Whether you want to cut down a eucalyptus forest or if you want to cut a small bush in your garden, you will need a chainsaw. If you choose the correct one, felling trees will not involve a greater effort than shaving, and you will also feel the pride of doing the work yourself. In this post, I will help you choose the perfect chainsaw for you.
What should you Consider before Buying a Chainsaw?
Electric or Gasoline?
Electric Chainsaws:
We see more and more electric chainsaws, mainly because the energy is cleaner and because in general, they are lighter (the battery ones are heavier than the plug-in ones). The vibration is much less and you do not have to worry about the gasoline mixture or other maintenance issues. And another thing, they turn on with a button.
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The less positive aspects of this type of machine are that on the one hand they have less power and on the other, they tie you to a cable or make you pay attention to the autonomy of the battery. In general, electric chainsaws are not suitable for felling large trees due to their lack of power.
Gasoline Chainsaws:
If you have to do demanding logging work you will have to opt for this type. They are more powerful and also you will not be limited by the cable when moving. The calorific value of gasoline will provide you with a range substantially greater than that of an electric chainsaw.
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In addition, when you run out of fuel you will only have to refill it, which will take less than a minute, substantially less than waiting for a battery to recharge.
The disadvantages are given precisely by its engine. They vibrate more and make more noise than electric ones, so they won’t be for you if you want to do the job stealthily. Another disadvantage is that the ignition is a bit more complicated since you will have to pull a string several times and if you do not follow the proper steps it can cost you.
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Wood type
Depending on the type of wood to be felled, some types of chain teeth (chisels) will be more suitable than others. Their shape is what will determine their aggressiveness and therefore the type of wood for which they are suitable. A square chisel shape will make a more aggressive cut and a more rounded one will make it smoother.
How to Change the Blade on Your Miter Saw in Australia?
There are using 3 Teeth Types for Beginners
Round teeth:
In the specifications of the chain or the machine, it will generally appear as “round-filled”. These types of teeth are used for soft wood such as pine or fir and are easy to sharpen. This type of chain responds better to dirt and will generally stay sharp longer. In addition, its shape will reduce the rebound of the chainsaw. The fundamental con is that it cuts slower. In addition, these teeth are designed for machines with little power.
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Half-round teeth:
In the specifications of the chain or the machine, it will generally appear as a “semi-chisel”. This type of chain can already be used in more powerful machines since it is designed for both hard and softwood. This type of chain is quick and easy to sharpen and also reduces the risk of kickback compared to a square tooth chisel. The cutting on the other hand will be slower than with a chain with square teeth.
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Square teeth:
In the specifications of the chain or the machine, it will generally appear as a “full chisel”. These types of teeth are designed to be used with hardwood such as oak or walnut and powerful machines. They cut faster and more aggressively than the previous two but on the other hand, they also dull faster and respond worse to dirt. Another problem is that due to its profile it can get more hooked on the wood and there is a greater risk of kickback.
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Chain:
To know what type of chain you need in addition to the type of teeth, you have to take into account the chain pitch, the gauge, and the number of links.
Chain pitch:
It is the distance between 3 consecutive rivets of the chain divided by two. This measurement will give us our chain pitch in millimeters.
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Chain Pitch
As the chain pitch nomenclature will not appear by millimeters, I leave you here the most common ones with their correspondence in millimeters.
Hound:
When we talk about gauge we refer to the thickness of the chain. What is to be measured is the thickness of the drive link. It is important that you choose the correct thickness as otherwise, it may not suit your sword. The drive link gauge can be too thick for your bar or lose traction if the link is too loose.
The most common is 1.1mm, 1.3mm, 1.5mm, and 1.6mm.
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A number of links:
Here we are going to count the links that go inside the bar, not the cutting teeth. It is important that you count them well to be able to choose the appropriate chain for your sword. With this information, the gauge, and the chain pitch, you will now be able to find an appropriate chain for your chainsaw.
Warranty
In general, all brands undertake to repair or replace any part with manufacturing defects as long as the machine is under the warranty period. Obviously, it will cover you only in case you give it the proper use.
