Craftsman CMECS600 Chainsaw Review

The CMECS600 cuts what most yards actually throw at a saw: branches, limbs and small logs. Craftsman rates it for logs up to 16 inches in diameter, and it is comfortable in softwood and smaller hardwood. Expect it to labor in seasoned hardwood near the top of that range, where a 12 A motor runs out of headroom.

Buyers on Amazon most often praise its performance on small and medium branches, and one customer reports it handled trees up to 20 feet. Power, ease of assembly and light weight come up repeatedly, and buyers are generally happy with what they got for their money.

Handling and starting

For a corded saw it stays manageable, which helps when you are limbing at safe heights. There is no fuel to mix, no pull cord and no battery to charge: plug in and cut. One buyer on Amazon mentions getting it ready in about five minutes.

Chain, oil and cord details

A bar-adjust locking knob and a tensioning wheel let you tighten the chain without tools. Oiling is automatic, and a translucent window shows the level so you can top up before the tank runs dry. A cord retainer in the rear handle keeps the extension cord from pulling loose mid-cut, a small detail that saves real annoyance.

The bar is a reduced-kickback design and the chain is low-kickback, meeting the ANSI B175.1 standard, backed by a front hand guard and a two-hand grip with a knuckle shield. A scabbard comes in the box, and the saw fits VersaTrak storage. The warranty is 3 years limited, with a 90-day money-back guarantee behind it.

The missing brake is the fact that should shape your decision. On a kickback, or the moment you let go of the trigger, the chain keeps moving for a couple of seconds while it slows down. The saw leans on its reduced-kickback bar, its low-kickback chain and your technique instead of a brake. If you want a brake as a safety net, this is not the saw for you.

The cord sets your range

You are tethered to an outlet. The manual calls for 14 AWG cord up to 25 ft, 12 AWG up to 50 ft, and does not recommend runs over 100 ft. Route the cord clear of your cut, because cutting your own extension cord is a real hazard on any corded saw.

Weight and build

Figure on about 11.7 lb as sold. That is fine at ground level and tiring during long sessions overhead. The housing is plastic, built for consumer use rather than daily professional work.

Tensioning and oil

The complaint that comes up most among Amazon buyers is chain tightening: several report it needs constant adjustment. A new chain stretches, so check tension every few cuts at first. Bar and chain oil is not included.

What it is not for

A 12 A brushed motor is a limbing and cleanup motor, not a firewood motor: sustained bucking of large hardwood will bog it. Wood only.

Before ordering a replacement chain, check the stamp on the tail of your bar: some listings describe the OEM chain with a different gauge, and the bar is the authority on what fits.

Setup is short: fit the bar and chain, tension the chain, fill the oil tank, plug in. The routine after that is where a corded saw rewards a little discipline.

Tensioning

Loosen the bar-adjust locking knob, turn the tensioning wheel until the chain sits snug against the bar without binding, then lock the knob. A new chain stretches, so check and adjust every few cuts for the first couple of hours, then less often.

Oiling

Use bar and chain oil.

Cutting and cord management

Sharpening and storage

The CMECS600 has no chain brake and no motor brake. Release the trigger and the chain coasts to a stop over a couple of seconds rather than stopping at once.

What it does have is a reduced-kickback bar, a low-kickback chain, a front hand guard and a two-hand grip. Those reduce the chance of a kickback and limit its violence, but they do not stop the chain for you.

In practice, that means the saw rewards deliberate technique. It suits a careful homeowner doing ground-level limb and log work who keeps both hands on the handles and the nose clear. It does not suit one-handed use, heavy overhead work, or anyone counting on a brake to catch a mistake. If a brake is a requirement for you, look for a saw that has one.

Pros

• Capable 12 A motor for limbing and small logs
• Instant start, no fuel mixing or battery charging
• Tool-free chain tensioning
• Automatic oiling with a visible oil window
• Cord retainer keeps the extension cord plugged in
• Reduced-kickback bar and low-kickback chain
• 3-year limited warranty plus a 90-day money-back guarantee
• Scabbard included

Cons

• No chain brake and no motor brake
• Range limited by the extension cord
• About 11.7 lb as sold
• Chain needs frequent tensioning when new
• Oil can weep in storage
• Bar and chain oil not included
• Plastic housing, consumer-duty build
• Not suited to sustained firewood cutting