In this article we review, what we believe to be the best electric Chainsaw, 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.
We know you are busy so it your are stuck for time then so straight to the Makita UC3541A/2 240V Electric Chainsaw, which is the best electric chainsaw that we could find.
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 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 | 4.5 | A+ | ||
2 | 4.4 | A | ||
3 | 4.7 | A | ||
4 | 4.3 | B+ | ||
5 | 4.3 | 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 and Comparisons
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 UC3541A/2 240V Electric Chainsaw 35cm 1800W Review
90% buyer satisfaction from over 1,100+ online reviews.
- Corded electric chainsaw
- The 1800w motor is superb
- This is nowhere near as loud as the petrol models
- Comes with an adjustable automatic chain oil pump
- Large separate-type metal spike bumper; spike grips work-piece firmly to provide more control
- 14 m/s chain speed
- Flat motor housing end
- Mechanical chain brake
Makita are really hard to beat with any type of tool so you can be sure you are getting a quality item. This chainsaw is excellent and we can highly recommend this as one of the very best on the market. I actually think it's brilliant value compared to some of the other big name models.
No 2 Choice - BLACK+DECKER CS2040 Chainsaw Corded 2000 W
86% buyer satisfaction from over 400+ online reviews.
- This is a corded model chainsaw from Black and Decker
- Has a low kickback chain
- There is free blade tension for easy adjustment
- This has a very powerful 2000w motor thats also quiet
- There is a chain break for added safety
- 12 m/s chain speed
- Just as good as a petrol model and a lot less hassle
This is a bargain chainsaw that is well worth the price. It has the motor and the cutting speed to match the best of them but at a fraction of the price.
This chainsaw is definitely worth a look.
No 3 Choice - CS1400 Electric Chainsaw 16-Inch Review
94% buyer satisfaction from over 600+ online reviews.
- Another corded electric chainsaw
- Very impressive 14.7 m/sec chain speed from the 2400w motor
- Good long 6m electric cord
- You wont need any tools to tighten the chain
- No oiling needed either as its automatic
- The DuraCut saw chain cuts 3 times longer than standard chain ( tried and tested )
- Anti-fling formulation
This chainsaw gets the highest ranking of any chainsaw we could find. 94% is extremely good, especially with so many buyers. I haven't heard of this manufacturer so that's why it is down the rankings a bit.
No 4 Choice - Bosch AKE 35 Electric Chainsaw Review
86% buyer satisfaction from over 100+ online reviews.
- Corded chainsaw from Bosch
- Has a good standard 1800w motor
- Chain speed is 9 m/s
- The cutting bar is 14"
- This is a very light chainsaw at 2Kg, most are twice this weight or more
- Has all the usual safety features inc. bar-tip guard, safety throttle, and front hand guard.
- Comes with an automatic oiler as well
Really I would say this a lightweight, entry level electric chainsaw that is the most expensive on our list. I will let you work that out yourself.
Even though there are plenty of satisfied buyers the only reason you would buy this is if you really need something not too heavy.
It has less power and is a slower speed, the only plus is the weight of it. So I guess this gets the vote for the best lightweight electric chainsaw.
No 5 Choice - Einhell GH-EC 2040 2000W Electric Chainsaw Review
86% buyer satisfaction from over 2,500+ online reviews.
- Corded electric chainsaw
- Comes with a 2000w motor
- Blade Length 406mm
- Cutting Speed 13.5 m/s
- All the usual safety features inc. kickback protection through mechanical instant chain brake
- Automatic oiling so you dont have to mess about that
- Very well priced indeed compared to the rest
This is a bargain chainsaw that is well worth the price. It has the motor and the cutting speed to match the best of them but at a fraction of the price.
This chainsaw is definitely worth a look.
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.
If you don't think one of these is the model for you then check out our articles on the best petrol chainsaw and the the best all round chainsaw for more information.
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