WEN 4017 Electric Chainsaw, 16"

[AndrewB]

So I picked this particular electric saw up earlier this week.  Ordered it from Amazon on the 2nd of this month.  Just got the bar oil today and was able to give it a go.  Its honestly pretty powerful for an "ELECTRIC" chain saw.  I would far prefer the cutting power of gas but how ever I didn't feel like messing around with gas saws and the maitnence.  Seeing that I was just going to be using this for cutting down blanks to a more workable size.  I used it this afternoon and I was quite impressed with it anyway it felt pretty decent was a bit nerve racking because it felt like it just wanted to jump and kick on me how ever it didn't.  It cut quite smoothly and I would probably recommend this as it is an under 60 dollar budget buy for a saw.

 

Most chain saws run 150 bucks on up for the good ones at least and thats the gas powered.  I tested it out on an old heavy duty electrical wire spool cut quite well through the ply board.  Then I moved on to the douglas fir branches I received from the tree cutters on the 1st of this month.  I think those are about 5 or 6 inches round.  Roughly.  The saw cut through them it took a bit but it still cut through them like butter.  So yea a worth while buy on a budget I think at least.  Here is the link.  Not to mention the saw is also STUPID easy to put together.

 

https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4017-Electric-Chainsaw-16/dp/B01ENBNVNE/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=wen+16+inch+chainsaw&qid=1612992171&sr=8-1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lew]

Thanks for the review.

[Smallpatch]

I've use 2 electric chain saws for the last 35 years after the gas models about wore my arms out cranking and cranking especially after regular gas took a hit by the corn growers.

  Just a bit of a tip when adjusting the chain with the wrench and that is don't tighten those nuts too tight for the plastic will bust out and that is the reason for the second one in my life. The motor still runs good  but I ruined it by being superman. They were not the brand you are showing so good luck...

[Cal]

I bought the HF version of this saw last year and have used it a couple times now.  It done the job and I am happy with it. 

This reminds me that I should see if the old C'man will crank up and sell it.  Or give it away if it doesn't.  Probably been about 20 years since I started it last, but I always drained the gas and then run it til it quit - so it may start up.

[FlGatorwood]

I have a B&D electric chain saw with a 14" bar that attaches to a variable length pole.  It works very well or did until I can no longer keep the chain on it.  I need to look at it soon as I have some branches to trim soon.  

 

Andrew, just a tip, if you have bugs (the names I can't remember that get under the bark and make tunnels), it is strongly advisable to use a hatchet or some tool to remove the bark so they have nothing to get under.  I have a piece of cypress that they got under the bark before I learned this.  And, this is the time of year they like to get under the bark and click to another.  

[Gene Howe]

On 2/11/2021 at 7:13 PM, FlGatorwood said:

Andrew, just a tip, if you have bugs (the names I can't remember that get under the bark and make tunnels), it is strongly advisable to use a hatchet or some tool to remove the bark so they have nothing to get under.  I have a piece of cypress that they got under the bark before I learned this.  And, this is the time of year they like to get under the bark and click to another.  

Out here, we had an infestation of Bark Beetles that nearly devastated our pine population (https://www.fs.fed.us/r3/resources/health/field-guide/bb/index.shtml) until the Forestry people came up with chemical killer/deterrent. A few aerial applications saved the trees. As a stop gap measure, they recommended spraying the trunks with diluted dish soap. We tried it. Not sure it helped a lot. Check out the above link and see if your bugs are similar.  

[FlGatorwood]

Gene, I am not sure that these are the same critters, but they surely are cousins.  I know I harvested some dogwood and cypress some years ago and on warm days, you could hear this clicking.  I began to investigate and little bugs would bore almost pin holes into the bark, lay eggs and they would make channels in the wood.  These were not wood borers as they were much smaller and I have yet to catch one.  Right under the bark there were channels.  So, now, I use a hatchet to remove the bark, but a draw knife would do better, I think.  Just don't give them a chance.  

[Gene Howe]

8 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

Gene, I am not sure that these are the same critters, but they surely are cousins.  I know I harvested some dogwood and cypress some years ago and on warm days, you could hear this clicking.  I began to investigate and little bugs would bore almost pin holes into the bark, lay eggs and they would make channels in the wood.  These were not wood borers as they were much smaller and I have yet to catch one.  Right under the bark there were channels.  So, now, I use a hatchet to remove the bark, but a draw knife would do better, I think.  Just don't give them a chance.  

Can't say I've heard them gnawing under the bark. Though, they do burrow channels. The pines killed are harvested, slabbed and sold as "Beetle Kill Pine". The wood has distinctive blueish streaks when opened up. We were told that our forests were particularly susceptible due to the stresses brought on by drought. 

[Gerald]

12 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

Gene, I am not sure that these are the same critters, but they surely are cousins.  I know I harvested some dogwood and cypress some years ago and on warm days, you could hear this clicking.  I began to investigate and little bugs would bore almost pin holes into the bark, lay eggs and they would make channels in the wood.  These were not wood borers as they were much smaller and I have yet to catch one.  Right under the bark there were channels.  So, now, I use a hatchet to remove the bark, but a draw knife would do better, I think.  Just don't give them a chance.  

Not sure what you have but I think , if you have good enough hearing, you can hear powder post beetles.

[FlGatorwood]

Gerald, I think that is what someone told me then.  They do make an audible clicking sound and you see nothing until you open the wood.  Thanks for the reminder.  

 

Now, I ensure that all bark never goes into my garage.  

[Cal]

On 2/15/2021 at 9:54 AM, Gene Howe said:

Check out the above link and see if your bugs are similar.  

 

 

I'm sorry Gene, I don't think my couple semesters of entomology prepared me to compare the elytral declivity between these two!

But I can say that these are not very similar (looking) to the southern pine beetle that has ravaged our pine forests in the southeast.

[Gene Howe]

8 minutes ago, Cal said:

 

 

I'm sorry Gene, I don't think my couple semesters of entomology prepared me to compare the elytral declivity between these two!

But I can say that these are not very similar (looking) to the southern pine beetle that has ravaged our pine forests in the southeast.

Well, it seems that the AZ five-spined ips does indeed, exhibit a more abrupt terminus to it's wing slope than the western pine beetle. 

 

[HandyDan]

2 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Well, it seems that the AZ five-spined ips does indeed, exhibit a more abrupt terminus to it's wing slope than the western pine beetle. 

 

 

It may have been clipped by the chainsaw.