Ryobi 18 Volt Lithium Ion Chainsaw
I still own one of the first-generation Ryobi battery-powered chain saws that came out several years ago. It was (and remains to this day) a trooper. At the risk of sounding like an ID10t, I had used it several times before I even realized it required chain oil. That said, I had it about 15-20 feet up in a tree and dropped it to the ground (accidentally). It survived the fall and my ignorance with flying colors. That says a lot about this toughness of this bad boy.
Now, Ryobi has introduced their One+ lithium-ion powered saw and I’m in love all over again. I’ve never been a big fan of gas-powered chain saws, as I could never seem to get the fuel/oil mixture right and the saw never really wanted to start after my initial use. I have a Stihl that remains in its case to this day because I don’t want to hassle with the starter; it’s so much easier to simply pull the Ryobi off the shelf and pull the trigger. Naturally, I wouldn’t use this all day on the logging trail, but for around the yard or job site for quick work, this is definitely a go-to tool.
Despite its diminutive size, this chainsaw packs a punch, thanks to the 18 volt lithium ion power pack.
Ryobi ONE+ 18 Volt Power
The Ryobi battery-powered saw got its first use when I tackled two large limbs that had fallen from a neighbor’s tall oak into my back yard. Of course, on the way down, one of them took out a skylight while the other left two 4-inch holes in my roof, but I digress. The Ryobi, on a fully-charged battery, took on the 6-inch oak limb (about 17-18 feet long) with ease. I was able to cut all but about 5 feet of the limb on a single charge – and that was with the smaller battery that Ryobi supplies. I believe that if I had used the larger battery, I would have gotten through the entire limb.
Of course, it won’t take down an entire forest, but for most smaller jobs, the 10 inch bar works just fine.
Ryobi 10″ Chainsaw Bar
It has a 10-inch bar, so the Ryobi isn’t designed to be a tool for downing huge timber, but it certainly is a great tool for eliminating the occasional fallen limb or even a small tree. It was actually my tool of preference for cutting the smaller limbs off a downed tree in my back yard some months ago (the first-generation tool, that is). With the addition of the lithium-ion power plant, this saw is a no-brainer for anyone who hates dealing with fussy gas machines.
The chainsaw tackled this oak like a champ.
Ryobi Chainsaw Review & Opinion
I give the saw a thumbs-up for ease of use (press the safety and pull the trigger), and for doing a tidy job. Granted, it cuts more slowly than its petro-fueled cousins, but that’s to be expected…it’s a lighter-weight tool. For me, the additional wait time was minimal. A little pricey at $120, but worth it, in my humble opinion. If you own other ONE+ tools, adding this to your line-up makes sense. Just don’t forget to add the chain oil.
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Brad Staggs
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