If yes, then you have come to the right place because we have all the information you need to help you decide which is a better fit for you. With time, there has been plenty of technological advancements in electric tools and, of course, electric chainsaws are no exception.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that more and more people, especially suburban homeowners lean towards an electric chainsaw because it’s ecologically friendly, requires little maintenance, lightweight, and isn’t as noisy. Moreover, the latest electric chainsaw models offer exceptional cutting performance while short battery-life in cordless electric chainsaws has become a thing of the past.
That being said, when it comes to heavy-duty cutting tasks the power, performance, and cutting speed of a gas chainsaw can’t be matched. Ideally, an electric chainsaw seems like a better choice, but the real question will it meet your needs, or will you need a gas chainsaw? Therefore, once you know the advantages and disadvantages of an electric vs. gas chainsaw you would be in a better position to decide which type of chainsaw is the right fit for you.
To make your decision process easier and simpler we have designed a guide on electric vs. a gas chainsaw. In this guide, you will find an overview of the functionality of an electric and gas chainsaw, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. The idea is to help you understand how the two types work and which will be a better fit for your needs by exploring both chainsaws in-depth.
Table of Contents [hide]
- The Functionality of an Electric Chainsaw
- Why Should You Buy an Electric Chainsaw?
- The Functionality of a Gas Chainsaw?
- Why Should You Buy a Gas Chainsaw?
The Functionality of an Electric Chainsaw
When it comes to electric chainsaws, they come in two types:
– Corded
– Cordless
Both these two types of electric chainsaws drive the chain the same way. The major difference between the two is between the electric outlet. Cordless chainsaws are battery powered, while corded chainsaw acquires electricity from an electric outlet. Now when we explore the functionality of an electric chainsaw what you need to be aware of is that they are powered by electrical motors.
The difference between an electric motor and a gas engine is that an electric motor doesn’t have any moving parts.
The torque is what spins the chain around the guide that is transferred to a shaft inside the chainsaw. It is the “armature” that converts electrical power into mechanical power (torque.) An armature is an internal power-producing unit that is not found in a gas chainsaw and is only in an electrical chainsaw because both chainsaws have different dynamics in functionality.
Why Should You Buy an Electric Chainsaw?
Now that you have a slight understanding of how an electric chainsaw functions, we will be looking at the advantages and disadvantages in-depth to help you understand what this type of chainsaw has to offer and where you will have to compromise on.
Advantages of an Electric Chainsaw
One of the major advantages of an electric chainsaw is that it’s compactly designed and lightweight, making it easy to maneuver around and operate by anyone. As they run on electrical current, they don’t require gasoline for power and don’t emit toxic fumes. They are also much quieter in comparison to gas chainsaw and when you pull the throttle it’s only then they make noise which is only for a few seconds.
Moreover, electric chainsaws are way easier to start up because all you have to do is press a button, whereas when it comes to gas chainsaws it a whole other story which we will be looking into below. There is one thing to be concerned about how the electric chainsaw functions, but another factor that a lot of people don’t pay a lot of attention to is the storage process.
Electrically-powered chainsaws are better suited for tasks like sprucing up trees, cutting smaller logs, trimming limbs, and most other light-duty tasks around the backyard or home. They are also very to store because all you have to do is turn off the chainsaw, unplug the switch and store it in a safe dry place.
The maintenance process is also very hassle-free because there are no filters to clean, no fuel-mix and there is no need to oil the engine.
When it comes to price, corded electric chainsaw models are budget-friendly or you can say cheaper than gas chainsaws. Electric chainsaw models cost almost one-third of the price of gas chainsaws. While cordless electric chainsaw cost the same as gas chainsaws. The runtime of cordless chainsaws is about 1 hour to 30 mins, depending on the batter-time. Corded electric chainsaws can be used for as long as you want to use them, as long as they are plugged into an electrical outlet.
