The Versatile Chainsaw

Chainsaws are one of the most versatile and useful pieces of garden equipment you can own. Whether it be to prune the trees in your garden, gathering firewood or commercially felling trees - a good dependable chainsaw can handle the job. Chainsaws are power tools and despite safety improvements, can be dangerous, and injuries can and do happen from improper use. Therefore, operators should be properly instructed and wear all the necessary safety gear while executing the job.

Chainsaws can be labor saving devices, but they also have great potential for causing severe injury and death if not used properly. Chainsaws are heavy and awkwardly balanced so if you're working on unstable ground, be aware of that and wear solid, dependable shoes.

Chainsaws are highly portable, relatively cheap to buy, very efficient, and can be used by a single man to fell, crosscut and mill a large tree in a relatively short period of time. When you think about it, that fact alone is really amazing. If you have ever looked at old logging pictures you realize how labor intensive cutting down and preparing just one single tree can be.

Once considered the primary tool of professional loggers, ranchers and farmers, chainsaws became a popular homeowner tool. Chainsaws are still used for harvesting smaller trees in smaller parcels or large valuable hardwoods. Improvements mean that chainsaws are far safer than they once were but they are still potentially very dangerous tools in the wrong hands. Essentially they are a power tool that is both effective and yet dangerous; put it this way, basically they are the grunt workers among the world's power tools.

Chainsaws can make quick work of cutting firewood, cleaning up fallen limbs and trees, cutting framing timbers or carving wood. Gas chainsaws continue to take the lion's share of the market, but as recent reviews demonstrate, electric chainsaws keep winning converts.

On a personal note, I have found that chainsaws never start the first time I pull the starter chord. Maybe it's just me but I always have that happen. In addition they are very LOUD and are hard on the back when using in a wooded cutting situation. Other than that, they sure make short work of bringing down and cleaning up trees and firewood. Improvements mean that chainsaws are far safer than they once were.

Finally, gas chainsaws are also more powerful than electric chainsaws but also heavier, require more maintenance and upkeep and are more expensive. A true loggers chainsaw is too large, heavy and expensive for most people.

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What is important when shopping for a quality log splitter? The first question to ask would be: Will this be used for personal firewood only or will it be used to split wood that will be sold to others? If the wood is going to be used in a home stove or fireplace, then smaller equipment is sufficient (beginning in the 2 to 5 ton range). But for commercial log splitting, it will be necessary to purchase equipment that exerts up to 20 tons of pressure. Purchasing a splitter that is much too small is an invitation to trouble, as the engine will overheat or be damaged because it is overtaxed.

Some individuals have found that the quality log splitter is excellent for uses beyond the simple task of providing wood for the stove or fireplace. Some have incorporated their splitter into a furniture-making process, creating excellent chairs, tables and other items from rough wood that is initially split with the hydraulic or electric splitter. Commercial-grade splitters are used by forest-product suppliers to create rough-cut planking, prepare large trees for transport to the mill and so on. In every case, the modern log splitter has become an important tool for both private and commercial use. All of this translates into time saved and money saved.

Log splitters of sufficient strength and quality to last for years may cost hundreds of dollars. While it is possible to purchase an electric splitter for personal use, the larger hydraulic splitters can generally be more powerful and are good for commercial and heavy-duty use. These high-end items may cost thousands, rather than hundreds, of dollars.

If the log splitter is to be used only for home firewood, when the stove or fireplace is more a luxury item than a necessity, the smaller splitter should be sufficient. If the splitter will be used in a firewood business, even on a part time scale, it may be wise to figure out how much wood can be split per hour or per day, to get some idea about cost. Hydraulic log splitters can also be a tool for creating log furniture. In this case, it is also very important to get a splitter that is powerful enough and durable enough. It would be wise to take a bit of extra time to learn more about splitters, their capabilities and their costs, before choosing one that is too small.

