Pruning and trimming branches is a chore that every gardener has to do every year.
It may help you save the life of your trees if the branch is diseased. It may increase the growth of the trees. Or it may just help you improve the shape of the trees.
Whatever is the reason, you’re going to end up trimming a lot of branches in your garden.
Now you could go about trimming branches with a pruning saw but that’s going to take you ages. And you’ll be exhausted at the end of it.
The solution?
Use a good quality small chainsaw that will help you trim a lot of branches fast without breaking a sweat.
So let’s take a look at the Black and Decker LCS1240 cordless chainsaw that is one of the popular small chainsaws available.
Here are some of the features of this chainsaw that can help you with your buying decision.
Last update on 2024-04-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
Pros
Cons
Review:
Your small chainsaw buying decision should be made considering some of the factors that are common to cordless chainsaws. Let’s take a look at these with respect to the Black and Decker LCS1230 cordless chainsaw.
Portability
The Black and Decker LCS1240 is not the most lightweight cordless chainsaw that you can get. It weighs about 10.4 pounds including the battery.
It’s not very heavy and an average person should be able to carry it around in their yard for a good period of time. However, if you’re someone who has problems lifting objects for a long time then you may have to look at some other options.
This chainsaw comes with a 40V battery that should help you cut small branches for about an hour before you need to recharge it. Though having a bigger battery means you need a bit more time to charge because it does not have fast charging.
Build quality
The build quality of the Black and Decker LCS1240 is very good and it should last you for a long time when you are just using it for the occasional trimming in your garden.
It’s great that the chainsaw has a 12 inch Oregon bar and chain which means that the chain quality is very good.
The 40V MAX battery is quite good as it comes with a fade-free performance that will give you longer runtime and improved life.
Cutting capacity
The Black and Decker LCS1230 comes with a 40V battery which will give you the good power to cut several small branches in your garden. But if you’re looking for a more professional grade cordless chainsaw that cuts fast then this is not the best choice.
The 12-inch bar and chain will help you cut branches that are up to 10 inches with ease.
Safety
The Black and Decker LCS1240 comes with a front hand guard that will activate the chain brake in case of a kickback. The 12 inch Oregon bar and chain is low-kickback as well which makes it safer than some other cordless chainsaws.
Ease of use
The good thing about small cordless chainsaws is that they are quite easy to use. You just need to have a charged battery and oil in the reservoir. Then just push the button and you’re on your way to cutting branches.
The Black and Decker LCS1240 comes with an automatic oiling system that will keep the bar and chain well-oiled during the cutting. This will help make the cuts more efficient as well as increase the life of the chainsaw. The drawback is that the oil can leak when the chainsaw is kept in storage with the oil still in the reservoir.
This chainsaw also has a tool-free chain tensioning system which means that you don’t need to mess around with a screwdriver or wrench when you want to adjust the chain tension before the cutting starts.
Maintenance
The advantage of using a cordless chainsaw like the Black and Decker LCS1240 is that the maintenance is low compared to a gas chainsaw.
With a gas chainsaw, you need to deal with things like air filters, spark plugs, and clogged gas tanks. Not to mention issues such as gas fumes and noise during the cutting. You don’t need to worry about any of these things with a cordless chainsaw.
Of course, there are some things you still need to maintain with a cordless chainsaw including keeping it well-oiled. Always keep the oil reservoir filled before starting to cut.
It’s also important to ensure that the chain is sharp before you start cutting. You don’t want a dull chain that risks damaging the chainsaw as well as injury to yourself.
And keep the chain tension adjusted to the right level before starting the cut. It should not be too tight nor too loose before you start the work.
Once you’re done with trimming branches in your garden, make sure to clean the chain of any sawdust and resin with the help of oil or vinegar. And then store the chainsaw in a safe place away from the reach of children.
Price
The Black and Decker LCS1240 is not a budget chainsaw but neither is it expensive. It falls in the middle when it comes to the price.
However, the Black and Decker brand means you get an excellent quality tool that will last you for a long time. So you get good value for the price that you’re paying.
