How To Choose Your Chainsaw: Advice, Models And Cost

How to choose your chainsaw: advice, models and cost

The chainsaw is the ideal and indispensable tool for all cutting and pruning work in the garden. From simple cutting of branches to felling large trees, there are chainsaws for every type of use. If you need an useful reference on chainsaw, click over here.

How to choose your chainsaw: advice, models and cost

What is a chainsaw for?

A chainsaw is a wood cutting tool for logging activities and the maintenance of green spaces. It is used as much for felling wood, as for cutting, delimbing or pruning. A chainsaw can accomplish small jobs in the garden of the house (the chainsaw is very useful for cutting wood for heating), but also more intensive jobs such as felling trees for example.

Description of the different chainsaw models

There are several models of chainsaw depending on the utility you want to do with it:

The electric chainsaw

An electric chainsaw is light and handy. It is used for small jobs in the garden and for cutting wood with a maximum diameter of 45 cm. The electric chainsaw operates on 230 Volts. The power of its motor is 1,400 to 2,000 Watts. The advantages of this chainsaw are low energy consumption, not polluting and being low noise. Like all power tools, this chainsaw must be connected by an electric wire to the mains. Its use can therefore only be done within a limited radius.

The battery-powered chainsaw

Very handy, autonomous and light, the battery-powered chainsaw is used for small occasional wood cutting jobs. It is easy to use, non-polluting and low noise.

The thermal chainsaw

The petrol chainsaw works with a 2-stroke gasoline engine. It is used for common or even intensive cutting jobs made possible thanks to its high power (from 740 to 6400 W). This chainsaw is autonomous, without electrical connection. On the other hand, it is more noisy, polluting, heavy to handle and especially the thermal chainsaw requires careful maintenance. This chainsaw has a blade long enough (up to 90 cm) to be able to cut large logs. It also exists in several displacements to adapt to different levels of wood cutting work.

How to choose a chain saw ?

The model of chainsaw is first chosen according to the scope of the wood cutting work to be carried out. Other criteria must also be taken into account:

The length of the guide bar

The guide bar holds and guides the chain in motion of the chainsaw. The latter is made up of 3 types of links (feeders with depth limiter, cutting gouges, connecting pieces) assembled using rivets. The length of the chain guide indicates the cutting capacity of a chainsaw: a 30 cm chain guide for example can cut wood 60 cm in diameter.

Chain lubrication

All chainsaws have a chain lubrication system, because the chain heats up at high speed and can deteriorate, using vegetable oil. The flow of this oil is the same on all chainsaw models but some give the possibility of adjusting this flow according to the hardness of the wood to be cut. For petrol chainsaws, the oil tank must be filled with each refueling. For electric chainsaws, a level indicator is available to monitor the presence of this essential lubricant.

The shape of the front handle

Chainsaws, which are held with two hands, have 2 handles, one at the front, the other at the rear. The chain brake is located on the front handle, a powerful safety device that stops the chain in the event of a kickback.

The shape of the front handle determines the possibilities of use:

* A front handle in the shape of an arch allows you to work horizontally when cutting down a tree or pruning branches, but this position can limit the operation of the chain brake.

* A front right handle allows more particularly log debitage work.

Safety and maintenance of a chainsaw

The chainsaw is the ideal motorized tool when you have a garden made up of trees that need to be maintained. But its use requires special precautions to avoid accidents and ensure its proper functioning .

It is first of all very important to use a chainsaw with protections such as a visor helmet, work gloves, safety shoes or even clothing equipped with anti-cut reinforcements.

Preventive measures are also necessary when using a chainsaw: do not use a ladder; always cut wood that is higher than his shoulders; do not put the chain saw down when it is running.

Before starting to use a chainsaw, remember to keep children and all unprotected people more than 15 meters from the workplace, and carry out a few checks to ensure that it is working properly:

* check that the chain brake is activated
* check that the handles are clean and not slippery.

Regular maintenance of a chainsaw is the guarantee of its proper functioning and maximum safety. The chain tension, lubrication and sharpening must be checked regularly; the chain guide must also be cleaned regularly, in particular the lubrication holes.

How much does a chainsaw cost?

The price of a chainsaw varies depending on the type of model, its power and size. Count between 70 and 350 euros for an electric chainsaw. A chainsaw on battery costs 100 to 700 euros and a thermal chainsaw is sold commercially between 100 and 2,000 euros for the most efficient.