Modern chainsaws are very powerful, high-performance tools that, if handled correctly, will become an indispensable assistant in gardening, construction, and logging work. Many models of units have been designed to solve problems of varying complexity. The simplest saws are used for small home and garden work, while the best tools are used for large-scale construction or industrial projects.
Advantages of a chainsaw compared to an electric saw
Choosing a hand-held power tool always comes down to the question of what type of motor to prefer: electric or gasoline. Electric saws are compact, safer and easier to operate. However, units equipped with fuel engines have several important advantages:
- good maneuverability;
- high torque and motor power;
- high productivity;
- maintaining functionality in difficult weather conditions.
If electric saws are more often used for work on personal plots, then gasoline units cope with larger-scale tasks. They are preferred by professionals: arborists and foresters, tree carvers, builders, etc.
What to look for when choosing a chainsaw
When choosing a chainsaw, it is important to consider many characteristics. First of all, the range of tasks that the tool will solve is determined.Then they study power and performance parameters, main and auxiliary functions, and security level.
Class
Depending on the operational characteristics, there are 3 classes of chainsaws: household, semi-professional, professional. The choice of a unit of one type or another is made based on an assessment of the complexity of the work and the conditions in which it is planned to be used.
Household
Amateur or household chainsaws are characterized by low power (up to 2 kW), small size, and good maneuverability. They are used to perform a wide range of household work: cutting branches, sawing wooden blocks, preparing firewood, etc. During prolonged use, their engine gets very hot, so you need to take a break every 15-20 minutes.
Semi-professional
Tools of this type have average power (up to 2.94 kW) and good performance. They are used by gardeners and farmers for felling trees, cutting branches, sawing boards, etc. The recommended duration of their operation is up to 1 hour continuously and up to 4 hours a day.
Professional
The professional class includes high-power units (up to 6 kW). Such chain saws are used in large construction and logging work. Maintain functionality in difficult weather conditions. The duration of continuous operation is 8 hours.
Purpose
A gas-powered saw is designed for processing wood, most often for felling trees, cross-cutting trunks, and cutting branches. Depending on the operational characteristics, it solves problems that are conventionally divided by degree of complexity.
Tree felling and timber harvesting
Felling trees and cutting branches is the main task of a chainsaw. As a rule, semi-professional and professional units made of durable materials are used for this purpose. They are suitable for use in difficult weather conditions and have a long cycle of continuous operation.
Work with trunks and branches with a diameter of up to 450 mm
Most models are designed for felling and sawing trees and branches of small diameter. This ability is largely determined by the power and volume of the motor and the length of the guide bar.
Construction
Chainsaws used in construction are made from the most durable and wear-resistant materials. They have long guide bars and durable chains, allowing for high-precision and deep cuts. Capable of sawing both soft and hard wood.
Power
The higher the power of the chain power unit, the greater the cutting speed and cutting depth. Therefore, gas-powered saws of each class correspond to certain power indicators:
- household: less than 2000 W;
- semi-professional: from 740 to 2940 W;
- professional: from 2940 to 6000 W.
When working with high-power units, the operator has to make additional efforts. It is difficult to control such a tool due to its heavy weight and cutting speed. Good skills in using power equipment and impeccable knowledge of safety rules are required.
Dimensions and weight
Depending on their purpose, gas-powered saws have different weights. For example, household units weigh from 2 to 5 kg, semi-professional – from 5 to 7 kg, professional – from 7 to 11 kg.
It is believed that a good power unit cuts wood under its own weight, using gravity. The operator only directs it and controls the fuel supply. When bucking logs, using a heavier tool allows you to get less tired, because the user exerts less effort.
The dimensions of the body part can also vary: on average, its length ranges from 50 to 85 cm, and its width from 20 to 36 cm. This characteristic has little effect on the process and quality of sawing, and largely determines the ease of use of the tool.
Noise level
One of the main disadvantages of chainsaws is the high noise level during operation. On average it is 106 dB, which is unacceptable from a medical point of view. Prolonged exposure to loud, continuous sound leads to increased fatigue, hearing loss, and headaches.
Some manufacturers integrate dampers into the body that partially absorb vibrations, but this is not enough. You can reduce the harmful effects of noise by using special headphones.
Saw set
The chainsaw set includes a guide bar and a chain, which bear the main load during operation. The speed and accuracy of the cut depends on the quality and condition of these elements.
Tires are usually classified by type of construction:
- Narrow with a wide end. Thanks to this shape, they minimize the risk of kickback when inserting the headset into the cut. Household units are equipped with similar tires.
- Lightweight. They are made of 2 thin steel plates, the space between which is filled with polyamide.This allows you to reduce the overall weight of the saw and increase its maneuverability, which makes it possible to work in special conditions (at height).
- Tires with removable heads. Unlike all-metal ones, such saw blades are easier to repair if the sprocket is damaged. They are used for professional units.
Tires are also distinguished by length, which must be consistent with the engine power rating. Too large a blade will not be able to realize its potential and make a deep enough cut if the tool is equipped with a weak engine.
The quality of the cut is also affected by the performance characteristics of the chain, primarily the pitch size - half the distance between the nearest shanks of the links.
Additional functions
In addition to the basic ones, a chainsaw is often equipped with auxiliary functions that improve its service life, controllability, and safety. For example, important additions include a quick start mechanism, carburetor heating in cold weather, vibration damping, etc.
Easy start device
Some chainsaw models are equipped with a starter with an "easy start" mechanism. The design of such a unit includes return springs that accumulate energy when the cord is pulled and release it at a critical moment, transferring it to the engine shaft. Due to the generated impulse, a person applies less effort when starting the tool.
Kickback protection + Inertial brake
When the blade of a running chainsaw comes into contact with wood, a kickback may occur - a sharp rebound of the tool towards the operator. This situation often occurs when there are malfunctions in the mechanism, weak tension or jamming of the chain.Kickback is considered the most dangerous phenomenon during saw operation, because... leads to serious injury.
To prevent kickback, the tool is equipped with a quick chain stop mechanism. The unit consists of an inertial braking device, the drive function of which is performed by a special lever located on the left side of the housing. Under the influence of inertia, it moves and activates the brake. If necessary, the operator can independently press the lever.
Anti-vibration system
Chainsaws produce vibration generated by the dynamic forces of the engine and the interaction between the machine and the wood being processed. Vibrations are transmitted to the operator’s hands and joints, gradually destroying internal tissues. With prolonged and regular use of a chainsaw, pathological processes develop in the body, which are collectively called vibration disease.
To reduce the risk of developing pathological conditions, manufacturers equip chain saws with dampers - soft rubber gaskets between the main structure and the handle system. These elements absorb up to 90% of vibrations depending on the material used.
Heated grip
During the cold season, the handle of the chain saw may become icy, which increases the risk of the tool slipping and creating a hazardous situation. Therefore, sometimes manufacturers equip the design with a heating system consisting of thin film heat-generating elements connected to the generator via a switch.
Additional filters
Chainsaws are equipped with an air filter that prevents dust and dirt from entering the internal combustion chamber of the engine. Otherwise, engine power decreases and fuel mixture consumption increases.To improve the quality of filtration, many manufacturers supplement the mechanism with a fine cleaning device.
