Is This 6-Inch Cordless Pruning Saw Tough Enough? Our Hands-On Review Pushes It to Its Limits

If you’re seeking a powerful tool for pruning large tree branches – thicker than anything you could cut with regular pruning shears – then the Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw might be the perfect tool for you.

This mini chainsaw packs tremendous cutting power into a lightweight and minimal design, weighing just 70 oz and fitted with a 4-inch chain. The tool comes with everything you need to start pruning, including a 24V lithium-ion battery and charger, a soft carry case, and some lubricating bar oil.

Do bear in mind that this pruner is not designed to meet all your pruning needs. It can’t reasonably be used to cut thin plant stems, or perform delicate tasks such as deadheading flowers. However, if you just need a tool for pruning thicker tree branches, then the Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw is surely one of the best pruners you can buy.

While this pruning saw is relatively user-friendly, it’s still technically a chainsaw. As such, you should always use it with care, while wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). The bar and chain will sometimes require oiling and tensioning between uses.

That being said, the battery and charger can be used with other tools from the Greenworks 24V/48V range, which includes a wide variety of DIY power tools and yard tools, which is very convenient. Buy this pruning saw first, and you can then buy other compatible Greenworks tools as bare units, at a very affordable price point.

REVIEWED BY

REVIEWED BY

Pete Wise

Pete has reviewed hundreds of gardening products for titles including TopTenReviews, Ideal Home and the London Evening Standard – as well as writing articles on diverse topics for other publications such as The Guardian and BBC Good Food. A long-term contributor to the blog of leading scissors-maker Ernest Wright, Pete has in-depth understanding of the qualities and design features that go into a really good pair of shears.

Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw: At a glance

Since its launch in 2009, Greenworks has emerged as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of reasonably-priced, good-quality yard tools (as well as power tools for home improvement).

The 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw represents the brand at its best, with an innovative, user-friendly design, and cutting performance that rivals some of the tool’s premium-priced competitors.

This mini chainsaw is designed specifically for cutting tree branches, up to a thickness of 4" (and perhaps beyond, with the right technique).

You can pick up the Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw (plus accessories) for about $160, direct from the Greenworks online store or on Amazon. At the time of update, it's currently on sale for $147.28 on Amazon!

Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw: key specs

Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw: Performance

This mini chainsaw is made especially for cutting tree branches – and that’s exactly the kind of work we used it for during product testing.

The Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw proved capable of cutting through various sizes of branch with absolute ease. Tilting the saw back and forth, we were able to produce a clean cut every time, even when pruning trees with thicker branches.

For an even tougher test, we decided to use the pruner to cut a large, protruding knot away from a tree trunk. While this took a few more seconds than cutting through the branch, the task was effortless.

Using the Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw is incredibly easy, although it should be noted that the tool will require maintenance over time, including adjustment and lubrication of the chain.

The saw kicks up quite a bit of sawdust while it cuts through branches – so it’s a good idea to protect your eyes by wearing goggles during use. The operating noise is pretty loud and abrasive, so you might want to avoid using this tool for pruning while other folk are relaxing in the yard.

Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw: should you buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How does it compare?

Given that you’ve read this far, you’re probably comfortable with the idea of buying a mini chainsaw. However, we’d like to remind you that if you’re looking for an all-purpose pruner that can also cut soft plants, then you should be looking at a more versatile, lower-powered tool – for example, the manually operated Wolf-Garten Anvil Pruner RSEN, available on Amazon.

If branch cutting is your main requirement, another option to consider is the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Pole Lopper from Home Depot (which needs to be used with a compatible Ryobi battery and charger, both sold separately).

Ryobi’s lopper has a lower cutting capacity than the Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw, but it is better equipped to cut high-up tree branches, thanks to its telescopic pole lopper design. Which option is best? That depends on the size and shape of your trees.

How we tested the Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw

The Greenworks 24V 6" Brushless Pruning Saw is designed especially for cutting tree branches, including thicker branches than most pruners could possible cut. To test the tool's capabilities, our reviewer used it to cut several branches away from the fruit trees in his yard, including branches with a thickness of over 4". The reviewer also tested the pruner's bundled-in accessories, including its 24V lithium-ion battery and charger.

First reviewed: September 2023