Are Craftsman Chainsaws Any Good? V20, S160 & S205 Compared
Craftsman chainsaws are good for occasional yard work and light tree cleanup, not for daily firewood cutting, since Stanley Black & Decker builds the line for homeowners rather than professional loggers. Skipping chain and air-filter maintenance is the top reason owners report a saw that stalls mid-cut. This guide covers the current V20 battery and S-series gas models, real owner complaints, and which model fits which job.
Which Craftsman Chainsaw Models Are Still Sold?
Craftsman currently sells two chainsaw families: the V20 battery line (6-inch mini saw up to the 12-inch cordless) and the S-series gas saws (16-inch and 20-inch bars). There’s no direct successor to the old Craftsman 42cc models sold through Sears — the modern lineup is entirely Stanley Black & Decker’s own design.
| Model | Bar Length | Power | Typical Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V20 Mini (CMCCS320D1) | 6″ | 20V battery | ~$98 | Pruning, one-handed limb trimming |
| V20 Compact (CMCCS620M1) | 12″ | 20V battery, 4.0Ah | ~$200 | Yard cleanup, branches up to 8-10″ |
| V20 Pole Saw (CMCPS630D1) | 8″ (on 8 ft pole) | 20V battery | ~$206 | High branches without a ladder |
| S160 Gas | 16″ | 42cc 2-cycle | ~$180-220 | Occasional small-tree felling |
| S205 Gas | 20″ | 46cc 2-cycle | ~$250 | Larger logs, more frequent use than the S160 |
Best Craftsman Chainsaw Pick
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CRAFTSMAN V20 12-Inch Cordless Chainsaw – $199.99 The 4.0Ah battery model from the table above — auto-oiling and tool-free chain tensioning mean less of the maintenance that causes most of the stalling complaints covered later in this guide.
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📊 The V20 12-inch chainsaw holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating across 1,144 verified Amazon ratings — 75% five-star, with weight and battery runtime the most-cited limitations rather than build quality.
Who Actually Makes Craftsman Chainsaws Now?
Stanley Black & Decker bought the Craftsman brand from Sears in 2017 and now designs the outdoor power equipment lineup in-house, contracting overseas manufacturers to build it — the same arrangement most consumer tool brands use, including DeWalt and Black+Decker. That’s a different setup than the Sears era, when Craftsman chainsaws were often rebadged saws from an outside supplier.
In practice this means current Craftsman chainsaws share a parts and design lineage with other Stanley Black & Decker brands rather than with the specific manufacturer Sears used decades ago. Replacement chains and bars (like the CMZCSC12 chain for the V20) are sold directly through Craftsman’s own site, which is worth checking before buying a generic aftermarket chain.
Common Craftsman Chainsaw Problems (and How to Fix Them)
Most Craftsman chainsaw complaints trace back to a small handful of causes, and they’re the same causes that show up across every budget gas chainsaw brand — not something specific to Craftsman’s build quality.
- Won’t start: a fouled spark plug, clogged carburetor, or a spark arrestor blocked with soot are the three most common causes on gas models.
- Starts then stalls: old fuel breaks down within about 30 days and gums up the carburetor — drain the tank if the saw sat unused over winter.
- Chain won’t turn or cuts crooked: almost always chain tension — too loose skips, too tight binds. The V20’s tool-free tensioner removes this step entirely on battery models.
- Battery model loses power fast: normal on the 4.0Ah pack under continuous cutting; a 9.0Ah pack (sold separately) roughly doubles runtime.
According to iFixit’s Craftsman chainsaw repair guides, a cracked spark plug insulator or a blocked spark arrestor accounts for the majority of “won’t start” service calls on gas chainsaws generally — both are a 10-minute check before assuming the engine itself has failed.
“This little chainsaw is awesome for the correct use… It’s made for occasional trimming and clean up, great for pruning, limbing, and even opening up trails. Don’t expect to completely replace a gas saw with it — the technology just isn’t there yet.”
How to Keep a Craftsman Chainsaw Running Longer
Most of the “Craftsman chainsaws aren’t reliable” complaints in owner reviews trace back to skipped maintenance rather than a manufacturing defect — the same four habits keep any budget chainsaw, gas or battery, running for years.
