Battery-powered chainsaws ease work of arborists

Give two experienced (and award-winning!) arborists a new battery-powered chainsaw in their hands, and you can bet they'll push the device to its limits. Scott Forrest and Josephine Hedger - nomen est omen - highlight the most important features a chainsaw should have in their profession, and share their experiences about the newest members of the Husqvarna family: the T540i XP and the 540i XP.

Getting up high in the trees to prune, fell or groom ... that the work of an arborist can be challenging is something Forrest (New Zealand) and Hedger (United Kingdom) know better than anyone. They have been in the business for 22 and 18 years, respectively, and both won the world tree-climbing title for the fourth time last year. "There are countless facets an arborist must consider," says Forrest, "and our efficiency does not hinge on the strength of our tools alone. Our start-up time, our maneuverability and the visibility of our actions also affect how quickly, safely and efficiently we can do our jobs." Or, as Hedger sums it up, "When we work with a chainsaw, it should feel like an extension of our body."

Weight and balance

Every day, Forrest and Hedger, like tens of thousands of arborists worldwide, make their way to the treetops via branches and climbing ropes. "That takes a lot of physical effort," Hedger admits, "and the more ballast we can avoid, the better." When developing the new Husqvarna T540i XP, designed specifically for tree care workers who go to the heights, special attention was therefore paid to reducing the weight of both the unit and its battery, resulting in a battery-powered top handle chainsaw that weighs 400 g less than its gasoline-powered counterpart.

Device and battery weight were reduced such that the T540i XP weighs 400 g less than its gasoline-powered counterpart.

Still, weight is not the only concern for a smooth climb to the summit. "If you have to propel yourself through a dense crest, you don't want your gear to get caught up in it," Forrest said. "You have to be streamlined. The closer your material is to your body, the better. An eye on the back of the saw that allows you to attach it directly to your harness with a carabiner is not a luxury."

And then there's the sawing itself. Because that, too, is physically taxing. Hedger: "At no time are we 'just' in a standing position. We often have to twist and turn, and to cut, we tilt the chainsaw in all possible directions. If the device is not balanced, it quickly has a negative impact on your elbows, shoulders ... With these chainsaws, this was meticulously tuned. Even the battery is positioned so that the balance is always right; even if you use a smaller battery."

In the trees, the arborist is never "simply" in a standing position. Balance is therefore a crucial factor for both person and tool.

All-round and reliable

Anyone who has just climbed up to the crown of a tree obviously does not want to go down every half hour to change equipment. "In the past, that was sometimes a problem with cordless tools," Hedger admits. "Because the power was lower, you still had to switch to a gasoline-powered chainsaw for heavy work. However, the T540i XP offers the same power and chain speed as the classic T540 XP (40 cc), and the same goes for the back handle chainsaw 540i XP. So I can be confident that I can also master diameters of up to 30-40 cm with these units, and only rarely have to switch to a gasoline-powered chainsaw anymore." The new SP21G chain, in combination with the X-Precision bar, contributes equally to strong and efficient cutting results, although it also has another advantage.   

Forrest: "The new chain provides a particularly smooth and precise result, which means the wound will heal much better after pruning. Without having to take out our hand saw in addition to that."

And then there are aspects of reliability. "Before I start anything, I want to make sure there's enough battery left to complete the job," Hedger said. "In the meantime, I know roughly that the top handle saw will need one to two full batteries on a working day, and that the 540i XP sometimes needs a third, but thanks to the clear battery indicator I can also see at any time what I can or cannot finish. Then again, thanks to the IPX 4 rating, I know that the saw will continue to perform even in rainy weather."

Device and battery weight were reduced such that the T540i XP weighs 400 g less than its gasoline-powered counterpart.

Immediately ready for action

However, one of Hedger's main reasons for choosing a battery-powered chainsaw is its fast response time. "Top handle chainsaws are notorious for being left on unnecessarily much of the time," the Brit knows. "After all, you don't want to have to start a chainsaw when you're in a precarious position, nor do you want to wait every time for the engine to warm up completely. And so gasoline-powered saws are turned off as little as possible. Which in turn leads to pollution, safety hazards and excessive fuel consumption."

"A battery-powered one, on the other hand, you can turn it on and off up to 30 times an hour, and at each push of the button, it immediately works at full power. The only thing to pay attention to is that the start button feels perfect, so you don't have to look for it. The T540i XP thus already represents a huge efficiency gain for me, and it reduces a lot of stress and inconvenience."

"Good communication between us is essential," says Scott Forrest. "The less noise from our tools, the better that goes."

Safety first

Stress, fatigue and frustration pose great risks to the arborist. After all, they lead to mistakes and, consequently, injuries. "Exhaust fumes, noise and vibration are usually the biggest stressors," Hedger states. "The more you can eliminate those, the better."

Because more cutting is done on the ground, the 540i XP will require 2 to 3 batteries for a full working day. At the top handle saw, 1 to 2 batteries will suffice.

While this was not easily possible in the past, with the advent of high-performance cordless saws, a new world is opening up for green professionals. "If we have to work in a dense canopy in the summer, we are no longer gassed by the exhaust fumes from our chainsaw; we can spend an entire day working with the chainsaw without risking exceeding safety standards for vibration exposure; and we no longer feel the tremendous stress of constant noise exposure." "Our customers are also no longer confronted with noise pollution and are thus in better spirits with us," adds Forrest, "and especially our own communication is smoother. That too is crucial for a safe and pleasant work situation."

"The idea that an arborist is so cracked after age 30 that he can't work anymore is now outdated," Hedger concludes. "With this kind of equipment, I see no reason why we can't do this work up to age 50 or 60."