A chainsaw is the most important tool for a passionate lumberjack or a professional one. A chainsaw offers a much better way of chopping down wood than a handsaw or an axe. If you have a small garden in the backyard of front yard of your house that you want in a mint condition, then there are a few tools that you need in the first place. A rototiller, lawn mower and of course a chainsaw. For lawn mowers, you have the option of choosing between a hand driven lawn mower and a riding lawn mower/zero turn mowers.
When it comes to chainsaw, you will find two types of products on the market, electric chainsaw and gasoline chainsaw. If you aren’t sure which type of chainsaw to invest in, then it is better to go through the reviews of six best chainsaw consumer reports in which I have explained the features, pros and cons of three electric chainsaws and as many gas chainsaws. These reviews will help you decide as to which type of chainsaw you should be buying.
Reviews Of 6 Best Chainsaws
1. Worx WG322 Cordless Chainsaw
Checkout a compact and lightweight chainsaw that comes with auto-tension coming from the house of Worx. Weighing just 10 lbs, the chainsaw may feel as if it will fall short of the heavy cutting tasks, but in reality, it does those quite efficiently. There is no doubt upon the cutting ability of the chainsaw, but the ergonomic grip makes things a lot better, as it adds to the safety of the user.
The chainsaw features a fully automatic no-tool chain tensioning, which can be operated quite easily. Moreover, you don’t have to worry about oiling the chain and guide bar of the unit, as the self-lubrication system will take care of the same. There is an oil level indicator given on the oiling system that lets you know when to refill the tank. Similarly, there is a battery indicator for letting you know the status of the battery. The chainsaw can reach a maximum height of 10 feet, thanks to the added extension pole, thus letting you reach areas, which otherwise would have been hard to reach for you.
2. Remington Outlaw Powered Chainsaw
If you are interested in getting powered chainsaw, then there is hardly any product that is as good as Remington. A highly efficient chainsaw, which can do all the tasks that you want a chainsaw to do, but then, you don’t have to pay a hefty sum of money to acquire such a high quality product.
The chainsaw features an incredibly ergonomic design and is equipped with many excellent features, which delivers tremendous amount of power, QuickStart Technology for easy powering up and pulling of the chainsaw, a chain oil, bar and carrying case. This chainsaw stands at the top for every aspect except fuel consumption because it consumes a significant amount of fuel, which may result in your budget getting topsy-turvy.
3. Craftsman CMXGSAMY426S 46cc 2-Cycle 20-Inch Gas Powered Chainsaw
If you have got a lot of cutting, pruning and trimming tasks at home, then get this chainsaw, which is equipped with a 46 CC 2-cycle full crank gas engine, all geared up to provide you with tremendous amount of power that you need to accomplish the task. The chainsaw starts with a simple pull, and then, you can start with the cutting task.
The aluminium handle is wrapped with high quality cushion to give a strong grip on the unit, plus the 3-point anti-vibration system allows the chainsaw to remain balanced, so that you can move it the way you want. The self-lubrication system keeps the chain and bar well lubricated.
For safety and control, a 20-inch low kickback bar along with chain, inertia-activated chain brake and bucking spikes offer excellent control. If you want to access the spark plug and filter of the unit as your cleaning routine, then you can access these components without using any tool.
4. Echo CS-271T Gas Chainsaw
Echo may not be as popular as other brands, but it is surely making some quality and reliable products. Check out this 12-inch chainsaw that runs on gas, it is a light-duty unit, which can easily perform cutting, trimming and pruning jobs at home. The chainsaw comes with a 26.9 CC engine, which delivers ample power to the unit to carry out home-based cutting tasks. It also has an automatic oiling system, which keeps the chain and the bar properly oiled.
Moreover, the inclusion of a tool-free tension system makes operating and cleaning the unit easy. Other features of the chainsaw includes easy handling due to less weight, low vibrations and plenty of automated functions. The only drawback of the unit is that its power may not be enough for certain cutting jobs.
5. DEWALT DCCS620P1 Brushless Compact Cordless Chainsaw Kit
The term ‘Compact’ may be considered inappropriate with power tools, but this isn’t the case with DEWALT Chainsaw Kit, which despite being compact can easily cut through 10-inch thick trees. The chainsaw comes with a 12-inch blade, which is capable of achieving difficult tasks in your front yard or backyard garden with ease.
This is a battery-powered chainsaw, which means it has no cords, thus allowing you to move freely in your garden, chopping down stuff that you don’t want to see anymore. The chainsaw is equipped with a 20-volt Li-ion battery, which provides enough power to the machine to carry out tough cutting jobs.
