The Best 4 Inch Mini Chainsaws are Here to Stay!
Lets face it, a chainsaw with a 4 inch bar is a very small chainsaw! Only a short while ago they would have been regarded as little more than a fancy chainsaw toy.
But not anymore!
The best 4 inch chainsaws are becoming more and more sophisticated and can be effective around the house and garden. Trimming small branches and plant foliage, some DIY woodwork, not to mention taking away on camping or road trips.
The Fanttik Turbo below is a great example of a modern, sophisticated and reliable 4 inch chainsaw!
A couple of factors to keep in mind when evaluating a 4 inch saw.
– You will also probably not recognize any of the brand names as chainsaw brands. They are currently not a priority for the big name mainstream chainsaw makers. However, that is beginning to change as the market for them grows.
and
some of them don’t even look like the traditional mini chainsaw. Again, the Fanttik TurboLite pictured above is an example of a more modern design that might/might not become the norm in years to come
The Most Popular 4″ Mini Chainsaw?
The Imoumlive 4 Inch Mini Chainsaw
Actually, at the time of writing, the Saker( see below) is probably the most popular 4″ mini saw on the market.
However, this Imoumlive should certainly challenge that status once its’ credentials become better known!
It is the smallest in the range of Imoumlive mini chainsaws. The others are the 6 inch and 8 inch models. The latter have proven themselves as reliable mini saws for quite some time now.
Brushless is Best!
The BIG advantage this Imoumlive 4 incher has over its rivals is that it is equipped with a BRUSHLESS electric motor that drives the chain at a very brisk 22ft/sec (6,7m/s) !
It also has an AUTO OILING SYSTEM. This is a very rare feature in the 4 inch bar category of mini saws.
And finally, it is left hand friendly! The safety switch is available to operate by both left and right handers. That says a lot about their attention to detail!
All in all, this has to be the best value for money 4 inch mini chainsaw on the market today!
The 4″ Saker Mini Chainsaw
This Saker 4 inch mini chainsaw is a very popular option in the mini 4 inch chainsaw market segment.
As with the vast majority of these very small and light chainsaws, it is NOT powered by a brushless electric motor (maximum chain speed of 5m/sec) nor does it have an oil reservoir that will oil the chain as you work.
BUT, it
– comes with 2 batteries and a charger
– has a storage or carry case
– includes a small oil bottle for oiling the bar and chain as you work with it (No oil though – you will need to buy your own Bar & Chain oil)
– is also available in pink!!
– A real bonus is that Saker replacement chains for this 4″ mini saw are readily available
As with all 4″ mini chainsaws, it is small and light. In other words, it has its limitations and you need to be realistic about what you can expect this mini saw to accomplish.
Having said that, if you use it within it’s limitations, it is a wonderful tool!
PS: There is also a 6″ bar version of this chainsaw
Newer Models
The above two makes and models are well established in the 4 inch mini chainsaw market.
The Fanttik Turbo is an exciting new entry that is well worth a look at.
But if you are just looking for a bog standard, no frills 4 inch saw, then this one is hard to beat.
To Wrap Up
If this looks vaguely like the sum total of your available saws, then a 4 inch mini chainsaw will do wonders for your odd jobs around the house
To wrap up, let’s summarize the Pros and Cons of these small chainsaws to ensure that you make an informed decision when you buy one!
Pros
– They are small and lightweight (750g – 1,5kg). That’s 1.65 – 3.3 pounds
– Designed to be used with one hand and easy to maneuver in tight spots.
– Versatile in that they can be used for garden pruning and small DIY wood work projects. They are ideal for taking on camping trips either for cutting up small bits of wood for a fire or clearing a trail.
– Have basic safety features including a safety lock. Some have a trigger guard while others don’t.
– Battery driven
– Often come with extras. These might include batteries, chains, useful tools, protective gloves and/or goggles and so on.
– Many come with a handy storage case.
Cons
– They have limited capabilities that need to be respected in order for them to work efficiently. These include only cutting small diameter branches (2 inches diameter and smaller is ideal. Up to 3 inches every now and again)
– Prone to over heating if used for too long. Short bursts of activity and then a short “rest” are ideal.
– No auto lubrication for the vast majority of them. You will need to carry a small bottle of Bar & Chain oil with you and apply frequently. Do this even if the manufacturer says you don’t need to oil the bar & chain!!
– Small but deadly. Don’t underestimate the damage that small chain could do to you. They are not a toy so treat them with the same respect you would a big chainsaw!
And finally.
The title of best 4-inch mini chainsaw probably changes by the hour but the ones above have a solid performance history backed by many users. If you are interested in seeing the most up to date best selling 4 inch chainsaws then click here.
Do be careful though. An algorithm no doubt drives this and it’s not perfect. Bottom line, don’t consider anything as a best selling 4 inch chainsaw unless it has at least 100 reviews (The figure next to the star rating).
The bottom line is that you can get a lot done with these mini chainsaws as long as you don’t try to make them do big jobs that they are not designed for. Even the best mini chainsaw will fail if used incorrectly.
So stick to the small pruning stuff, take along as a camping tool, or use for small scale DIY woodwork jobs and you will be glad you invested in one.