Black & Decker 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw

A storm cleanup companion that earns its keep

My first hours with the Black+Decker 12-inch cordless saw were spent clearing a mess of wind-fallen limbs and a couple of small trunks pinched against a fence. No fuel mix, no choke, no pull cord—just slide in the 40V battery, press the lock-off, and go. That immediacy is the headline here. For light to medium work around the yard, this saw trades peak power for an easy, low-hassle experience that makes you more likely to grab it and actually get the job done.

Design and ergonomics

At just over 11 pounds with the battery, the saw is compact and well-balanced. The full wrap-around handle is genuinely useful; I could comfortably switch from horizontal cuts to vertical pruning without contorting my wrists. The overmolded grip stays tacky even with gloves, and the trigger and lock-off are placed so you don’t have to shift your grip to operate them.

Tool-free chain tensioning is a highlight. A quick twist at the side cover snugged up slack between cuts—important on smaller saws where chains heat up and stretch. There’s a simple battery state-of-charge indicator on the pack that I checked often when planning the next cut. The included scabbard is basic but appreciated for storage and transport.

One design nitpick: the bucking spikes are plastic and very modest. They do provide a reference point, but they don’t bite into the wood like metal dogs do. You can work around it by letting the chain do the cutting and using a lighter touch, but don’t expect the same leverage and pivot you’d get on a pro saw.

Cutting performance

With a 12-inch bar and a low-kickback chain, this is a homeowner-class saw and it behaves like one—in a good way. It’s happiest limbing, pruning, and breaking down small to medium branches and trunks. In softwood, I could work up to the bar’s capacity with reasonable feed pressure. In hardwood, the saw still gets it done, but you have to let it clear chips and avoid leaning on it. If you force it, it will stall; release the trigger and it restarts without drama.

For context, I cut a couple dozen 4x4s to length and limbed a small tree on a single charge, and I’ve also bucked an 8- to 10-inch hardwood log into fireplace rounds by taking my time and letting the saw work. It’s not a production machine, but for neighborhood storm cleanup and routine yard work, the pace is perfectly acceptable. The chain out of the box was true and smooth, and the saw tracks cuts better than I expected for a small battery unit.

Noise is notably lower than a gas saw’s bark. You’ll still want hearing protection, but the absence of engine drone makes this far less abrasive to you and your neighbors. Vibration is also modest; after a half-hour session my hands weren’t buzzing.

Battery life and charging

The included 2.0 Ah 40V pack is the right match for the saw’s size, delivering a useful window of runtime without making the tool nose-heavy. Expect a session’s worth of work—think limbing, pruning, and a handful of trunk cuts—on a charge. On dimensional softwood, I’m in the ballpark of 60 cuts of 4x4 per charge, but real-world times vary with wood species, chain sharpness, and your feed pressure.

Charging with the included jack-plug charger is straightforward and takes roughly a couple of hours from empty to full. If you plan to spend an afternoon cutting, a second battery is the single best accessory you can buy. The saw is compatible with Black+Decker’s 40V MAX outdoor system, so if you already own their blower or trimmer, you can rotate packs and keep moving. If you want more runtime per swap, stepping up to a higher-capacity pack makes a noticeable difference.

Oiling system: the good and the messy

The automatic oiler does its job: the bar and chain stay wet, and the cut quality benefits. The flip side is that this saw runs on the generous side. Oil consumption roughly parallels the battery runtime—in other words, don’t leave home without a small bottle of bar oil, because you’ll likely refill the reservoir when you change batteries. The tank isn’t large, and after longer cutting sessions I’ve seen some oil spatter around the clutch cover and a little weeping if the saw sits.

Practical tips that helped me:
- Fill the oil before you start and check it every battery swap.
- Store the saw on a tray or cardboard, and keep the oil cap up.
- If you want a cleaner footprint and you’re working around living trees or garden beds, a biodegradable bar oil is a smart choice.

There’s no flow adjustment, so management is about habits rather than tuning. The upside is a consistently lubricated chain; the downside is extra wipes and a higher oil budget.

Maintenance and setup

Out of the box, installing the bar and chain was quick, and the tool-free tensioner simplifies setup. I got in the habit of checking tension after the first few cuts as the chain warmed up, then every 10–15 minutes. That’s normal for small saws and takes seconds with the large side knob.

Cleaning is simple. Remove the cover, brush out chips, wipe the bar groove and oil port, and you’re back to work. Keeping the chain sharp extends both runtime and cut quality—two or three light touches with a file after each session kept mine slicing well. Replacement chains are easy to find and inexpensive.

Safety, noise, and comfort

The saw includes a front hand guard, a lock-off button, and a low-kickback chain. It does not have the snappy, inertia-activated chain brake you’ll find on pro gas saws, so treat the trigger with respect and don’t rely on the guard as a brake. On the plus side, the electric motor spools down quickly when you release the trigger, and the quieter, low-vibration feel makes it easier to maintain good, controlled technique.

Standard chainsaw PPE still applies: eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, long sleeves, and chainsaw chaps.

Limitations and best uses

• Power ceiling: It’s not built to rip through dense hardwood all day. If your yard is full of oak trunks above 12 inches, you’ll want a bigger, more powerful saw.
• Bucking leverage: The small plastic spikes limit the ability to pivot aggressively into the cut.
• Oil consumption: Expect to carry bar oil and wipe down the saw after use.

Where it shines:
- Limbing and pruning
- Bucking small to medium logs
- Storm cleanup without waking the neighborhood
- Quick, spontaneous jobs where the no-fuss startup saves time

Tips to get the most from it

• Let the chain cut; forcing the bar slows you down and drains the battery.
• Keep the chain sharp. Light, frequent touch-ups beat occasional heavy filing.
• Check chain tension often, especially early in a session.
• Bring a small bottle of bar oil and refill with each battery change.
• If you’re planning bigger jobs, add a second battery or a higher-capacity pack.

Final recommendation

I recommend this 12-inch cordless saw to homeowners who want an easy, dependable tool for yard maintenance and occasional storm cleanup. It’s lightweight, quiet, and genuinely pleasant to use, with thoughtful ergonomics and simple maintenance. The automatic oiler is effective but enthusiastic, so plan for higher oil use and a bit of cleanup. It won’t replace a pro gas saw for heavy hardwoods, and the modest bucking spikes limit leverage, but within its intended range it performs consistently and saves time on every outing. If your work is mostly limbing, pruning, and cutting trunks up to about a foot with a patient feed, this saw is a smart, low-hassle choice—made better with a second battery and a quart of bar oil in your kit.