The battery lasts for around 2 hours on a full charge. Being compact in size, you can easily use it with your one hand because it doesn’t weigh that much as well (9 lbs only). Moreover, it doesn’t need high maintenance as well, but the high consumption of oil by the chainsaw may be a point of concern for many. Besides that, everything is near perfect in this chainsaw kit.
6. Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Chainsaw
When it comes to the most popular battery-powered chainsaw manufacturers, you will definitely find the name of Greenworks on the list. This isn’t compact, but a decent sized chainsaw, which operates on 4.0 Ah Li-ion battery, which allows the chainsaw to produce more power and torque along with increasing the run time.
This is a 16-inch chainsaw, which will easily cut through thick trees and other materials that you need to cut down. The inclusion of a brushless motor makes the operation less noisy, and you don’t get to feel much vibration while using chainsaw in tough jobs.
The chainsaw is compatible with G-Max 40V Li-ion system, which makes it eligible to be used with other tools as well. The chainsaw features a self-lubricating oil system and the inclusion of a transparent oil tank helps you determine when to refill the tank. Coming to the safety aspects of the unit, then you will see a chain brake and a low kickback in the chainsaw.
Gasoline Vs Electric Chainsaw: Which Is The Best?
When we ask ourselves what the best chainsaw on the market is, the first question we need to answer is what use we will make of the equipment. In this case, the most common are owners of farms looking for a tool that facilitates the work of chopping wood and pruning the trees on the property.
The chainsaw is especially useful for those who have a fireplace or wood stove, facilitating a job that ends up being continuous and probably tiring if done with hand tools such as, axe and handsaw.
Once you have defined the work you intend to apply, you can choose between 2-stroke gasoline engine chainsaws or electric chainsaws. I want to outline the main features of each, and explain some important points, such as care and protective equipment, so that you decide exactly which chainsaw is best for your type of work.
Gasoline Chainsaw
Gasoline chainsaws are more powerful than their electric kin, which are suitable for heavier work such as continuous work and can cut even thicker trees. I have differentiated the gasoline chainsaws between professionals and semi-professionals, mainly to facilitate understanding.
Professional Chainsaw
Professional chainsaws, as the name already makes clear, are used professionally, which means that not only can the cutting part will be longer, but the whole engine assembly is more robust, made to perform the tasks efficiently for longer durations, every day.
Semi-Professional Chainsaw
Semi-professional gasoline chainsaws are the most common to be found in the market, mainly because of the popularization of their sale and use. There are models that you find for very affordable prices, but you should focus on getting a good quality equipment that will facilitate the work on your property. Moreover, an affordable chainsaw may have certain limitations especially in terms of how much you can use it in a single time.
Electric Chainsaw
Electric chainsaws, also known as electric saws, are generally better suited for slightly lighter service. Some models require access to power outlets, so it's good to think about buying yours, that if the service is far from the power source, you'll need an extension cord.
Electric chainsaws also require less maintenance and are better suited for occasional use on smaller properties and for sporadic use, such as firewood or some repairs.
Chainsaw Chain
The chainsaw chain is one of the most important components of any chainsaw, whether gasoline or electric. This is because it is one of the parts, which requires the most attention in maintaining your chainsaw. It is important that at the end of use, all components are cleaned and the chain oil checked. In addition, it is recommended that it be sharpened with a chainsaw file.
Sharpening the chain is very important to avoid forcing the entire engine and transmission assembly, as well as preventing premature wear of your chainsaw.
What Precautions/Safety Measures To Take When Working With A Chainsaw?
A very important point that deserves extra attention is the safety when handling your chainsaw. Ideally, look for a professional or even a close course on how to handle correctly and safely.
The main items, not limited to these, are:
- Face Protector (in the absence, at least goggles);
- Ear protectors;
- Gloves;
- Aprons, leggings or thick clothes;
- Safety boots or shoes.
It is important to keep in mind that safety equipment will not expedite the cutting, trimming and pruning task, but if something ever happens, it can ensure its integrity.
Final Verdict
Chainsaw is a specialized tool that is used for carrying out tough and tedious cutting, trimming and pruning tasks. If you are looking to buy a chainsaw for maintaining your garden or farm, then you can check out the reviews in which I have reviewed three-each electric and gas-powered chainsaws. Each has their own benefits and shortcomings, so go through the reviews of six best chainsaw consumer reports and shortlist the product that matches with your requirements.