Trimming branches in your garden can be a time-consuming just use a pruning saw.

It’s OK for a couple of trees but for a large garden with plenty of trees, you don’t want to waste your time cutting branches.

That’s where a good small chainsaw comes in handy. It will help you cut those branches fast without burning a hole in your pocket.

There are many small chainsaw available but today let’s take a look at the Sun Joe SWJ698E electric chainsaw and whether it is the right fit for your gardening needs.

Sun Joe SWJ698E 12-inch 9-Amp Electric Chain Saw...
  • [POWERFUL]: 9-amp motor cuts branches up to 9 in. (23 cm) thick
  • [VERSATILE]: Ideal for trimming and pruning limbs and branches
  • [LUBRICATION]: Automatic chain lubrication system

Last update on 2024-03-28 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

Pros Cons
  • Inexpensive
  • Automatic oiling system
  • Easy adjustment chain tensioning system
  • Powerful motor
  • Full two-year warranty
  • Limited by cord length
  • Cannot use in bad weather
  • Manual chain tension adjustment


Review

Before buying a small chainsaw, you should take a look at some important factors that can influence your cutting experience with the chainsaw. So let’s take a look at good the Sun Joe SWJ698E is when it comes to these factors.

Portability

The Sun Joe SWJ698E weighs about 7 pounds which makes it quite lightweight so you should have no problems carrying it around in the garden for a long period of time.

Since it’s an electric chainsaw you don’t have to worry about things like charging a battery and can use it for a long period of time. However, you will be limited by the length of the extension cord that you use.

You also won’t be able to use this chainsaw in stormy or rainy weather because it can be hazardous using a corded electric device in such weather.

Build quality

The Sun Joe SWJ698E has a pretty good build quality and you should not have any problems for a long time to come.

The bar and chain are of the Oregon brand which assures you of a high-quality that lasts for years.

Cutting capacity

The Sun Joe SWJ698E comes with a 9-amp motor that is good enough for cutting several small branches in your garden. But don’t expect it to cut as fast as a professional gas chainsaw.

The guide bar is 12 inches which means you should be able to cut any branch up to 10 inches thick with ease.

Safety

The Sun Joe SWJ698E comes with a front hand guard that will activate the chain brake in case of a kickback.

It also has an extension cord hook so that the cord does not unplug if it gets entangled while you are busy cutting.

Ease of use

Being an electric chainsaw, the Sun Joe SWJ698E is quite easy to use. Just plug the power cord into an electric socket and push the button on the chainsaw to start it up.

The bar and chain need to be well-oiled when you are cutting branches. This will help you cut better as well as improve the life of the chain. It’s good that this chainsaw comes with an automatic oiling system that keeps the bar and chain oiled during the cutting.

When you use any chainsaw for a while, the chain tension can become a bit lax and you’ll need to adjust it. This chainsaw comes with a manual chain tension adjustment which requires a bit of time to use.

Maintenance

The advantage of using an electric chainsaw like the Sun Joe SWJ698E is that the maintenance is low compared to a gas chainsaw.

A gas chainsaw means a headache maintaining the air filter, spark plug, and the gas tank. But you don’t have to worry about those with a cordless chainsaw. A cordless chainsaw does not emit fumes and is a lot less noisy than a gas one.

You also don’t need to worry about keeping the battery charged as you would in case of a cordless battery operated chainsaw.

There is some minimal maintenance you do need even for an electric chainsaw.

You should ensure that there is plenty of oil in the reservoir before using the chainsaw. And make sure that the chain is sharp enough to get the job done. You don’t want to risk damaging the chainsaw while using a blunt chain or worse injuring yourself.

Use the manual chain tension adjustment and ensure that the chain tension is optimal. This will make sure the chain is not loose where it slips off when you’re cutting. And that it’s not so tight that it breaks during the cutting.

After the cutting, make sure that there is no debris and sawdust in the chain. You can keep it clean using some oil and a cleaning cloth.

Price

Being a corded chainsaw, the Sun Joe SWJ698E is very inexpensive when compared to something like a gas or cordless chainsaw.

So if you have a really limited budget and don’t mind using an extension cord while cutting branches in your yard, then the Sun Joe SWJ698E is a very good choice.

Warranty

The Sun Joe SWJ698E electric chainsaw comes with a full two-year warranty.

How Does it Compare?

