Chain saws are mostly gasoline-driven power tools, although there are some electric ones on the market as well. The reason for the gas engine is mostly to provide sufficient power. When you’re cutting through a tree branch or cutting down a whole tree, you need a lot of power to overcome the friction which is being built up.
If you look at a chainsaw’s chain, it will probably appear to you like there aren't enough blades on it. They’re typically spaced what seems to be quite far apart, with a lot of space sharpener being wasted. However, when you consider the amount of material each of those blades is taking out of whatever you’re cutting, the number of blades is actually quite adequate.
Sharp blades are important with a chain saw. The blades dull easily, mostly because wood is a fibrous material and you’re cutting across the fiber. Many people take their chain saw blades to be sharpened, although you can get a sharpener and do it at home. You can even do a fairly decent job of sharpening them with a rat-tailed file.
A final word of caution; of all the power tools available, chainsaws are probably the most dangerous. Make sure you use every safety precaution there is, including safety goggles and gloves. Always be sure that the saw comes to a complete stop before setting it down. Finally, watch out for the tip which where the dreaded kickback comes from; in fact, many saws have a protector on the tip to prevent kickback from occurring.
Types of Chainsaws
Chainsaws basically break down into two categories based upon their power source, gas or electric. Here on Bestcovery, we also provide third category-budget chainsaws. Many people who buy a chainsaw only need it occasionally. If that’s your case, you may not need to spend a lot for a high-end gas chainsaw.
Typically, the budget chain saws are smaller so you need to consider the size of the branches or tree trunks you will be cutting. Obviously, you don't want to buy a saw that's too small for your needs. In fact, you're probably better off buying one that's a bit bigger than needed as invariably something comes along where you have to cut something bigger than planned.
If you are an occasional chainsaw user, make sure that you fully drain gas from your chainsaw before you store it. Gas left in the carburetor will gum it up, rendering the chainsaw inoperable. To drain it, stop the saw and pour the remaining gas in the tank back into your gas can. Then, restart the saw and allow it to run until it stalls due to gas starvation. This fully empties it and prevents gumming of the carburetor.
What About Electric?
Electric motors offer a great alternative for the occasional chainsaw user. Typically, they’re not quite as strong as the high-grade gasoline chainsaws, but some of the upper-end models have hefty motors on them, allowing them to tackle larger logs than expected.
The big advantage of electric chainsaws is their low level of maintenance. Gas saws need to be maintained regularly, whereas electric ones merely need oil in the oiler. However, this great advantage is coupled with what can be seen as a fairly large disadvantage which is running electrical power to wherever you're going to use the chainsaw. If you have a large piece of property, an electric chain saw may not be practical.
What to Look For in a Chainsaw
Start your search for a chainsaw with the chain and bar size which is what is listed as the chainsaw's size. You can't cut logs that are thicker than the length of the chainsaw bar, minus a couple of inches. As an example, let's say that you buy a 16-inch chainsaw, the largest diameter log you could safely cut with it is 14-inches and that's a bit iffy. Two inches of extra length for the tip is an absolute minimum.
The chain and bar on a chainsaw are replaceable, allowing users to put longer or shorter bars on them. However, one word of caution about this; longer blades create more friction, requiring more power. So, if you buy a budget chain saw with a short bar, thinking all you have to do is replace the bar and chain with a larger one, you might be very disappointed. That smaller engine won't be able to provide the power you need for that larger cut.
Motor size
Power is the key thing to look for in a chainsaw. Plainly put, the bigger the engine on a chainsaw, the better. A chainsaw with a larger engine is capable of cutting through larger logs. And even more important than the size of the log is dealing with hardwoods and burls. These harder woods require more force to cut which is another reason to have a big engine on your chain saw.
Almost all chainsaws come with built-in chain oilers. This is important to lubricate the interface between the chain and the bar. Without proper oiling, the chain will overheat and break. Always check the oil level in the automatic oiler before using a chain saw.
Ease-of-use
Working with a chainsaw for a couple of hours can make you feel like your arms are going to shake out of their sockets, so operator comfort is a big issue. This catch-all category includes things like padded handles, low vibration, easily adjustable chain tension, and units with centrifugal brakes that add an extra layer of safety.