Chainsaws

Chainsaw types

Each type of chainsaw has advantages and drawbacks, so if you cut a lot of wood, you may end up with two or three saws for different situations. Experts urge using an electric chainsaw if you can, because this type is quieter, lighter, easier to use and maintain, and you don't have to deal with gas fueling, fumes or pollution. Electric chainsaws are the only type that can be used safely indoors -- for carving, for example -- and electric models vibrate less than gas models. On the other hand, you can't use an electric chainsaw in wet weather or more than 150 feet from an outlet (only 100 feet for most models).

Gas chainsaws cut faster in general, and you can use one anywhere outside, even in the rain or snow. But they're heavier and require more maintenance. They use loud 2-cycle motors that emit fumes and require mixing oil with the gasoline. And you have to store the gasoline and make sure it's fresh or mixed with fuel additive. You may even have to drain the gasoline from the chainsaw between uses to keep it from gunking up the carburetor.

Cordless chainsaws are by far the quietest, and they're the lightest and easiest to use perched up in a tree (though experts recommend using a chainsaw only with both feet on the ground). Reviews say cordless chainsaws are great for pruning and for limbing small branches, and some owners say they're happy cutting all their firewood with a cordless model. For most users, though, a cordless chainsaw is a pleasant addition rather than the primary logging saw.

For comparison purposes, the weight of a chainsaw is nearly always specified just for the power head, because the guide bar (the long metal frame that guides the chain) and chain (similar to a bicycle chain with a small sharp blade or tooth on each link) are removable. You can equip most chainsaws with bars of various lengths to suit the size wood you usually cut, but most saws balance best with a certain length. The bar and chain usually add another 1.5 to two pounds, and adding about a pint of gasoline will add another pound to a gas chainsaw.

For very light work, as with a cordless chainsaw, experts recommend a bar of 14 inches or less. But for most uses (unless you're a pro), a midsize chainsaw with a bar 14 to 20 inches long is best. It's safest to use a bar longer than the wood you cut, but not so much longer that the tip is apt to bump the ground or another branch.

Gas chainsaws

Among gas chainsaws, reviews rank Stihl and Husqvarna models at the top, while Echo and Solo chainsaws also get good marks. As a budget choice, the Homelite Ranger UT10532 (*est. $130) gets high ratings from owners reviewing it at HomeDepot.com. One owner says it still starts easily after ten years of use, and several owners say they use the Homelite chainsaw regularly to cut firewood. It's powered by a 33cc engine.

For the price, this Homelite chainsaw offers excellent features, including automatic chain oiling and a relatively low weight of 9.7 pounds (without the 16-inch bar). Safety features include an anti-vibration handle, an anti-kickback blade tip, plus an inertia chain brake -- meaning that it not only works manually, but also with a sensor that stops the blade as kickback starts. The price includes a case, and the warranty is for two years.

For faster cutting speed plus some convenience features, reviews recommend the Stihl MS 180 C-BE chainsaw (*est. $250). It uses a 32cc engine, but tests show that it cuts faster than the Homelite saw. Reviewing chainsaws for The Wall Street Journal, Gwendolyn Bounds finds the Stihl MS 180 C-BE easiest to start compared with Husqvarna, Craftsman and Echo chainsaws.

The 14-inch bar on the Stihl MS 180 C-BE lacks a tip guard, but tapers at the end to help prevent kickback. (This chainsaw can also be equipped with bars 12 or 16 inches long, but balances best with the 14-inch.) Chain adjustment is tool-free, and bucking spikes on the front of the saw hold a log in place during a cut -- especially convenient for cutting firewood. Though gas chainsaws size the chain-oil tank to leave a reserve when the gasoline runs out, reviews say it's still convenient to be able to check the oil level easily with a translucent tank like the one on this Stihl chainsaw.

Tests also show that the Stihl MS 180 C-BE cuts faster than the more expensive 36cc Echo CS-370 (*est. $270). The Echo chainsaw does have an anti-kickback bar tip, plus a five-year warranty -- four years longer than most. The Echo CS-370 doesn't provide tool-free chain tensioning, but positions the chain-adjustment screws on the side, where reviews say it's most convenient. Auto-oiling is adjustable, and air filter maintenance is minimized by tool-free access plus an air pre-cleaner.

