Greenworks 12A 16" Corded Chainsaw

Pruning, storm limbs, and small logs — the suburban work most saws actually see — with patience required in hardwood. Be aware the 16-inch bar flatters what the motor can pull: this is the least powerful saw in the credible market, so treat the bar length as reach, not as 16-inch-hardwood capability.

Oiler consistency is the recurring owner complaint on this model, so make bar lubrication part of your routine: top off the reservoir each session and glance for oil sling off the chain before cutting. A dry bar and chain will wear out fast on any saw, and at this price the bar is a meaningful fraction of replacement cost.

It's arguably the best first-saw candidate at the floor of the market — light at 11 lbs, unintimidating, tool-less tensioning, an oil view window, and zero maintenance beyond chain and bar oil. At $70-90 it lets a small-lot owner or storm-kit builder own a real tool without committing to gas-saw upkeep or a battery platform.

It roughly doubles the value tier — Worx offers 3 years and most cheap corded saws 2. That's meaningful on a light-duty build you should treat gently; keep the receipt. Combined with being routinely the cheapest name-brand chainsaw sold in America, the warranty is a big part of why it counts as a credible minimum rather than a toy.

A properly rated one matters more on corded saws than people expect: for a 12-amp tool, use a heavy-gauge outdoor cord (12-gauge for longer runs) and keep the total length modest, since undersized cords starve the motor and cook it under load. Like every corded saw, your working radius is the cord — plan your cutting area around the outlet.