Disadvantages of an Electric Chainsaw
Now that we know the many advantages of electric chainsaws, we are going to look at the disadvantages. One of the drawbacks of an electric chainsaw is that they lack the power and bar length to cut larger trees. An 18 inches bar is the longest length you will ever find in an electrically-powered chainsaw which is not enough to chop down huge trees. The cutting speed is also slower which is why electric chainsaws are better for cutting small-sized trees and light landscaping.
As they are not as capable of tackling heavy-duty tasks, while corded they are also limited by the extension cord. Whereas, cordless electric chainsaws have better portability. However, cordless electric chainsaw runs on battery power and are limited by it, only run as long as there is enough battery and offer about 30 minutes to 1 hour of runtime. They have to recharge once the battery runs out and some cordless chainsaws start to deteriorate in performance once the battery reaches 20% to 30% charge levels.
The Functionality of a Gas Chainsaw?
When it comes to gas chainsaws, they come in two types:
– 2-Cycle
– 4-Cycle
To have a basic understanding of how gas chainsaws function, what you need to know when it comes to the two types is that a 2-cycle engine requires a mix of oil and gasoline, has to be poured into one tank for the engine to run. It is the proper mixing of the oil and gasoline that lubricates the components of the engine for the gas chainsaw to run. Whereas, in a 4-cycle engine the mixture of oil and gasoline is not needed because there are two separate tanks for it.
Now let’s look at how a gas chainsaw functions in-depth. In a gas chainsaw, the fuel moves through the carburetor that mixes it with air. It is the air and fuel mixture that goes into a cylinder and inside the cylinder, the mixture is ignited by a spark plug. When the mixture is burned, energy is released that then pushes the piston back and forth.
The driveshaft then takes the power created to the centrifugal clutch. It is the centrifugal clutch that connects the engine to the chain in a gas chainsaw, and the chain is connected through sprockets that spin it around the guide bar.
Why Should You Buy a Gas Chainsaw?
Since now you have a fair understanding of how a gas chainsaw functions, we are going to explore the advantages and disadvantages of a gas chainsaw in-depth.
Advantages of Gas Chainsaw
The top advantages of owning a gas chainsaw are that it is ideal for heavy-duty cutting tasks, and can easily handle any job that you have in mind. For instance, cutting large trees, trimming, slicing up wood and pruning are some of the tasks a gas chainsaw can tackle without struggling and compromising on performance.
Typically, a gas chainsaw guide bar ranges up to 72 inches and they cut much faster than any corded or cordless electric chainsaw.
When it comes to mobility, a gas chainsaw is not that difficult to carry around and you can use them anywhere from forests or the backyard of your home, they are also not limited by distance like an electric corded chainsaw is.
Moreover, they can run all day long as long as you have sufficient fuel to power them. All in all, the speed and performance of a gas chainsaw can’t be matched by an electric chainsaw no matter what.
Disadvantages of Gas Chainsaw
Some of the disadvantages of a gas chainsaw are that they heavier than an electric chainsaw which makes them a bit difficult to operate and you can’t use them for a long period of time because it is not physically possible to do that.
Apart from that, they require fuel to be powered and you need to carry fuel with you in case you run out which can be a bit inconvenient.
The 2-cycle engine requires a certain amount of fuel and oil which can be a bit hassle to achieve, and the fumes emitted are not environmentally-friendly. Gas chainsaws are way louder and ear protection gear needs to be worn by the operator as it can cause hearing damage. When it comes to the price point, they are expensive and also require a lot more maintenance for proper functioning. A cord is used to pull-start the engine which becomes difficult over time as the engine starts getting older.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the best way to decide between an electric vs. gas chainsaw is that you determine what you need it for.
If you need it for heavy-duty tasks then a gas chainsaw is the best option, while for light-duty tasks an electric chainsaw is a much better option. You just have to keep in mind that both chainsaw types have advantages and disadvantages, and you will have to make a compromise. Therefore, to make a decision you can prioritize based on what you need a chainsaw for and if it falls under your budget.