The top consumer-level Stihl gas chainsaw is the 45.4cc Stihl MS 250 C-BE (*est. $360), which balances best with a 16-inch bar. It's the top choice in 2004 comparison tests at Popular Mechanics, where editors say it's the easiest to maintain out in the field, though hard to start. This review also praises the fuel and oil cap design of the Stihl chainsaw. This is more important than it might seem, because owners reviewing chainsaws say oil leaks are quite annoying. The Stihl MS 250 C-BE is also the best gas chainsaw according to Consumers Digest, but this review seems based more on features than testing.

The 18-inch blade on the Stihl MS 250 C-BE doesn't taper at the tip to prevent kickback. This proves important, because comparison tests show that it does kick back more than safer models. Given its extra power, this makes the Stihl MS 250 C-BE more dangerous than either the Homelite or the Stihl MS 180 C-BE chainsaws.

If light weight matters more than fast cutting, reviews recommend the 30.1cc Echo CS-305-14, now the CS-306 (*est. $200), which weighs only 7.5 pounds, or nine pounds with a 14-inch bar. The bar has an anti-kickback guard, and the Echo chainsaw includes an inertia chain brake, auto-oiler, bumper spikes and an anti-vibration handle. The chain adjustment isn't tool-free, but it's the side-access type that reviewers prefer.

Electric chainsaws

If you can do your cutting within 100 feet of an AC outlet (or 150 feet on a few models), reviews recommend electric chainsaws. They're quieter and vibrate less than gas chainsaws, and though they cut more slowly, electric chainsaws are less trouble to start and use. You avoid the hassles involved with starting, fueling and maintaining a gas chainsaw. And even taking into account the air pollution created by the power plants that make the electricity, electric chainsaws pollute less than gas chainsaws.

For occasional use, reviews recommend the 13-amp Craftsman 34118 (*est. $120) electric chainsaw, made by Poulan and nearly identical to the Poulan Pro 400E CRBB (*est. $120). The only difference seems to be that the Craftsman 34118 provides tool-free chain tension, while you have to use a screwdriver to adjust the chain on the Poulan Pro 400E. However, the review at Tools of the Trade says that tool-free tension adjustment is a mixed blessing (on any chainsaw) because the mechanism tends to get clogged with oil and sawdust.

Under either brand, two comparison reviews say this electric chainsaw is an excellent buy for homeowners. The 18-inch blade tapers at the front end to help prevent kickback, and under both brands the saw automatically oils the chain. Tests at Tools of the Trade, where this saw is the budget pick, show that the double-acting chain brake activates when anything pushes the handle against part of the user's body, but also by inertia -- sensing when kickback starts. Owners reviewing the Craftsman 34118 at Sears.com, and the equivalent Poulan Pro 400E at Amazon.com, give this chainsaw excellent reviews. The major drawback is that under neither brand do you get an anti-vibration handle.

For more frequent use -- for cutting one's own firewood, for example -- anti-vibration handles are important. Reviews recommend moving up to either the 13-amp Husqvarna 316 (*est. $230) or the Makita UC4000 (*est. $200) . Owners also give both chainsaws top marks, saying they can fell and buck quite large trees. Both chainsaws come with a 16-inch bar and use an in-line design that mounts the engine behind the bar. This makes them not only much quieter than most chainsaws, but easier to handle as well, since you don't fight a sideways torque. Tests at Tools of the Trade confirm that the brake on both chainsaws works well by inertia.

The review at Noise Pollution Clearinghouse (NPC) finds the Husqvarna 316 the quietest of all 13 corded chainsaws tested there. Tests at one comparison review find the Husqvarna faster, too, and it's about a pound lighter than the Makita UC4000. However, the Makita has bucking spikes – enabling the bar to be levered into a cut, and useful for cutting logs to firewood lengths -- and the NPC review ranks the Makita UC4000 slightly higher for cutting quality. Unless you need the bucking spikes, however, the Husqvarna is the most-recommended chainsaw in this price range.