With any power equipment, there is the issue of safety. While many new models of log splitter are self-lubricating and require very little maintenance, the more the individual learns about the equipment the safer it will be when in use. Tip: Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you.

Electric Or Gas Powered Chainsaws - Which is Best For You?

You have two choices when choosing a chainsaw, gas or electric powered. Which one you choose will depend on your circumstance, the jobs you have to do, and of course, your preference.

When choosing between an electric or gas powered chainsaw think about where you live, and your landscaping. Do you live in a city with only a couple of small trees on your property? You will probably be better off purchasing an electric chainsaw. However, if you live in the country and are surrounded by trees you are more likely to have larger branches on the ground after a storm and they will be further from the house.

Should you wish to consider purchasing an electric, you can shop for electric chainsaws among a huge selection right here at ChainsawPower.Com.

When you purchase an electric chainsaw you always have to keep in mind where you are going to get your power from. You will be constrained to taking your saw no more than 100 feet from your power source, so if you live on three acres, you are not going to make it.

Think about the jobs you are going to be doing. Will you be doing heavy duty cutting of large branches, or cutting down trees? Are you looking for something to help prune a couple trees in your yard? These are the questions that will help you determine which chainsaw is right for you.

Both types of chainsaws have their advantages and disadvantages. If you are smaller in stature you may want to consider getting the electric chainsaw. It will be much lighter and more manageable. You also will not have to worry about lugging a gas can around, getting the gas/oil ratio correct. You will, on the other hand, have to worry about not cutting through the cord.

No matter which kind of chainsaw you ultimately decide upon, you must make sure to use safety equipment each and every time you use your saw. You also must make sure your chainsaw chain stays sharp. Using a dull chainsaw is the quickest way to have a chainsaw accident. It is imperative for safety's sake to keep your chainsaw sharp, if you don't know how to do it, take it to a professional to have it sharpened.

If you don't know how to tell if your chainsaw is sharp stop by chainsaw sharpener information and find out the signs of a dull chainsaw. There you will find information on how to tell if your chainsaw chain is dull, how to sharpen it, and how to use a chainsaw sharpener

Why Choose a Homelite Chainsaw?

For starters, Homelite is a reliable company with a strong history. This company began in 1921 when Charles H. Ferguson founded the Home Electric Lighting Company in Port Chester, New York. It was later renamed Homelite and made its first electric chainsaw in 1946. A few years later, in 1949, it manufactured a one-man chainsaw and from then on, this company proved itself as a leader in the power equipment industry. But they never stopped improving their line. In 1963, they introduced a lightweight chainsaw that weighed only twelve pounds. Homelite understood the need for a product line that would be easy to use and efficient. Their compact models offer today's homeowners power for their backyard projects at a price they can afford. Buying a Homelite chainsaw is a solid investment backed by this company's reputation and skill in manufacturing a line of tried and true products.

Let's Look at Homelite Chainsaws

Homelite has many models of chainsaws to choose, each with special features for particular types of work. Before being dazzled by their product line, determine your own personal need for a chainsaw. Homeowners won't need the most expensive professional models, which may be too cumbersome and awkward for ordinary backyard use. Homelite specifically has a line of chainsaws geared to do-it-yourselfers, and the features of these models may be exactly what you need. For the average homeowner, the chainsaw bar lengths are 14, 16, 18 or 20 inches. To help you understand what that means, a 14 inch bar can cut through twice its length or 28 inches. Once again, you need to decide what you will be using the saw for before making your purchase.

Chainsaw Safety

Homelite also stresses safety when using their chainsaws. Only use this machine while wearing heavy work gloves, as well as eye and ear protection. The Homelite chainsaws have safety features, like cut-resistant "chaps", which have fibers that release at the saw's impact. This is designed to prevent the skin getting cut. Most do-it-yourselfers prefer the Homelite Ranger model with a 16 inch chainsaw bar. It's powerful enough to take down a small tree and compact enough for regular yard work.