Last year, Husqvarna unveiled a world first – a battery-powered chainsaw with a clutch. But is the T542i XP worth the hype? Our arborist found out for himself.
TEN years ago my attitude toward battery saw technology was radically different than it is today. All I saw were limitations of their application, seriously doubting this new tech could be useful for professional climbing arborists.
In 2017, during the medal and prize-giving ceremony at the All Ireland Tree Climbing Competition, I was lucky enough to win a few events and absolutely stoked to receive Husqvarna’s T536Li XP, one of the brand’s first battery top-handled saws. Over the next few months, I was quite impressed by its performance for light pruning, and its suitability for introducing trainee climbers to aerial cutting without them having to pull start saws in what can be awkward work positions. It’s worth mentioning that seven years later the same saw is still in perfect working condition.
Over the last few years we have watched this new technology progress at an amazing pace. Like many of you, I have gone out of my way to stay informed, testing all kinds of battery tools as they’ve been released.
One of my main concerns as a professional chainsaw operator is that saws are reliable and powerful enough to complete cuts when felling on the ground or cutting at height without stalling/binding in the kerf. Experienced climbers will understand how there can be additional time pressure when making some cuts at height, often finding ourselves in compromised work positions, and at the mercy of the elements.
Fast-forward to late June this year. My colleague and I were delivering refresher/update training to climbers at a safety day held by Northern Ireland’s powerline utility provider NIE. In attendance was a demo team from our local distributor and main dealer, A. McIlrath & Son.
This was my first chance to cut with the T542i XP, Husqvarna’s new style top-handle battery saw – the one with the clutch!
I was already quite excited to try this saw out, and I’ve since used it in a lots of scenarios such as crosscutting a variety of timber on the ground, comparing cutting speeds with top-handled petrol saws and testing bore cuts before cutting at height. There are a couple of supporting videos on my social media profiles that feature these tests. Soon enough I took the T542i aloft to trial it at height ...
A customer of mine had a dead semi-mature sycamore, a relatively simple dismantle, all freefall cuts, no rigging. I thought it was the next logical progression of learning about this new tool. It didn’t disappoint, easily coping with multiple felling cuts of the limbs and upper canopy, before piecing down the stem wood with a series of guide bar to over guide bar diameter step cuts.
Sycamore is medium density timber, definitely not soft like lime or willow. The T542i didn’t bind in the kerf once, unlike other less powerful battery saws I’ve cut with before. No doubt this is partly due to fast chain speed and the revolutionary addition of a weighted centrifugal clutch. Plus, the entire takedown only used half of the impressive BLi200x battery. To complete the same amount of cutting with a traditional top-handle, I would expect to use almost a full tank of petrol.
From a practical point of view there are multiple benefits of this battery saw over current alternatives. Low noise and vibration, which in turn helps protect long-term operators from hearing loss and HAVS, minimal maintenance compared to petrol saws, constant efficient power delivery, and no pull starting needed. I’m also a huge fan of the user interface on the saw handle, which signals low bar lubricant levels, and shows remaining battery life.
Operators should, however, be aware of the chain speed of some new battery saws in relation to PPE selection. The T542i can produce a maximum chain speed of 24 m/s. Typically, petrol 40cc saws produce chain speeds of around 20 m/s. There may be a need for users to select a higher grade of PPE than we would normally wear. Class 2 saw PPE is tested to 24 m/s.
Finally, I’d like to highlight the efficiency and cut performance of the chain that comes fitted as standard with the T542i. The SP21G X-cut is a semi chisel pixel .325” mini 1.1 mm chain featuring low kickback (it was easy to bore cut with, almost effortless). The pixel type, with its narrowed chassis, provides a small diameter kerf for all cuts made.
What a fantastic saw Husqvarna has produced
With my 30 years of professional saw use, I don’t often hand out compliments lightly. The T542i’s high chain speed and efficient power delivery from its weighted clutch handles more like a traditional petrol saw than any other battery saw I’ve used before.
To any arborists out there that are still reluctant to take the step towards battery technology, the best advice I have for you is to visit your local Husqvarna dealer and give this saw a try. There’s also a rear-handled version, the 542i, which features the same centrifugal clutch and powerful 36V brushless motor.
During the last few decades our industry has seen significant advancement in best practice, more advanced climbing and rigging gear, even the introduction of revolutionary new petrol saws with auto-tune technology.
Recently, we have been witnessing the rise of the battery; long may these advancements keep happening.
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