When talking about household essentials, a chainsaw wouldn’t be the first thing to cross your mind. A huge piece of machinery designed to cut through almost anything is not something most households consider a necessity. Owning a chainsaw, however, makes life more convenient, especially if you are fond of cutting your own firewood or having DIY projects around the house. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when choosing which chainsaw to buy. What do you need the chainsaw for? What size is right for you? Which model should you go for? Worry not! We have compiled a list of all the important information you need to know about owning a chainsaw.
What Do You Need The Chainsaw For?
If you are thinking of buying a chainsaw, obviously the need for one has arisen, but it is pertinent to know what you need the machine for. Do you need it for some light yard work or trimming the shrubbery in your garden? Or do you plan on felling trees in your backyard and sourcing your own firewood? A chainsaw packs a lot of power and can be powered by batteries, fuel, or gas. Gas-operated ones are more suited for heavy-duty work, whereas electric-powered ones can be used to cut smaller branches and trees. When it comes to picking out the right one, size also matters; the guide bar can cut through something twice its length. Once you have figured out why you need the chainsaw, it is very easy to pick the right machine for you.
How Experienced Are You?
The next thing to consider when choosing a chainsaw is how skilled you are at using one. If you have never used a chainsaw before, it is probably best to choose one that isn’t very heavy and can be used for cutting small things around the house. The most important thing is to be able to control the machine, and the heavier the chainsaw and the longer the length of the blade, the harder it is to maneuver. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, it is extremely essential to ensure that your machine is well oiled and tightened and that you are using protective gear like safety goggles, gloves, and chaps for chainsaws to protect yourself from any accidents that may occur. The only thing you don’t want to happen is an accident that involves chainsaws.
How Often Will You Use The Machine?
Once again, to determine what chainsaw is right for you, you need to know how often you will be using the machine and determine which model and make to go for. If you plan on using your chainsaw every week or every other week, a battery-powered chainsaw will provide approximately an hour of running time between charges; useful for regular maintenance. If you plan on accumulating work till the end of the season then a gas-powered chainsaw might be better than it can run on for hours on just one tank of gas.
Where Do You Live?
To say that chainsaws are noisy machines would be an understatement at the very least. The sound of the motor and the blade cutting through wood creates a lot of noise pollution. If you have a large property with no neighbors around, then it doesn’t matter if the chainsaw is noisy or not. If you live in suburbs, however, you have to take into consideration that other people might be disturbed then this can cause a problem. Some chainsaw models are quieter than others, but may not be powerful enough to go through hard and thick woods; the battery-powered ones are usually quieter than the ones that run on gas, so you can choose which one to buy based on the level of power and noise they produce.
Buying a chainsaw is a huge monetary investment. These machines do not come cheap and require regular maintenance to function properly at full capacity. The risks associated with operating a chainsaw that is not well maintained or using a chainsaw when you are not fully prepared or equipped can be life-threatening. This is why it is important to do your research and be fully prepared about the dangers and the dos and don’ts of using a chainsaw before you go out to buy one.
If you feel that your need for a chainsaw will not be recurring, you probably don’t need to own one, and it is better to hire a professional cutter or lumberjack to take care of the issue rather than tackle it yourself.