Craftsman Chainsaw Honest Review [2024] With Pros and Cons

Richard McMann

Chainsaw, Single Product Review

Craftsman is one of the most reliable brands when it comes to producing top-notch home improvement tools.

Talking of which, I recently got my eyes on its new cordless V20 chainsaw that runs on 4 Ampere-Hour battery power and is ideal for occasional cutting tasks.

I must say that this tool resembles the Dewalt 20V chainsaw in terms of shape, power, and performance.

However, it’s available at an affordable price tag and that’s what gives it an edge over the typical Dewalt cordless chainsaw.

Anyway, today’s Craftsman chainsaw reviews are based on my first expressions, unboxing the tool, testing it in the backyard, and discussing some of its pros and cons.

Take a look:

What Makes Craftsman 20V Chainsaw a Standout in 2024?

The fact that this tool comes with a long-lasting battery timing already makes it a standout among other cordless chainsaw brands.

More than that, it comes with a robust construction as the bar and chain both are quite durable.

What’s quite impressive is that the manufacturer offers a 4Amp-Hour battery along with a Quick Craftsman charger, so that’s yet another positive.

The cutting power is exceptional when we talk about medium-sized wood logs and firewood materials. Besides, it provides a precise cutting interface with a low kickback.

All these features and qualities make CMCCS620M1 one of the best battery-powered chainsaws out there.

Have a look at what I think of this compact and portable tool as follows:

Our Review of Craftsman 12” Cordless Chainsaw in 2024

Unboxing and First Impressions: Craftsman V20 chainsaw

The reliable chainsaw tool arrived in a compact and secure box and it took me a good amount of time to finally open it.

In the box, I got a 4Ampere-Hour battery along with a quick charger that I plugged in for later purposes.

The chainsaw was pre-assembled, so I took it out and removed the chain guard from it.

Well, as for the first impressions, I didn’t feel anything extraordinary compared to when I checked out Dewalt’s cordless chainsaw.

The tool was lightweight, portable, and rugged. Moreover, it had a tool-less chain tensioning system along with a bubble-level interface. (Will tell you how it helps)

Other than that, the battery slides on the left side and there’s a special lock available on the handle that offers safety and keeps the trigger locked.

Testing the Chainsaw:

Right after the battery was fully charged, I tucked it in the chainsaw, pulled the brake, and started it.

The chainsaw was a little bit quieter than its competitor, i.e. Dewalt’s tool.

I already had a fallen tree lying around in my backyard. It was around 8 to 10 inches thick in diameter.

So, I tested the V20 cordless chainsaw on it and it made around 10 to 11 smooth cuts until the battery died out.

Besides, I recharged the battery again and tried it out on cutting some smaller shrubs, limbs, and branches. It didn’t cause any problems and worked just as I expected.

Updated After 1 Month of Use:

Everything’s working fine. Although the chain sometimes gets loose, so I have to tighten it using the tool-less knob.

Other than that, it’s performing quite well as my wife often uses it to maintain the backyard.

Technical Features Craftsman V20 Offers in 2024

Some of the major technical qualities I noticed while reviewing the Craftsman chainsaw are as follows:

Powerful Motor:

The chainsaw, first of all, features a powerful 20V motor backed by a 4Ampere-Hour battery.

To put that into perspective, it offers improved cutting performance and enhances the overall power of the tool at the same time.

With more torque comes smooth cutting and convenient cutting that can make sure that you finish up the job within a short time.

Explore: How to Change the Fuel Lines on a Craftsman Chainsaw?

12” Bar and Sharp Chain:

Secondly, the bar comes in a 12” size and is made up of durable and rugged stainless steel material.

It’s wrapped up by a spiky-teeth chain, which is quite sharp.

Both these peripherals work together to make accurate cuts and slices of wood materials with convenience.

The saw also comes with an automatic oiling system, which allows the chain to remain lubricated throughout the cutting process.

Make sure that you fill up the oil box with standard chainsaw oil so that it can perform well up to the mark.

Bubble Level:

Just below the handle, you’ll see a special bubble-level installed on the chainsaw.

It helps you to maintain the right angle of the tool while you are busy cutting wood materials.

More than that, it also allows you to keep the chain lubricated while handling it the right way.

Bubble-level option is missing in Dewalt’s 20V chainsaw and that’s another reason to love Craftsman V20.

Battery Power:

Battery timing of the tool is exceptional. Backed by a 4 Ampere-Hour battery, the manufacturer assures that the tool can make as much as 60 cuts on a 4×4 wood.

That said, the battery drains fast while cutting thick wood logs. For instance, when I was cutting a 10” thick fallen tree, the tool made only about 10 cuts.

Good thing is that a Quick charger is included that takes no more than an hour to charge this battery chainsaw completely.

Safe and Secure Variable Speed Trigger:

The speed trigger comes with a lock that makes it stuck and keeps the tool away from unintentional starts.

Moreover, it’s responsive enough. You can increase or decrease the speed of the tool as you press the trigger.

Handling:

The tool barely weighs 9.9 pounds, which is a little bit more than Dewalt’s cordless chainsaw. However, it’s still light in weight.

Hence, you can carry it around from one place to another without any hassle.

Enough with exploring the chainsaw. Let’s head towards some of the positives and negatives of the tool as follows:

Pros

  • Compact and portable cordless chainsaw.
  • Long-lasting battery.
  • Ideal for occasional cutting work.
  • Makes as much as 60 cuts on one full charge.
  • Durable and sturdy construction.
  • 12” bar with a spiky chain wrapped around it.
  • Tool-less chain tensioning management.
  • Bubble level helps you to make cuts with right angle.
  • Automatic oiling keeps the chain lubricated.

Cons

  • Not ideal for commercial use.
  • You have to use manual force to cut extra thick wood logs.
  • Not as lightweight as Dewalt 20V cordless chainsaw.

What Do You Get with the Tool?

The package includes a pre-assembled chainsaw, a chain guard, a user manual, and a 4 Ah battery with a Quick charger.

Customer Ratings:

Here is how customers rate the chainsaw based on different metrics:

Ease of Use: 9.5/10

Power and Performance: 8/10

Durability: 9/10

Handling: 9.7/10

Overall Ratings: 9.7/10

Expert Opinions about Craftsman Chainsaw Reviews

Toby from Tool in Hand describes the Craftsman 12” cordless chainsaw as follows, “Well, it’s quite compact, for starters. Besides, it has a shape and size similar to Dewalt’s 20V model. I got it on a sale in Lowes, and overall it’s performing well enough compared to what I expected.”

Trevor J. Riches shares his experience in following words, “I was looking out for a small chainsaw to carry with me while offroading the woods. I got my eyes set on Craftsman V20 and have used it to cut a large fallen tree into two pieces perfectly. Now I must say that you cannot expect it to perform heavy-duty work, but it’s a perfect choice for light tree work.”

Why Do We Recommend Craftsman V20 Chainsaw in 2024?

The chainsaw works perfectly in EMERGENCY situations.

You can easily carry it around from one place to another as it’s quite compact and portable.

Moreover, the extended battery timing can help you use it longer than expected.

Those are all the reasons to get yourself Craftsman V20 in 2024.

Richard McMann
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