Oregon CS1500 Review [2023]

Oregon CS1500 Review

This is the big-picture overview of the chainsaw’s features and design.

Features

The Oregon CS1500 comes with three features that are super cool:

• Self-sharpening feature
• Safety kickback
• Blade stops when you release the trigger

Self-Sharpening System

Okay, so we all know this corded chainsaw has a self-sharpening system because it’s literally in the name.

But is it good? Does it actually work?

Yes. 

You’ll notice the small red lever on the right side of the chainsaw.

All you need to do is pull that lever back for about 3 seconds while the chain is running.

You’ll see some sparks fly out but the chain is now sharp. And it actually works, too.

Not complicated. 

Safety Kickback

Just like every chainsaw, this one too has a safety kickback.

When it’s back towards the handle, the chainsaw will run and when it’s forward away from the handle, the chainsaw will not run.

So if the chainsaw isn’t working, make sure you check the safety kickback before you run back to the circuit breaker. 

Eh, it’ll probably happen at least once. 

Motor Stops

Another cool safety feature we like is that when you release the trigger on this electric chainsaw, the chain stops moving.

That’s right, the chain stops even though you’ll still hear the motor put out. 

Adding Oil

Adding oil into your chainsaw is pretty critical. No exception for this saw. 

All you need to do is twist off the cap and pour in the oil they gave you from the factory. 

What was weird about this chainsaw, was that the red cap provided didn’t exactly cover the oil hole for the oil.

There was a gap between the bottom of the cap and the top of the chainsaw where there was a loose gasket. 

Immediately I thought, ‘Oh no, here we go again…’ If you tilt the chainsaw to the side, oil is going to leak out. Why? What is it with these chainsaws? Is this all a ploy to make us buy more oil?

In fact, the cap I have is different from the one in the picture. Check it out:

But actually, if you look inside the red cap, there is a gasket at the top of it.

So this is the seal, apparently and not the random floating washer.

You have to tighten it up pretty good and well or it will leak out oil. 

Still.

Weird. 

Priming

Unfortunately when this chainsaw comes out of the box, it does not come pre-lubricated.

You have to ensure you run the oil through the machine before running the bar dry.

To do so is not overly complicated. This is especially true if you are familiar with chainsaws. 

You just twist this cap off: 

Take the bar and chain off the machine.

Put the plastic cover back on the machine without the bar and chain attached. 

Run it for a few minutes until you see the oil spitting out a bit. 

Tool Free Tensioning

Just like the 20v Dewalt Chainsaw, the Oregon CS1500 comes with tool free tensioning.

Tool free tensioning makes me happy because you don’t need tools to make quick fixes. 

The outer red ring is the tensioner, and the inner black one is the lock.

This is the same mechanism you use to remove the faceplate. 

It’s not difficult to use at all. It might even be easier than the 20v Dewalt chainsaw we covered the other day. 

But again, if you need to know how to tighten a chainsaw chain, then be sure to check out our guide. 

Corded Electric Chainsaw

I suppose if you buy a corded electric chainsaw, you can’t really be mad about it being corded.

But there is something about dragging around a cord that just sucks. 

However, we need to remember all the benefits that come from not having a gas chainsaw:

• No emissions
• No pull cords
• No mixing of gas/oil
• It’s quiet

These factors alone more than make up for the cord but with a cord, you kind of remove the chainsaw from the conversation when it comes to commercial jobs.

You really can’t be going far out if you intend on cutting logs with this chainsaw.

Nonetheless, it's a 15 Amp, 120V chainsaw. And you will need an extension cord everywhere you go.

Plug it into an outlet that is rated for 15 Amps, and you are good to go.

We prefer a cordless chainsaw for this reason. Yeah, battery-powered chainsaws or gas saws get the edge for mobility.

On the bright side, the back of the chainsaw has a spot to lock the extension cord in place.

You slide in the cord through the handle and tighten it around the cord holder.

Pretty cool. 

Also with a cord, you’ll never run out of battery or gas.

So you can, in theory, cut into perpetuity if you so desired.

Bar & Chain

The CS1500 has an 18” bar which means you can get through almost any job.

The bar and chain too also have low kickback with the kickback guard we mentioned above. Kickback guards are the most important parts of a chainsaw.