Reviews say you'd only need a more powerful chainsaw for day-in, day-out cutting. Tools of the Trade, reviewing powerful electric chainsaws for construction work, gives top ranking to the Stihl MSE 180 C-BQ (*est. $390). The review praises its coast-down brake that stops the chain within a second after the trigger is released, and tests find that the inertia brake works well too. A review at Mother Earth News also recommends this Stihl chainsaw, saying it's as powerful as a midsize gas model. As noted earlier in discussing gas chainsaws, however, the Stihl electric chainsaws come in for some criticism for their bar design. Unlike the less expensive electric chainsaws discussed above, Stihl chainsaws use a bar that doesn't narrow at the tip to help prevent kickback. Comparison tests show there is indeed more risk of kickback with the Stihl MSE 180 C-BQ.

This is also true of the 11.7-amp Stihl MSE 140 C-BQ (*est. $330), but the lower amperage and built-in circuit breaker give this chainsaw a 150-foot range (provided you use a 10-gauge cord). That’s a lot more useful than the 100-foot cord limit for most electric chainsaws. The overload protection is important, since pushing a nearly 12-amp chainsaw beyond its limit can otherwise burn out the motor.

The Craftsman 358-34104 (*est. $50) is a very basic electric chainsaw, with manual oiling and no chain brake or overload protection. Comparison tests rank it near the bottom, but say it cuts faster than the less powerful Remington M15014AS (*est. $55) . Both chainsaws come with 14-inch bars. The Remington is a pound lighter (at seven pounds) and does have bucking spikes for cutting firewood to length. However, owners reviewing a similar Remington electric chainsaw at Amazon.com complain that the chain keeps losing tension and slipping off. The Craftsman budget chainsaw also gets mixed reviews, with some complaints about durability.

Cordless chainsaws

Cordless chainsaws are worth considering if you want a relatively quiet, small chainsaw for pruning or cutting small branches. The 4.5- to 10-inch bars on cordless chainsaws make them easier to maneuver among crowded branches, and though the battery adds some bulk, there's no cord to drag. Corded electric chainsaws are about twice as loud as cordless chainsaws -- 90 to 100 decibels or more at the user's ear, compared to 85 and under. Most experts still recommend using hearing protection even when using a cordless chainsaw, but bystanders and neighbors will find cordless models much more pleasant.

We found reviews of Makita and Ryobi cordless chainsaws, as well as reviews of cordless models by Black & Decker and Neuton. Unfortunately, all but one review covers just one model at a time, so we lack head-to-head tests of all four models. However, the available reviews do provide plenty of information about size, features and capability, based on actual use.

Several reviews recommend the 18-volt Ryobi P540 cordless chainsaw (*est. $60 without battery) which is part of the 18-volt One+ System of tools. It comes with a 10-inch bar, the biggest among the cordless models, and the only bar with an anti-kickback tip. Reviews say the Ryobi is slow, like all cordless chainsaws, but can accomplish a lot in its one-hour runtime with the standard NiCad battery. The standard battery comes in the Ryobi P101 two-pack (*est. $40), with the Ryobi P110 charger sold separately (*est. $25). The chainsaw is an especially good buy if you use several 18-volt cordless Ryobi tools which share the same batteries.

Runtime and battery life are major issues, as with any cordless power tool. That gives the Ryobi cordless chainsaw an advantage, since Ryobi now makes lithium batteries that can be used with any of their 18-volt tools. Lithium batteries are smaller, lighter, and offer other big advantages. The high initial cost is offset by longer life, since they last through many more recharging cycles. They're considered the most environmentally-friendly type, and provide full power to the tool until they're fully discharged. Perhaps most important for homeowners, lithium batteries hold their charge much better in storage than do NiCad or NiMH batteries -- so the chainsaw is ready to go after weeks or even months.

Ryobi promises a lithium upgrade kit with two batteries and charger (*est. $100), but it's hard to find at this time. Ryobi says its new lithium batteries provide twice the runtime, which would allow you to run the chainsaw two hours between charges. But the company is introducing the new lithium system slowly, starting with the four-piece Ryobi P843 combo kit (*est. $300) which does not include the chainsaw. It's hard to find the lithium batteries and charger sold separately at this time.

Unless you plan to use several cordless tools in the vast Ryobi One+ or lithium series, other cordless chainsaws are better buys and weigh less. The 18-volt Black & Decker CCS818 (*est. $90) comes with an 8-inch bar. The bar doesn't have an anti-kickback safety tip, and the saw is bulky, but it weighs about two pounds less than the Ryobi. Black & Decker doesn't specify the amp-hours on its battery, but claims the chainsaw can cut up to 150 2x4s per charge. One of the 70 owners praising it at Amazon.com says it can fell and cut up two average trees that are five to seven inches in diameter at the base. The Black & Decker cordless chainsaw also gets top ratings in a single-product review at the Healthy House Institute.

