Quick verdict
A 12-amp corded chainsaw with a 16-inch bar, an automatic oiler, a kickback brake and tool-free tensioning, backed by a two-year warranty. It suits a homeowner who cuts storm limbs and a little firewood within cord reach of the house. The caveat is the cord itself and a 12-amp motor that sits a step below the 15-amp corded saws.
Strengths
- 16-inch bar on a 12-amp motor with a 41 ft/s chain speed
- Automatic chain oiler and tool-free chain tensioning
- Kickback brake and cable strain relief notch built in
- Sheath included and no fuel or battery to buy
- Two-year warranty from WEN
Weaknesses
- 12 amps is less motor than the 15-amp corded saws in this class
- Tethered to an outlet and a heavy-gauge extension cord
- Weight and oil tank size are not stated in the listing
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this corded saw is for
Most suburban chainsaw work happens within 100 feet of an outlet: a limb down across the driveway after a storm, a dead ornamental tree to drop and buck, a few rounds of firewood for the fire pit. A corded saw does that work with no fuel to mix, no battery to charge and nothing to go stale over winter. The WEN CP1216 is the budget end of that class, a 12-amp motor driving a 16-inch bar with the safety and convenience features that used to cost more.
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 box holds the saw, a 16-inch bar and chain, and a protective sheath for the bar. WEN lists a 12-amp motor that moves the chain at up to 41 feet per second, an automatic oiling system, a kickback brake, tool-free chain tensioning, a notch on the housing to take the strain off the extension cord, and a two-year warranty. The listing does not state the saw’s weight or the oil tank capacity; WEN calls it lightweight, which for a corded 16-inch saw usually means somewhere around the weight of a gallon and a half of water, but treat that as a class estimate rather than a figure from the maker.
Cutting power and chain speed
A 12-amp motor is the middle of the corded chainsaw range. The 14.5 and 15-amp saws from Oregon, Greenworks and Worx pull more current and keep chain speed up in hardwood, while the 8 and 9-amp saws are really pruning tools. At 41 feet per second the CP1216 is quick enough for clean cuts in softwood and green hardwood up to about a foot across, provided the chain is sharp and you let the saw set its own pace. Owners of saws in this class report that leaning on the bar in dry oak bogs the motor and trips the breaker on a long cord; the fix is a sharp chain and light pressure, not a bigger cord.
Living on a cord
The cord is both the appeal and the limit. There is no runtime, no charging and no winter fuel problem, but every cut happens within reach of an outlet and the cord has to stay behind you and out of the kerf. The strain relief notch on the housing is a small, useful detail: it keeps the plug from yanking out mid-cut. WEN does not specify a cord gauge; for 12 amps, a 12-gauge outdoor extension cord up to about 100 feet is the usual choice, and a 16-gauge household cord will starve the motor.
Build, safety and handling
The kickback brake stops the chain when the front hand guard is pushed forward, which is the single most important safety feature on any chainsaw and is welcome at this price. Tool-free tensioning means the chain can be snugged up in the field without hunting for a scrench. Build is what you expect of WEN: plastic housings, a serviceable bar and a chain that will want replacing with a better one once it dulls. Owners of WEN power tools generally describe them as functional rather than refined, and the two-year warranty covers the gap.
Living with it
Buy bar and chain oil with the saw; the automatic oiler only works if the tank is filled, and the listing does not mention oil in the box. Check chain tension after the first few cuts, since new chains stretch, and keep the chain sharp with a round file or an inexpensive sharpener. Store the saw in the sheath with the bar oil drained if it will sit for months. There is no fuel, no carburetor and no spark plug, so off-season maintenance is a wipe-down and a sharpen.
Alternatives to Consider
The Oregon 15-amp 16-inch corded chainsaw is the step up, with more motor, a quieter drive and a three-year warranty, for a buyer who cuts hardwood regularly. The Greenworks 14.5-amp 18-inch corded saw gives a longer bar and more current for bigger rounds at a similar outlay. If the cord is the problem rather than the budget, a 40V cordless saw such as the Worx WG384 cuts the tether at the cost of runtime and a battery to keep charged.
Verdict
Buy the WEN CP1216 if you want a cheap, simple corded saw for occasional storm cleanup and small firewood jobs within cord reach, and you value a kickback brake, auto oiler and a two-year warranty at the budget end. Skip it if you cut seasoned hardwood regularly, where a 15-amp saw earns its price, or if the work is beyond the reach of a cord.
Full specifications
WEN CP1216 12-Amp 16-Inch Corded Electric Chainsaw FAQs
WEN does not specify a gauge in the listing. For a 12-amp tool, a 12-gauge outdoor cord is the usual choice for runs up to about 100 feet; a thinner cord drops voltage and makes the motor run hot and slow.
A 16-inch bar cuts a log a little under 16 inches across in one pass and up to roughly twice that by cutting from both sides. For a 12-amp motor, plan on comfortable work in the 6 to 12 inch range and slow, patient cuts in anything larger.
The listing names a sheath, the 16-inch chain and the saw itself. It does not mention oil, so buy a quart of bar and chain oil with the saw; the automatic oiler needs the tank filled before the first cut.
Yes, per WEN. A side knob tightens the chain without a scrench. New chains stretch during the first few cuts, so check tension after the first tank of oil and again a few cuts later.