We also mentioned above that the chain is self-lubricating.. But this assumes you have primed the machine first.

Once you prime the machine, the automatic oiler keeps the bar lubricated. 

It can cut through pretty much anything up to 16” in diameter. Anything bigger than that, and it will struggle. 

But that’s not to say you can’t rip through a pile of logs in no time. 

Chopping firewood won't be a problem.

Cutting up dead trees, dead branches or other different wood materials around the property won't be a problem.

Not a lot of jobs will be a problem for this self-sharpening electric chainsaw.

Pricing

Oregon CS1500 electric chainsaws come in at a stout $114.

For all intents and purposes, this is quite cheap. 

The 20V Dewalt Chainsaw starts around $150, and some of the Husqvarna Gas Powered Chainsaws are well into $300, $400 and even $500 territory. 

TLDR; it is definitely cheap. 

The Oregon CS1500: Things I Like

Self-Sharpening: The self-sharpening feature is fantastic.

All you do is pull the red lever and hold it for 3 to 5 seconds while the blade is running and you’ve sharpened your chain. 

But from time to time you should consider bringing a hand sharpener and even cleaning the underside of the chain.

Material and debris can get stuck underneath and you’ll want to get that crap out. 

Tool-Free Tensioning: Tool-free tensioning is cool no matter what the chainsaw.

You don’t have to worry about bringing extra tools out to the field to tighten the chainsaw. 

I will say, however, there is an obvious catch here. 

It’s a corded electric saw. 

How far away are you really going to get with this chainsaw?

Now, it’s not complicated and it’s even easier to use than the 20v Dewalt but we have to ask ourselves…

Is this just a gimmick?

Quiet: Given this is an electric chainsaw, it’s much quieter than a gas chainsaw.

When you aren’t cutting, you don’t hear any noise. 

There does seem to be this misconception however that electric chainsaws don’t make any noise and that couldn’t be any more false.

They make that very high-pitched, very electric noise but only when you are working the tool.

Safety Features: We loved the safety features that come with the Oregon CS1500.

First one is, if you release the trigger, that sharp chain stops moving. Even though the motor continues on, the chain itself stops which is awesome. 

The anti-back guard is also great for added safety. If the blade kicks up for any reason, the guard will actuate and turn off the chainsaw. 

The Oregon CS1500 is a reliable chainsaw with low noise operation and high cutting power. The automatic oiling system is great compared to some other electric saws.

The Oregon CS1500: Things I Didn't Like

Oil Cap & Priming: Not sure if this was by design or it was a mistake but getting an oil cap that is different from the picture is a bit annoying.



And it was a bit annoying because the cap feels like it doesn’t fit over the hole.

Not only that but the chainsaw needs to be primed before you use it. It's not difficult but it does mean the chainsaw is not 'ready to use' out of the box.

Overheats: If you run any electric chainsaw for too long, you risk overheating the motor.

When it overheats some of the plastic bits can melt which is going to cause a malfunction.

Unfortunately, this chainsaw is not free of this issue. 

The cord: We said above that it's tough to complain about a corded chainsaw having a cord when you knowingly buy it that way.

But compared to a cordless chainsaw, the corded chainsaw always loses for mobility.

The Bottom Line

Given that we named the CS1500 the best electric chainsaw for 2023, I’m going to go ahead and recommend it again here.

It really is a nice electric chainsaw that is perfect for most homeowners. 

You get high power and low noise. It’s a bit heavy but it’s balanced. 

It self-sharpens, and you can tension it without tools - even though these are a bit gimmicky, they still do work. 

It has great safety features.

The chainsaw is anti-kickback and when you release the trigger, the chain stops dead in its tracks. 

This chainsaw is one of the highest rated chainsaws on Amazon with over 7k reviews:

Just watch out for that pesky oil cap, and you should be okay. 

If you like it, be sure to check it out here.

Conclusion

And there it is!

That’s my official Oregon CS1500 Chainsaw review. 

Did you buy this chainsaw? Love it? Hate it?



Be sure to let us know with an email.

Before you go...

If you are unsure on gas or electric chainsaws, check out our other guide on the Best Chainsaws of 2023. We go over every type of hand saw you can imagine.

• Gas vs Electric Chainsaws

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