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In decades past I had spent a fair
amount of time around chainsaws, however in recent years I had not owned or
operated one. After spending some time on the internet and visiting a few tool
stores I wound up buying a Stihl MS290 Farm Boss chainsaw. It had the power and
bar size that satisfied my particular tree cutting needs, was reasonably light
weight, and had many positive reviews.
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When in the market for buying a
chainsaw it is important to consider how you plan on using it. If your chainsaw
plans are simply to cut down a few small trees then you may be able to get away
with an electric chainsaw or a small gas powered one. To be honest I prefer the
gas powered chainsaws due to the fact that I do not need to be near an
electrical outlet. For example, we lost power for 10 days last year due to a
major ice storm. Trees and tree limbs were down everywhere. An electric chainsaw
would have been no help in this situation. |
There are two major factors when
considering buying a gas powered chain saw, the size of the engine and the
length of the bar. For small tree cutting projects a 30cc engine is probably
adequate. However if you plan on felling larger trees then you will probably
need a chainsaw with at least a 40cc size engine.
When it comes to chainsaw bar length,
a general rule of thumb is to buy a chainsaw with a bar that is longer than the
diameter of the largest tree you plan to cut down. Using a chainsaw that has a
blade that is smaller than the diameter of the tree is possible; however there
are some significantly increased risks.
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In addition to buying the chainsaw it
is also important to buy the appropriate safety equipment. Standard chainsaw
safety equipment includes a full face shield, gloves, ear protection, chaps, and
a helmet.
| Also, when buying a chainsaw it is
important to note that chainsaws use two stroke engines and thus need to use a
gas/oil mixture for fuel. In addition, a chainsaw bar gets very hot when
cutting through a tree, and thus it requires lubrication. Consequently make sure
you pick up the appropriate chainsaw bar oil when buying your chainsaw. Whenever
filling your chainsaw with fuel, make sure you also add chainsaw bar oil as
well. |
Photo by Mark Donovan |
Before operating a chainsaw make sure
you carefully read the operators manual. In addition, you may want to ask the
chainsaw supplier to give you a demonstration on how properly use it.
Alternatively you may want to ask an experienced chainsaw operator to show you
how to operate the chainsaw safely.
When using a chainsaw, never let the
chainsaw blade hit the ground as this will very quickly dull the blade.
Sharpening a chainsaw blade requires precise angled filing and is time
consuming. You can purchase chainsaw files and jigs for properly sharpening your
chainsaw, however in some cases it makes more sense to have a professional
chainsaw servicing company sharpen the blade.
Chainsaw maintenance is another
important aspect to consider when deciding to buy a chainsaw. If used and then
immediately left on a shelf for a year, don’t expect it to operate well when you
use it again. It is important to read the maintenance manual on a chainsaw and
follow the steps for properly maintaining and storing it.
So before buying a chainsaw, do your homeowner and consider how you intend to
use it. And finally, recognize the fact that a chainsaw is a very dangerous
piece of equipment and should only be used after you have been fully trained in
its use and are wearing the appropriate safety equipment.
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Chain Saws from Amazon.com
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