The Best Chainsaws (Review) in 2020

Why Buy a Chainsaw?

Chainsaw’s are portable, mechanical saws and are often utilized in a number of activities including pruning, tree felling, collecting firewood, limbing, and cutting firebreaks.  They help you work quickly and can be used in professional and personal capacities. Specialized chainsaws can even be used to cut through concrete and ice, and thus their uses and strengths are vast and diverse. Special chainsaws are sometimes also used for chainsaw carving.

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Types of Chainsaws and Features to Consider When Buying One

Chainsaws consist of several different parts. They either have a gasoline engine, or an electric engine that is powered by a battery or an electrical power cord. They also include a drive mechanism consisting of a sprocket and clutch, a guiding bar, and a cutting chain. It’s also important to investigate their safety features to ensure you find a tool that is both convenient and safety conscious.  There are a number of features you need to consider when purchasing a chainsaw. Do you want it to be gas, or electric? Should it have an inbuilt oil dispenser? Does it need to be able to handle bars of varying lengths? And what safety features are a must?

Depending on your needs and your industry, you’ll be looking for chainsaws that embody different features and qualities. If you are doing more industrial jobs, you will need a chainsaw with a higher power. The higher the power, the longer the bar! If you are doing at-home jobs, then a cordless and smaller tool might be exactly what you need. We have compiled a list of our top ten picks to help the process. Our list includes a variety of prices and features and will thus meet multiple monetary and capability needs.

Chainsaw Safety Tips

Before you use your new chainsaw it is paramount that you do your research and learn how to use it safely.  Chainsaws are amazing tools, but they can also be dangerous. ALWAYS read the user manual, or consult online video tutorials if things seem unclear. A few key safety tips to always bear in mind include:

• Stand correctly in the boxer stance position. Keep your knees slightly bent and put your left leg slightly forward at a 45 degree angle (if you are right handed), and in reverse if left handed (right leg in front.)
• Always keep BOTH hands on the saw and always keep a firm eye on the bar as you are cutting.
• Beware of the kickback zone
• ALWAYS wear safety gear. Yes, you might not look as cool as a shirtless lumberjack in the forest, but safety is so important. Invest in boots, gloves, chainsaw chaps, and specialized protection for your eyes and ears.
• Unless you are very experienced, ALWAYS use a chainsaw with reduced kickback.

Best Chainsaw FAQ:

Q: What type of oil should I use for bar lubrication?

A: The bar and chain of all gas and electric chainsaws need to be properly lubricated to ensure that the machine runs effectively. A well lubricated bar and chain will be less likely to rust and extend the life of your machine. Most manufacturers will sell their own oil which maximises the lubrication and best results for your particular device. However, you can also use alternative oils and these might be listed within your user manual. It is always best to consult your particular brand before purchasing oil.

Manufactures work hard to ensure that they promote oil mixes that prolong the lives of their tools. Opting for cheaper oil might seem cost effective to start with, but could ultimately lead to costly damage in the future.

A few options and things to bear in mind:

• Vegetable oil is sometimes used as an alternative – This will minimize environmental damage and is a cost effective oil to use.
• Never use used motor oil! This can damage your chainsaw and will not reduce friction in the same way that new oil does. It’s already been used as a lubricant and won’t be as effective.

If your machine starts producing smoke when you start to cut, it’s a sure sign you need more oil!

Q: Does a chainsaw come with oil?

A : Chainsaws don’t usually come with oil. However, you will most likely be able to order the oil that your manufacturer advises when you purchase your device. Remember oil is essential to ensure that your machine runs effectively and buying the correct oil will prolong the lifespan of your chainsaw and lead to more effective use of your tool.

Q: Why does my chainsaw leak oil?

A: A leaking chainsaw can occur for a number of reasons.  It might simply be that you have overfilled the oil reservoir and thus the excess oil is leaking.  If you check this and it’s not the case then your fill plug might not be sealed properly, or your outlets might be clogged. Clean your machine thoroughly and then check for leakages again. Your user manual is important when conducting these checks and will show you where everything is.

A little trick that engineers use to determine whether their oil is working optimally is to place a piece of white card on the floor and rev the chainsaw over it (without touching it). If a fine mist of spray appears on your card then your device is working well! A little bit of oil spray is completely normal; however excess leakage needs to be addressed.

Q: Will chainsaws accept a longer bar?

The chainsaw bar, also known as the blade, is an important part of your machine. Different models will utilize different types of bars and different bars are able to do different things.

Chainsaws need to have different levels of power to operate different length bars. For example, an electric chainsaw operating on 12-15 Amps can handle a blade length of 16-18 inches. However, a battery operated device operating on 18-24 volts can only work with a blade of about 10 inches.

While many devices are created to be able to handle different sized bars, some cannot. The best thing is to check your user’s manual to determine what your particular device can handle.  This information will often be located under the section on ‘cutting devices.’

Q: How can I tell if my chain needs sharpening?

While there isn’t a magical formula to determine when your chainsaw needs sharpening, a generally agreed upon indicator is that you have to apply excess pressure while cutting. You should be guiding the machine, but it should be doing all of the hard work. If you feel you need to over exert yourself then it’s time for a sharpening session.  You can either purchase your own sharpening device, or find a local repair shop or technician. If you are using your chainsaw often it might be worth investing in your own sharpening tool.

Q: Why is chainsaw fuel usually mixed before use?

The correct ratio of gas and oil will largely determine the effectiveness of your machine and impact the general wear and tear of the device. Pre-mixed fuels take this into account and can benefit your chainsaw in the following ways:

• Create a better overall performance and leads to greater reliability and better lubrication.
• They protect against build up
• Time effective and save you having to order separate fuels and mix them yourself
• Will last longer because they are professionally sealed

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Our Top Pick

After much deliberation we have chosen the Worx 16-Inch Electric Chainsaw as our best chainsaw pick! It sells for a steel and offers both quality and user-friendliness.

Our best pick combines quality and cost efficiency. This is a amazing light-duty electric chainsaw and is a great choice for homeowners and professionals alike. It runs via a 14.5 amp motor and offers the strength and power of a gas chainsaw without the hassle because you don’t have to constantly add oil or gas. An auto-tensioned system ensures that the chainsaw doesn’t over tighten and the rubber over-molded rear handle ensures greater comfort and ease.  The automatic oiler also adds to extra ease and constant lubrication to the chainsaw. This model combines excellence and great value and is an awesome pick to use around the home. It also boasts thousands of fantastic reviews and comes with a 3-year warranty, thus highlighting just how well-made it really is!

Key Features:

• 5 Amp motor output delivers a cutting performance similar to gas chainsaws for homeowners, farmers, and ranchers.
• Patented auto-tension chain system prevents over-tightening; stays at the right tension for hundreds of uses.
• Low kickback bar and built-in chain brake for added safety. This model does not include a battery and is an electric tool.
• Chain Speed : 12m/s. Rated Voltage : 120V~60Hz
• Automatic oil lubrication and built-in oil reservoir with window level indicator and chain pitch is 3/8 inch, chain gauge is 0.05 inch, oil tank capacity is 200 ml
• Includes 3-year manufacturer’s warranty

Sources:

1. How Chain Saws Work - howstuffworks
2. How to Buy a Chainsaw - wikiHow
3. How to Operate a Chainsaw - wikiHow