Full Overview

This 1-1/2 Peak HP electric chain saw is perfect for medium size cutting jobs close to your house or power outlet. The PLN1514 is equipped with 14-Inch bar, manual oiler and comes fully assembled.

Technical Details

- Great for small jobs around the house
- 1-1/2 HP (peak) electric motor
- 8 AMP motor
- 14-Inch guide bar
- Lightweight design

Not ever having used a chain saw, I was a bit skeptical of mine and the saw's capabilities. But having to remove 9 cedar stumps and being told an estimate of $500 to grind the stumps, I was ready to try my hand. I dug a trench around each stump and then sawed off about 5 inches of each stump with my new tool. After drilling some holes in what remained of the stumps and filling the holes with stump poison, I filled in the trenches leaving the new tops of the stumps about 2 inches below ground level. The little saw performed amazingly well. I expected it to get bogged down on the bigger (10 inch) stumps, forcing me to cut off in sections, but not so. I did, however, have to buy a new chain with 1 1/2 stumps to go. Installation was easy. I was told by a power tools salesperson that he was surprised that my chain lasted as long as it did, as cedar dulls a chain very quickly. Yes, pushing the oil cap and frequently tightening the chain initially is annoying, but not as much as shelling out $500 for a job that was easily accomplished for around $65. And I still have a very handy tool for other, lighter trimming chores.

I like this saw. Sometimes I just don't need a full-blown gas-powered saw. This little guy is great for trimming small stuff and even cutting firewood if you are working in one place. I use it where I stack the wood for final cuts to log-size. It does a good job on stuff up to 5 or even 6 inches in diameter. It's very sharp and if you have some patience, it's a good light/medium duty saw. My wife likes the electric because the gas ones can be hard for her to start. This one you pull the trigger and it starts... let go and it stops.

Note that the oiler is not automatic! You must press the oil cap to oil the chain. Only complaint is that the saw does not come with a chain-tightening tool. So... keep a ratchet/socket and a flat-blade screwdriver handy. I paid $50 at Lowes.

I gave it 4 stars (not 5) due to no tool and the press-to-oil cap should be better labeled.

I am very disappointed with Poulan. The tool for adjusting the chain tension is not included with the chainsaw. In fact, according to customer service, it's not even made. I have two Poulan gas chainsaws and this tool was included with both of them. Poulan, in their great wisdom, changed the bolt size in the electric saw so the tool cannot be interchanged. It is a hassle to carry and keep up with a flat blade screwdriver and socket/ratchet when using this chainsaw when one tool could do the job. Therefore, I recommend making sure this tool is included when buying a chainsaw.

I have been very impressed by this little saw. I got it because I was in a hurry and needed to fell and clear a pair of 18" cedars in my front yard, and I didn't have time to use my buck saw to get the work done, and I sold my last gas saw several years ago when I got rid of the last house I had that had a fireplace.

The package says that it is ideal for use in limbing and brushing - which is true - but I also used it to fell and buck cedars that were a good four inches wider than the bar. The key is to let the saw do the work, keep it lubricated, keep the chain tight and know how to anticipate and avoid bar binding... but quite frankly, that is something that you can say about every saw out there.

It is fairly obvious to me that the people who have problems with this are incapable of reading the manual and/or have never really used a chain saw before.

Do we really need an additional (unnecessary) tool included? I for one am lousy with cheap screwdrivers and box wrenches and don't need yet another tool to be picky over. This is an utterly excellent tool for the money and really gets the job done around the house, without making it sound like a pack of mopeds is circling menacingly and looking for trouble. This is no louder than a drill, and light enough to use one-handed.

Again, if you are safe and sane about using it, and familiar with the foibles of ALL chain saws, you would be hard pressed to find something comparable at twice the price.

This chain saw worked well for about an hour. Then the chain came off. It took a while but I learned how to get the chain back on. It worked well for about five minutes. Now, with the chain on, the motor turns but the chain doesn't. Maybe it wasn't designed to cut tree limbs thicker than a pencil. It is a total waste of money.