Black+Decker 40V MAX 12" Chainsaw Kit vs Skil PWRCore 40 12" Top Handle Chainsaw Kit
Tinted cells mark the better figure on that row alone: more engine, longer bar, lighter, cheaper. A lighter weight is only a win on the same basis.
What owners like and complain about
Black+Decker 40V MAX 12" Chainsaw Kit
- Chain and bar interchange with DeWalt DCCS620 and Craftsman CMCCS620, so loops are everywhere
- 60-plus 4x4 cuts per charge is a published, checkable figure — rare in this price class
- Automatic bar-and-chain oiling and tool-free tensioning
- 40V gives it noticeably more bite than B+D's 20V 10-inch saw
- Complete kit at $199 with no separate battery purchase
- B+D's 40V MAX line has few other tools, so the pack is close to single-purpose
- 11.1 lb listed is heavy for a 12-inch bar; several brushless 14-inch saws weigh less
- Brushed motor and a single 2.0Ah pack cap sustained cutting
- No tool-only SKU sold on B+D's own site, so owners cannot buy just the saw
- B+D does not state whether the listed weight includes the battery
Skil PWRCore 40 12" Top Handle Chainsaw Kit
- 7.1 lb with the battery attached, lighter than most pruning saws here
- 1/4-inch pitch chain leaves a notably cleaner cut than 3/8 LP
- Auto-lubricating chain and side-dial tool-free tensioning
- Cheapest top-handle saw of any brand in this catalog by a wide margin
- Shares PWRCore 40 packs with Skil's 14- and 18-inch saws
- Top-handle shape invites one-handed in-tree use this saw is not built or rated for
- 2.0Ah pack is small; 70 cuts of 4x4 is the whole charge
- 1/4-inch chain is a narrower aftermarket than 3/8 LP
- No tool-only SKU is sold on Skil's own store
- 60W charger is slow even for a 2.0Ah battery