This review reflects the thoughts and opinions of the reviewer as user and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the product referenced, nor is it an endorsement of any specific company, product or service. Every entity or individual should review and test all products for applicability, safety and efficacy in their particular operation.

Milwaukee recently launched its new M18 Dual Battery Chainsaw at their annual Pipeline Media event. We got to test this saw before release, so we have plenty of insight to help you decide if it’s a tool worth investing in.

How did we get here?

Shortly after TCI EXPO ’22 in Charlotte, our team here at Rooted Arbor Care decided we should explore the new battery-powered outdoor power equipment (OPE) products that were making their way into the market. That decision led to nearly a year’s worth of research, interviews, R&D work and field testing of many of our industry’s leading OPE manufacturers’ battery lineups. Our findings greatly surprised us; we were blown away by the legitimacy of battery OPE.

Despite our newfound fondness for battery OPE, we still recognized the power gap between battery and larger, gas-powered chain saws. Battery has proven to be as good as or even better than many of its gas-powered sub 50cc counterparts. Consider the Husqvarna T542i, which has been looked on as one of the best top-handle chain saws in the world, the Kress Commercial backpack blower or any number of battery-powered telescoping pole saws that have taken a prominent role in tree care.

The preeminent concern

How do we as practitioners or company purchasing managers consider making the transition from gas to battery if we cannot perform larger removals due to a lack of large-capacity battery saws? Fortunately for us, many manufacturers recognized the dilemma and continued development work on bigger and better battery-powered saws.

In this review, we will explain why we think the new Milwaukee M18 20-Inch Dual Battery Chainsaw is going to be a pivotal tool for tree care and the greater gas-to-battery conversion story.

What you get with this kit:

• M18 Fuel 20-Inch Dual Battery Chainsaw.
• 2 x M18 Red Lithium Forge XC8.0 batteries.
• M18 Dual Bay Simultaneous Rapid Charger.
• 20-inch bar.
• Oregon .325-inch x .050-inch narrow-kerf chain.
• Saw tool.
• Saw scabbard.

The M18 Fuel 20-Inch Dual Battery Chainsaw. All photos courtesy of the author.

Features and specifications

Battery

As the name implies, this saw uses two 18-volt batteries, for a total 36-volt system. This saw was designed to use M18 8.0 Forge batteries, which are designed for optimal power output and saw balance. The Forge 8.0 and 12.0 batteries are the newest additions to Milwaukee’s battery lineup and mark a vast improvement in the brand’s power output and charging speeds over previous 8.0 and 12.0 battery iterations.

Rapid recharging is great, but most professional users cannot expect to halt production every time they run out of juice, so we highly recommend picking up an additional set of 8.0/12.0 Forge battery packs so you can maintain a constant cycle of uninterrupted run time. If Forge batteries are out of the budget, the High Output line of batteries is a cost-effective option.

Power

This saw represents a big jump in power compared to most battery counterparts. It’s important to understand that power looks, feels and sounds different in battery vs. gas saws. This saw has a lower chain speed than most of its gas counterparts, at just over 14.3 m/s (meters per second, or about 47 feet per second), but it compensates for the slower chain-speed rate with impressive continuous torque, which is evident the first time you cut with it.

The M18 battery saw has two different cutting modes. In Standard Power Mode, this saw reaches a peak power of 4.4 horsepower (hp) and peak torque of 5.6Nm (newton meters), which is roughly equivalent to a 50cc gas saw. Setting two is called Peak Power Mode, which produces 5.8 hp – roughly equivalent to a 70cc gas saw.

Theoretically, this saw should run with the big boys, such gas-powered saws from other manufacturers as the Stihl 462, the Husky 572 or the Echo 7310, and it does in Peak Power Mode. It’s important to remember that this saw has two modes that consume battery power at significantly different rates, so don’t expect to be running peak 70cc for very long.

Weight

Equipped with a 20-inch bar and chain, this saw comes in at a surprisingly favorable weight of 15 pounds, which is nearly the same as the powerhead weight of a Husky 572 or Echo 7310. What was even more surprising was that once all three of these saws were fully equipped with 20-inch bars and chains, gas/batteries and oil, they all weighed in at approximately 20 pounds.

Typically, gas saws do a better job at distributing their weight comfortably throughout the saw, while most battery saws struggle to achieve the balance and ergonomics of their gas counterparts. Ultimately, it’s a heavy saw, but it’s not awful, and if you are really hoping to use battery, or, like so many professionals throughout the country, you are being coerced into making the jump due to legislative change, you will quickly get used to the additional weight.

Differentiator

It’s red, so if you are a field arborist, you’re probably more accustomed to orange saws. It’s a battery saw that enables the pro user to handle most tree care needs. The M18 packs a ton of power in the battery space, compared to some of the other popular, rear-handled battery saws on the market, such as the Husqvarna 542i (40cc) and the Ego Commercial 20-Inch Chain Saw (60cc).