- Drain the fuel before storage: gas in the tank breaks down within about 30 days and gums up the carburetor. Run the tank dry or add a fuel stabilizer before the saw sits for more than a month.
- Check bar oil every session: a dry bar wears the chain and the guide bar groove within a few tanks of fuel. Top off before every use, not just when the saw feels sluggish.
- Clean the air filter and spark arrestor seasonally: sawdust buildup on the spark arrestor is one of the most common causes of a gas saw that starts and then stalls.
- Sharpen or replace the chain at the first sign of dust, not chips: a chain producing fine sawdust instead of coarse chips is dull and forcing the motor to work harder than it should — this alone causes a lot of “the engine feels weak” complaints that aren’t actually engine problems.
On the V20 battery models specifically, the auto-oiling system removes step 2 almost entirely, and there’s no fuel to drain — which is a real part of why battery-model reviews mention far fewer “wouldn’t start” complaints than the S160 and S205 gas saws do.
Craftsman vs. Stihl and Husqvarna: How It Really Compares
Stihl and Husqvarna build for professionals who run a saw daily; Craftsman builds for homeowners who run one a few weekends a year. That difference shows up in the numbers below, not just the price tag.
| Brand | Entry Price | Build Target | Parts Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman | $98-$250 | Occasional homeowner use | Craftsman.com and major retailers |
| Stihl | $260+ | Daily/professional use | Authorized dealer network only |
| Husqvarna | $230+ | Daily/professional use | Authorized dealer network only |
The trade-off is straightforward: Stihl and Husqvarna parts and service run through dealers, which is inconvenient for a homeowner who cuts firewood twice a year but valuable for someone running a saw five days a week. For everything under “occasional,” Craftsman’s big-box parts availability is arguably the more practical choice, not just the cheaper one.
If you’re deciding between a battery and gas Craftsman model specifically, our battery vs. gas chainsaw comparison breaks down runtime, weight, and maintenance side by side. For a same-tier brand comparison, see how Craftsman stacks up against Homelite and against other battery-powered chainsaws generally.
Frequently Asked Questions About Craftsman Chainsaws
What is the rating for a Craftsman chainsaw?
The CRAFTSMAN V20 12-inch cordless chainsaw holds a 4.6 out of 5 rating across 1,144 verified Amazon ratings, with 75% five-star reviews. Gas models like the S160 and S205 run slightly lower, typically 4.2-4.4, mostly due to startup and maintenance complaints common to budget gas saws.
Who makes Craftsman chainsaws now?
Stanley Black & Decker has owned the Craftsman brand since 2017 and designs the current chainsaw lineup itself, contracting outside factories to build it — the same model DeWalt and Black+Decker use. This is different from the Sears era, when Craftsman power equipment was more often rebadged from an outside supplier.
Are Craftsman chainsaws good for cutting firewood?
For occasional firewood — a few evenings a season — yes, particularly the S205 gas model with its 20-inch bar. For a full winter’s worth of firewood cut regularly, most owners eventually outgrow the battery models and gas models alike, since Craftsman doesn’t build a saw rated for continuous daily-use duty cycles the way Stihl or Husqvarna does.
Why does my Craftsman chainsaw keep dying?
A Craftsman gas chainsaw that starts and then dies usually has a clogged spark arrestor, stale fuel (fuel starts breaking down in about 30 days), or an incorrect fuel-oil mix. Clean or replace the spark arrestor, drain and refill with fresh fuel, and confirm you’re using the 2-cycle mix ratio in the manual before assuming the engine has failed.
Who makes the most reliable chainsaws?
Stihl and Husqvarna are the brands professionals rely on for daily use, thanks to dealer-serviced parts and engines built for continuous-duty cycles. For occasional homeowner use, that reliability gap narrows considerably — a well-maintained Craftsman saw that’s started a few dozen times a year has little to fail, since most “unreliable” reports trace to skipped maintenance rather than the saw itself.
Conclusion
Craftsman chainsaws are a legitimate choice for homeowners who need a saw a few weekends a year — the V20 battery line skips gas maintenance entirely, and the S160/S205 gas saws give more cutting power for occasional bigger jobs. What they aren’t is a substitute for Stihl or Husqvarna if you’re running a saw daily. Match the model to how often you’ll actually use it, and most of the “unreliable” complaints in this guide simply won’t apply to you.
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