Sale
WORX WG305 Electric Chain Saw, 14-Inch
  • [EASY CHAIN TENSION] The patented, tool-free auto-tension chain system prevents over-tightening for extremely efficient cuts and a long chain life
  • [POWERFUL 8-AMP MOTOR] It spins the chain at 28 ft/s, and thanks to other innovations like the lubrication and tension systems, it’ll run at peak performance throughout its lifetime
  • [EASY PRIME OIL PUMP] You’ll always have a well-lubricated chain, and with the oil-level window you’ll always know when it’s time for a refill

Last update on 2024-03-28 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The WORX WG305 electric chainsaw comes with an 8 amp motor that should be good for cutting small branches in your garden. Its power is comparable to the Sun Joe SWJ698E.

This chainsaw has a 14-inch bar and chain that is longer than the Sun Joe one which means it can cut branches up to 12 inches thick.

Unlike the Sun Joe SWJ698E, this chainsaw has a tool-free chain tensioning system which means you can adjust the chain tension with the turn of a knob instead of messing around with a screwdriver.

There is no automatic oiling system to keep the bar and chain well-oiled during cutting. You need to remember to oil the chain periodically when using it.

The WORX WG305 comes with a limited three-year warranty while the Sun Joe SWJ698E comes with a full two-year warranty.

The weight of the chainsaw is about 6.6 pounds which is quite lightweight to be able to use it for a long period of cutting time.

The price of the WORX WG305 is comparable to the Sun Joe SWJ698E and it’s quite inexpensive as well.


Makita-UC3551A Chain Saw, Electric, 14 in. Bar
  • "Tool-less" blade and chain adjustments for convenient operation and easy maintenance
  • Large trigger switch with soft start for smooth start-ups
  • Rubberized soft grip handle provides increased comfort on the job

Last update on 2024-03-28 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Makita UC3551A is a corded electric chainsaw with a 14.5 amp motor that gives you higher cutting power than the Sun Joe SWJ698E. The motor has a built-in current limiter that protects the motor from burning out in case it is overloaded.

The bar and chain are 14 inches which enables you to cut branches that are up to 12 inches thick.

The chainsaw has a tool-free chain tensioning system so you can adjust the chain tension using just a simple lever instead of struggling with a screwdriver.

It also has an automatic oiling system to keep the bar and chain well oiled during the cutting which improves the life of the chainsaw.

The Makita UC3551A weighs about 15 pounds which is more than twice the weight of the Sun Joe SWJ698E. So if you’re looking for a lightweight chainsaw then this one is not for you.

The Makita UC3551A is a professional grade corded chainsaw that has an excellent quality of the chainsaw as well as the bar and chain. It performs well even in extreme conditions where there is a lot of dust and water.

The Makita UC3551A comes with a limited one-year warranty whereas the Sun Joe SWJ698E comes with a full two-year warranty.

Being a professional grade chainsaw, the Makita UC3551A is very expensive and costs almost four times the price of Sun Joe SWJ698E.

If you’re looking for an excellent, high-quality, professional grade electric chainsaw and are willing to spend the money for it then the Makita UC3551A is the perfect match for you.


Sale
Greenworks 10.5 Amp 14-Inch Corded Chainsaw 20222
  • 10.5 amp electric motor starts within seconds for ease of use and Reliable power
  • 14-Inch Bar makes clean up jobs a breeze
  • Tool-less chain tensioning for quick adjustments so you can get back to the task at hand

Last update on 2024-03-28 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Greenworks 20222 electric chainsaw comes with a 9-amp motor that is comparable to the Sun Joe SWJ698E in terms of power.

The bar and chain is 14 inches long which means you will be able to cut branches up to 12 inches with this chainsaw.

It comes with an automatic oiling system so your bar and chain will remain well-oiled during the cutting. This improves the performance and life of the chainsaw.

One con of the Sun Joe SWJ698E electric chainsaw is that it does not have an easy chain tension adjustment system. So you need to use a screwdriver or wrench to adjust the chain tension. With the Greenworks 20222 electric chainsaw, you get an easy chain adjustment system where you just turn a bolt and can adjust the chain tension.

This chainsaw even with a 14 inch guide bar weighs just 8 pounds which is almost the same weight as the Sun Joe SWJ698E making this chainsaw very lightweight and easy to carry around in the garden.

The Greenworks 20222 comes with a limited four-year warranty while the Sun Joe SWJ698E comes with a full two-year warranty.

It comes with a limited two-year warranty on the chainsaw as well as the charger and battery.

The Greenworks 20222 costs is very inexpensive even though it has a bigger bar and chain. If you’re looking for a budget small chainsaw that does a good job of cutting branches then this is a chainsaw that you must consider.



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