Chainsaw Guide
Guide to chainsaw operation & choosing the right chainsaw from UK's largest online retailer of chainsaws.
Chainsaws
There are many different chainsaws available that will undertake a wide variety of tasks around gardens, estates, farms, woods and forests. It's important you choose the right one as chainsaws are quick to start malfunctioning if the chainsaw you choose isn't up to the task at hand. Conversely, the more powerful models of chainsaw can feel unwieldy to the occasional user undertaking light chores around the garden and for whom a less heavy duty model would suffice. Therefore we've put together a short and simple guide to help ensure the chainsaw you choose is best suited for your needs.
There are a numerous petrol chainsaw brands available in the UK which cater for the occasional domestic user who simply wishes to saw up logs for the wood burner and maybe undertake some limbing work on small trees. The 2-stroke engines on these petrol chainsaws will generally be between 30-40cc, whilst the guide bar (the metal blade on which the chain sits) will be anything in length from 12" to 18". Alpina and McCulloch offer a range of popular chainsaws for domestic use which are reliable and relatively inexpensive. They also have semi-professional chainsaws (the McCulloch California chainsaw and Alpina P460 & P510 chainsaws) for the more demanding leisure user. The world's two largest chainsaw manufacturers - Stihl & Husqvarna - also offer a wide number of choices for the home owner including the Stihl MS170 & MS180 petrol chainsaws and the Husqvarna 136 & 141 petrol chainsaws.
If you live in a residential area where noise is an issue or if you wish to undertake work in an enclosed space, electrical powered chainsaws are a more practical option. Electric chainsaws are low-noise and - unlike petrol chainsaws - emission free. For light duty work around the yard and garden a number of inexpensive electric chainsaw models are available for under £100 from brands such as Alpina, Ryobi and Alko (all with 14" guide bars). Larger sized 16" electric chainsaws are also available Ryobi and Oleo-Mac. Stihl offers a range of premium quality electric chainsaws with high quality electric motors, guide bars between 12-16" in size and additional features such as Chain Quick Tensioning.
Echo, Efco and Tanaka offer what are often referred to as 'hobby' or 'multi-purpose' petrol chainsaws. These are aimed primarily at the domestic user seeking a high quality professional-grade chainsaw for regular use around the garden and are also popular for work on farms and estates or for those with their own wood to maintain. The Husqvarna 340 and 345 petrol chainsaws fall into this category of chainsaw as do the Stihl MS210, MS230 and MS250 petrol chainsaws. These saws are powered by 2-stroke petrol engines ranging in power from about 40-50cc. Guide bars range in size between 12-18".
Professional petrol chainsaws for continuous use by foresters, local authorities and landscapers, employ high powered engines in excess of 50cc. We have a range of models available from leading brands such as Echo, Efco & Alpina, with guide bars ranging from 18-30".
Finally, chainsaws should always be used with the greatest of care and safety in mind. Always start a petrol chainsaw outdoors away from other people and only accelerate the engine while cutting. Hold the chainsaw firmly with two hands and keep handles dry and clean. Position the saw so your body is clear of the line of cut to avoid injury from kickback. Ensure your chainsaw is in good condition before attempting to cut wood: ask your local chainsaw specialist to examine your machine if it appears to be under performing in any way. As with all garden machinery, always read the manufacturers instructions in full before attempting to operate. For more information on our chainsaw products visit our online chainsaw sales department or call our Sales Hotline on 0845 4588 905 or email: chainsaws@mowdirect.co.uk
