Harbor Freight 14 electric chain saw

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 3, 2011

I'm interested in whether anyone has experience with one of these---good or bad. At about $50, it's a little more than I would normally spend on a birthday present for my BIL but I owe him for a couple of small favors, so I might get him one unless someone has specific knowledge that they are no good. "Probably not good" because they're from Harbor Freight is not the information I'm after.

My BIL has a Stihl chain saw for general use, so this would probably only be used on those occasions where he would normally grab a bow saw because it would be quicker than getting out the Stihl and starting it.

Thanks, Stan

ScottP · Sep 3, 2011

Using an electric chain saw would be more of a pain than using a Stihl saw. Having to roll out cord then roll up the cord.

You must not like your BIL very much. LOL

Stephen Newell · Sep 3, 2011

I use a lot of chicago electric tools but I havn't tried their chain saw. I wouldn't have any reservations in buying one. I do use a 14" electric chain saw with a stihl saw. I like to cut logs into 8' sections and then cut them into firewood with the electric. Its less noise and not as much work for me to bend over with a heavy chainsaw.

JDseller · Sep 3, 2011

I have a Remington that is made just like the Harbor Freight one. If you use it like it is made for then it is fine but if you think it is going to cut like a gas saw then you will be disappointed. I bought mine to top off the 6x6 poles on a shed we where building. I did not want to lug a gas saw up to square off the tops. It worked fine for that.
The oiler is gravity feed on these little electric saws. So they are made to cut horizontal. If you cut vertically then quit and hold the saw horizontal every little while to oil the chain. I only have used mine a few times in five years.

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 3, 2011

But if you had read my initial posting carefully you would have noted that I thought that he might use an electric chain saw when he would otherwise use a bow saw in preference to a full size gas chain saw. I can't argue about the annoyance of being forced to use extension cords, though.

You're wrong about me not liking him very much, too. He's been my best friend for about 45 years. And I won't worry about whether he'll find this tool useful; unless it's a total piece of crap (which is what I posted my question to find out) he'll figure out a way to make use of it. He's amazingly competent with just about every woodworking and carpentry tool there is.

All the best, Stan

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 3, 2011

Thanks for the information. I'll pass it along if I end up buying him one.

I suspect that your experience might be the norm---not much use for a niche tool which has a very narrow niche. Still, what do you get for someone who's 71 and has everything he needs? If the saw had gotten bad reviews here, my next choice was a big bottle of Jack Daniels. The trouble with that is, Washington State has some of the highest liquor prices in the country so a bottle of Jack bigger than a fifth is probably going to run more than $50 anyway. On the other hand, then I wouldn't have to worry about whether he would be able to find a use for it.

All the best, Stan

Skaning · Sep 4, 2011

Over the years I have had several of the electric chain saws, sears, remington and McCulloch. They are all pretty much the same. My favorite use has been limbing on a ladder around the house. Don't have to lift a running saw on a rope or don't have to start one on a ladder. I have gotten more than a little teasing about using one but my answer is always, keep em sharp and they will cut and I really like the safety. Dull chain and a big Stihl won't cut as well.

They have their place in the scheme of things

Anonymous-0 · Sep 4, 2011

I have had several electric chain saws.I liked the Remington best of all of them. But for triming I like the top handle Echo 3400 with a 12" bar. It weighs about the same as the Remington with a 14"bar. I can make several cuts with the Echo in the time it takes to make one with the electric saw and I dont like dragging a cord around.

ScottP · Sep 4, 2011

Stan
I read you post well enough. My reply still stands about the cord. A pain in the butt.

As far as you liking your BIL I was teasing you. Reference the LOL I know you know what that means.

Scott

36 Coupe · Sep 4, 2011

Jim Beam makes better whiskey for less money.I got a bottle of each kind for Christmas.Jim Beam is the best.

steve terplak · Sep 4, 2011

have you thought about a bottle of jack daniels single barrell? easily the tastiest whiskey i have ever sipped...just a suggestion

circus · Sep 4, 2011

Saw a Remington at Menards for $40

Ralph, Ohio · Sep 4, 2011

If the cord is a problem, how about a battery-powered reciprocating saw? I have used a corded Sawzall with a pruning blade to do a lot of tree trimming. I have not used one on battery power but have seen them in use & was impressed.

Ultradog MN · Sep 4, 2011

I have an old Milwaukee electric chainsaw that I bought at a "Man Sale" - garage sale for men - no kids clothes, dishes, or knick knacks -.
I like it for small jobs - wind blows a branch off a tree, etc. Beats keeping mixed gas on hand for the Stihl and is rather powerful for it's weight.
As for Harbor Fright; I live less than a mile from one of their stores and have never been in one. I think they are run by the devil himself. Bunch of cheap China junk that does nothing but line the pockets of our biggest enemy.
Avoid HF at all costs!!

