Checking chainsaw reviews is a natural thing to do when you are in the market for a new saw.

This article is designed for new users with little experience in chainsaw use and looking for a guide which will direct them in the right direction.

The first thing to consider when buying a chainsaw is whether there is an after sales service available following the purchase. Buying a saw online or a budget model at a discount store is fine but be warned, if there is no course for follow up service then be wary.

Reading chainsaw reviews can help you a lot in tracking down a machine suited for your intended use. They can also leave a prospective buyer feeling a little confused.

Why?

Chainsaw reviews are published with good intentions and are a fantastic resource to be able to turn to particularly online however, unless you really understand anything about chainsaws, then they can present the reader with more questions than when they started to scan the review.

In the chainsaw world lies great loyalty among users; you have Stihl fans and Husqvarna fans. Then there are those who love the Echo brand and others who swear by Poulan models. In the end, a novice is torn many different ways and left confused and bewildered.

Take A First Hand Look

For relative rookie saw users, going to a dealer’s showroom and actually handling a chainsaw is a number one priority. Here are four things you’ll want from a chainsaw:

- Good design

- Good center of gravity

- Strong safety features

- Light and powerful

These are basically standard features on any saw today but unless you have a machine in your hands and give it a quick test run then you are “buying blind.”

So as far as chainsaw reviews are concerned, yes, read them but always see and handle a chainsaw before you buy. If you are still not sure whether it’s the machine for you join a couple of online forums and pose the question…”I’m am a first time chainsaw user etc. etc…”

By mentioning the make and brand of the machine you’re interested in and the level of use you intend for it, you’ll find you’re likely to get a much better level of chainsaw review from other members in their response. And most of them will be very experienced or professional lumberjacks.

By: Dean Caporella

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Getting chores done around your yard or summer cabin can be much easier with the help of a chain saw. But, that’s only true if you keep the chainsaw sharp. A dull chain saw not only slows down the work, but can be a very dangerous tool.

There are a number of different chain saw sharpeners on the market that will automatically sharpen the chain. Professional quality bench sharpeners, enthusiast level chain sharpeners, and handyman sharpeners. Each of these has their advantages and disadvantages, including price, portability, ease of use, and accuracy.

Professional and enthusiast grinders sharpen the chain when it is off the saw. Guides hold the chain in perfect position while adjustments to edge angle and tilt angle are precisely set up. These systems are very fast and accurate, but of course you need to take your saw, or at least the chain, into your local saw sharpening shop.

The simplest, and in many cases the most practical sharpening tool is a simple hand held round file. You can also add a file guide and depth gauge guide to assist you. Consistency is the key to a sharp chain. The same number of strokes on every tooth, and the exact same direction of every stroke will lead to an extremely sharp chain saw.

There are several types of hand file guides. The simplest type attaches to the round file and allows you to watch the markings on the guide so that you maintain a consistent angle every time you stroke the file. Another type of file guide clamps to the bar and controls the movement of the round file over the teeth of the chain.

The round file needs to match the size of your chain. Most common chain saws should be sharpened with either 7/32 inch or 5/16 inch files. Most round files will last forever if you take care of them properly. Wrap them up before dropping them into your toolbox, and don’t use them for picking stones out of the logs.

You can pick up a good depth gauge at most hardware stores. This gauge should be set on top of the chain and used to control how much you need to remove from the guides after each sharpening. After several sharpenings the teeth on your chain will be lower than the guides. You need to take the guide height down to match the height of the teeth on your chain saw.

By: T Bridger

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Price is a big consideration when purchasing a chainsaw especially for a first time or part-time user. Stihl chainsaw prices may scare a few non-professionals off but that’s only because they are looking at the wrong models. One of the biggest mistakes newcomers make is to head for the heavy duty section and look at the biggest and most powerful machines on the market. Why? If you are intending to use it spasmodically then why not consider heading to the other end of the spectrum and looking at the smaller machines.

For use around the home, the smaller machines are extremely effective in fact, don’t let size put you off. For example, Stihl’s new MS 192 C-E model is ideal for the work-at-homer. It features the advanced easy-to-start system and is comfortable for just about anyone to operate.

Comparing Stihl chainsaw prices – at around $300, the MS 192 is ideally priced for someone not really hell bent on making a living with a chainsaw. Compare $300 to over $1500 for the top of the line models and you can quickly get a guage on the difference between between the lightweight and heavyweight models.

Stihl Electric Chainsaws

One of the best pieces of advice a newcomer can get is to compare the electric chainsaws against the noisier, more expensive gas-powered models. The ideal situation is have have both electric and gas-powered but consider how much use you are going to put your new saw to and you may find an electric model under $100 may just be the ticket.

