Numerous companies manufacture cordless pruning saws, providing an advantageous addition to your gardening toolkit. Like its notable competitors Milwaukee and Makita, DeWalt has a pruning saw that has witnessed imitation from several off-brand manufacturers, all utilizing the same interchangeable batteries as the authentic model. Project Farm conducted an assessment of these various saws to evaluate their performance across multiple tasks, unexpectedly revealing that some counterfeit versions performed admirably, with the knockoff DeWalt closely trailing behind its authentic version.
In a controlled test measuring how quickly each saw could cut through 2×8 lumber, the counterfeit DeWalt fell short, taking 5.72 seconds in comparison to the authentic DeWalt, which completed the task in just 2.87 seconds. Interestingly, the knockoff did outperform a genuine Makita saw, which required 5.93 seconds for the same cut.
Another evaluation aimed to determine the maximum downward force each saw could withstand before stalling. The counterfeit DeWalt ceased operation at 10 pounds, whereas the real DeWalt handled 21 pounds before stalling, thus outperforming its imitation. Notably, both Ryobi and Craftsman saws surpassed the real DeWalt, handling over 30 pounds of pressure before stalling, while the Milwaukee saw tested by Project Farm managed an impressive 94 pounds without stalling, securing its position as the clear front-runner.
In one crucial aspect, the knockoff DeWalt surpassed the authentic model
While the genuine DeWalt generally outperformed its knockoff equivalent in overall power, the latter surprisingly excelled in efficiency. According to Project Farm’s calculations of runtime per amp-hour, the authentic DeWalt lasted only 1.38 minutes, marking it as one of the lesser performers in the group. On the other hand, the counterfeit DeWalt managed 1.72 minutes using the same energy output.
Additionally, the knockoff was able to make a greater number of cuts through a hardwood log per amp hour, achieving 10.4 cuts versus the real DeWalt’s 8.1 cuts. Nonetheless, both fell significantly short when compared to the best-in-class, with the Milwaukee saw achieving an impressive 41.5 cuts per amp hour and Kobalt trailing in second with 31.7 cuts per amp hour. Ultimately, the final rankings by Project Farm placed the knockoff DeWalt just one rank below the genuine model, although both lagged behind competitors from Milwaukee, Kobalt, and Ryobi. This performance may come as a shock given the considerable price disparity.
Even so, despite a relatively close finish in testing, it is advisable to avoid purchasing knockoff DeWalt products. The absence of warranty and varying production standards could result in higher long-term expenses, and in some instances, these imitations might even present safety hazards. Those in search of the best-performing pruning chainsaw are more likely to benefit from considering alternatives from other reputable brands or investing in the genuine DeWalt saw, even if it doesn’t top the charts.
