Black+Decker CS1216 Electric Chainsaw Review

The saw's strengths all come from its design as a corded tool built for branches and logs.

Power that does not run out

It runs off electricity, so you get all the power you need right through to the very last cut. There is no battery to charge, no fuel to mix and no engine to start. For a homeowner working through a pile of storm damage, that means you keep cutting until the job is done.

Made for branches and logs

Its purpose is plain: it makes quick work of tough branches and logs. Limbing, pruning, bucking fallen wood and clearing storm damage are its home turf, and that is where it belongs.

Tool-free chain tensioning

You adjust the chain without hunting for a wrench. That matters on a saw whose chain needs frequent checks, especially while a new chain is still stretching.

Automatic oiling with an easy-view oil window

The bar and chain get oil without you pumping anything, and the window shows you when to top up.

Low-kickback bar and chain

The chain is the low-kickback type, designed for smooth operation in different cutting orientations. It is the safety-oriented choice for a homeowner saw.

Manageable weight and size

At 10 lb and 19 inches long, 9 inches wide and 12 inches high, it is easy to carry, control and store. It is light enough for precise work close to fences, walls and other obstacles, and light enough to move around a yard without strain.

Simple ownership

A 2-year limited warranty covers it, and a scabbard comes in the box for storage and transport. Corded power, tool-free tensioning and automatic oiling are what justify its place as a straightforward occasional-use tool rather than a pro-grade machine.

Every cut has to happen within a cord's reach of an outlet. That is the defining constraint of this saw and the first thing to weigh before buying.

A branch-and-log saw, not a felling saw

The product description frames it for branches and logs, so treat it as a limbing, pruning and bucking tool. Felling standing trees is a job for trained users with different equipment.

Cutting capacity is smaller than the bar suggests

A 16-inch bar does not mean 16-inch logs every time. The usable cut is shorter than the bar length once the saw is buried in wood, and hard, dry or green wood narrows it further. It is comfortable on branches and logs up to roughly a foot across, and slower and more technique-dependent beyond that.

Chain retention is the known weak point

Buyer feedback on chain durability is mixed, and the complaint that comes up most among Amazon buyers is the chain coming off even when tightened. New chains stretch, tension drifts, and the tool-free system needs a firm hand. It is manageable with correct tensioning, but expect to check the chain often.

Oil seepage between uses

Buyers are divided on oil leakage: some report none, others find oil seeping out. It is a known behavior of automatic-oiling saws, and storing the saw drained and on its side reduces it.

Cord management is part of the job

You will be watching a cord as well as a chain. Plan each cut so the cord stays behind you and clear of the bar.

Bar length versus real cut

The 16-inch bar sets the saw's reach, not the size of every log it will take. Once the bar is buried, the usable cut is shorter than its length, and dense or dry wood slows the chain. Plan on branches and logs up to about a foot across for steady work.

Weight

At 10 lb it is light enough to hold steady for limbing and precise trimming, and light enough to carry around the yard. It is not so light that it feels like a toy, which helps when you are guiding the bar along a limb.

Tool-free tensioning

The tensioner lets you snug the chain by hand. Check it before each session and again during long ones.

Automatic oiler and oil window

The oiler feeds the bar and chain on its own, and the window tells you when the tank is running low.

Low-kickback chain

The low-kickback design reduces the chance of the bar kicking back toward you and cuts smoothly in different orientations.

A few habits keep this saw cutting straight and keep you out of trouble.