In terms of duration, most brands offer 2 years for individuals and 1 for professionals, which is legally established in the EU.
Size
The size of the chainsaw will depend on the work you are going to do. While a small machine will be more useful to cut small trees, a large chainsaw will be necessary to attack the colossi of nature.
In general, the greater power of the machine usually implies more size and weight due to a greater motor, but what we value here is usually the length of the bar.
I personally have two machines, a Stihl MS211 with a 35 cm bar for shrubs and small trees and for the roughest work an Anova MG4618 (discontinued) with a 45 cm bar. In any case, I leave you this guide table so that you know more or less what you need.
Maintenance
Maintenance on an electric chainsaw is going to be kept to a minimum. You will only have to worry about sharpening the chain periodically and refilling the chain oil reservoir.
In a gasoline chainsaw, in addition to the oil, you will have to fill the gasoline tank with the recommended oil mixture (remember to leave it empty if you are going to leave it standing for a long time).
You will also need to clean the spark plugs and air filters from time to time. The spark plug is screwed into the cylinder head; you will have to unscrew it and clean it with a wire brush. As for the air filter, if it is made of paper or cardboard, shaking it is usually enough.
Power
In general, most gasoline machines are between 24 and 46 ccs.
Although you can cut a tree twice the size of the sword, you have to know that in general the size of the sword and the power and type of chain usually go hand in hand and are adapted to the type of tree that needs to be cut.
So if possible, do not use the machine for trees that clearly exceed their mission for a long time, since you will make the engine suffer and reduce its life.
What are the best chainsaw brands?
Although there is more and more variety and more competition in the world of chainsaws, two brands stand out from the rest and are already part of our popular culture. Before Messi vs. Ronaldo had already a bloody debate. Sthil or Husqvarna?
Stihl
Husqvarna
Sharpen a chain Tips
From time to time it is advisable to have your chain sharpened by a professional, as they will do so with emery and at the proper angle. It is also recommended because there they will also lower the depth heel of the chain to equalize it in height with the blade.
In other machines instead of the different positions of the ignition lever, you will have a knob that you will have to pull before making those first attempts until the first explosion.
Just remember that to start the machine cold you have to prime the machine make a couple of attempts until the first fuel explosion and then turn it on.
Some brands such as Husqvarna or Stihl have developed their already mixed gasoline, so if you have doubts you can choose one of these mixtures. They have even designed combination drums to make it easy to transport and fill the fuel and oil tank.
FAQ
You can buy chains and files at any hardware store. In any case, I recommend that the first time you buy you go through one of the Stihl or Husqvarna franchises since they usually give you good advice. If you don’t want to travel, you can buy files like these from Stihl on Amazon. I also recommend that you do a filing by a professional from time to time so that you can see the difference with what you do at home. Trust me, it’s going to show.
First, you have to break the machine and press the throttle lock so that the chainsaw is accelerated. Subsequently, you have to put the ignition lever in the cold start position and pull. Once you hear that the chainsaw makes the attempt to turn on, you change the lever to the on position and when you pull several times it will turn on easily. All you have to do is press the accelerator so that the lever is automatically placed in the on position and the machine decelerates.
Oil is generally added to gasoline to reduce piston friction and lower operating temperature. Manufacturers usually recommend a mixture of 2% although I recommend that you check the instructions of each manufacturer as it may vary depending on the machine used.
Some brands such as Husqvarna or Stihl have developed their already mixed gasoline, so if you have doubts you can choose one of these mixtures. They have even designed combination drums to make it easy to transport and fill the fuel and oil tank.
Conclusion
Our Advice for a Perfect Chainsaw
Indeed, I recommend that you use a specific oil for the chainsaw bar since this type of oil has a high adhesion additive that prevents the chain from coming off. In no case use used oil, since in general, this worse lubrication would accelerate the wear of the bar and the chain. I buy it at the gas station, although you can find oils made specifically by brands like these Husqvarna or Bosch.
