The Echo CS-4510 meets
the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw
The gas chainsaw that starts when you pull it. We tested it head-to-head against the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw ($329) across 7 key dimensions.
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw
“A torque monster that runs all day on one battery”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Echo CS-4510
- Starts in 3 pulls with 39.4 lbs of force, the easiest gas starter in its class (Project Farm)
- Lowest vibration at 11.2 mm/s, meaning less hand fatigue during long cuts (Project Farm)
- Made in Japan with metal components, aggressive felling spikes, and the highest-quality setup in the test (Project Farm)
- Stalls at only 24 lbs of downward force, the lowest torque among 40-50cc gas saws tested (Project Farm)
- Hits 113.6 dB under load, painfully loud even with hearing protection (Project Farm)
- At 11 lbs dry weight, it's heavier than most battery saws in the comparison (Project Farm)
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw
- Won the cross-cut endurance test with 13 full cuts through solid oak on a single charge (Concord Carpenter)
- Highest battery torque at 65 lbs stall force on Project Farm's chainsaw dyno, making it the hardest battery saw to bog down
- Instant trigger start hits peak RPM in 0.2 seconds with no pull cords or warm-up time (Project Farm)
- Worst ergonomics in the test with an excessively wide front handlebar Concord Carpenter compared to a beach cruiser bicycle
- Elongated body makes it rear-heavy and awkward during overhead or angled cuts (Concord Carpenter)
- No built-in battery fuel gauge, so you can't tell how much charge is left during field work (Concord Carpenter)
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Echo CS-4510 earned its top spot by being the most livable gas chainsaw in the comparison. Project Farm measured it at 15.41 seconds on the softwood test log, trailing only the STIHL MS 250 in raw speed. Its 24 lbs of stall force held steady through standard cutting scenarios without the torque fade that plagued battery alternatives.
Echo CS-4510
The Echo CS-4510 earned its top spot by being the most livable gas chainsaw in the comparison. Project Farm measured it at 15.41 seconds on the softwood test log, trailing only the STIHL MS 250 in raw speed. Its 24 lbs of stall force held steady through standard cutting scenarios without the torque fade that plagued battery alternatives.
- Homeowners with large properties who cut multiple times per month and want a saw that won't beat them up
- Anyone who values easy starting: 3 pulls vs 9 for the STIHL, with 40% less arm force required
- Buyers who want dealership-brand reliability and a Made in Japan build without STIHL's dealer-only purchase hassle
- Users sensitive to hand and arm fatigue: the Echo's 11.2 mm/s vibration is 4x lower than the STIHL
- People who cut mostly softwood, storm debris, and standard hardwood (not Osage-orange-level density)
Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-Inch Chainsaw
The Milwaukee M18 FUEL won because $329 buys you more usable torque than any other battery saw in the test, and it runs on the most popular cordless tool platform in North America.
- Anyone already invested in Milwaukee's M18 battery ecosystem (the bare tool price only makes sense if you own the batteries)
- Occasional users who need a saw for post-storm cleanup 2-3 times a year and value instant trigger start
- Buyers who cut dense hardwood like oak: the Milwaukee's 65 lbs of torque means it won't stall when you push
- Noise-sensitive neighborhoods where a 100 dB battery saw is far more tolerable than a 113 dB gas engine
- Users who want zero maintenance: no fuel mixing, no carburetor tuning, no pull cord replacement