If a smaller 4.5-inch bar is big enough, tests at the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse recommend the 18-volt Neuton 16366 cordless chainsaw pruner (*est. $100). The more expensive 12-volt Makita UC120DWD (*est. $230) is quieter but less powerful. At full load, the operator gets about 79 decibels while using the Makita compared to 83 decibels on the Neuton. However, the Neuton uses NiCad batteries of only 1.7 amp-hours, with a runtime per charge of about 30 minutes. Makita's higher price brings NiMH batteries, considered more environmentally-friendly, with longer runtimes of 2.6 amp-hours. (Makita claims that it cuts up to 93 pieces of 1.75-inch hard wood before the battery needs recharging.) One owner reviewing it at Amazon.com (where it gets near-perfect ratings) says it cuts for about an hour at a time.

The Makita chainsaw has two other advantages that might justify considering it: an electric blade brake and the lightest weight. The blade brake stops the chain when the trigger is released -- a good safety feature even on such a small saw -- though it's a "dead man brake," not an anti-kickback brake. And the Makita weighs only 4.8 pounds, compared with 6.2 pounds for the Black & Decker, 7.7 pounds for the Neuton and 8.7 pounds for the Ryobi. Overall, the 18-volt Black & Decker cordless chainsaw looks like a good budget pick, with the Makita offering superior features.

Important Features: Chainsaws

Reviews say that a scabbard is important for covering the chain when the saw isn't in use. However, this is an inexpensive accessory, so whether or not a saw comes equipped with a scabbard shouldn't be a big factor in your choice.

The chain-oil tanks on gas chainsaws are designed so you still have oil left when you've used up the gasoline, but of course an electric chainsaw never needs refueling. Most electric chainsaws come with windows or translucent oil tanks so you can check the level easily.

Thanks to voluntary standards agreed upon by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), most consumer-level chainsaws come with basic anti-kickback features. These include an anti-kickback chain, a chain catcher (to keep a broken chain from flying back at the user) and a C-shaped rear handle that protects the rear hand.

Most chainsaws also come with a wrap-around front handle to adjust the grip and balance to the individual user. A lock-out trigger prevents accidental startups. Other features vary; experts recommend considering the following as important:

• A trigger lock with a "dead man" feature is safest, stopping the blade whenever the user stops pressing the trigger. The trigger lock or "lockout" keeps someone from starting the blade accidentally.

• Anti-kickback chains are the best type unless you're a professional; most consumer-level chainsaws come equipped with one. We found a few complaints about them from owners already used to other chains that cut more aggressively and need less frequent sharpening. However, anti-kickback chains are much safer.

• Chain brakes that activate by inertia are safest. These are sometimes called double-acting chain brakes, because they can be activated in two ways. If the user's hand loses its grip on the front handle, the hand guard protects the hand from moving toward the bar and chain. The hand guard also serves as a manual chain brake, and if the saw kicks back, the force can bump the guard into the hand, stopping the chain. The safest chain brakes also have inertia sensors that stop the chain earlier and automatically, by sensing the rotation typical of kickback.

• Anti-vibration handles help prevent discomfort and long-term hand injuries. Made with metal springs and/or rubber bushings that separate the handle from the vibrating engine and chain, an anti-vibration handle buffers the handle from the vibration. This is important for anyone who uses a chainsaw for more than occasional use in short sessions, since vibration can cause irreversible chronic pain and numbness in the hand and wrist.

• Side-mounted or tool-free chain tensioning is convenient. Reviews say it's easier to see what you're doing with side-mounted chain-tensioning screws than when the screws are mounted at the rear. Most reviews praise tool-free chain tensioning (with knobs at the side), but the Tools of the Trade review finds that the tensioning wheels easily get clogged with sawdust and oil -- making screwdriver adjustment more reliable.

• For a gas chainsaw, look for a primer bulb and decompression valve. Reviews say these make starting much easier. Spring-assisted starters get more mixed reviews. Gas chainsaws aren't made with electric starters, presumably because it would make them heavier.

