Updated January, 2025
Coming off fourth on our list is the smallest and most lightweight chainsaw on this site. Some people just need a saw to cut down branches around their yard or prepare wood pieces for their fireplace. Well, for those people, this is one of the best choices out there, as this Black and Decker LCS1020 20V features a powerful 10 inch chainsaw with a very affordable price tag. There are a lot of safety features as well making it ideal for people who are just now starting to learn how to use a chainsaw and want something safe that is easy to handle.
Continue reading to find out more about its features and see where are the strong and weak points of this particular model.
Table of Contents
Features That Make It Stand Out
The feature that we absolutely have to mention first is the size and dimensions of this thing.
Counting the bar, this chainsaw is 26 inches long, 9″ wide, and 10 inches high. When you fully assemble it, it weighs the mind-boggling 7.2 pounds which is honestly as light as it can get in this world. The overall size, shape, and weight make it the go-to chainsaw for beginners and, in fact, most academies choose exactly this model for their trainees.
The little footprint shouldn’t fool you, though. The 20V battery inside this thing is more than capable of dealing with most type of wood you throw at it. Sure, it is far from suitable for felling and large wood cutting but let’s be honest – nobody is getting a 10 inch chainsaw for that purpose. You are getting it to chop logs in your backyard or to sculpturing bears with your grandson.
Product Rating:
- Very good for close quarter wood cutting
- Very small and practical
- Great price
- Sturdy construction
- Easy to work with
- Starts with the click of a button
- A lot of safety features
- Good chain tensioning options
Maintenance
This chainsaw has a manually operated oiling system which is not so great but you need to remember that chainsaws at this price point might not even have oiling systems in the first place. Still, this one does and it is manual, meaning you will have to press the bulb on the oil cap three times before you start cutting. It sure isn’t as convenient as the saw having an automated system but it is better than nothing. Trust us, in a few days you will get very used to this process.
Never allow the oil in this model to go below 25%. The full capacity of the chainsaw’s reservoir is 50ml. One quart of the oil you need to use for lubricating this saw costs approximately 10 dollars and will be good enough for almost 20 full refills.
The chain might get dull if you touch something other than wood and in those cases you will need to sharpen it with a 4.5mm file. Also, the tension system is tool-free here, meaning that you can easily adjust the tension of the chain manually. Always check if it fits around the bar because if it doesn’t it might snap loose.
Other than that, this electric chainsaw requires little to no maintenance. Make sure that you regularly check the screws and bolts and tighten them up if needed.
For something a little bit stronger and with a longer bar and chain, check out our Greenworks 12-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw Kit Review.
Safety Features
This model has a surprisingly high number of safety features considering its price. Those are:
- A low kickback bar and chain which reduce the kickback effect of the chainsaw when you work with it. Still, never rely fully on kickback protection from any type of saw as it is only meant to lessen the effect. The real kickback prevention starts in the head.
- There is a lock-off control button that doesn’t allow you to accidentally press the start button.
- Handlebar guards which will protect your hands from flying debris or a detached chain
Once again, never rely solely on the chainsaw’s safety features, as you should always take safety measures and never do things not recommended by the manufacturer.
The Battery
The lithium battery here is a 20V one (2Ah). This isn’t the biggest battery we’ve seen but then again it is just right for the size of this tool. It is rechargeable and very lightweight. It holds the charge well over time and you can recharge it whenever you want, unlike some other batteries that have to be depleted to charge again if you want to keep them healthy.
It takes around 4 to 5 hours to fully charge the battery from 0 to 100%.
Learn how to cut wood with your small chainsaw by going to this article. Let’s see which are the pros and cons now.
Pros And Cons
Advantages
- Very good for close quarter wood cutting
- Very small and practical
- Great price
- Sturdy construction
- Easy to work with
- Starts with the click of a button
- A lot of safety features
- Good chain tensioning options
Disadvantages
- No automatic chain oiling
- Not suitable for heavy duty wood cutting
- You will have to do regular check ups on the tensioning system as the chain often gets loose (especially if you work daily)
For more information on electric chainsaws and more of our top selected models for this year, head over to our Buyer’s Guide where you will find all the needed tips and advice on the matter!
Conclusion and Rating
This Rating Was Updated January, 2025:
If you are looking for a small, compact but also very potent electric chainsaw, then this Black and Decker model is just the right thing for you needs.
It has a minimal footprint making it ideal for indoor wood cutting. It also is very lightweight and can run for hours on its 20V 2Ah battery, meaning you can easily work with it in the backyard without breaking a sweat.
If compact is your goal, then this 10 inch saw with a very attractive price tag is what you should go for. We gave it a four and a half out of five stars rating.
