Customer Reviews

Makita UC4030A Commercial-Grade 16-Inch 15 amp Electric Chain Saw with Tool-Less Blade And Chain Adjustments

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have always been a fan of Makita tools, especially their saw, so when I had to buy a chain saw I turned to Makita first. I read all the reviews on the UC4000, which is the older model of this saw, and saw nothing but awesome reviews. Close to 5 stars with over 50 reviews.
So I went ahead and purchased this saw, and boy am I glad I did. This saw cuts through wood like a knife through hot butter. It was effortless how easily this saw cut through a 8 inch diameter tree branch, this is one mean saw. I am used to using my dads Stihl 20inch FarmBoss and this saw didn't make me wish I was using that monster at all. If you need to fall some really huge trees in the deep woods get a big gas saw, but if your just using your saw to cut firewood, take down small/ medium trees, work around the house get this saw. Another thing that is so nice is that all you have to do is 1) put some bar/chain in it 2) Plug it in 3) Pull the trigger and its up and running, no pulling, mixing oil, checking spark plugs, flooding the engine. Just pull the trigger and go.
It is so easy to put this saw together and make adjustments on the fly because its totally tool-less, and that also makes clean up easier. A great feature. This saw may cost 2-3 times more than other electric chainsaws but if you want a tool that will last go ahead and spend the money. This saw will last much longer than 2-3 of the cheap saws and you will save yourself many headaches.

I'm not a fan of Makita power tools & the very few I have purchased, I have replaced with Festool or Porter-Cable. So when looking for an electric chainsaw I was surprised by both the price & the rave reviews on Amazon. I am primarily a hobbyist woodworker & turner, and this saw was purchased solely for slabbing wood for turning. I live in a city & don't even own a lawnmower, so I haven't the foggiest idea how well this saw would do at felling & bucking trees. But it made short work of slabbing (9) 30" long sections of spalted hard maple ranging in diameter from 12" to 18".

This saw is very well made, and as pointed out in one of the other reviews it's constructed in Germany (not in the Far East). In my opinion, it has proved to be worth the investment. The saw is well balanced and handles easily. The only negative point I noted was the chain adjustment mechanism is recessed and postioned such that it collects bar oil loaded sawdust while in use. So adjusting the chain requires removing your gloves & carefully clearing away the collected oily debris. I was paranoid about jamming adjuster with sawdust, so perhaps I took more care than absolutely necessary.

When selecting a saw I was undecided between the 14" and 16" bar. Ultimately, I chose the longer one. Based upon my limited experience, I'd recommend it. The saw balance is good, and the longer bar may come in handy. I suspect this will be the last chainsaw I'll need to purchase.

When my gas saw suddenly broke, I was in a pinch so I had this over-nighted in from Amazon. The saw came through with flying colors. This saw cuts just as well as my 42cc gas saw does. At 2600fpm the chain speed is not as fast, but the motor is so strong I can put more pressure on the blade and make cuts in the same amount of time- maybe even a little faster. That really surprised me. I made about 50 cuts on logs ranging from 6 inches to 15 inches. The last cut was as good as the first. Cutting 15 inch birch is a good test for this saw and it ate it right up. Harder woods were even easier to cut.

This saw would be impractical for felling and bucking trees with a lot of branches because of the cord. It would be excellent for occasional and emergency use around the home. This saw would be a good choice for commercial firewood if it's only being used to cut bucked logs down to firewood lengths.

And thanks to Amazon (and Fedex) for coming through with the overnight delivery when I really needed it. It cost a lot, but the product and the service came through to get the job done.

Having spent many hours behind various chainsaws in my life I was more than a little skeptical about buying an electric saw. I was intrigued by the idea of not reeking of gasoline and exhaust after using the saw but wary of the saw not having enough power to do what I wanted. My only other experience with a cheap electric had been less than sitisfactory.
Suffice it to say my fears have been allayed. This saw has more power than my Stihl yard saw, makes a whole lot less noise and I still smell fresh as a daisy when I have finished using it. I was able to easily cut through green wood, dried wood, as well as ripping knotty firewood that defied my attempts at splitting it with a maul. All with the added benefit of not having to remove my smelly clothes and head immediately to the shower after using it!

I purchased this whilw I was waiting for parts on my Stihl gas poered unit. I thought it was a good way to see to it that my emergency generator got some regular use. This saw cut through a half dozen fallen boxelders (20 to 36 inch trunks) in about six hours using less gas than my stihl goes through in an hour. Having had carpul tunnel syndrom previously I realy appreciated the reduceed vibration. Is also much quieter than a gas unit. As fast as any saw I've used.

I am reserving the fifth star because of the chain tightener. It has worke well so far but seems pretty light compared to any saw I've used before.

