Chainsaw Usage For Around Your Home

Admittedly, not every household has a need for a chainsaw. But when you buy a house that has a lot of trees in the yard, it will probably take about as long as the first winter before you're wondering: Do I need a chainsaw? And, if I do, what kind should I buy?

Chainsaws are helpful for cutting large limbs, whether they have fallen out of your tree or need to be cut from the tree. A chainsaw can help you turn a large limb into a manageable pile of brush, and it can make short work of any wood you plan to use in your fireplace come winter.

It's probably not absolutely necessary for most people to go out and buy chainsaws. If you have an acreage with a lot of trees or cut your own firewood, though, a chainsaw is essential.

As with many things, the chainsaw you need will depend on the type of work you expect to be doing with it. If you're simply trimming up deadfall and maybe cutting some firewood, a small, electric, light-duty chainsaw will work just fine for you. On the other hand, if you're planning to be your own tree doctor or are thinking about removing an entire tree on your own (not that I recommend that) you'll want more of a professional quality model.

Chainsaws come in both electric and gasoline-powered models. The electric chainsaws are much lighter and tend to be less expensive than the gas-powered ones, which makes them perfect for at-home use. Of course you can't really take an electric chainsaw out into the woods with you, so if you have a lot of land or many big cutting projects, a gasoline-powered chainsaw is the tool for you.

What Size Chainsaw Do You Need

The size of the chain itself is another consideration. Most chainsaws made for household use have a “chain pitch” of a quarter of an inch. Chain pitch refers to the space between the teeth on the [chainsaw]. Quarter-inch pitch is fine for light household work, but if you are doing heavier work consider buying a chainsaw with a three-eights of an inch chain pitch. This makes the chainsaw just a little more powerful, giving cleaner cuts. They're also a little easier to sharpen.

The size of the motor is also important because your chainsaw has got to have enough power to cut through the limbs you are wanting to cut. Engines range from about 30ccs to as many as 120ccs on the biggest professional chainsaws. A model ranging from 40 to 50ccs is usually sufficient for the average homeowner’s needs.

The length of the bar that holds the chains may also vary on different chainsaws you look at. A longer bar can handle a bigger job or a larger diameter of branch. Many home-use chainsaws have bars ranging from 10 to 20 inches. The chainsaw’s package should tell you the optimum size of branches that it can cut.

Chainsaw Safety Features

Your chainsaw should have safety features such as a guard, a chain brake and an inertial brake. These safety measures will stop the chainsaw in event of a kickback (or if you drop the chainsaw), making it a lot less likely that you will hurt yourself.

Chainsaws are helpful lawn and garden tools, but they’re also quite dangerous and many people are injured every year by using them improperly or not wearing proper safety equipment. Take a lesson from loggers out in the field: wear a hard hat if there’s any danger of debris falling on your head, wear gloves, eye protection, heavy clothes, ear plugs and strong boots. Always use caution when operating a chainsaw and know how to use it safely. You certainly don’t want to turn a chore into a trip to the emergency room!