This post may contain affiliate links. This small commission costs you nothing and allows us to write more great power tool reviews for you.
In need of a beefier chain saw but don’t care about all the fancy features of the Husqvarna saws? Then consider this Remington with its 18″ bar and 51cc gas motor.
Review of the Remington RM5118R Rodeo Chain saw
When I set out to buy a chainsaw, my primary concern was that my purchase would do exactly what I needed it to do, when I needed it to do it, and not protest.
So, I guess what I’m trying to say, is that my primary consideration when purchasing a chainsaw – or any power tool, for that matter – is reliability.
Ergonomics is a close second – after all, I don’t care if it works well if I can’t use it for long periods of time anyway – and these two, together, inform most of my buying decisions.
In particular, they help me decide on the right brand of products before I even get to shopping for specifics.
When it comes to well-made, reliable chain saws, Remington is my brand. There are others that are good, but the best experiences I’ve had are with Remington. This time, I gave the RM5118R model a shot.
Click Here To See User Reviews and Prices on Amazon
Why Buy the Remington RM5118R Rodeo?
Well, I do a lot of work outside with the chainsaw.
A lot of work.
Like, eight to ten hours of work.
Granted, this is a temporary thing – once we finish this phase of our housing project, I won’t be working nearly as frequently with the chain saw – but this is a long phase in the building, and it will be awhile before we move on to the next one.
So, I needed to pick up a saw that was comfortable, well-balanced, and tough enough to handle the kinds of workloads I’d be throwing at it.
The RM5118R is the perfect machine for that job: It’s durable, powerful, easy to hold, light – all things I need from a chainsaw I’ll be using for extended periods of time every day.
How Does It Hold Up?
In terms of durability, the RM5118R is a tank. I’ve turned it off and left it on the boards I was cutting and knocked it over; bumped the casing into many a piece of debris; and even accidentally jammed the blade with another tool, once.
Nothing but the last mistake did serious damage to the chain saw, and even after accidentally cutting a screwdriver up right near the gears, I was able to fix the chain and get back to work the next day. 9/10 for durability.
Click Here To See User Reviews and Prices on Amazon
I wish I could accurately rate for longevity, but I haven’t had the thing long enough to do that reliably.
From what I can tell, it’s wonderful, though. It handles everything I’ve thrown at it, even at the high volume, with ease, making it a great choice for people who do high-volume work.
It’s possible I’ll keep using it at these volumes for awhile and end up with wear and tear most people don’t experience in their RM5118R models for a long time. If that’s the case, I’d chalk it up to the frequency of use rather than a design flaw.
From what I can tell, this thing is powerful and consistent in ways I wouldn’t expect of most chainsaws. 10/10 for longevity, as a preliminary.