Saw build

• As we mentioned earlier, this saw has two power modes located in the rear-handle grip.
• The side plate cover is secured by two captive nuts that eliminate the risk of losing necessary hardware during a chain swap or routine cleaning.
• Like all Milwaukee saws, the M18 Dual Battery Chainsaw comes equipped with full-sized, built-in scrench.
• This saw does not have a digital interface, which we believe limits the likelihood of electronic malfunctions. Simply disengage the chain break and depress the rear-handle dead-man lever to start cutting.

The author putting the M18 through its paces.

Pros

It’s a powerful battery saw; the capabilities of this saw allow you to realistically handle most tree care needs. Many reading this will disagree on this point, but the reality is that most tree folks don’t need to get out a Stihl 661 or 500 or a Husqvarna 592 or 572 on a daily basis. In fact, we would assert that most crews can get away with only being equipped with a few Husky 542i & T542i saws for 90% of their work. This saw is a real solution for those wanting to make the conversion from gas to battery-powered saws.

The M18 Dual Battery Chainsaw uses the same batteries as the M18 Top-Handle Saw and M18 Telescoping Pole Saw. The flexibility and cross compatibility of the M18 line is a major selling point for owner-operators and large-scale companies alike.

Additional pros:

• We love the simple interface on this saw.
• Although the saw is on the heavier side, it has a very robust build which has proved durable in our heavy usage, making it an ideal candidate for a crew saw.
• Like all battery saws, you don’t have to deal with excessive noise and fumes that accompany large gas saws.
• No winterization required!
• This saw can be left in a trunk or truck box 12 months a year and always be ready for emergency storm response.
• Battery saws require almost no maintenance.

Cons

We know we have talked about it ad nauseam, but this saw is really on the heavier side.

Also, the saw does not currently have any package with longer bar options. We really enjoyed using it with the 20-inch and 24-inch bars, but Milwaukee is playing it a little safe here with only a 20-inch offering. It’s true that we experienced more battery over-temping (overheating) with the 24-inch and especially the 28-inch setups, but it’s nice to have the capability to run longer bars.

If you are cutting softwood trees, then I highly encourage you to consider aftermarket long-bar options. We really believe that with the new 12.0 forge packs, we will see far fewer temperature issues when trying longer bars. Just be cognizant of the power-output setting you are employing.

Additional cons:

• We are disappointed that the saw was kitted with the M18 Dual-Bay Rapid Charger instead of the M18 Dual-Bay Super Charger. The 8.0 and 12.0 Forge batteries will charge from 0-100% in approximately 40 minutes with the Super Charger, which is about twice as fast as with the Rapid Charger. We highly recommend picking up a M18 Dual Bay Super Charger.
• As is the case with most battery OPE, you will need to invest in some additional battery packs if you intend to use this saw heavily.
• We really don’t prefer plastic sprocket covers, no matter what size the saw, so we would really like to see a magnesium side plate, like the Ego 20-Inch Commercial comes equipped with.
• It may be a good idea to have a chain-brake indicator light on the saw, since so many operators are in the habit of putting saws down without engaging the chain brake.

The M18 is red, so if you are a field arborist, you’re probably more accustomed to orange saws.

Value comparison

At $900, you are getting an amazing deal; that’s about the cost of a Stihl 60cc 362 or 461 (which we believe is the best gas comp). A Stihl 462 comes in at around $1,400, and a Husky 572 can be had for about $1,000. Don’t forget, you still need to consistently fill those puppies with 2-cycle gas! After purchasing additional battery packs, battery saws are a larger upfront investment, but if you stick to a battery system, you will consistently add new battery packs. If you already have Milwaukee tools, specifically their top handle, then this kit is a must have.

Ultimately, we think this saw is a great buy. The three-year tool and battery warranty really solidifies this saw’s value. We think this saw is of great value for any tree crew wishing to make the jump from gas to battery OPE.

Conclusion

Will the Milwaukee M18 Dual Battery Chainsaw replace the need for large gas chain saws for all tree crews? The short answer is no, but this does represent a major step forward in the long-term viability of battery chain saws. Although we recognize that this is not an absolute apple-to-apples comparison among gas equivalents, we do view this saw as a realistic solution for those interested in primarily employing battery-powered OPE. The Milwaukee M18 Dual Battery Chainsaw represents a pivotal turning point in the gas-to-battery conversion story!

Andy Jones, CTSP, is an ISA Certified Arborist, production climber and co-founder of Rooted Arbor Care, a TCIA member company based in St. Louis, Missouri. He also is a member of TCI Magazine’s Editorial Advisory Committee.

This review reflects the thoughts and opinions of the reviewer as user and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the product referenced, nor is it an endorsement of any specific company, product or service. Every entity or individual should review and test all products for applicability, safety and efficacy in their particular operation.

TCI Magazine product reviews are available to TCIA corporate members as a benefit of their membership. Certain limitations apply. Contact erodewald@tcia.org for more information.