Here at Hoist Zone, we pride ourselves on being on the cutting edge of hoist and crane technology. That’s why we’re proud and honored to announce that Columbus McKinnon asked us to use, test, and review their new product, the BatteryStar Battery Powered Chain Hoist.
This is one of CM’s most exciting new products, and for good reason—it’s the first product they’ve released as part of their partnership with Milwaukee. As such, we were eager to get our hands on it and see what this battery-powered chain hoist was capable of.
What Is the New BatteryStar Chain Hoist?
The BatteryStar chain hoist was designed and released as a joint CM and Milwaukee product. CM designed the hoist and motor housing, while Milwaukee provided its top-of-the-line M18 battery pack for operating power. This is the same battery you see on construction sites and in homes around the country to operate drills, saws, flashlights, and numerous other power tools.
The first model of this groundbreaking chain hoist, a 1 Ton with a speed of 8 FPM, will be released soon. If you read this review and feel like the BatteryStar is right for you, it’s available for preorder now!
Product Demo
Now that you have a better idea of what the BatteryStar chain hoist is and why there’s so much excitement surrounding it let’s dive into our initial thoughts and review!
How We Tested It
We tested the BatteryStar by mounting it onto a jib crane currently used in PWI’s production space. We did this to see how easy the crane was to install and how user-friendly it was during initial use.
To test the hoist’s overall operating power and capabilities, we used it to operate a vacuum lifter used for loading and unloading steel plates onto a laser machine. This was to see how the hoist performs in real-world industrial applications.
Initial Thoughts About Our First Look
Installation
Right off the bat, we were blown away at how fast and easy it was to install the hoist onto the jib crane. Because it’s battery-powered, the installation process didn’t require any power source or wiring, which cut out any potential electrical complications.
Compact Design
Another thing we quickly noticed was how small and lightweight the hoist is compared to other CM models. It is compactly designed so that it’s easy to move, operate, and pull around.
Durability
Despite its lightweight and compact design, the Battery Star seems very durable and is built to last. It also features a nice built-in dust cover that opens up to reveal the battery housing and troubleshooting lights. In addition to offering easy access to these components, the dust cover provides excellent, long-term protection where the battery connects to the hoist.
Remote Operation
Finally, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one of the BatteryStar’s best features—the remote control. Unlike other hoist and crane remotes I’ve worked with, this one felt robust, solid, and well-built. It felt like the type of remote you could drop from a balcony, and it would still work (not that we did that). At any rate, we could instantly tell that it was built from high-end materials and was completely unlike the lower-end models you see on Amazon.
Advantages
Here are some of the benefits we believe the BatteryStar possesses:
Portability
One of the biggest advantages of the BatteryStar is its portability. Because it doesn’t require electrical power to operate, you can use it literally anywhere. It’s also lightweight and compact enough that you can easily move it from crane to crane or even from one job site to another. Weighing in at just 46 pounds, it doesn’t take a bodybuilder to hoist this hoist around!
Easy Installation
In addition to making it very portable, the fact that the BatteryStar is battery-powered also makes for easy installation. You don’t need to run any wires or cables to the hoist, which means all there is to do is mount it on your desired crane and put it to work.
Cost
You also can’t beat the starting price point for the BatteryStar. In fact, the starting price is more than $2,000 less than standard 1T LodeStar models, making it one of the most affordable battery-powered hoists in the industry.
Battery Familiarity and Convenience
One of the reasons we’re so excited that CM partnered with Milwaukee is because of how popular and familiar Milwaukee batteries are. The hoist uses a standard M18 battery, which means that most of the people who purchase the BatteryStar won’t have to buy a bunch of extra batteries. You can simply use the same batteries you use to operate your Milwaukee power tools!
Additionally, if you need to purchase new batteries or a charger, they’re readily available at most hardware stores, such as Ace Hardware, Menards, and Lowes.
Mounting Options
Another handy feature of the BatteryStar is that it has multiple mounting options. You can either mount it with the chain falling from the bottom, as with a standard electric chain hoist, or with the hoist body and hook being upside down, which is typical of entertainment series electric chain hoists.
For our demo, we operated the hoist using the more traditional mounting method with the chain falling from the bottom. However, either mounting option works great and it’s entirely your preference.
Disadvantages
Like all cranes and hoists, the BatteryStar isn’t perfect and could certainly stand to be improved in certain areas, such as:
Speed
While there’s a lot to love about the BatteryStar, there’s no denying that it isn’t as fast as standard electric hoists. This is the main drawback I noticed when testing this product. Because the BatteryStar is battery-powered, it doesn’t have the same speed and power that an electric hoist does.
Having said that, however, there’s also no denying that the BatteryStar is much faster than its manual hoist counterparts. As such, it’s a happy medium between hand-operated and electric chain hoists.
Operation Length
The second disadvantage I noticed is that you can’t operate the BatteryStar indefinitely, because the battery will eventually die. The average Milwaukee M18 battery can run for about 5 to 12 amp hours, depending on which type you choose. That translates to roughly 60 to 80 minutes of actual use. Therefore, you had better have a few chargers and extra batteries on hand if you plan to use the BatteryStar on a regular basis.
Next Steps For the Product
With their initial testing and demoing completed, CM plans to release the BatteryStar hoist in September. This model is available for preorder, and you can reserve yours today at Hoistzone.com, with shipments beginning in September.
When you place your order, you have the option of buying the BatteryStar with or without Milwaukee batteries and a charger. While you’ll save money by purchasing everything as a package, there’s no need if you already use Milwaukee tools and have plenty of batteries and chargers at your disposal.
What People Are Saying on Reddit
Because of how new the product still is, there’s not a ton of chatter on Reddit, as only select companies and individuals have tested the BatteryStar. However, what little chatter there is seems to be mostly positive and is in line with my initial feelings about the product.
Final Thoughts
If their first product, the BatteryStar chain hoist, is any indication of what to expect in the future, then there’s a lot to look forward to in regards to the partnership between CM and Milwaukee. In addition to being perfect for occasional use in production and manufacturing facilities, the BatteryStar is also ideal for construction sites, automotive body shops, and instances when electrical power is unavailable.
If you’re interested in purchasing the BatteryStar chain hoist, head on over to Hoistzone.com and preorder yours today! You can also subscribe to our email list so that you’re notified the instant the BatteryStar becomes available so that you don’t miss out.
