Photo: Black & Decker
What We Like
- A powerful 40-volt battery system
- Long runtime per single charge
- Automatic chain and bar oiling
- Simplified chain tensioning
- Comfortable handling
What We Don’t Like
- No self-sharpening system
- The bar could be longer
Bottom Line: A high-performance 40V battery, cordless operation, and superior maneuverability make Black & Decker LCS1240 a great chainsaw for private property owners who embark on regular outdoor light-duty wood-cutting.
Introduction
If you are looking for a powerful alternative to corded or gas-powered chainsaws, especially for outdoor yard work and property maintenance, grab the battery-powered Black & Decker LCS1240.
It is driven by Black & Decker’s famed 40V Max* Lithium-Ion battery, which can manage high-capacity cutting on 4×4 pine lumber, for extended periods. The tool is also easy to maintain, and maneuver across different cutting applications.
Black & Decker LCS1240 Review
Photo: Black & Decker
Performance & Handling: Reliable for Big and Small Cutting Tasks
Since Black & Decker LCS1240 landed in the market, the chainsaw has made a name for itself in reliability and performance, which rivals that of heavy-duty corded models.
This chainsaw attributes its high-performance qualities to the 40V Max* Lithium-Ion Battery, which not only boasts of a superior backup but also deliver on some of the most intensive cutting tasks you could ever undertake.
The tool and its battery are the highlights of the Black & Decker 40V Max* system. The manufacture had this to say about the system, “Great for jobs large and small, the 40V Max* system isn’t just powerful, it’s convenient. No gas. No cords. Nothing to stand between you, finishing the job, and getting on with your day.” These claims have been backed by many users who have benefited from the tool’s efficiency.
Focusing on handling, the tools comes fitted with a rear handle, whose grip is rubberized for firmness and enhanced control over how you hold and maneuver the tool. The top handle adopts a full wrap-around design, which enhanced your comfort especially when you are cutting in different orientations.
Design & Construction: Portable and Maneuverable
A quick glance at the LCS1240 reveals that its material construction combines both plastic and metal, which are well-balanced to ensure the tool is easy to handle while maintaining its ruggedness for reliable performance across a range of cutting tasks.
Because the LCS1240 is designed for power, flexibility, and portability, this model does ad event job at upholding this quality. The tool weighs only 8.3 pounds, which deserves recognition for being on the lower side compared to other models offering the same performance.
When we combine this weight with the tool’s cordless build and relatively small body, we are getting a chainsaw with an admirable level of maneuverability. When you need to get into those awkward cutting positions, this chainsaw will not let you down.
Cutting Equipment: Low-kickback Versatile Chain
For cutting equipment, the LCS1240 offers you a 12-inch bar. With this bar, you can accomplish most of your yard work cutting demands such as branch pruning and reducing fallen limbs into smaller pieces. The 12-inch bar is more than capable of such tasks and has consistently delivered smooth and fast cuts.
Another feature that deserves praise is the low-kickback chain of this saw. Even when cutting 15-foot trees such as Brazilian Pepper, sweetgums, and small pines, the chain cuts smoothly with virtually kick-back, a quality that many users prioritize when choosing their chainsaws.
You’ll enjoy working with the tool-less chain tensioning system, which allows you to execute fast and simple chain adjustments, which help maintain consistent performance for more cutting efficiency.
If you are used to cutting large-diameter wood, such as big trees exceeding 12 inches in diameter, then you may find this chainsaw’s cutting capacity a bit limited, but for light-duty tasks, it is nearly unbeatable. Also, this chain has no self-sharpening capability.
Noise Level: Runs Smoothly with Minimal Noise
Because the Black & Decker LCS1240 is battery-powered, it runs virtually noiseless. You’ll especially appreciate the low-noise running of this tool in between tasks when no cutting is going on.
When it comes to noise level, battery-powered models such as LCS1240 will always rein over gas-powered models when it comes to low-noise operation, so don’t think twice about this one.
Battery: Long-lasting Backup with Excellent Runtime
The LCS1240’s 40V MAX* Lithium-Ion battery is, arguably, the top highlight of this chainsaw, and the feature that makes it stand out the most from other battery-powered models.
One of the dominant qualities of this battery is its exceptionally long endurance and backup time of 18 months. What number means is that for as long as the battery has some charge in it, you can continue using the tool for many months without worrying about battery drain, which is known to degrade quality.
But the quality that matters the most to users is the cutting performance of this 40V system. If you get the 2.0Ah 40V battery, it is rated to deliver at least 60 4×4 lumber cuts on pine, per single charge, according to the manufacturer. Because this tool is cordless, you can set out to the woods with it, and it will excel in areas without electricity connectivity.
Also, when your battery is about to run out, its state-of-charge indicator ensures you don’t get any unpleasant surprises as you execute cutting tasks. The indicator will show you how much juice is left in the battery, allowing you to either pause the task for a quick recharge or call it a day.
Safety Feature: Protective Design Considerations
Even though there are no dedicated safety features fitted on the LCS1240, it has many design enhancements and considerations that make the tool incredibly safe to use.
For starters, the trigger switch is positioned underneath the rear handle. It is hard to trigger the switch accidentally because it is not in a clear line of contact. You only interact with it when your hand is on the handle.
The front handle assumes a full-wrap design also ensures that your lefty hand never goes past the handle position, and never comes close to touching the chain when it is running. Also, having the bar and chain on the right side keeps the chainsaw’s hazardous parts constantly away from your body.
It may disappoint you, however, to learn that the LCS1240 has no dedicated chain brake, but the absence of this feature does not make it any less safe.
Maintenance: Effective Automatic Oiling for Reduced Wear
Wear and tear are common threats to the longevity of chainsaw chains, and the LCS1240 mitigates this problem by adopting an automatic oiling system, which ensures the bar and its chain are constantly lubricated.
For a tool that promises to deliver 10s of lumber cuts on a single charge, operating it for an entire day of cutting and pruning can put a strain on the bar and chain, especially from constant friction. That’s why automatic oiling is an invaluable addition to this tool especially in reducing maintenance effort, time, and even costs.
Price: Unbeatable Value
It is impressive that the less than $200 price tag of the Black & Decker LCS1240 includes all the components you need for the tool to run: a battery, charger, bar + chain, and a scabbard.
Very few cordless models include the required battery and charger in their pricing, but this one does. And you’re not getting just any battery; this is Black & Decker’s 40V Max* li-ion system. When you add the portability and ease of maintenance offered by the tool, its price is justifiable.
Verdict
A powerful, cordless, portable, and easy to maintain chainsaw that excels in outdoor light-duty cutting especially for private property owners.
With the 40V Max* li-ion battery and its long backup and exceptional cutting performance, you can count on Black & Decker LCS1240 to deliver consistent results when cutting branches, pruning, and executing over 60 4×4 lumber cuts on softwoods.
Specs
- Product Name: Black & Decker LCS1240
- Product Brand: Black & Decker
- Product Dimensions: 28.56 x 8.81 x 9.63 inches
- Power: 40 Volts
- Power Source: Battery-powered
- Blade Length: 12 inches
- Blade Type: Low kickback
- Tool Weight: 8.3 pounds
Key Features
- 40V MAX* 2.0Ah battery cuts at least 60 4×4 pines per single charge
- Powerful 40V Li-ion battery with long standby time
- High-performance 12-inch bar for smooth cutting
- Automatic bar and chain oiling for tool durability
- Fast and hassle-free tool-less chain tensioning
- Comfortable maximum-wrap handle for convenient cutting
- Intuitive battery-charge indicator