Which kind of Chain Saw will be best for you?

If you are considering buying a chainsaw you need to have a clear idea in your mind about what you want to use your new chainsaw to do.

Is it for regular logging? Is it to cut the occasional tree and for preparing firewood? Or is for infrequent pruning of small garden trees and shrubs?

Once you've given some thought to these questions, you will be able to identify which kind of chainsaw will be right for you.

Chain saws can be divided into three basic types – gas powered, corded electric and cordless. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages and each is better suited to some uses than others. I’ll go through these points below.

Gas Powered Chainsaws

These chainsaws feature two cycle gasoline engines. Two cycle engine use a mixture of gasoline mixed with oil as a fuel. The oil is mixed into the fuel as a lubricant for the engine rather there being a separate oil chamber as with a four cycle engine.

These saws will have cutting bars (the part around which the chain rotates) between about 14 and 30 inches long. Generally, the larger the cutting bar, the larger the engine will need to be. And, of course, with a larger engine and bar, the heavier the saw will be as well.

One of the biggest advantages of the gasoline saw is that it can be used practically anywhere out of doors. These saws can be transported deep into the woods for logging or used around the home for trimming trees. Many homeowners with fireplaces or wood stoves choose the gasoline saw as a tool for cutting firewood.

As long as the saw is supplied with the gas and oil mixture it will continue cutting. Many of these saws are designed for all day use. They are rugged and can quickly cut a 75 foot tall tree into 18-24 inch sections for splitting into firewood.

On the downside, gas chainsaws require a fair bit of engine maintenance and can sometimes be difficult to start. They also require ventilation and should only be used out of doors.

A final disadvantage of some gas powered chainsaws, especially the high powered ones, is that they can be prone to kick back and thus present the risk of injury to the operator.

Electric Chainsaws

The electric chainsaw is ideal for using in crafts in the garage or for trimming shrubs and small trees around the home.

This kind of saw requires an electrical outlet be nearby, so it is not designed for use in the woods or forest. The motors on electric saws generally have less power than a gasoline saw. In addition, the cutting bars tend to be smaller, so these are generally lighter weight implements.

Electric chainsaws are much quieter than gas powered saws and so can be used in residential areas without fear of upsetting the neighbors.

However, they are designed for use in dry weather only, so if it starts to rain, the day's project may be brought to an end.

With the smaller cutting bar and power, it may not be possible to fell larger trees using this kind of tool. Logs over twelve inches in diameter may also be difficult to cut using an electric saw.

Cordless Chainsaws

Cordless chainsaws are the quietest of all three types. They are battery operated and can travel to almost anywhere as long as the battery is charged. These saws are less powerful than most gasoline saws and generally smaller than most corded electric models.

There are some exceptions, like the Oregon PowerNow series of saws. These can rival gas and electric chainsaws for performance because they have advanced lithium ion batteries.

Cutting bars on cordless chainsaws range from 4.5 inches to 14 inches, making most cordless saws ideal for use for trimming small limbs and cutting small timbers.

Besides the small cutting bar and relative lack of power, one of the biggest disadvantages of this type of saw is that in most cases batteries only hold a charge for 30 minutes to an hour or so. This means they are not ideal for prolonged jobs, unless you have spare batteries on hand.

Cordless chainsaws are made for convenience, quietness and ease of use, so on the whole are ideal for the hobby gardener with occasional pruning jobs, rather than anything more extensive.

Conclusion

So, having regard to the pros and cons outlined above, you should have a fair idea of which kind of chainsaw will suit you best.

Armed with that knowledge, you can begin to investigate the various models to try to identify the best chainsaw for your purposes and within your budget.