Garden DIY: What to consider when buying a chainsaw

Written by Posted On Monday, 17 June 2019 04:22

If you spend a lot of time doing garden maintenance, enjoy DIY projects or have plenty of plants that need pruning, the chances are your tool shed is already pretty full. But if your have bigger goals and still more projects you wish to embark on, you may be starting to wonder whether it’s worth buying yourself a chainsaw.

Who needs a chainsaw?

Do you have jobs that require a chainsaw? This seems like an obvious question, but sometimes the manly desire to own an awesome yet dangerous piece of equipment outweighs the actual need for one. However if you have logs to cut and trees to prune or you’re interested in carving or DIY wood projects, by all means, go for it!

Will owning one save you money? If you’ve ever had to hire a chainsaw operator for a job that’ll need doing again, then you can probably save some money by getting your own equipment and doing it yourself, but this all depends on the frequency of the project and if you’ll use it for other things. Bear in mind that depending on where you live, you may need to obtain a licence and certain gear to legally be able to operate one, so consider this cost, too.

For multiple and frequent projects, getting your own chainsaw is probably worthwhile, but if realistically a chainsaw seems a little over the top for your needs, you might want to consider some of these alternative garden tools .

Types of chainsaws and their advantages

So you’re going for it? Well there are plenty of chainsaws to choose from, so before you pick any old machine, lets go over some different types of power saw and what jobs they are best suited to. You can also check out this best chainsaw brand round up for 2019 .

Petrol chainsaws are a popular choice as proximity to a power source is not a problem. Due to a more powerful engine, petrol chainsaws can support a longer bar length which allows them to cut through larger loads with greater speed, making them ideal for heavy duty projects. However this same engine makes them much heavier, which may affect ease of use. They also give off a heavy petrol smell and make much more noise than other saws.

Wireless electric chainsaws are a good choice if you want the same mobile benefits of a petrol powered chainsaw, but without the excessive weight or need to input fuel and with much quieter functioning. This machine is much easier to manoeuvre, however it can’t take on such heavy duty projects and is better for pruning and cutting smaller trees. Batteries are expensive which pushes the price up a little and your work time may be quite limited before needing to recharge.

Corded electric chainsaws offer the same benefits as battery powered chainsaws but with unlimited power, hence no reduction in work time however this of course means you need always be close to a power supply. If this just means using an extension cord to reach the corners of your garden, the appeal of a this cheaper electric chainsaw may be for you, however if you need greater reach its best to stick to the other options.

Chainsaw maintenance

Once you’ve found the perfect machine to carry out your garden maintenance and logging endeavours with, you’ll just need a few tips on keeping her in top shape so that she can serve you well for years to come.

A dull chain is more likely to cause problems and can be more dangerous to work with, so the teeth will need sharpening from time to time. Follow these steps which explain what you need and how often to sharpen a chain, as well as when to simply replace it.

Improper lubrication can cause a chainsaw to overheat and inflict early damage reducing the life of the saw. It is important to check your chain oil regularly and make sure it never dries out. You can buy different weight oils for better functioning depending on your model and the seasonal temperatures you are working in.

Just as with a motorbike, the chain on your saw also needs the correct tension. For optimal function it shouldn’t be too tight nor too loose. A tight chain will cause unnecessary wear, whereas a loose chain can jump off the guide bar, potentially causing damage to you and the machine. The perfect slack is when the chain sits snuggly to the bar but can be easily pulled away by hand.

Finally, correct storage can help keep your saw in good shape. For periods when the saw is not in use, cover it with a sheath to prevent the teeth from causing or suffering injury. This can also protect against damage from the elements.

Have some fun

With the correct care and caution, your chainsaw can achieve wonderful things. While you may have only bought a chainsaw for functional purposes, now that you have it, you may as well look into some fun and creative projects to have a go at.

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James Stevenson

Hi, My name is James and I've been involved in the property and real estate industry for 10 years now. I hope people will like to read about my thoughts and experiences in the industry and please contact me if you want to discuss my articles further!

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