Ryobi 36V HP Brushless 18” R36XCHS26

Ryobi 36V Electric Chainsaw - Will it replace that 2 Stroke? – Ryobi 36V 6.0Ah Electric Chainsaw Between having a few trees to keep trimmed and the need for firewood while I am off camping, I decided it was time to up my game, and upgrade from the Baumr-Ag 18V Electric Chainsaw, to a more powerful, longer lasting one. As always I spent a couple of months researching and reviewing what was available. There are a lot of options out there, some are impressive but ridiculously expensive or while powerful last a dozen decent cuts then need a recharge. Now I am not expecting the battery to last all day, I am a realist. An hour maybe of mid size logs.

After all the looking and researching, I decided on the Ryobi 36V 6.0Ah Electric Chainsaw.

So let's consider some of it's features and why it was my choice this time.

Firstly, it is a Ryobi. A mostly well respected name, that produces quality equipment. The next main choice was what voltage and what amount of stored/available for torque power the battery held.

The Ryobi 36V clearly has a 36V battery. This is a great amount, as it provides good power, but not at such a drain such as 56v or 60v. Sure, they have ridiculous torque, but last a lot less due to the power output.

The available power, or AMPS, in the Ryobi 36V version I bought is 6.0Ah. Basically the higher the amps, the higher the storage. It also allows for higher output, allowing for a larger more powerful motor.

The design is very traditional, looking like a standard chainsaw, except the small amount of battery that sticks out from the side. This doesn't affect the use in any way, it just looks 'janky', but the battery is a 36V Lithium unit, so power output is always going to be acceptable.

The safety switch is well placed, ensuring a 'dedicated' want to run the chainsaw, so there will be no accidental startups costing a few fingers. The chain brake safety is a traditional type and functions nicely.

With a long 18" bar, ripping through 400mm logs is a breeze. with a fully charged battery the claims are it will perform 85 cuts at 170mm. More than enough for a few nights wood for camping, or to drop a few branches that are doing bad things.

The single tool a combo screwdriver/box wrench allows quick access and adjusting of the chain tension and is stored securely on the bottom of the handle.

So, what sort of performance can you expect in reality? Well, I'm a broken old soldier, so hours of work just don't happen. For me 30-40 min of light strenuous work then a break. Incredibly, the Ryobi 36V 6.0Ah electric chainsaw gives me just that, around 30-40 min, a bit more if you are doing lighter stuff, but more than enough time to cut stuff up. I personally then go have a rest, put the battery on charge, then when it's ready, around an hour or so depending on the battery temperature. Then at it again.

How does it cut? Well the Baumr-Ag was 'ok', but had a slow chain speed. While the Ryobi doesn't have the highest chain speed, it does have a well matched chain speed and torque. Some practice will easily have you slicing through logs, no catching, quickly, simply and without concern.

Anything I don't like 100%? Yes, there certainly is. The 'grab claws' used to 'lock' the saw and provide a pivot point are short, blunt and plastic. Oddly, they worked quite well, dare I say perfectly for the Ash trees I'm cutting up, seemingly designed precisely for the bark. But with some practice, again this 'limitation', if it is one, the saw easily overcomes the need and slices through anyway.

Mine came as a kit, containing the saw, battery, battery charger, instructions all in a nice plastic box, that holds your saw and battery nicely. I would have liked to see a second battery space available, or allow the saw to be put in the box with the battery installed (I'm guessing they had issues with this, safety?), but a second battery spot would make this a more usable unit.

Is it a good buy? Well, from all my research, the price is set by Ryobi, and the kits are sold exclusively by Bunnings. At $699, it is a big outlay, but for what I intend to use it for, it is a sensible and good price. For those wanting an electric chainsaw, like myself, for quieter wood gathering while camping, without the need for a petrol chainsaw, the noise, fumes and hassles, it would be a big call. For someone wanting to use it to collect a winters wood, possibly, but you will want 1-2 extra batteries. I may buy a second battery, for camping predominantly, but I have a 2000W inverter setup, so recharging using solar is possible.

If you are after a well powered, nicely weighted, reliable electric chainsaw, for the occasional use for trimming branches or gathering a small amount of firewood while camping, then this may be the idea electric chainsaw for you.

Having more than enough torque to get through the bigger logs, enough power to keep running and cutting for a realistic timeframe, this is a good electric chainsaw. Will it replace the petrol version? Kind of. For smaller uses and to more suit noise concerns, yes, this is a realistic replacement. Were I going to cut 5 ton of wood, then one of my petrol units are coming out. Sure the noise level is nicer, but sometimes, well you just need to have that long running option available.

For my yard work and camping, this is ideal. I don't need to carry fuel and oil, just for that one tool.

A well constructed, nicely balanced, powerful electric chainsaw that could meet your needs for sure. Definitely worth a look.