RayP(MI) · Sep 4, 2011

Got one of those Remingtons... Convenient for small trim jobs. Have even dropped a generator on a hay wagon, and taken it out to the fields for fence row trimming. Seems to work OK. HOWEVER, the chain is made with cutter links separated by a couple or even three blank links. Tends to bounce a bunch as a result. One of these days, I"m gonna get a decent chain.

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 4, 2011

Hi Ultradog,

Our biggest enemies don't live outside our borders, and they're delighted that you think they do.

All the best, Stan

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 4, 2011

Hi circus,

No Menards in this corner of the country. What are they equivalent to?

Stan

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 4, 2011

Hi Steve,

At our State monopoly liquor store that whiskey is $50 per 750 ml bottle vs $25 for regular Jack. Even if it was twice as tasty, I think my BIL would prefer two bottles of the regular. I'm not sure that taste is exactly what he drinks it for.

Thanks for the heads up, though.

All the best, Stan

Stan in Oly, WA · Sep 4, 2011

Hi 36 coupe,

I'm inclined to agree with you. The problem is that my BIL doesn't. I think it's not so much a matter of quality as of preference. Jack Daniels is Tennessee whiskey and Jim Beam is bourbon. When I drank alcohol, bourbon was my favorite whiskey. My BIL wouldn't turn it down if it was a matter of that or nothing---just as I wouldn't turn down Jack Daniels when faced with the same choice---but he never bought a bottle of bourbon for himself that I'm aware of, and I know I never bought a bottle of Jack Daniels for myself. There's no accounting for taste. I mean, to most of the world whiskey means Scotch.

All the best, Stan

P.S. Our liquor store sells 4 different kinds of Jim Beam:
JIM BEAM Bourbon
JIM BEAM BLACK 8 YR
JIM BEAM DEVIL'S CUT KY STR
JIM BEAM'S CHOICE 5 YR
so even that issue is far from cut and dried.

Goose · Sep 4, 2011

If you've never been in one of their stores, how do you know so much about their stuff?

I buy a lot from HF, and the only thing that hasn't lived up to, or exceeded, expectations is their self stick DA sander discs. They stick too good! Let one set on a sander for a day, and you have to pick it off piece by piece.

And their warranty is good. I bought a 60 gallon, upright, two stage compressor from them a couple of years ago. After six months, it started to leak down some overnight. They told me to just bring it back with my sales slip and they'd give me a new one.

It was egg on my face time. The problem was the ball type shut off valve I'd put on the outlet port myself. Nothing wrong with the compressor.

Ultradog MN · Sep 4, 2011

[i:654c4848f0]"If you've never been in one of their stores, how do you know so much about their stuff?"[/i:654c4848f0]

I have friends. I have also seen plenty of guys boasting about the bargains they got at HF. Like the fellow who bought an 11 hole drawbar that bent the first time he used it. Real bargain huh? I have seen HF junk and wouldn't own the stuff.
A man who works with tools takes pride not only in the quality of his work but in the quality of his tools. If you want to do good work HF junk is not up to the task. But for some, low grade craftsmanship is sufficient so what do they care about their tools.

ohio · Sep 5, 2011

Ha! Neighbor buys their junk all the time! Use it .5 times and scrap it! Only thing I ever bought from there was a 50' roll of air hose. burst @ 125 psi, first time it was hooked up. Their 4.5" electric grinders last about 2 weeks in an industrial setting. A Bosch will do about 2 years.

Anonymous-0 · Sep 5, 2011

Haven't used the HF 110 volt one, but have a 230 volt BB store version that gous on sale for 30 euro ($40+/-?) quite a bit. No stale gas, no yanking a rope when your arm is sore, no fumes or hires from exhaust when using in the barn or garage, No gas fumes when you set it in the garage or utility room...... Throw it away and pick up a new one when it wears out......
Getting an ext cord out and putting it away seems like a small tradeoff. Common sense applies of course...

Dave

Anonymous-0 · Sep 5, 2011

(quoted from post at 11:56:25 09/04/11) [i:b08d67319e]"If you've never been in one of their stores, how do you know so much about their stuff?"[/i:b08d67319e]

I have friends. I have also seen plenty of guys boasting about the bargains they got at HF. Like the fellow who bought an 11 hole drawbar that bent the first time he used it. Real bargain huh? I have seen HF junk and wouldn't own the stuff.
A man who works with tools takes pride not only in the quality of his work but in the quality of his tools. If you want to do good work HF junk is not up to the task. But for some, low grade craftsmanship is sufficient so what do they care about their tools.

Are you related to B&D???? Better check IP's you both may be the same joe :roll:

eastexan · Sep 6, 2011

Stan, I don't know about the HF one, but I know the Homelite 14" electric at Home Depot for $49 is a good one, and has great reviews.
I bought mine 2 years ago and it has worked great. It has a toolless chain tightener with a 2 year warranty.

I had a big oak tree fall in my yard and I used it more than my gas ones in limbing it. And it went through some of the bigger stuff easy too.

Here's the link:
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100615519/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

:wink:

Harbor Freight 14 electric chain saw

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