Bosch electric chainsaw pruning
Updated: 22 October 2026
You are under a fruit tree or a leylandii with a branch that loppers will no longer bite, and you want a Bosch electric chainsaw pruning cut from the ground. In this set that means the 18 V EasyChain 18V-15-7 or the UniversalChain 18. The AdvancedChain is the step up when the wood is too thick, and it is not the pruning pick. Prices and ratings come from amazon.co.uk listings on 19 October 2026 and are compared on the [Bosch electric chainsaw comparison](/hub/forestry-tools/bosch-electric-chainsaw). Peter F. did not lab-test the saws. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
You are under a fruit tree or a leylandii with a branch that loppers will no longer bite, and you want a Bosch electric chainsaw pruning cut from the ground.
You are under a fruit tree or a leylandii with a branch that loppers will no longer bite, and you want a Bosch electric chainsaw pruning cut from the ground. In this set that means the 18 V EasyChain 18V-15-7 or the UniversalChain 18. The AdvancedChain is the step up when the wood is too thick, and it is not the pruning pick. Prices and ratings come from amazon.co.uk listings on 19 October 2026 and are compared on the Bosch electric chainsaw comparison. Peter F. did not lab-test the saws. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Stated cut | Listed weight | Undercut aid | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare | 13 cm | 1.28 kg | No tip protector | 9.6 | about £104.94 | View offer |
| Best value |  Bosch Bosch UniversalChain 18 bare | 13.5 cm | 3.6 kg | Tip protector | 9.2 | about £98.74 | View offer |
 Bosch Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 bare | 31 cm | 3.56 kg | QuickStop, not a pruner | 9.2 | about £208.94 | View offer |
On this page
What counts as pruning here
Pruning here is a limb you can reach with both feet on the ground, inside about 13 cm on the EasyChain and 13.5 cm on the UniversalChain 18. Extra bar length is not permission to bury the nose. A limb around 80–100 mm is the work UK reviews praise. A 20 cm round is firewood. Hung-up branches and work off the ground are professional jobs. Undercut first, then cut from above. Oil and cold tension are on the how to use page.
EasyChain when weight matters
Choose the EasyChain when weight is what puts you off. The bare tool at £104.94, 4.7 from 883 ratings, is the top pick on score for light pruning if you already own a green 18 V pack. It is 1.28 kg, brushless, and 6.95 m/s. The kit at £143.99 adds a 2.5 Ah pack, with 4.6 from 72 ratings. Buy the kit only if you have no pack. Claims of 10–20 cm do not change the stated 13 cm cut. No chain brake is named, the model page says there is no automatic oiling, and there is no tip protector. The low weight is not a one-hand permit.
UniversalChain 18 when you want the tip protector
Choose the UniversalChain 18 for an undercut with the stabilising tip protector. The bare tool at £98.74, 4.5 from 2,144 ratings, is the best value if 18 V packs are already yours. It is 3.6 kg, 4.5 m/s, a 13.5 cm cut, and automatic oiling. The kit at £143.00 adds a 2.5 Ah pack, 4.4 from 771 ratings. Leave the protector fitted. The slower chain is the trade for that hook. A low limb of about 100 mm is the job. Past 13.5 cm it is the wrong saw. Which tool to buy is on the best Bosch electric chainsaw page.
When pruning turns into firewood
Stop calling it pruning past 13–13.5 cm, or when you are bucking rounds. That is the bare AdvancedChain at £208.94, a stated 31 cm cut, 14 m/s, and QuickStop on the model page. It does not take 18 V packs, and no 36 V battery is in the box. One UK reviewer reported roughly fifteen to twenty minutes across two 4 Ah packs and one 6 Ah pack. Leave an oversized limb rather than forcing the 18 V saw. Corded and blue professional models are outside this pair.
Common questions
EasyChain or UniversalChain for hedge and tree limbs?
Use the EasyChain when the limbs are inside about 13 cm and you want the 1.28 kg body and the faster 6.95 m/s chain. Use the UniversalChain 18 when you want the tip protector for undercuts and you accept 4.5 m/s and more weight, inside a stated 13.5 cm cut. If you already own the packs, the bare EasyChain is the top pick on score for light work and the bare UniversalChain is the best value. With no pack, compare the kits near £143–£144.
What is the maximum branch size?
Shop to Bosch's stated diameter: 13 cm on the EasyChain and 13.5 cm on the UniversalChain 18. Reviewers do report larger pieces, including some 10–20 cm claims on the EasyChain. Those are not the figure to plan around. A branch that is already close to the limit, or that binds because it is green and heavy, is a reason to stop. The AdvancedChain's stated cut is 31 cm, and it is a different battery platform.
Is the tip protector needed for pruning?
On the UniversalChain 18, yes. Bosch lists it with gripping teeth so the saw stays put on cuts from below. It gets in the way on purpose once the wood is large. Leave it fitted. The EasyChain does not offer that hook, which is fine for a short bar in a narrow space and less helpful when you wanted a stop for an undercut. Neither guard removes kickback if the nose catches.
Will an 18 V battery last a morning of pruning?
The kits ship a 2.5 Ah pack. UK reviews call that enough for ordinary garden pruning, and not enough if you work the saw like a petrol model on thick wood. Owners also say a 2.5 Ah pack charges more usefully than older 1.5 Ah packs they already had. There is no single morning runtime on the Bosch pages, so stop when the saw labours. A second 18 V pack is the practical extension, not a bigger bar.
Can you prune one-handed from a ladder if the saw is light?
No. The EasyChain's 1.28 kg does not change Electrical Safety First's advice against ladder use, and it does not make one-handed cutting a technique. Keep two hands on the saw and both feet on the ground. If the branch is above a safe reach, leave it for someone equipped for that work. A light pruner is still a chainsaw when the chain is moving.
When does pruning become a job for the AdvancedChain?
When the limb or the log is beyond the 13–13.5 cm stated cuts, or when you are sectioning firewood rather than shaping a tree from the ground. The AdvancedChain needs a 36 V pack, which is not included at £208.94, and an 18 V battery will not fit. QuickStop on that model is not a reason to keep forcing an 18 V pruner. If only one branch is oversized, leave that branch.
Do you still oil the chain for green pruning?
Yes. Green wood does not replace oil. The UniversalChain 18 model page describes automatic oiling, and you should still confirm the bar is wet. The EasyChain model page says automatic oiling is not provided, so apply oil from the 50 ml bottle as the manual tells you. A dry bar on sappy leylandii is a common way to gum the chain. Tension the chain cold before you start.
Related pages
Sources
Sources from the research digest. Prices and star lines checked on 19 October 2026.
- Bosch DIY GB chainsaws (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch UniversalChain 18 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE chainsaw PPE (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- HSE INDG317 chainsaw kickback (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- OPSS chainsaw safety (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Electrical Safety First garden chainsaws (retrieved 19 October 2026)