Black+Decker CS1518 Chainsaw Review
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Last updated October 31, 2026
The Black+Decker CS1518 is a good buy for the homeowner who works within reach of an outlet: bucking firewood, clearing storm debris, limbing and pruning. It is a poor choice for felling trees, for work far from power, or for cutting big hardwood all day. The 15-amp motor, the 18-inch low-kickback bar and chain, the tool-free tensioner and the automatic oiler are what make it a capable, low-maintenance corded saw for the woodpile and the yard.
The one thing to understand before buying: the 18-inch bar is reach, not cutting capacity. The owner's manual rates the saw for small logs up to 16 inches in diameter, and in practice it is a 12-inch-wood tool.
What the CS1518 does well
Buyers on Amazon most often praise how it cuts: the summary of the reviews describes it going through wood cleanly and being powerful enough for decent-sized logs, and many rate it above gas saws for the jobs they do. The 15-amp motor supports that on branches and firewood, where the saw does not struggle.
Corded power without fuel or batteries
At 15 amps and 120 V, the saw pulls steady power for as long as it is plugged in. There is no fuel to mix, no battery to charge and nothing that loses capacity with age. For a homeowner who uses a saw in bursts near the house, that is the whole appeal of the corded format.
Tool-free chain tensioning
An outer tensioning wheel and an inner bar-adjust locking knob let you set chain tension without a wrench. It matters more than it sounds: a new chain stretches and needs checking often, and doing it by hand takes seconds.
Automatic oiling with a visible window
The oiler feeds the bar and chain continuously, and a translucent window shows the level so you know when to top up.
Safety features as standard
A chain brake with a front hand guard stops the chain in a kickback, and the saw ships with a low-kickback bar and chain built to the ANSI B175.1 standard. The trade-off is honest: a low-kickback chain is safer but cuts a little slower than a full-chisel chain.
Easy assembly and start-up
It has push-button start with a trigger and lock-off, and buyers on Amazon describe the saw as simple to put together. Assembly is not where this saw asks anything of you.
A chain you can buy anywhere
The loop is 3/8-inch low-profile pitch, .050-inch gauge and 62 drive links, sold as the Black+Decker RC1800 and widely stocked as a standard 62-link loop. Replacement is a hardware-store errand, not an order from the maker.
Light enough to move and store
The product sheet lists 12.5 lb, and the saw measures about 20.7 inches long, 13.2 inches wide and 10.8 inches high. It is a saw you carry to the woodpile and hang on a hook, not one you haul through brush all afternoon.
Where the CS1518 falls short
The saw is tethered to an outlet, and the box holds a scabbard and nothing else: no oil, no case, no cord. You supply an outdoor-rated extension cord, and its gauge decides how much power reaches the motor.
The 18-inch bar overstates capacity
The manual's stated limit is small logs up to 16 inches in diameter. In practice the saw is comfortable to about 12 inches and slow going at 14 to 16. It is not a felling saw, and the manual rules out working in a tree or on a ladder.
Chain tension and chain retention
The complaint that comes up most among Amazon buyers is the chain coming off, and opinions on chain tightening are mixed rather than positive. The tensioner can also slacken on its own. The cause is usually new-chain stretch, or the two-knob design where the locking knob and the tensioning ring turn together. It is a characteristic to manage, not a reason to walk away.
Durability feedback is mixed
Buyers on Amazon are divided on how long the saw lasts: some say it holds up well, others report a failure early on. The star ratings lean heavily to four and five stars, but the split on durability is real.
No anti-vibration system
The saw has no anti-vibration handle, so long sessions tire your hands and arms. It is also nose-heavy, with the mass sitting forward of the front handle.
Consumer use only
The manual limits the saw to pruning and small-log cutting in wood. It is not for felling, overhead work, or cutting plastic, masonry or other materials.
The product in this review
Black+Decker CS1518 chainsaw
See on AmazonPower, cord and the working radius
There is no power cord in the box, only a short pigtail plug and a cord retainer built into the rear handle. You supply an outdoor-rated extension cord, and the gauge matters for a 15-amp tool:
- 25 ft: 14 gauge.
- 50 ft: 12 gauge.
- 100 ft: not recommended.
A 50 ft cord is the practical limit, which sets the working radius: the woodpile, the yard, storm debris near the house.
If the saw will not start, a blown fuse or a tripped breaker is a listed cause.
Getting the CS1518's chain to sit right and stay oiled
Two habits keep this saw cutting: oil in the tank and the right tension on the chain. Both take a minute and both prevent most of the trouble buyers run into.
Oiling
Use bar and chain oil. The manual recommends a vegetable-based oil when pruning, since mineral oil can harm trees, and allows non-detergent SAE30 only as a temporary substitute. The oiler uses a fair amount of oil, and a little weeping in storage is normal: store the saw on a rag.
Tensioning
Correct tension is when the chain snaps back after you pull it about 1/8 inch off the bar, with no sag underneath. Check it before each use.
Why the chain comes off, and the fix
New-chain stretch, a tensioner that slackens, over-tensioning and a worn bar are the usual causes. Hold the locking knob still while you turn the tension ring so the two do not move together, and recheck tension after the first few cuts.
Sharpening and replacement
The manual advises sharpening no more than about four times before replacing the chain, and the replacement loop is the 3/8-inch low-profile, .050-inch, 62-drive-link chain.
The Black+Decker CS1518 is a capable corded saw for the homeowner's woodpile, storm cleanup and pruning, as long as you treat it as a 12-inch-wood tool with 18 inches of reach and keep your work within cord distance of an outlet. Keep the chain tensioned, keep the oil topped up, and it handles the homeowner jobs well.
Frequently asked questions
Most of what decides whether this saw suits you comes down to the wood you cut and the outlet you plug into, not the bar length on the box.
What size logs can the Black+Decker CS1518 handle?
The owner's manual rates the saw for small logs up to 16 inches in diameter, and in practice we treat it as a 12-inch-wood tool: it is comfortable to about 12 inches and slow going at 14 to 16. The 18-inch bar gives you reach, not cutting capacity.
Why does the chain slip off the Black+Decker CS1518?
Buyers on Amazon most often bring up the chain coming off, and the usual causes are a new chain stretching, a tensioner that loosens by itself, excessive tension or a worn bar. Holding the locking knob still while turning the tension ring, then rechecking tension after the first few cuts, keeps the loop seated on the bar.
Can the Black+Decker CS1518 fell a tree or cut overhead?
No. The manual restricts the saw to pruning and cutting small logs in wood, and rules out felling, working in a tree or from a ladder, and cutting plastic or masonry.
Which replacement chain fits the Black+Decker CS1518?
You need a loop with 62 drive links, and the manual allows sharpening the chain about four times before it should be replaced. Buy the maker's RC1800 or any equivalent loop sold by link count.
Does the Black+Decker CS1518 include an extension cord?
No. The box holds only the saw and a scabbard, so plan on buying a cord before the first cut. A 25 ft cord calls for 14 gauge, a 50 ft cord for 12 gauge, and 100 ft runs are discouraged, so the nearest outlet sets your working radius.