Quick verdict
A 12 amp corded chainsaw with a 16-inch low-kickback bar, an automatic oiler with a sight window and tool-free chain tensioning, backed by a three-year limited warranty. It suits a homeowner who cuts storm limbs and firewood within cord reach of the house a few times a season and does not want gas or a battery platform. The caveat is the cord itself, and 12 amps cuts steadily rather than quickly in seasoned hardwood.
Strengths
- 12 amp motor on a 16-inch bar, enough for yard limbs and green logs
- Automatic oiler with a window and no priming
- Tool-free chain tensioning
- Low-kickback bar and chain
- Three-year limited warranty, longer than most corded rivals
Weaknesses
- Tied to an outdoor extension cord of the right gauge
- 12 amps slows in seasoned hardwood over a foot
- Weight, chain pitch and chain brake not stated in the listing
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this saw is for
A corded electric chainsaw is the cheapest way to own real cutting power for work within reach of an outlet: storm limbs in the yard, firewood bucked on the driveway, a fence post or a small tree by the house. The CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 is a 12 amp, 16-inch corded saw with the two conveniences that matter most on an occasional saw, an automatic oiler and tool-free chain tensioning, and a three-year limited warranty that is longer than most corded rivals offer. It suits a homeowner who cuts a few times a season and does not want to store gas or buy a battery platform.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The listing covers the saw with a 16-inch low-kickback bar and chain. The motor is rated at 12 amps on a 120V household circuit, roughly 1,400 watts of input. The oiler is automatic with a sight window and needs no priming, chain tension is adjusted without tools, and the warranty is a three-year limited one. Not stated in the listing: weight, chain speed, chain pitch and gauge, oil tank capacity and whether there is a chain brake. Corded 16-inch saws typically weigh about 10 to 13 pounds and use a 3/8 low-profile .050 chain, so plan on checking the bar stamp before buying spares.
Cutting power
Twelve amps is the middle of the corded chainsaw range, below the 14.5 and 15 amp saws and above the 8 to 10 amp pruning models. With a 16-inch bar, that is enough to buck softwood and green hardwood up to about a foot at a reasonable pace and to limb anything in the yard. Owners report that a 12 amp saw cuts steadily rather than quickly in seasoned oak and will stall if forced, and that the low-kickback chain is forgiving but slower than an aggressive chain. The cord is the real limit: a long run of light-gauge cord starves the motor, so use a 12 gauge outdoor cord for 100 feet and no lighter than 14 gauge for 50, the common rule for a 12 amp tool.
Oiler and chain tensioning
The automatic oiler with a window is worth more than it sounds, because the most common way to ruin a cheap electric saw is to run it dry; a window lets you see the level before every cut. No priming means the pump feeds as soon as the chain turns. Tool-free tensioning, a knob or dial on the side cover, removes the excuse for running a loose chain, which stretches fast on a new saw. Owners of corded saws in this class do report that the plastic tensioner mechanism needs to be seated carefully or the chain can loosen mid-cut; snug it, run a few cuts and check again.
Build, handling and ergonomics
The listing calls the saw ergonomic without describing the handle layout; a wrap-around front handle is standard for the class and should be confirmed from the photos. Weight is not stated, but a corded 16-inch saw is usually lighter than a comparable battery saw with its pack fitted, and the balance without a fuel tank sits forward on the bar. The low-kickback bar and chain reduce the energy of a kickback event; the listing does not describe a chain brake, so confirm before relying on one. Noise is lower than a gas saw, though the motor whine is louder than a brushless battery saw.
Living with it
Top up the oil before each session, keep the chain tensioned, and sharpen it with a 5/32 inch file if the bar stamp confirms 3/8 low profile. Unplug the saw before touching the chain. Coil the cord loosely and inspect it for nicks. Store the saw indoors on a tray, since corded saws tend to weep oil when left on their side. The three-year limited warranty is stated in the listing; registration details are on the CRAFTSMAN warranty page.
Alternatives to Consider
The Oregon CS1500 is an 18-inch, 15 amp corded saw with a built-in chain sharpener, the pick if you cut often and dislike filing. The WORX WG303.1 is a 16-inch, 14.5 amp saw with more power on a budget. The Greenworks 12 amp 16-inch corded saw is a near equivalent with a shorter warranty. If the work is more than 100 feet from an outlet, a battery saw such as the Greenworks 80V 18-inch replaces the cord entirely.
Verdict
Buy the CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 if you cut within cord reach of the house a few times a year, want an oiler window and tool-free tensioning, and value a three-year warranty on a cheap saw. Skip it if you buck seasoned hardwood regularly, where a 15 amp corded saw or a gas saw keeps up better, or if the work is out of reach of an outlet.
Full specifications
CRAFTSMAN CMECS600 16-Inch 12 Amp Corded Electric Chainsaw FAQs
An outdoor-rated cord sized for a 12 amp tool: 14 gauge up to about 50 feet and 12 gauge for 100 feet is the common rule. A long, thin cord starves the motor and shortens its life.
The listing states a low-kickback bar and chain but does not describe a chain brake. Confirm on the CRAFTSMAN product page or manual before relying on one.
With the 16-inch bar it will buck softwood and green hardwood up to about a foot at a reasonable pace. In seasoned oak a 12 amp motor cuts steadily and will stall if forced.
The listing does not state pitch or gauge. Corded 16-inch saws typically use a 3/8 low-profile .050 chain; check the stamp on the bar before ordering spares.
