Ego Power+ CS1800 Review

When it comes to cordless chainsaws, it is hard to beat the Ego Power+ CS1800. This high-performing wood-eating machine has one of the longest bars of any cordless electric chainsaw in the industry, meaning that you can tackle jobs that were once thought to be impossible with a battery-operated saw. The designers of the CS1800 thought to include some clever features such as metal bucking spikes, a debris screen on the oil tank, and an LED light for those tasks that require a little more illumination. Not only does this tool have a great look and feel to it, but it's also very easy to use. If you don't want to mess with tools to change, tighten, or loosen a chain, this Ego is a great choice.

Performance Comparison

Saw Performance

We tested how well each saw made cuts side-by-side with the other saws in our review. The Ego Power+ CS1800 sliced most of the competition to pieces during this portion of the assessment, which accounts for 35% of the total score.

For the first portion of this metric, we bought 4"x4" Douglas Fir from the lumber yard and stacked them into a diamond shape on a sawbuck to be sure that we had a uniform 8"x8" “fake log” for each saw. The Ego Power+ CS1800 was one of the fastest models with an average cut time of 5.876 seconds. It also has a just ok windup time — the time it takes to get the chain from stop to full speed. Between these two attributes, this machine can get tasks done very quickly.

We also wanted to see how each saw did in the real world, so we took them out to a few local trail restoration projects to volunteer some time in the woods.

Once we used the CS1800 in a real-world testing situation, we were thrilled about this model. The 18-inch bar helps to cut through massive logs that many other cordless electric chainsaws simply are not capable of reaching across.

Ease of Use

Operating a chainsaw can already be a daunting and dangerous task, so the last thing you want is for the machine itself to be complicated to operate. For this reason, we dedicated 30% of the total score to this metric.

When it comes to tool-free tensioning systems, the Ego Power+ CS1800 has one of the most straightforward designs that we've seen. There are clear diagrams on the side of the saw that just about anyone can understand. You simply turn the dial one way to tighten the chain, then the other to lock it in place. We were able to remove the bar in seconds. Some other top chainsaws require prying out a tool and loosening two nuts, which takes much longer.

Another innovative feature added to the Ego Power+ CS1800 is the LED lights that light up the cutting area. This is great for people who love to work early in the morning or into the dusk, but it is also an added safety measure in case you ever need to cut a downed tree out of the way of a back road or something similar in the dead of night.

We weren't overly thrilled by the location of the battery for this model, as it does take two hands to install or remove. In contrast, in a few other models, you can use one hand to take it out or snap it back in on the workbench, but it's definitely not something that we consider to be a deal-breaker. As we mention below, there are some benefits to how the batteries attach.

Battery

To test battery life, we divided the metric into two halves. First, we ran each chainsaw without a load at full throttle, stopped the timer to add bar and chain oil every fifteen minutes then started it all up again until the machines were completely out of juice.

This is one place where the CS1800 really shines — thanks to the 56V 5Ah battery coupled with Ego's innovations in the world of electric technology, this model lasted a full 60 minutes during our assessment.

For the second half of the test, we took the completely dead batteries and charged them up while carefully watching with a stopwatch. The Power+ 1800 had one of the fastest times during our time trials for this comparison at 1.5 hours.

This saw is compatible with at least 3 sizes of Ego batteries. This is ideal if you want to have a variety of different battery sizes for a variety of different tools. Other saws we tested are only compatible with one battery size. In addition, Ego has one of the broadest selection of cordless electric tools. The battery that comes with this saw will work with at least 10 other tools, including a pole saw, snowblower and even a portable generator. Most other top-rated cordless electric chainsaws have far fewer tools with which their batteries are compatible.

Noise

The remaining 10% of our total score is dedicated to the noise levels produced by each cordless electric chainsaw. We used a sound pressure level meter from 48" away to measure the levels you would be subjected to in order to gain some numeric values. Then, we had a panel of judges decide if there were any annoying or bothersome noises coming from each model. At 88.8 decibels, the CS1800 scored about in the middle of the pack for this metric.

Weight

The CS1800 isn't the lightest saw we've tested, but it's far from the heaviest. If you're aiming to prune small branches or tackle lighter DIY projects, a lighter way would be ideal, but the weight of this model is perfectly fine for cutting firewood or felling medium-sized trees.

Should You Buy The Ego Power+ CS1800?

The Ego Power+ CS1800 is the right model for the person who wants a powerful saw that is very easy to operate at a good price. If you don't want to mess with tools when it comes time to tension the chain, this model's system is a no-brainer to master. The battery lasts longer than most of the competition while still recharging relatively quickly. To top it off, it is substantially more affordable than the priciest models, you can buy relatively cheap replacement batteries, and there are hundreds of other Ego tools that the batteries work with.

What Other Chainsaw Should You Consider?

If you just care about performance and don't mind a little more weight and money, the EGO Power+ CS2005 is the top saw. The Husqvarna Power Axe 350i performed a little better and has the advantage of a “boost mode” that draws extra juice from the battery and produces faster cuts than the 1800. It is also a little lighter. However, the 350i is more expensive and there are not nearly as many other tools that the Husky batteries work with compared to the Ego. If you like the idea of a quick-charge battery, the Greenworks Pro 80V is the way to go. Many people are looking for a compact saw to make backyard maintenance and smaller jobs easier than a hand saw. If this is you, check out the Worx WG322.