What to Search for in a Chainsaw

Motor

There are three primary kinds of chainsaws: fuel, electrical, and battery-powered.

Electrical motors are rated in amps. Mild obligation electrical chainsaws begin at about 8 amps, however extra sturdy fashions fall between 12 and 15 amps. Until you may have essentially the most primary trimming duties to finish, you’ll seemingly need to take into account an electrical chainsaw with amps on the greater finish of this vary.

Gasoline engines are mostly categorized in cc’s, however you’ll sometimes see them rated by horsepower. You’ll discover chainsaws with anyplace from 25cc to 80cc or extra in skilled fashions. Horsepower varies, however a mid-range chainsaw might have round 4 horsepower, with heavy-duty fashions packing much more energy. Word, nevertheless, that gas-powered chainsaws are prohibited in lots of cities, and that pattern will proceed to develop.

Battery-operated fashions skip the motor and engine rankings altogether. As a substitute, the facility of those chainsaws is measured in volts. Many fashions can be found with 18 to 40 volts, however just a few stretch the facility as much as 80 volts or extra.

Bar Size

The chainsaw bar can also be typically known as the blade and serves because the information for the chain. Bar lengths range considerably amongst totally different fashions of chainsaws and vary from 8 inches to 30 inches.

The shorter the bar size, the simpler the chainsaw is to deal with—however it would additionally scale back the noticed’s chopping capabilities because the bar ought to be 1 to 2 inches longer than the wooden you’re chopping to keep away from kickback (which is when the nostril of the noticed makes contact with the chopping floor and is sharply compelled upward). Longer bar lengths mean you can make significantly bigger cuts of wooden in a single cross. Nevertheless, an extended bar size requires a extra highly effective motor and a heavier machine, so elevated warning is required when utilizing these heavy-duty chainsaws.

A bar size of 14 inches or much less ought to be enough when looking for a chainsaw for common home-owner use. If in case you have greater than common yard duties to sort out, you may have to search for a extra succesful mannequin with 14 to 18 inches of bar size. Heavy-duty chainsaws can have a bar size of 18 to 24 inches, {and professional} chainsaws will stretch the bar size to 30 inches.

Auto Oiling

For max efficiency and most security, it is advisable oil your chainsaw blade usually. When you fail to do that, the blade might develop into uninteresting extra shortly, however the friction warmth may trigger the nostril of the noticed to warp.

As we speak, many chainsaws have an computerized oiler that saves the operator time whereas making certain the noticed stays in optimum working situation. Automated oilers can be found with both mounted movement or adjustable movement. A hard and fast-flow oiler will distribute a constant, regular movement of oil onto the chain. An adjustable movement oiling system signifies that the operator can regulate the setting of the oiler to launch kind of oil. This adjustable system may be good when putting extra important pressure on the noticed, akin to chopping tougher woods.

Whichever sort of computerized oiler you go for, develop into aware of the scale of the oil reservoir and pay shut consideration to the oil stage. Many fashions of chainsaws have a small window on the aspect that allows you to simply regulate your oil provide.

Why Belief The Spruce?

This text is edited and up to date by Michelle Ullman, the instrument skilled for The Spruce. She has intensive expertise writing about all issues associated to the house and in finishing up numerous DIY tasks, together with landscaping, portray, flooring, wallpapering, furnishings makeovers, and easy repairs. She thought of dozens of chainsaws for this roundup, evaluating every for primary options, extras, and buyer analysis. She additionally acquired recommendation and options from Dan Akins, Co-founder and editor at Theyardable.com.