Which Chainsaw should I buy now?
So, you are considering taking the leap and buying a chainsaw? Now you need to decide which one to buy?
If you have never bought a chainsaw before then the variety on offer can be quite bewildering!
In fact, unless you are familiar with the current world of chainsaws, choosing one that is right for your needs becomes quite a challenge.
Where to start?
Probably at the beginning 🙂
Seriously though, we have to start somewhere.
Consider some of the Options you need to Navigate
This list of points (below) covers many aspects of owning and operating a chainsaw that you need to consider. There might well be other aspects that you need to take into account for your own unique situation.
However, this list will at least give you a good start along the road to finding a chainsaw that best suits your requirements.
Lets start with the basics and then drill down from there.
Gas powered or electrically driven?
This is a fundamental choice as your choice here will lead you down a path that opens some possibilities but eliminates others.
These are the basic characteristics of each that you can use to help you decide which way to go.
Gas Powered Chainsaws
Gas (petrol) engine powered chainsaws are the original, traditional type of chainsaw that have been around since chainsaws were invented!
They are:
- Big (at least a 12 inch bar but more commonly 14 inches and bigger.)
- Powerful with a high chain speed that cuts quickly.
- Noisy and smelly when operating.
- Generally heavier and more bulky than the equivalent bar length electrical chainsaw.
- Definitely need 2 hands on the saw to operate it.
- Traditionally have starting problems, carburetor issues and can be temperamental.
- 2 Stroke engines need a gas/oil mixture to run so you will need to keep a supply close at hand.
Electrically Driven Chainsaws
Electrically driven chainsaws are relatively new but they are now very serious contenders in many areas of chainsaw usage.
Here are some of their characteristics:
- Can be as small as a 4 inch bar but can go as big as a 20+ inch bar.
- Quieter to operate and no gas/oil smell.
- No starting problems! Pull the trigger and start cutting.
- Lower chain speeds than gas powered chainsaws.
- Lighter than the equivalent bar length gas powered chainsaw.
- Can operate the smaller ones (up to about an 8 inch bar) with one hand. In fact, these smaller mini chainsaws are designed to be used with only one hand.
If Electrical, then Battery Powered or Corded?
Corded Electrical Chainsaws
These are gaining in popularity and stature because they are far more environmentally friendly than their gas equivalents. And a lot quieter!
Here are some
- Mostly 12 inch bar or bigger.
- They therefore mostly also need two hands to operate!
- Have to be able to plug them into a power source which might limit where you can use them.
- No issues with how long the power source will last for.
- Will need an extension cord as the cord attached to the chainsaw is rarely longer than 18 inches.
Given the above, you need to know a thing or two about extension cords. Believe it or not, not all extension cords are suited for all purposes. You can find out more on that subject here!
Battery Powered or Cordless Chainsaws
This is where things get interesting in that we move away from the “traditional” type of chainsaw to the concept of a “Mini Chainsaw”
- The vast majority of these have bar lengths from 4 to 10 inches long(but there are exceptions)
- Mostly designed for using with one hand (but some notable exceptions to these first 2 points)
- Light and maneuverable
- Highly portable
- Battery life limits working time before needing to recharge
- The above can be extended by purchasing a second/ third etc battery but that can get expensive.
- Mini chainsaws are generally not produced by well known chainsaw brands so don’t be surprised by that aspect. It doesn’t mean they are no good or not worth considering.
If Electrical, do you want a Brushless or Brushed Motor?
Brushless vs Brushed
Brushless motors have many advantages over brushed motors.
You can find out more about chainsaws with brushless motors here but to summarize. Brushless motors (in comparison to brushed motors):
- Better longevity of motor
- More reliable than brushed motors
- More efficient
- Quieter
- Unfortunately usually more expensive
This does not mean that chainsaws powered by brushed motors are a no – no altogether. Many established brands (e.g. Black & Decker, Worx etc) persist with models powered by brushed motors. This is probably because they are proven in the market place (historically).
However, it is just a matter of time……
What Bar Length Should You Choose?
In the chainsaw world, the bar of a chainsaw is the piece of metal that the chain runs around, as illustrated in the pic on the left.
It is roughly the length of the saw available for cutting.
Thus a chainsaw with a 10-inch bar would potentially be able to cut through a piece of wood with a 9,5 inch diameter with one cut. Note the “potentially” because lots of other factors come into play when deciding what a chainsaw can or can’t cut through.
However, when choosing your chainsaw, you want to make sure that the bar length you choose can EASILY deal with the size of the tree/branch etc that you would normally be cutting.
A Caution
It might be tempting to think “I’ll go big and cover everything” but that will almost certainly back fire on you in the long run if most of your cutting involves e.g. smaller than 4 inches!
So consider what started you on the path of considering buying a chainsaw. What is the size of the stuff you wanted the chainsaw to deal with.
Then add an inch or two and that would be about the length of the chainsaw bar you should start looking at.
Now remember when thinking about this aspect, you also need to consider the power required to do the job.
For example: If you are regularly and consistently looking to cut up tree logs with a diameter of 10 inches or more, then you will almost certainly need the power of a gas driven chainsaw.
If however you are mainly concerned with diameters of a couple of inches and a 10 inch trunk might be a once in a lifetime occurrence, then you really don’t need a gas powered chainsaw.
