CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 16-Inch 12-Amp Electric Chainsaw Review

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is inexpensive cord powered chainsaw with 12-amp motor and 16-inch guide bar and chain.

Cutting performance

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is not very powerful so cutting takes longer than with gas chainsaw or more powerful electric one. It’s still reasonably well for lighter duty jobs like cutting wood with diameter of up to 5 inches like limbs, branches,saplings or taking down small trees.

Can it handle thicker stuff? Well it can cut it but it’s going to take a lot longer than it would with more powerful chainsaw.

Oregon CS1500 which is also a corded chainsaw cuts significantly better and the price difference isn’t big. It’s bigger and weighs more (9.1 lbs vs 12.6 lbs) so it might produce more fatigue.

Then there’s WORX WG304.2 which cuts better than CMECS600 but is slightly lighter than CS1500. It weighs 11.2 lbs but doesn’t cut as well as CS1500.

Some need a light chainsaw for small jobs so it’s understandable that some might prefer CRAFTSMAN CMECS600.

Features

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 has tool-less chain tensioning and auto-oiling features. However it doesn’t have such a vital safety feature like chain brake which is a rare sight to see nowadays.

Quality

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is very inexpensive and it shows. It feels cheap and less solid than more expensive chainsaws however that doesn’t mean it’s too fragile to cut wood, it’s just that you can feel in your hands that this is a cheap chainsaw.

Even the tool-free chain tensioning system is made of plastic. Longevity of it is questionable. How long it lasts? Only time will tell.

─── Related Article: Best Electric Chainsaws (click here to read) ───

Cord

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is powered through cord and it doesn’t come with one so unless you have one with appropriate AWG rating you will have to purchase one separately:

• Cord that’s up to 50 feet (15.2 meters) long should have AWG (gauge) rating of 16.
• Cord that’s longer than 50 feet but no more than 100 feet (30.5 meters) should have AWG (gauge) rating of 14.
• Cord that’s longer than 100 feet but no more than 150 feet (45.7 meters) should have AWG (gauge) rating of 12.
• Cords that are longer than 150 feet (45.7 meters) shouldn’t be used.

Conclusions

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is a cheap chainsaw and it says it all. It’s not very powerful, lacks some features and feels a bit cheaply made. However it’s very lightweight and might be the right choice for those who need light chainsaw that doesn’t cause much fatigue for lighter duty jobs.

CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 Chainsaw Specifications:

• Type: Electric (Corded)
• Motor: 12-Amps
• Guide Bar Length: 16-inches
• Chain pitch: 3/8”
• Chain gauge: 0.043”
• Weight: 9.1 lbs (4.2 kg)