Over time, power tools have trickled down into the home industry and a chainsaw is one of them. Now with easy do-it-yourself home improvement guides available on the internet, people are more inclined to experiment and be productive, while saving on costs.
Similarly, it doesn’t come as a surprise that a chainsaw is found in every other home because it is a power tool that can be used to cut, shape and chop with just a pull of a trigger, all the while saving a lot of time and effort.
Now if you are contemplating on purchasing a chainsaw because you want to cut down a tree in your backyard or are thinking to build a wooden shelf for your study, no matter what the reason you need it for. Having some knowledge about the different types of chainsaws will help you in making a much more informed decision.
As technology is advancing, chainsaws come in different types, shapes, and colors with specific features to serve the different needs of the operator.
Therefore, in this guide, we will walk you through all the different types of chainsaws available in the market. We will be exploring, comparing, and going over the pros and cons of each type of chainsaw to help you find the type of chainsaw that fits your requirements.
However, this guide is not specific to homeowners only, it is an all-rounding guide for anyone including professionals.
Let’s start, shall we?
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Different Types of Chainsaws
1. Gas-Powered Chainsaws
Gas-powered chainsaws are the most powerful chainsaws when it comes to different types of chainsaws. It can be used by both homeowners and professionals.
Gas-powered chainsaws have a two-stroke engine that requires constant lubrication. However, gas-powered chainsaws are a bit tricky to start because the gas tank requires priming and some effort is need to pull the starter cord.
There are different sizes available, and it can cut wood of any size easily.
One of the biggest advantages of a gas-powered chainsaw is that it is cordless and can be easily carried anywhere you want to. It also has a longer runtime, as long as there is gas in the tank.
However, the disadvantage of a gas-powered chainsaw is that it is heavy, very loud, and smelly. Therefore, wearing ear protection is a must, and having enough upper-body strength to use it is also a pre-requisite.
But, if you want a chainsaw that has high-end speed and cutting-performance then a gas-powered chainsaw is a great type to consider.
Pros
- Extremely powerful
- Long lifespan
- Longer runtime
- Very portable
- Easy repairing
Cons
- Loudest type of chainsaw
- Requires constant maintenance
- The heaviest type of chainsaw
- Fuel emissions produced
- Difficult to starts
2. Electrically-Powered Chainsaw
These types of chainsaws run on electricity and have a high amperage in comparison to a battery-powered chainsaw (we’ll discuss below.)
Electric-chainsaws don’t have an engine, instead, they feature electrical motors. They are also lightweight making it easy to carry around and comes with a range of bar lengths.
Moreover, electrically-powered chainsaws are generally less expensive and less noisy than gas-powered chainsaws.
However, if you can sacrifice portability then an electrically-powered chainsaw is a good option to consider.
But, if portability is a huge factor then this type of chainsaw is a no-go because without an electrical outlet near you won’t be able to use it and will have to look for a portable generator to power it.
An electrically-powered chainsaw is best if your project is home-based because you will have access to the power source at all times, and perfect for medium-sized cutting tasks closer to or at home.
Pros
- Very easy to operate
- Lightweight
- Less expensive
- Wide range of bars
- Wide range of chains
Cons
- Corded wire restricts mobility
- Access to ..electricity required
- Repairing requires professional assistance
- Less speed in comparison to a gas-chainsaw
3. Battery-Powered Chainsaws
With time, battery-powered chainsaws have increased in popularity and are pretty lightweight too making it easy to operate, while the portability is exceptional because it uses a rechargeable battery.
Usually, battery-powered chainsaws make use of a lithium-ion battery that is rechargeable. Before you use this type of chainsaw, you will have to charge the battery for a few hours until it’s fully charged. When it comes to power, it is not as powerful as an electric and gas chainsaw, which is why it is only good for medium-sized tasks.
Although, this type of chainsaw is extremely portable and you can carry it in the woods, or anywhere you like. One of the disadvantages is that it makes use of a rechargeable battery and with time it needs to be replaced.
The battery life of the chainsaw varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Moreover, the runtime of a battery-powered chainsaw is less in comparison to a gas-powered chainsaw and you will have to recharge it.
Pros
- Extremely portable
- Very low maintenance
- Quiet functioning
- Starts easily
- No fuel required
Cons
- Expensive than other chainsaws
- Has a runtime of 30 to 60 minutes approximately
- Cutting power is less than gas and electric chainsaw
- Repairing requires professional experience
4. Pole Saws
A pole saw is one of the different types of chainsaws you can go for depending on if it meets your needs. Basically, a pole saw is a chainsaw on a stick. With this chainsaw, you can reach higher areas on a tree to cut off branches or prune limbs. Although, this type of chainsaw is not really considered a chainsaw and can serve as a secondary tool.
Pole saws work the same way as a chainsaw and because the design is based on a typical chainsaw, we think it is worth mentioning.
Since pole saws are less powerful than other chainsaws because the design of the chainsaw doesn’t allow it to be heavy as it needs to reach higher areas on a tree. Most pole saws are very easy to operate using the trigger button.
Like other different types of chainsaws, they use gas, electricity, or battery as a power source. If all you want to do is prune small to medium-sized tree branches then a pole saw will be the perfect fit for the desired tasks.
Pros
- Easy to reach higher areas on trees
- Is comparatively less expensive
- Very lightweight
- Easy to operate and start
Cons
- Repairing requires professional assistance
- Very limited functionality
- Not as powerful in cutting
- Only good for specific tasks
5. Manual Chainsaw
Before gas and electrically powered chainsaw, manual chainsaws were used. A manual chainsaw has two-handles on both sides. A longer manual chainsaw is operated by two people and a shorter chainsaw can easily be operated by one person. Since it is a manual chainsaw, it doesn’t have an engine or motor and makes use of manual labor.
The arms and the hands do the work to make the chain move back and forth in a fast motion.
It is a chainsaw that is very portable, lightweight, and extremely versatile for trimming trees or cutting firewood. Of course, it is not as powerful as other different types of chainsaws.
However, the biggest advantage it offers is that it is very economical, has silent functioning, environmentally friendly as no fuel-emissions are produced and convenient at the same time. It is ideal for smaller tasks like cutting firewood for the fireplace or campfire.
Pros
- The most portable chainsaw
- Can be used in tough to reach places
- The most inexpensive chainsaw type
- Very lightweight
- Quiet functioning
Cons
- Is not powerful
- Needs muscle power to function
- Only good for light-duty jobs
- Time-consuming operations
- Difficult to operate
Conclusion
Now you have a fair idea about all the different types of chainsaws. Every type of chainsaw comes with its advantages and disadvantages. What you need to make sure of is what type of chainsaw will work best for you by analyzing the features that meet the criteria of the tasks you want to use it for.
Below we have mentioned a list explaining the different types of the chainsaw and what type of tasks they are good to make your decision process simpler and easier.
– Gas-Powered: Heavy-duty tasks
– Electric-Powered: Small to medium tasks
– Battery-Powered: Trail-clearing or pruning
– Pole Saw: Removal of unhealthy and dangerous tree branches
– Manual Chainsaw: Chopping firewood or pruning small branches
We hope this guide on the different types of chainsaws was helpful, informative, and easy to read. All you have to do is decide which type of chainsaw you want to purchase that meets your personal needs.
Just make sure that every chainsaw serves one purpose, to cut wood! But not every chainsaw is ideal for every wood-cutting task!
