? That doesn’t make sense.
@Syvehc The ‘New Huing’ one says that under the product description.
@narfcake okay I see it now, I still think any of those two are better. But yeah that’s funny.
@narfcake @Syvehc
Could have been worse. At least it’s not pink!
I bet these would be good for cutting down a neighbor’s Skelly.
@beauxeault welcome to the Forum!
@beauxeault @llangley
… Finally!
Are these compatible with any other battery systems?
The flat batteries with the red buttons look a lot like my 20 volt black and deckers
@stazja01 As I noted last night in this post, they appear to be a Dayi type battery.
These are definitely NOT B&D 20V. I have those. They are a 4-pin and its retaining clip is further away from the terminals.
@narfcake @stazja01 I bought a little off-brand chainsaw like this one a bit ago, kinda handy to have.
One thing, mine accepts my DeWalt 20v batts…
@daveinwarsh @stazja01 Yeah, having a more common battery format is a key aspect to longer term usability. A few years down the line, a readily available battery will still fit.
/giphy picky-fiery-oil
@llangley That’s an interesting giphy. I can’t tell if he’s just cooking them or trying to steal them!
I got the saw/grinder and it was what I was expecting. Not a heavy-duty tool, light and easy to work with, and worth the price if I can get around six jobs done with it.
After a few grinding jobs and recharges, one of the batteries died. I looked for a replacement and found plenty (including a much cheaper version of this Hammacher Schlemmecher item) on AliExpress - though with the Trump bribe, this Meh turns out to be a better deal. Now, about the dead battery. There are not only many replacements (in different charge capacity) on AliExpress, but they even sell all the components of the batteries: cases, protection boards, possibly 18650 cells so you can assemble your own battery. Emboldened with this knowledge, I began to disassemble the dead battery and right away found that there was a loose solder joint, which I resoldered and the battery is back from the dead. By the way, nearly all cordless tools use the 18650 lithium ion cells which you can get on Amazon, if you want to go to the trouble of building your own battery pack. I use an 18650 for a flashlight and have a charger for 18650 cells. It’s a pity to have appliances use 18650 cells, because lithium ion is inferior to LiFePO4 for tools, but costs more. In manufactured products, LiFePO4 is mainly used for vehicles. Lithium ion is better for phones, flashlights, and assorted electronics that don’t drive powerful motors.