Milwaukee Hatchet

rcktpwrd · 02-21-2021, 07:34 PM

Dad got me one for Christmas and I had a chance to use it this week. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works! I have/had a few over grown cedars. About 20-25 feet tall and one was leaning/growing at almost a 45* angle. The Hatchet cut right through the branches like butter! Largest branch was about 2.5" in diameter.

I also cut one down completely. The trunk was about 6-8" in diameter, kind of oval shaped. Larger then the length of the saw. I just kind of went in a half circle around the base and it cut with ease!
I didn't get a picture of the final cut, will try tomorrow if the rain holds off.

A few times cutting branches from the wrong angle it pinched and stopped the saw. Or if I put too much pressure on it the saw stopped.
I was using a generic '6.0' amazon/ebay battery, that is probably more like a 3.0 battery.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...7-20/313506666

I took down the one towards the fence.

jcsperson · 02-21-2021, 07:49 PM

Pretty cool item.

Hotwire · 02-22-2021, 10:46 AM

Never seen one, that is pretty cool. I was out cutting trees off the road that fell during the storm making good time with my 1978 Homelite EZ Automatic. Damn thing sounds cool and has serious ass. Got pinched on a complex pile and engine backfired, think it blew the reeds out of the carb. Floods now, have rebuild on the way. Was laughing at the yuppies that pulled up in the XC90 and had an electric saw.. His was still going while I was cranking with no love. Electric is making more sense..

rcktpwrd · 02-22-2021, 10:57 AM

Several companies make battery powered chain saws with normal size bars and chains. They usually use two batteries so they have plenty of power. The simplicity of popping in a couple batteries and going to work is nice! Sure the sound and smell of a 2 stroke wide open is cool, but sometimes the quiet is nice too...

I have an '80's Sthil chain saw with 16 or 18 inch bar and it works fine, but not really easy to use for small work...

jcsperson · 02-22-2021, 01:04 PM

I have a little Stihl to do my thicker limbs and such. I use a battery-powered recip saw for pruning. I got a carbide blade for it. It's slower than a chain saw but the cuts are a lot cleaner and you can get in tight spots the chain saw can't touch.

rcktpwrd · 02-22-2021, 07:47 PM

I also have a Makita 18v recip saw and pruning blades for it. I have used it plenty that way and it works well. Hell years ago Dad would send me up a tree with a corded recip saw to prune branches!

HotSoup · 02-23-2021, 05:28 AM

Dewalt 12" 20v chainsaw here, I bought it after trying to crank my piece of shit ryobi for 20 minutes before finally throwing it at the tree. Haven't looked back, I'm not a logger and don't need a gas one.

02-21-2021, 07:34 PM	#1
rcktpwrd Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 725	Milwaukee Hatchet Dad got me one for Christmas and I had a chance to use it this week. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works! I have/had a few over grown cedars. About 20-25 feet tall and one was leaning/growing at almost a 45* angle. The Hatchet cut right through the branches like butter! Largest branch was about 2.5" in diameter. I also cut one down completely. The trunk was about 6-8" in diameter, kind of oval shaped. Larger then the length of the saw. I just kind of went in a half circle around the base and it cut with ease! I didn't get a picture of the final cut, will try tomorrow if the rain holds off. A few times cutting branches from the wrong angle it pinched and stopped the saw. Or if I put too much pressure on it the saw stopped. I was using a generic '6.0' amazon/ebay battery, that is probably more like a 3.0 battery. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwauke...7-20/313506666 I took down the one towards the fence. __________________ Joel his: 1976 Olds Cutlass S hers: 1990 Chevy 454SS

02-22-2021, 10:46 AM	#3
Hotwire Resail Red Hater Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Greensboring Posts: 1,350	Never seen one, that is pretty cool. I was out cutting trees off the road that fell during the storm making good time with my 1978 Homelite EZ Automatic. Damn thing sounds cool and has serious ass. Got pinched on a complex pile and engine backfired, think it blew the reeds out of the carb. Floods now, have rebuild on the way. Was laughing at the yuppies that pulled up in the XC90 and had an electric saw.. His was still going while I was cranking with no love. Electric is making more sense.. __________________ Jeff 02 s10 blazer 2wd, 4dr - L33 5.3L, Z06 cam/springs, 8.5" rear, 3.73s, built 4L60-E, 02 Z28 SS rims - SOLD Click here for build thread 64 Chevelle mordoor Malibu, red headed step foster child LQ4/T56 swap Click here for build thread

02-22-2021, 10:57 AM	#4
rcktpwrd Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 725	Several companies make battery powered chain saws with normal size bars and chains. They usually use two batteries so they have plenty of power. The simplicity of popping in a couple batteries and going to work is nice! Sure the sound and smell of a 2 stroke wide open is cool, but sometimes the quiet is nice too... I have an '80's Sthil chain saw with 16 or 18 inch bar and it works fine, but not really easy to use for small work... __________________ Joel his: 1976 Olds Cutlass S hers: 1990 Chevy 454SS

02-22-2021, 07:47 PM	#6
rcktpwrd Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 725	I also have a Makita 18v recip saw and pruning blades for it. I have used it plenty that way and it works well. Hell years ago Dad would send me up a tree with a corded recip saw to prune branches! __________________ Joel his: 1976 Olds Cutlass S hers: 1990 Chevy 454SS

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02-21-2021, 07:49 PM	#2
jcsperson Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 1,390	Pretty cool item.

02-22-2021, 01:04 PM	#5
jcsperson Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Hillsborough, NC Posts: 1,390	I have a little Stihl to do my thicker limbs and such. I use a battery-powered recip saw for pruning. I got a carbide blade for it. It's slower than a chain saw but the cuts are a lot cleaner and you can get in tight spots the chain saw can't touch.

02-23-2021, 05:28 AM	#7
HotSoup Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,481	Dewalt 12" 20v chainsaw here, I bought it after trying to crank my piece of shit ryobi for 20 minutes before finally throwing it at the tree. Haven't looked back, I'm not a logger and don't need a gas one.