Chainsaws: Reviews

Popular Mechanics' reviewers say the Poulan Pro PP3516AVX "offers a lot of cutting speed and power for such an inexpensive saw." It features an anti-vibration system to improve comfort and has tool-free chain tensioning… and auto chain oiling. Safety-wise, the budget chainsaw has an anti-kickback bar and an inertia chain brake that stops the chain if it senses kickback. Homeowners are happy with this budget chainsaw for yard cleanup and cutting personal firewood, but there are some reports of stalls and a bit of criticism regarding build quality. The Poulan chainsaw comes with a two-year warranty.

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If you don't want to deal with storing and using gasoline, and if you can do your work within 100 feet of an outlet, critics recommend an electric chainsaw. The Craftsman 34118 costs less than most electric chainsaws; it… features tool-free tension adjustment, an inertia chain brake and automatic chain oiling. However, there's no anti-vibration handle, and it can get tiring to use for big jobs. User reviews for this saw are overwhelmingly positive. Note that this Craftsman saw is made by Poulan for Craftsman and is nearly identical to the Poulan Pro 400E CRBB (*Est. $85), which lacks the Craftsman's tool-free chain tensioning. The Craftsman chainsaw has a one-year warranty.

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If you need a chainsaw for a big home project or for lots of firewood, you need a more powerful saw that's less fatiguing to use. In this price class, reviewers rate the Husqvarna 240 e-series highly. It combines easy… startup and good safety features with automatic oiling, tool-free chain adjustment, and an anti-vibration handle, which helps minimize hand fatigue. The Husqvarna 240 e-series comes with a two-year warranty.

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For quieter performance and less maintenance, experts recommend an electric chainsaw -- but you'll have to do your cutting within 100 feet of an outlet. For regular use cutting firewood, reviews recommend the Husqvarna… 316E; its in-line design makes it the quietest corded electric chainsaw we saw tested, and it cuts quickly for an electric chainsaw. Safety features include an automatic chain brake and anti-vibration handle. The warranty is for two years.

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Owners say the Black & Decker CCS818 provides reasonable runtime per battery charge. Like all cordless chainsaws, it's less powerful but quieter than other types. The Black & Decker saw's 6.2-pound weight and 8-inch bar… make it easy to maneuver for pruning and cutting small branches, and it's more appropriate for trimming trees than for cutting firewood. The Black & Decker CCS818 carries a two-year warranty. If you plan to do more than light pruning with an electric saw, you'll want to go with an electric- or gas-powered chainsaw.

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