A chainsaw is an exceptionally powerful tool that has versatile usage like pruning branches, felling trees, cutting firewood, and more. The uses of a chainsaw are unlimited and you can find one in every home. If you have finally decided to invest in a chainsaw various questions might pop up in your head like what chainsaw size do I need?
Now if you are a rookie and don’t know the first thing about a chainsaw then it can be extremely confusing to decide which one to buy.
In all honesty, the confusion is justified because, considering the different types and sizes of chainsaws available by various manufacturers, it can be difficult to make a final decision, especially because chainsaws are not cheap power tools.
The different sizes in chainsaws cater to different needs and not every chainsaw can be used for every task.
Generally, the most common question asked is why can’t you just buy a chainsaw with the longer bar guide. The thing with a chainsaw is that they are used for various small and big tasks, a big chainsaw will not be able to handle the intricacies and similarly, a small chainsaw can’t handle a big task that requires more power.
To help you find a chainsaw that fits your specific needs, we have carefully crafted this easy to read and to the point guide to help you find the best chainsaw under a budget.
Let’s find the best size chainsaw for your needs, shall we?
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Why Should You Not Buy the Biggest Chainsaw?
Before we begin, we think we must get a very important question out of the way. Why should you not buy the biggest chainsaw?
This is a question that you might have wondered to yourself and we don’t blame you because it is a very valid question that why do you have the right size and why can’t the biggest size do the job.
Now some people might not want to understand the dynamics behind every chainsaw size and would like to buy the biggest chainsaw they can get their hands on, in the hope it will be work perfectly for the task they need it for.
There is a common misconception that a bigger chainsaw can take on any type of task which is completely false. A bigger chainsaw indeed allows you to cut a bigger tree.
However, there is some disadvantage of a chainsaw with a long bar. What are the disadvantages?
To wrap it up in a few sentences, a big chainsaw is heavy, extremely difficult to handle, not easy to maneuver, and obviously more expensive. What needs to be understood that for every task, a different sized chainsaw is needed, and depending on the task you need it for we will help you figure out the perfect size chainsaw for you.
Now enough wondering about what size chainsaw do I need, let’s find the best chainsaw size that meets your requirement while you stay under the budget.
What Size Chainsaw Do I Need?
In this guide, we will be exploring the different factors that will help you determine the chainsaw size that you need.
Factor 1: What Type of Work Do You Need It For?
This is the most important factor, and the type of use you need a chainsaw for will lead you to the right purchasing decision. For instance, if you are someone who needs a chainsaw for home-usage then a light-duty chainsaw for pruning or trimming branches will be ideal.
A chainsaw with a 14-inches bar will be more than enough. However, if you feel that the type of work you need a chainsaw for is medium-duty like felling a smaller tree.
Then a chainsaw with a 16 to 20 inches bar would be a considerably better option to deviate towards. Also, if the tasks are neither light nor medium-duty, and fall at high-duty proximity then a chainsaw with 22-inches will be a better pick for you.
Factor 2: Your Experience with a Chainsaw
Another major factor that will answer your question about what size chainsaw do I need, is the experience you have with a chainsaw. Taking into consideration your experience handling a chainsaw is imperative because we all know that a chainsaw is an extremely dangerous power tool.
Therefore, using a chainsaw that is very huge, heavy, and powerful can dramatically increase the chances of unwanted accidents. A smaller chainsaw is recommended for beginners that are comparatively less powerful than huge chainsaws, easy to operate and the chances of any unfortunate accidents are also decreased.
Factor 3: Diameter of the Wood
The diameter of the wood is an important factor to consider as well because one of the guidelines of using a chainsaw is to have a chainsaw with a bar that is at least 2-inches longer than the diameter of the wood you will be cutting. To explain it a bit further, let’s assume that you need to cut a tree that has a diameter of 16-inches. In this scenario, a chainsaw with a bar size of 18-inches would be ideal.
It is to be taken into account that a chainsaw size with a smaller bar than the diameter of the wood can be used by cutting it from both sides.
However, it is still way more practical to cut in one-go than to use a chainsaw with a smaller bar that is less powerful and will take up more time than usual. A chainsaw is supposed to make things easy, not difficult don’t you agree?
Factor 4: The Type of Chainsaw
When it comes to the type of chainsaw you should go for, it all depends on your personal preference and of course the task you need the chainsaw for. There are two types of chainsaws. Let’s look at them:
Electrically Powered Chainsaw
Now electrically powered chainsaws come in two further types: corded and cordless. Depending on the task you need the chainsaw for, you can determine the type you should opt for. The electrically powered corded chainsaw comes with powerful engines and is capable of handling most heavy-duty tasks.
While, cordless chainsaws are good for light-duty tasks as they are battery-powered, and needs to be recharged once the battery runs out.
The good thing about electrically powered chainsaws is that they require very little maintenance, lightweight, easy to operate, and less noisy. When it comes to sizes, an electrically powered chainsaw usually comes in at 8 to 18 inches bar length which makes them ideal for construction work, pruning, trimming, firewood cutting, and bucking.
The engine size ranges from 9 to 15 amp. If the task you need the chainsaw for falls under light to moderate work then an electrically powered chainsaw would be perfect.
Gas Powered Chainsaw
When it comes to gas-powered chainsaws, they are more powerful than electrically powered chainsaws and they are offered in a variety of sizes you can choose from. The 2-cycle engine needs a mixture of gas and fuel to run and needs a little maintenance from time to time.
Since the engine power is high the sizes available can boast up to 5 feet of bar length. Therefore, gas-powered chainsaws are ideal for high-duty tasks whether they are for construction work or home improvement projects.
Factor 5: The Guide Bar Length
The last and also the most important factor is the guide bar’s length. Keeping in mind that the engine power is what determines the bar and chain length. The longer the bar and chain, the more engine powered is needed which means the chainsaw will be heavier with a dramatic increase in vibration.
In the end, after considering all the above factors given above, the answer to what size chainsaw do I need would be making a sound decision based on the task you need the chainsaw for and what you prefer.
As a general rule of thumb, the guide bar length should be 2 inches than the diameter of the wood, the power of the engine will be equal to the bar and chain length. All you will have to do is decide whether you can go for an electrically or gas-powered chainsaw, and what is your experience with a chainsaw.
The Final Conclusion
By now you must have found your answer to what size chainsaw do I need. We hope that this guide was informative and was able to help you figure out the size of chainsaw you should consider buying.
There is a chainsaw for every task, the bigger the task the bigger chainsaw, and the smaller the task the smaller the chainsaw. Now that you have all the information you need about the size and type of chainsaw you need, all you have to do is hunt for the perfect chainsaw for yourself.