Don’t worry though, while these electric models may be priced low, they have the necessary capability to perform well on minor jobs around the house. If you’re comparing Stihl chainsaw prices, then buying a Stihl electric is stepping up a level again. While you’ll be parting with anything up to four times the price you would for an electric saw at one of the main department stores, the Stihl models such as the MSE 220 are loaded with extra features.

What you need to decide is it could be more cost effective to purchase a good gas-powered model for the price you would outlay to buy the top electric model on the market.

By: Dean Caporella

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When considering a chain saw sharpener you can choose from professional quality, enthusiast level, and handyman sharpeners.

Professional chain saw sharpeners can be mounted on either a wall or a work bench, and will typically sharpen the chain after it is removed from the saw. When selecting a professional quality, bench mounted chain saw sharpener make sure it has at least a one quarter horsepower direct drive motor with large fan and aluminum fins to keep the motor running cool.

Professional chain saw sharpeners usually have easy head angle adjustments. You should look for features that allow precise adjustments to be made quickly and easily so that you can sharpen virtually any kind of chain design.

The sharpener should also have an adjustable vice to grip any chain type. The vice is especially useful if it’s a hydraulic vice. This will automatically lock the chain when the head of your sharpener is lowered, and can reduce the time it takes to sharpen your chain by up to 50%. It is important that the vice will handle an offset of up to 10 degrees so you can maintain the correct corner and leading edge angles on chisel cutters.

You also want a professional chain saw sharpener to have a large diameter cutting wheel. Acceptable grinding wheels are anywhere from 5 inches to 26 inches in diameter. You should ensure that a professional chain saw sharpener comes with several grinding wheels, including 1/8″ 3/16″ and 1/4″ thickness, as well as a wheel gauge wrench, and a dressing brick. The larger the wheel, the less chance you have to get cutter burn on the teeth of the chain.

A cutting length adjuster, and easy-to-read scales for the head angle, also ensure that both left and right cutters are sharpened to equal lengths and angles. Your sharpener should also have a good chain centering feature. High end chain saw sharpeners can be easily adjusted to handle chipper, semi-chisel, and full chisel chains from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch pitch, as well as the 3/4 inch pitch chains.

Enthusiast level chain saw sharpeners will still provide precise sharpening. They should also include the ability to sharpen chipper, semi-chisel, and full chisel chains, including 1/4 inch, 0.325 inch, 3/8 inch, and 0.404 inch pitches. The angle of the vice guide should be able to accommodate cutter angles anywhere from 0 degrees to 35 degrees.

You should look for an easy to adjust chain vice. On an enthusiast sharpener the vice will probably be operated by a cam lever instead of hydraulics. The ability to adjust your cutter links and the grind depth are very important, and as always there should be a transparent safety guard so that you can see where the wheel is grinding. Chain saw sharpeners in this price range typically come with grinding wheels 4 inches in diameter, and run at speeds of 4,000 to 5,000 rpm.

By: T Bridger

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It’s amazing how far chainsaw sharpeners have come in the past few years. It’s still wise to have a trusty round file with you in the woods for touch ups, but one hundred dollars will buy you an excellent electric chainsaw sharpener to mount in your workshop for perfect chain sharpening.

A number of manufacturers now sell electric bench mounted chainsaw sharpeners which allow very accurate settings for the angle of the grinder and the depth of cut. Automatic chain feeds quickly move the chain to the next tooth so all you have to do is lower the grinding head for a second on each cutter. As soon as you raise the grinding wheel from the chain the automatic feeder slides the chain to the next cutting tip and you repeat the process.

Some of the more popular models, such as the Garrett Wade 45T01 chainsaw sharpener, are very inexpensive, and do as good a job as any professional chainsaw sharpener. Many of these sharpeners are manufactured in Italy, and are commonly referred to as “easy use” chainsaw sharpeners in Europe.

These types of electric chain saw sharpeners usually come in different configurations, including standard models that sell for approximately $65 – $75, and quick feed chainsaw sharpener models that sell for approximately $100. The quick feed models include fully automatic electric chain feed mechanisms so all you have to do is lower the grinding wheel to sharpen each tooth professionally.

The average chainsaw chain can be sharpened in one minute or less with this type of electric chainsaw sharpener. Most models include exact angle settings and depth gauges, and are easily bench mounted in any workshop. They are light and compact so they don’t take up much room at all.

Some people will argue that the sharpening achieved from a chain grinder is never the same as when using a hand-held round file due to the shape of the grinder and the method in which it moves into the tooth. This may be true if you are a professional logger and use a round file every day to perform your job. But for 99% of the population there is no way that they can achieve the same consistency that you get with an automated electric chainsaw sharpener.

The consistent angle of sharpening that is achieved with an electric chainsaw sharpener, as well as the consistent depth and length of time that the grinding wheel is in contact with every tooth will provide far superior results. Amateur weekend warriors can now achieve professional results in minutes with an inexpensive electric chainsaw sharpener.

By: T Bridger

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