After going through 3 other electric saws (the last 2 Troy Bilt TB4516CC's) in as many years, I moved up in price to this Makita. After a year with the Makita felling several large trees and cutting them into firewood, I am happy to report I can put my recommendation on this saw. It is higher in price than most other electric chain saws but it works, can handle large logs, cuts reasonably fast, and has stood up to my punishment. It cannot compete with good gas saws but I hate the noise, smoke, maintenance..... so started using electric saws several years ago. Was concerned after 3 very disappointing failures that I would not find an electric option so decided to try this relatively (to other electric saws) expensive Makita - and have been pleasantly surprised at the functionality and durability of this product. Hopefully this recommendation is not premature.... I feel pretty confident this Makita is a solid machine that will provide years of service.

I've had this saw for just over a year now. I've sawed dowm, trimmed, and cut to length several trees in that time. I've used the whole 16" of blade a few times.

The good: No gas. Works every time I need it without the extra labor of gas and oil. It's quiet! Overall a very nice tool - as is expected from Makita.

The not so good: It's heavy. Not too heavy to use all day, but it's too heavy to use one handed when I want to. It's a little slower and not as powerful as a good gas powered saw. Sure, you can saw faster with the gas saw, and the gas saw isn't as sensitive to the chain condition, but I'm not in that much of a hurry anyway. The cord is manageable if you stay alert. If not, enjoy cutting your expensive power cord. So far it hasn't been too intrusive to manage the cord.

One note - It's easy to run out of chain oil, since you aren't stopping to refill the gas tank. So be sure to remember to stop occasionally and check that the oil tank isn't empty!

Overall, I'd like a little more chain speed and power, but it's not that big of a deal. It's a great tool, and although I'd like it to be less expensive, I hope it serves me as well as my other Makita products have.

If I didn't need the longer bar sometimes, I'd have purchased the shorter bar. It will make a nice difference. If you don't need the extra length I suggest the smaller 14" 15 amp saw.

I'm just a homeowner--not a mountain man or a lumberjack. I've got to trim some trees on occasion--decent size trees, in my estimation. I looked at some weak-kneed saws at Home Depot (Homelite) and Lowes (Poulan), then I saw this one at a rental place. I didn't rent it, but I played with it awhile and recognized that it was far and away better than any of those mass-market saws. The housing is sturdy and fits well, and the chain adjusts with no tools.

I ran home and read the reviews on Amazon, then ordered it. I pretty much decided it was worth 5 stars before I even received it. When I got it and put it to work hacking up some fruit trees, I was astounded. My decent-size trees were just twigs. This thing ripped through them.

I've had only one minor issue. Store it level, because the bar oil tends to get loose. I think that's pretty much expected of chain saws.

If you're looking for a really respectable 16 inch electric saw, this is it. You won't find anything like it downtown. Buy this saw.

I bought this saw to replace a Sears Craftsman of the same blade size, which I had used for twenty years. When the main drive gear wore out, there were no longer replacement parts available. I have long had a bias against buying tools not made in the USA, but every Japanese made tool or vehicle I have ever used has been superb, and in today's world, in which parts for a given product can be made in multiple countries, it's almost impossible to characterize the nationality of any given product. Besides, the Makita had exactly the features I was looking for.

Interestingly, the new saw was significantly lighter and more compact that the old Craftsman, even though blade size was the same, and the Makita was slightly more powerful. Assembly was a snap, and the unit came with a protective plastic sheath to protect the blade when not in use. It comes equipped with a chain brake, which instantly stops the chain in the event of kickback, and a run-out brake to instantly stop the chain when the ON/OFF switch is released. The chain can be changed, and the tension adjusted, without the need for any additional tools, a very nice feature.

The saw made short work of anything I have cut so far, including limbs up to a foot in diameter. Handling it has been very comfortable; obviously, the ergonomics have been well designed. And the blade has been incredibly durable.

Bottom line: This is a quality product, and I love using it. There is only one problem I have found. As seems to be the case with everything these days, this Japanese chain saw was made in China. With literally millions of Japanese and Americans out of work, yet another company has shifted its manufacturing jobs to China to exploit cheap labor. I love this product, but if I had known it was made in China, at the expense of Japanese and American workers, I would not have bought it.

I have used several electric chain saws (my house runs on solar power and I heat primarily with wood). I bought this saw because of my good experiences with Makita power tools, and I an quite impressed. It goes through several kinds of hardwoods easily and is ergonomic and light. It's as powerful as any other 16" saw I've used including gas powered saws. The only disconcerting thing is the "soft start" made me think the saw didn't work at first. My modified sine wave power may have been a factor (although my Makita drill likes it).

Helluva saw. Good investment. I'm not sure if it matters where it's made.

DK