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Best Chainsaw - UK Tool Reviews
In this article we review, what we believe to be the best Chainsaws, currently available on the UK marketplace. Most men will love the idea of having their own chainsaw but really there is not much point in having one unless you are going to use it regularly. There are lots of different types of saws available and these are for heavy duty work.
There are massive safety issues with these type of powerful saws and its really important to know what you are doing. These are not a tool for the inexperienced amateur and you need to take them very seriously !
There are quite a few chainsaws available on the market, differently powered types and all designed for specific purposes. In theory they are all made to the same basic design but as you can imagine they are not all created equally. Make sure you know what you are looking for before you rush in and buy something that doesn't suit your needs.
A good quality chainsaw can cost from £40-140 and you pretty much get what you pay for. You will find a big difference in quality over these price ranges and I always try to go for the best I can afford in a tool if its something that I intend to use regularly. The better quality saws will cut easier, last longer and will be safer to use.
Top 5 Rated Chainsaws
Just below you will find a table, where we have placed our choices of Chainsaws in order. The order we have used is the highest buyer rated first. In other words we have placed the saws in the order, of what buyers judged their quality to be.
We have also included average UK prices, but be aware that these are always subject to change. Always check on the exact date and time when you are making any purchase. The ratings are ours, and we update these on a regular weekly basis.
If you click on the product name, you will be taken to Amazon UK, where you can read other buyer reviews. In this table we have included our ranking, the product name, an average UK price, our rating and our grade. The Rating is out of 5.
Rank | Name | Rating | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4.7 | A+ | ||
2 | 4.4 | A | ||
3 | 4.4 | A- | ||
4 | 4.2 | B+ | ||
5 | 4.2 | B+ |
These are our top 5 picks. We have based these on what we believe to be the best value for money. At the end of the day, the one you pick will come down to your available budget, and how much use it is going to get. Keep in mind that there are no bad chainsaws in this list, these are the best we can find and are all tried and tested.
Chainsaw Summary Reviews
Underneath, we have completed short and concise reviews, on these top 5 products. That way you can see at a glance, which one is the best choice for you. Otherwise you will be looking through loads of reviews and recommendations and not really knowing whats best.
No 1 Choice - Makita DSS610Z Cordless Li-Ion Circular Saw (Body Only), 18 V Review
- Corded electric chainsaw
- Powerful 2300w high torque motor
- 14 m/s chain speed
- Anti vibration system
- Electronic and mechanical brake
No 2 Choice - BLACK+DECKER CS2040-GB Chainsaw Corded, 2000 W
- Corded model
- Low kickback chain
- Free blade tension for easy adjustment
- Powerful 2000w motor
No 3 Choice - Evolution RAGE1-B Multi-Purpose Circular Saw, 185 mm (230V)Review
- 62 cc petrol chainsaw
- 20 inch bar and chain
- 2 chains and carrier bag
- Assisted starting mechanism
- Comes with accessories
No 4 Choice - Bosch AKE 40 Electric Chainsaw, 40 cm Bar Length
- Corded chainsaw
- 1800w motor
- Quality chain
- SDS system for easy changing and tensioning of the chain
No 5 Choice - Parker 62CC 20" PETROL CHAINSAW
- Strong and reliable petrol engine 62 cc
- 20 inch bar and chain
- Comes with carrier bag, cover and accessories
- 2.6 kw / 3.5 hp motor
- Fully certified
Chainsaw Buying Guide
The first decision here is what type of power you need for your chainsaw. You can have
- Electric corded
- Electric cordless
- Petrol driven
Which you require really depend on how often you need to use it and how heavy the work you are doing is. The main sellers in the UK are corded or petrol driven and unless you are just using it once in a blue moon, I would advice against cordless.
What makes are available?
Let’s look at who makes the different types of chainsaws that you can choose from. The main brands are:
- Poulan
- WORX
- STIHL
- Husqvarna
- Blue Max
- Remington
- Earthwise
- Black and Decker
- Greenworks
- OREGON
- Echo
- Makita
- Tanaka
Obviously this is quite a list so I would try to stick to a brand you know or choose one of the 5 we have recommended
WHAT IS A CHAINSAW?
Might seem like a silly question but lets look at exctly what a chainsaw is. They are basically an engine driven device for felling trees, cutting branches or cutting up wood.
- Fuel is used to drive an engine
- The engine tdrives a metal chain along a guide bar at a high speed
- The teeth on the chain are dragged across the surface making a cut
They have a two-stroke engine that you can’t ignore – they aren’t exactly quiet. With no oil sump, the engine is lubricated by adding oil to the fuel at a set ratio. The clear advantage of a 2-stroke engine is that it is compact and lightweight. There’s a second oil in its own reservoir that’s vital for keeping both the bar and chain lubricated. Always keep the lubrication in mind as it’s an essential aspect of the machine.
THE ENGINE
Size matters and chainsaws come in a range of shapes and sizes. These can start as low as 20cc all the way up to a massive 70 CC. Obviously then the bigger the engine then the more powerful the saw is
The Bar
So this is a very important consideration. The bigger the better doesn't always apply here. If you get something thats too big it can be really hard to handle,it will be very heavy and you will get tired very quickly. You need to think about your level of fitness and how much cutting you need to do.
We recommend that your chainsaw should be around 2 inches larger than the width of branch that you are cutting. So to cut a 14″ tree in one go then a 16″ guide bar is perfect.
- 10-inch - This is ideal for delicate work such as topping off branches
- 16-inch – This is a very popular and easily handles size. It's perfect for small logs and bigger branches and really is an all-rounder.
- 18-inch – Quite popular too but great if you need that extra bit of power for some larger logs or branches
- 20-inch - This is for large gauge timber and larger logs and you will really need to get some experience with a smaller saw before you tackle something this size.
CHAINS
When everything is said and done, ultimately the chain does all the work. A chain is measured by its pitch and its gauge and the pitch of the chain must be compatible with both the bar and the sprocket.
The gauge is usually recorded on the bar of the chainsaw though when you are buying a chainsaw the manufacturer will have done everything for you, you just need to be aware if you are changing any parts on the saw.
Video - How to Use a Chainsaw?
I found this useful video, which explains how to use a hacksaw properly. There is a method where you can avoid any risk of an injury, especially cutting your hand.
Safe Use of a Chainsaw
If you have never used one of these saws before, then please watch the video above. There is a knack to using these so as you do not want to cut yourself or damage the wood you are cutting.
You have to learn to let the blade of the saw do all the work. If you find it really hard to cut then you are doing it wrong, it should be smooth and easy and safety should be your number one concern as these saws are extremely powerful and can be very dangerous in the wrong hands
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