Warranty
The Greenworks 20262 comes with a limited two-year warranty on the chainsaw.
How Does it Compare?
Last update on 2024-04-26 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
The Greenworks 20262 comes with a 40V G-MAX Lithium-Ion battery similar to the Black and Decker LCS1240. It does have a fast charger that you don’t get with the Black and Decker one. So the battery charging is a lot faster than the Black and Decker LCS1240.
The 12-inch bar and chain that comes with the Greenworks 20262 is a regular one and not the better quality Oregon brand that comes with the Black and Decker LCS1240.
It has a tool-free tension adjustment system so you don’t need to mess around with a screwdriver when adjusting the chain tension.
The automatic oiling system is similar to the one that comes with the Black and Decker LCS1240 so you should not have to worry about keeping the bar and chain oiled during use.
The Greenworks 20262 weighs just 6 pounds compared to the 10.4 pounds of the Black and Decker LCS1240. This makes it very lightweight and useful for those who find it difficult to carry a heavy thing around the garden.
The Greenworks 20262 is also quite inexpensive compared to the Black and Decker LCS1240. So if you’re looking for a budget cordless chainsaw that is good enough for cutting small branches, you should consider this chainsaw.
This chainsaw comes with a limited four-year warranty as compared to the Black and Decker lCS1240 that comes with a limited two-year warranty.
Last update on 2024-04-27 // Source: Amazon Affiliates
The Makita XCU02PT is a professional grade cordless chainsaw with a 36V battery power. If you’re looking for a cordless chainsaw that gives you good cutting power while being portable and clean, then this is the tool for you.
Like the Black and Decker LCS1240 it has a 12 inch bar and chain that will help you cut branches up to 10 inches thick.
It also has the automatic oiling system so that you don’t need to worry about keeping the bar and chain oiled during use.
The tool-free chain tensioning system will help you adjust the chain tension with a knob and you don’t need to worry about using a screwdriver.
The Makita XCU02PT weighs 10.1 pounds which is almost the same as the Black and Decker LCS1240. So if you’re looking for something very lightweight both of these options are not the best for you.
Where the Makita XCU02PT stands out is the excellent quality that it comes with. It has Extreme Protection Technology which means it can withstand extreme weather that includes a lot of dust and water.
The Makita XCU02PT comes with a limited four-year warranty which is higher than the two-year limited warranty by Black and Decker.
This chainsaw is quite expensive and not something you want if you have a limited budget. But if money is not your concern and you want a high-quality cordless chainsaw that gives you professional level performance, then the Makita XCU02PT is your ideal choice.
Earthwise LCS32412 Cordless Chainsaw
The Earthwise LCS32412 cordless chainsaw comes with a 24V Lithium-Ion battery which is quite low in power compared to the 40V Black and Decker LCS1240.
The bar and chain is 12 inch which is comfortable enough to cut branches that are up to 10 inches thick. Like the Black and Decker LCS1240, it is of the high-quality Oregon brand which will last you for a long time.
It does have the automatic oiling system that will ensure you’re bar and chain are well-oiled before you start cutting as long as there is oil in the reservoir.
The tool-free chain tension adjustment is good because you don’t need to mess around with a screwdriver. Just turn a knob to adjust the tension as optimal as required.
Because the Earthwise LCS32412 has a smaller battery and comes with a fast charger, the battery charges a lot faster than the Black and Decker LCS1240.
This chainsaw weighs about 8 pounds which is slightly lighter than the Black and Decker one.
It comes with a limited two-year warranty on the chainsaw as well as the charger and battery.
The Earthwise LCS32412 is a lot cheaper than the Black and Decker LCS1240. So if you’re on a really tight budget but want a reliable cordless chainsaw, then the Earthwise is something you should consider buying.
Fact Checked, Written, and Published by Kevin Rodrigues
Kevin is the founder of Gardening Mentor, a website that aims to teach people to grow their own food in a limited space. As a self-taught gardener, Kevin has spent several years growing plants and creating gardening content on the website. He is certified in Home Horticulture and Organic Gardening from Oregon State University. He has a Post Graduate Diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Gardening from Mumbai University.
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