• "CARB" (California Air Resources Board) or "50-state" gas chainsaws pollute less. All 2-cycle gasoline engines cause air pollution and emit toxic fumes, but if a gas chainsaw can't be sold in California, that's a clue that its emissions are especially high.

• A built-in circuit breaker protects an electric chainsaw motor. This is especially important if you'll be tempted to push an electric chainsaw beyond its normal capabilities, which can burn out the motor.

• For an electric chainsaw, use a heavy-gauge weatherproof extension cord no longer than required. The longer the cord, the more voltage drops. Most electric chainsaws should be used with a cord no longer than 100 feet, but at 12 amps or under, the range extends to 150 feet. A 10- to 12-gauge cord is best, and a ground-fault-circuit-interrupter (GFCI) cord adds a margin of safety.

• Budget for protective gear. Reviews say this can cost more than the chainsaw itself (but far less than a trip to the emergency room). Hearing protection, goggles and Kevlar (heat and cut resistant) gloves are the minimum, but reviews strongly recommend a hard hat, Kevlar jacket and chaps, plus safety boots -- not just with steel toes, but with Kevlar behind the toes where chainsaws often cut. Chainsaws cause nearly as many cuts on legs as on hands, so the leg chaps are important.

Chainsaw safety

The bigger and more powerful the chainsaw, the more potential there is for danger. But the sharp teeth on even a small saw are moving at 40 to 60 miles per hour, pretty close to the user's arteries.

The average chainsaw cut requires 110 stitches. It's better to buy a less expensive chainsaw and have money left over for safety gear than to blow your whole budget on the saw alone. Chainsaw safety features are great, but most are designed to prevent injuries from kickback, when the saw tip catches on something. Studies show that most new consumer-level chainsaws do indeed minimize kickback, but statistics say that only about a fourth of all chainsaw injuries are caused by kickback. And with more inexperienced users buying chainsaws, injuries are actually rising.

In addition to minimizing your risk with protective clothing and choosing a chainsaw with good safety features, both professionals and owners suggest getting some training. Many dealers provide hands-on instruction in using a chainsaw, and you may also find a chainsaw certification course useful. Unless you've had expert hands-on instruction, experts warn that it's best to restrict your chainsaw use to cutting up trees that are already down. Felling trees is best left to professionals; it's dangerous even for them.

As with any other type of saw, a sharp blade makes all the difference in cutting smoothness and speed. Experts say you can sometimes improve a budget chainsaw by equipping it with a topnotch chain. And you can always improve performance by keeping the teeth sharp. Unless you've had expert training, however, it's best to stay with the blue-labeled type of chain that comes on most consumer-level chainsaws, because it's designed to minimize the risk of kickback.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Gas Chainsaws (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
4	Stihl MiniBoss MS 180 C-BE (*est. $250)	-
3	Husqvarna 350 (*est. $310)	details
2	Husqvarna 455 Rancher (*est. $470)	details
2	Stihl MS250 C-BE (*est. $360)	-
2	Husqvarna 142-E (*est. $240)	-
1 each	Echo CS-370-16, Echo CS-440, Homelite Ranger UT10532, Husqvarna 137, Husqvarna 345, Solo 654-18 (now 643-18), Stihl MS210C
# of Picks	Electric Chainsaws (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Poulan Pro 400E CRBB (same as Craftsman 34118) (*est. $120)	-
5	Husqvarna 316 (*est. $230)	-
3	Ryobi P540 (without battery) (*est. $60)	-
2	Stihl MSE 180 C-BQ (*est. $390)	-
2	Makita UC4000 (*est. $200)	details
2	Black & Decker CCS818 (*est. $90)	details
2	Craftsman 34116 and 34107, now 34117 (*est. $100)	-
1 each	Neuton 18-volt cordless, Craftsman 34104, Stihl MSE 140 C-BQ, Stihl MSE 220

Reviews pick several Stihl and Husqvarna models as the best gas chainsaws. Among electric chainsaws, two models get the most recommendations. The Poulan Pro 400E CRBB is essentially identical to the Craftsman 34118, but the Craftsman offers tool-free chain adjustment. Reviews say the Husqvarna 316 cuts faster than the Craftsman saw, however.

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