Oregon PowerNow CS250

Bottom line

The extremely quiet Oregon PowerNow CS250 boasts a 14-inch bar and is potent enough to mow down small trees. Its deadman trigger is an excellent safety feature, but one expert says its power versus chain speed could use a little fine-tuning. The saw comes with either of two battery pack sizes for 30 to 60 minutes of continuous cutting power.

Performance

Large, powerful cordless. Sal Vaglica at This Old House magazine says the Oregon PowerNow CS250's 36V, 6,400 rpm motor can make 125 cuts through a 3-inch-diameter log before it needs recharging. It "has the guts to fell a small tree, too, yet it's quiet enough to run at sunup on Sunday," he notes.

"This saw chewed through a 10-inch pine tree like hot butter," agrees an Amazon.com user; another says it muscled through 15-inch hardwood logs with no problem. However, a few post comments that the chain feels a little flimsy, and the saw's combination of power and chain speed may not be perfectly balanced.

Safety

Deadman trigger is a hit. One of the Oregon PowerNow CS250's most prominent safety features is the auto cutout, which is designed to stall the engine if you try to force it through wood. Some reviewers say it takes some getting used to; you're supposed to let the saw do the work. Still, Michael Springer from Pro Tool Reviews isn't impressed. "The motor doesn't slow enough to give you fair warning to ease up, it just cuts out," he writes.

On the upside, the chainsaw's deadman trigger operation is a plus if you're working in a tree or other compromising position. Just release the trigger and the chain stops.

Ease of use

Stays sharp on its own. The PowerNow CS250 comes with a built-in sharpener: Pull the lever and the chain is as sharp as new within seconds. Most reviewers say this feature works well, but they don't like that the sharpener and chain must be replaced as a unit. The chain oils itself and a translucent window lets you check the reservoir's oil levels, but you need a screwdriver to adjust the chain tensioner.

The CS250's battery packs are a limiting factor. They're expensive at $150 and up, and may last only 30 minutes depending on what you're cutting.