I ended up cutting down a tree in my backyard that had gotten way out of hand.
At first, I thought I’d just trim it, but that wasn’t going to solve anything.
The thorns were a nightmare, and the whole thing had grown too big to manage.
So I decided to remove it completely.
For this job, I used two tools:
a cordless pruning shear I’ve been using for over 3 years, and a new mini chainsaw.
This isn’t a technical review—just what I noticed while actually using them.
What I Was Using Before
My previous set was:
- Tiger Double Cut Cordless Mini Chainsaw + Pruning Shears (6”)
- Bought: Oct 23, 2023
- Around $140–150
- 18.5V
Here’s how they held up:
- Pruning shears → still working after 3 years
- Mini chainsaw → gave out after a little over a year
The shears just kept going.
The chainsaw slowly lost power, then one day it just stopped being usable.
Budget Tools — What I Noticed
Most tools in this price range look different,
but once you use them, they feel pretty similar.
A lot of them come from the same kind of manufacturing setup.
That said, they’re not bad tools at all.
They’re actually good enough for everyday yard work.
But there’s one thing I didn’t pay attention to before.
And that’s what made the difference.
What I Bought This Time
- ANUS Cordless Mini Chainsaw + Pruning Shears (6”)
- 21V
- Around $130–150
Nothing fancy.
Just another budget set like the last one.
The One Thing That Actually Matters (Chainsaw)
I didn’t notice this the first time.
But now it’s obvious.
No oil system = problems later
My old chainsaw didn’t have an oil port.
It worked fine at first.
But over time, it started heating up more and more.
Eventually, it just couldn’t keep up anymore.
The new one has a simple oil port.
That alone changes how it runs.
- It stays cooler
- Cuts feel smoother
- Less strain over time
It’s not something you think about when buying,
but it makes a real difference later.
If I had to pick one thing to check before buying again,
this would be it.
How I Used Them (Real Work)
This wasn’t just trimming branches.
I cut the whole tree down.
Both tools had their place.
Pruning Shears Test (Real Cutting)
Pruning Shears
For smaller branches (around 2–3 cm),
this was the fastest way to get through the work.
Light, quick, and easy on the hands.
Mini Chainsaw Cutting Test
Mini Chainsaw
Once the branches got thicker (4 cm and above),
the chainsaw was the only option.
Slower than the shears, but necessary.
Using Both Together
Trying to do everything with one tool doesn’t really work.
- Shears for speed
- Chainsaw for strength
Using both made the whole job easier and faster.
What I Learned
After using these tools for a few years,
a few things became clear.
- Pruning shears → most budget ones work similarly
- Mini chainsaws → small design details matter more than expected
Especially something simple like an oil port.
It doesn’t stand out at first,
but it shows over time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re just maintaining a backyard,
you don’t need expensive tools.
But if you’re getting a mini chainsaw,
it’s worth checking how it’s built.
I learned that the hard way.
And I probably wouldn’t ignore that detail again.
if you’re also spending more time in your backyard like I do,
you might enjoy simple outdoor cooking setups too.
I actually built my own pizza oven, and wrote about it here:
How I Built a DIY Wood-Fired Pizza Oven in Korea (Fire Bricks, Cost, and Real Results)