Chainsaws Best Practice
Chainsaws are the archetypal power tool. Designed to make short work of branches and whole trees by means of a rotating cutting chain, they are used by all from occasional gardeners right up to professional loggers.
However, there are a range of different models on the market and it’s wise to choose the right one before you put it to use devastating the landscape around you. (Needless to say, protective clothing and eyewear come strongly recommended.)
Regardless of which model you go for, a little maintenance goes a long way. Chainsaws are great for tackling wood, but they will quickly blunt in contact with earth, stone or metal, and the chain must be kept clean and sharp.
It’s also important to keep them well oiled; oil tends to run down quite quickly as it gets thrown off by the speed of the chain and soaked up by sawdust. Badly-lubricated chains wear rapidly and can seize up, or come off the bar altogether.
Petrol or electric chainsaw?
Chainsaws are powered either by a petrol engine or an electric motor. One of the obvious advantages of the petrol-driven model is that you do not need to be near a socket to use it.
Petrol chainsaws are also partially lubricated by oil in their fuel, which reduces maintenance requirements. However, they tend to be heavier and more awkward – an important consideration since you’re wielding a deadly machine – and noisier, which might be a problem in residential areas.
Electric chainsaws tend to be lighter-duty, quieter, more environmentally friendly, but restrict you in terms of where you can use them and may not stand up to long periods of continuous use. They are available quite cheaply and are best suited to occasional use in the yard, taking down smaller trees or trimming branches.
Pic credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ekilby/
