Buying a Chainsaw - Tips & Advice 

This site is dedicated to helping you find the ideal sharpener for your electric or petrol-powered chainsaw chain - however, it's worth providing some information in general about chainsaws, in case you are not happy with your current one or maybe you are thinking of upgrading to a better quality one some time soon.

There are many choices when it comes to chain saws, ranging from a cheap and basic electric model to a top-of-the-range super-powerful petrol device, packed with plenty of useful extra features. 

The first decision to make when buying a chainsaw is whether you want a petrol or electric model. Petrol chainsaws are renowned for being very powerful, but they are generally heavier than electric devices. Petrol saws also need to be re-fuelled, sometimes quite often, depending on how regularly they are used. A petrol chainsaw will usually require more maintenance than an electric saw. Many people who only require a chainsaw for moderate use in their garden prefer electric saws because they are lighter and cleaner, with no messing about with petrol to power them.

When buying a chainsaw you need to consider more than just the power source - you always need to match a chainsaw to the tasks you need to use it for and the volume of work you plan to carry out. Your chainsaw should not be too big or small for the type of cutting you are planning - it stands to reason that larger jobs require a larger chainsaw. 

Weight is also important - operating a heavy chainsaw can be very tiring work so it's not advisable to buy a large, heavy duty chainsaw if you are likely to find it a struggle operating it safely and comfortably - you may have to make a trade off and go with a less powerful saw if you simply can't handle a larger size and weight. 

Getting the right chainsaw for the type of work you're doing can save you from falling into the trap of paying too much for one or ending up with one which has too little power for your needs.

If you're just planning on cutting down the occasional tree in your garden or clearing some thicker brush, you won't need the same high end power that you would require if you were a professional logger or saw mill operator.

Some people wrongly assume that the more you spend on a chainsaw, the better the quality will be - this isn't necessarily always the case. 

Some big brand companies charge more than others, even for their cheap models of chainsaw - which means you could end up paying too much for a saw that isn't necessarily superior to one sold by a lesser known brand name. 

When comparing chainsaws with a view to buying one, it's worth assessing how durable they are, how easy they are to get serviced, and what kind of self maintenance is possible.

Ease of starting is another issue that comes up a lot where chainsaws are concerned. A good petrol device should start with two or three pulls of the starter cord - but some may take more. It's worth reading a few reviews to make sure you avoid models that have a poor reputation when it comes to starting. A chainsaw that you can't get started is going prove a major headache and could easily mess up your cutting plans for the day.

Where starting is concerned, it's also worth confirming that a model you are interested in has a good track record for having a reliable primer bulb and decompression valve, as well as a dependable choke for cold starts.

Another thing to consider when buying a chainsaw is the length of the guide bar. A longer bar will offer more versatility when it comes to cutting wood and will be capable of cutting through tree trunks with wider diameters. That said, a large bar can be more strenuous and demanding to work, so the length of a guide should tally with your level of experience and also your physical strength.

Safety is a major concern with using any type of chainsaw. You should always wear the correct protective clothing when using one of these power tools - depending on the work you are carrying out and the size of saw, you should consider wearing protective gloves, boots, jacket and trousers, goggles, dust mask and ear plugs.

The best chainsaw for the job isn't going to be one particular brand or model, but it will invariably be one that matches your specific needs, one that you can use comfortably without over-exerting yourself, one that will feel safe using and one that falls within your budget.