Your circumstances will be different, but you get the idea
What weight of chainsaw can you handle?
Luckily chainsaws aren’t quite as heavy as the pic on the left might indicate.
However, it is important to:
a) Not ignore this aspect altogether &
b) Don’t over-estimate your capabilities when looking at the weight of the chainsaw!!
This last aspect is important, especially as we get older. Lifting a 10 pound weight would, on the face of it, perhaps not be viewed as a potential problem.
However, add a 10 pound weight onto an outstretched arm, or keeping it above head height for a few minutes, and suddenly 10 pounds could become quite a daunting prospect!
So, don’t underestimate the weight of the tool in your decision making process.
Is Noise level a Concern or Not?
Chainsaws are noisy, only the decibel level varies!
Its a fact of life.
Chainsaws are noisy! Only the decibel level varies.
In general terms, gas powered chainsaws are much noisier than their electrically powered counterparts.
That is not to say that electrical chainsaws are deathly silent. They aren’t, nor should they be expected to be.
In terms of noise, the bottom line revolves around:
- where are you going to be working?
- who will you be disturbing
- how long will you be making a noise for? 🙂
NB Don’t forget to be kind to your ears and buy some ear plugs or other form of ear protection. It’s a vital part of Chainsaw Safety Gear For The Homeowner
How Often Will You Use The Chainsaw?
Your frequency of usage should also influence the type of chainsaw or mini chainsaw you look to purchase.
For example: small mini chainsaws are made for small jobs that you would not need to perform regularly. They are not designed for use day in and day out, but should cope with the odd flurry of activity when pruning your garden or similar.
Likewise, battery operated chainsaws are best for occasional usage as the batteries rarely last longer than 30 minutes of cutting time before needing to be recharged.
Thirty minutes is actually quite a long period of working and you can get a lot done in a garden in that time.
On the other hand, to go to all the trouble to fuel and fire up a gas powered chainsaw for 5 minutes work seems a bit pointless.
You get the idea…..horses for courses.
Where will you use the chainsaw?
Chainsaws get used all over the place by all sorts of people for all sorts of tasks.
Examples include:
- Pruning garden plants
- Cleaning up storm damage around your house
- Taking camping to cut some kindling & firewood
- Trail clearing
- DIY woodwork at home
- As a tool in a landscaping business
- Forestry
- Fire fighting
And probably a hundred more.
So think about where you will use the chainsaw in the main and match that to a chainsaw that will meet all the requirements of operating there.
Do you want to be able to use it with one hand?
If you want to use a chainsaw one handed then you either have to sign up at your closest gym and start working out OR you should restrict yourself to looking at mini chainsaws!
Our definition of mini chainsaws?
They have bars that are between 4 and 8 inches long (10 inches at a stretch) and are designed to be operated with one hand.
So no gym training required. The designer and manufacturer assume you will use only one hand to operate these little tools.
They are almost all battery driven, lightweight and very maneuverable. They are ideal for occasional pruning work, DIY woodwork, taking on trips and so on.
Are you left handed?
Something like 10% of the world’s population is left handed.
It’s no surprise then that tool manufacturers rarely take left handed people into account when designing tools.
Chainsaw manufacturers are no different.
However, operating a chainsaw is vastly different to say using a screw driver. Operating a chainsaw can be a real challenge for left handed people.
Fortunately, there are some chainsaws that make allowances for lefties but they all fall into the class of mini chainsaws.
Its an unfair world…..
Money Money Money
As the old saying goes – money doesn’t grow on trees!
Chainsaws however, do cost money. You have to decide how much you are prepared to spend and then deal with the cost vs value consequences.
In general of course, you get what you pay for…..but as we all know, its unfortunately not always that straight forward. Brand name recognition, labor costs (i.e. where manufactured), track record, point of sale and so on can all play a role in what price you end up paying.
“Penny wise and pound foolish” is another old saying that can be applied here as well. Is it worth saving a few dollars to get a chainsaw that is not quite ideal but you will live with that vs paying a bit more for the ideal tool?
People have different amounts of money and make different buying decisions.
Over to you with regards how important price will be in determining which chainsaw you ultimately buy.
Even More Questions
We have been through a whole bunch of questions that will hopefully give you more insight into what to think about when deciding on which chainsaw to buy.
There are many more potential questions but they are all likely to be related to at least one of the ones already mentioned.
Examples would be:
- How big are the trees/bushs/branches you will tackle with the chainsaw?
- Are you primarily going to be pruning plants with it…..or not
- Will you use the chainsaw around the garden…or not?
- Are you up to speed with the foibles of 2-stroke gas powered engines?
- How long will you need to work with the chainsaw at any one time?
And the list goes on……and on!
In Conclusion
Now that you have a better idea of which chainsaw type will best suit your needs, it only remains for you to go out and find one.
Here are a few options. We will start with mini chainsaws and move on from there:
Top 10 Best Rated Cordless Mini Chainsaws
Top Quality Big Cordless Chainsaws
The Best Garden and Tree Pruning Loppers
Finding The Best Gas ChainsawÂ
Then of course if you are not that DIY inclined, you could consider the self sharpening Oregon CS1500 electric chainsaw
Or you could simply go to chainsawchoices.com and start from there.
Have fun and once you have made a decision – try to avoid buyers remorse!! 🙂