Which types of Chainsaws are you need?
There are two primary types of chainsaws in the market — Gas chainsaws and Electric chainsaws. I’ll run you through the basics of both of these chainsaws along with a summary of their pros and cons.
Power Gas Chainsaws
As the name suggests, gas chainsaws run on fuel and gasoline. These chainsaws can run for a long period of time. Not limited by either the length of a power cord or by battery.
However, you have to know that these chainsaws also produce a lot of emissions that are harmful for the environment, and they use a lot of fuel. As such, these are definitely not eco-friendly in nature as they run on fossil fuels. Furthermore, they are also a lot heavier than electric chainsaws, and they produce very strong vibrations that only people with rugged physical strength can handle.
There are various different types of gas chainsaws as well depending on how powerful they are. Light-duty gas chainsaws with small bars are best for yard maintenance work, they cost less than $200. Rancher chainsaws are larger in size and they can be used to cut firewood and even saw through small trees, and they are usually priced between $300 and $500. Finally, the Professional Gas Chainsaws are meant for large scale forestry work such as felling large amounts of trees, and they cost over $500.
Electric Chainsaws
Electric Chainsaws run on electricity, as the name suggests. These are available in one of two types — corded chainsaws, and cordless/ battery-powered chainsaws. We’ll get to the specific qualities of both of these chainsaws later.
Electric chainsaws aren’t as powerful as gas chainsaws and they’re usually used for light-weight to medium-duty work around the house and yard. However, they are a lot easier to start as you can simply plug them in (or charge the battery) and then squeeze the trigger. They are also a lot more light weight and as such can be used by even beginners and novices. Furthermore, they don’t require any fuel and they don’t generate harmful emissions, making them eco-friendly as well. If you’re surrounded by neighbors, or living in a noise-sensitive surrounding, then these are your only option as they’re the least noisy amongst all chainsaws.
These are the two types of Electric Chainsaws:
Electric Corded Chainsaws:
These are electric chainsaws that have to be plugged into a power source in order for them to work. As a result of this, they aren’t very portable and have a limited range. If you want to use the chainsaw in the yard, you’ll have to drag an extension cord along, which can also be hazardous as someone may trip on the wire. However, because they don’t run on batteries, you can work with them for a longer period at a stretch.
Electric Cordless/ Battery-Powered Chainsaws:
These are electric chainsaws that run on battery power. The battery has to be charged regularly and generally lasts for 100 to 200 cuts on a wood piece of 4” x 4”. These chainsaws are a lot more portable than corded ones, however they run out of energy pretty fast.
Well these were the two main types of chainsaws. In the next part, I’ll tell you all about the main features to look out for when buying chainsaws.
Key Factors for Best Chainsaw
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.