All chainsaws come with bars, chain, and a motor or battery. These are necessities. They may differ in width or power, but they’re alway there. However, chainsaws also come with some additional features that aren’t entirely necessary, but they’re very useful. These are the features you should look out for and make sure you nab as many of these features in a single purchase as possible.
Tool-Free Chain Tensioner
Tensioning the chain means loosening or tightening it to optimal tension so that it runs efficiently. Generally, you would have to stop working every couple of times, find a wrench and screwdriver, and tension the chain manually. The process is tedious and consumes a lot of time, and furthermore it’s hard to determine what’s optimal tension. If a chain hasn’t been tensioned properly it can further damage the bar that it sits on.However, if your chainsaw comes with a tool-free chain tensioner, you can simply turn a knob on the side of the machine. That’s it. With that, your chain will be tensioned correctly. This feature is well worth shelling a few extra dollars for.
Easy Start System
Chainsaws, especially gas chainsaws, are notorious for being difficult to start. You have to keep pulling the cord over and over. It can be quite tedious and painful. That’s why you should get a chainsaw that comes with some feature that can make the process of starting the chainsaw simple.
The chainsaw brand with the best starting feature is definitely Stihl. They create chainsaws with the Easy2Start pull system. This system makes sure that even the heaviest of chainsaws are easy to start. They lodge an extra spring between the crankshaft and the starter rope rotor. As such, even if you pull the cord with two fingers, that’s enough. Furthermore, you can pull at it about two-thirds time slower than you would have to otherwise.
The Easy Start System has some clear advantages:
• The amount of energy you need to exert to start the chainsaw is drastically reduced.
• The chainsaw starts smoothly.
• You can pull the starter rope slower than you usually would.
• It’s very reliable.
Body Width
Does the chainsaw have a wide body side to side, or is it narrow? High end chainsaws designed by Stihl or Husqvarna generally come with very narrow bodies, whereas lower end chainsaws are quite wide.
The only difference between the two is that a narrow body is a lot easier to work with. It’s lighter, easier to maneuver, and it can be used for a longer period without arm fatigue. As such, if you need the chainsaw for mass scale regular use, you should go for a narrow body chainsaw. However, if you’re gonna’ be using the chainsaw sporadically, and if you’re strong enough, a wide body chainsaw is alright.
Type of Chain
There are two types of chains available in the market — standard steel chains, and carbide toothed chains. There is a lot of debate about which one is better, and there are plenty of arguments on both sides of the aisle. However, finally it all depends on what works best for you.
The standard steel chain is used regularly as a standard chain. Most chainsaws come with standard steel chains. The major drawback of a standard steel chain is that it immediately dulls upon contact with the slightest of dirt, or rotted lumber, or even nails. As such, you always need to keep your sharpener within easy reach.
The carbide-toothed chain can cut through anything even if there’s some dirt or rot set in. It doesn’t become dull on contact with either dirt, rot, or nails. However, the major drawback here is that the carbide-toothed chainsaw is approximately $50 more expensive, and furthermore, once it does dull eventually, it’s very difficult to sharpen without professional help.