His interested in DIY started in high school, and eventually led to him studying an BEng in Enginneering at University of California, Berkley and then Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University.
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If you plan to use firewood for heating, you will need a lot of wood. Moreover, the best and fastest way to cut the wood into sizable chunks is with a chainsaw. A saw or ax can be troublesome, especially for those with no experience using them. You have to use them manually, and it takes skill, time, and energy. On the other hand, with a chainsaw, you only need minimal effort but with more output.
There are hundreds of different brands, and each has its benefits and disadvantages. Whether you’re a new homeowner or have never used a chainsaw, you probably have many questions about the best brand.
The Best Firewood Chainsaw You Can Buy
To make it easier, we made a list of the best chainsaws to get the job done. We will look at different kinds of chainsaws in this article. Moreover, we will go over the pros and cons of each type of saw so you can make an informed choice about which one is best for you. We’ll talk about the power generators, motor speed, cutting power, and bar sizes; so you can buy the right one.
Here are our top picks of the best chainsaws for cutting wood:
1. Makita-UC4051A Chainsaw – Best Chainsaw for Cutting Wood
Makita chainsaws always make products that are of high quality and work very well. Though their saws are not the cheapest on the market, you know you are getting a high-quality tool that will last for years, whether you use it for work or your hobby.
It’s not too much of a stretch to say that the Makita UC4051A is the best-corded firewood chainsaw the company has ever made. The saw feels strong, efficient, easy to use, and very well-balanced. It has top-notch performance and usability.
The Makita UC4051A chainsaw has excellent features that should make homeowners love it. The 16-inch bar gives plenty of room to cut through trees up to about 12 inches in diameter.
The Makita UC4051A is a compact, silent, and safe corded power tool. This saw has everything you could want, like a push-button start, a glass to see how much oil is in it, and a blade and chain that you can change without any extra tools.
The Makita chainsaw has a clever system for keeping the chain tight without using extra tools. You can cut without any trouble if you just turn it either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on your preference. Overall, this Makita product is the best choice if you want a durable and efficient chainsaw.
- Works well and has a lot of cutting power
- High-quality design
- Comfortable rubber handle and big start button
- Quiet while in use
- Great ease of use
- Not very easy to move around
- Too heavy for a chainsaw with cord
2. Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw – Best Lightweight Chainsaw
The Husqvarna 460 Rancher is our second choice for the best chainsaw for cutting wood. The excellent performance, high quality, and ease of use of the product are not lost on us.
The Husqvarna 460 Rancher Chainsaw is easy to start up thanks to its helpful features. First, the chance of flooding is reduced with a control that works as both a choke and a stop. The choke is useful because it ensures the switch is always ready to start.
The chainsaw runs on gas and only weighs 20 kilograms. It is 24 inches long and has a two-stroke engine. It also has LowVib technology so that it will not shake when in use. The Husqvarna 460 Rancher is a strong, multi-functional chainsaw with a side-mounted chain brake that makes it perfect for cutting firewood.
The Husqvarna 460 Rancher is easy to use, no matter how hard the job is. It can slice through anything, and its lightweight design and straightforward construction ensure that it will not slip and shake while using it. In addition, the chainsaw is simple to operate and requires little training to master the basics of filling the gas tank and guiding the saw’s chain.
We recommend the Husqvarna 460 Rancher because it is easy to use, well-made, efficient, and powerful.
- Simple to operate
- Hard to break even if you accidentally drop it
- Doesn’t rotate much
- Quick and easy to set up
- Quite pricey
- Automatic oiler may seep some oil
3. Greenworks 16-INCH 40V Cordless Chainsaw – Best Brushless Chainsaw
The Greenworks 16-Inch 40V is a great choice if you want the ease of a cordless tool but do not want to spend a lot of money. This Greenworks product can make up to 75 cuts on a full charge, which is ideal for cutting tasks that do not require a lot of power. Although the 16-inch bar might not have the most power, it should be more than enough for smaller to medium-sized branches and trees.
This innovative chainsaw has a motor without a brush, makes less noise, lasts longer, and needs less maintenance. It also has a chain brake, a hand guard, and a trigger—all useful safety features you should look out for.
This Greenworks chainsaw is worth looking into if you need a powerful and reliable cordless chainsaw for cutting tasks at height.
The chainsaw’s brushless motor is one of its most crucial parts. This design is more efficient because no brushes make contact with the commutator, which is the part of the motor that spins. Because of this, brushless motors are more efficient, quieter, and less likely to damage other electrical parts over time by vibrating.
Since it does not have brushes, the motor will last longer and need almost no maintenance. It is a big step forward for chainsaws in terms of design and technology.
- ou can move around more since it’s cordless
- Great cutting capability
- Reliable source of power and has an auto-shutoff feature
- The motor is smoother and runs more quietly
- Short battery life
- The chain may jump
4. Sun Joe SWJ700E Handheld Chainsaw – Best Gas Chainsaw
The Sun Joe SWJ700E is a powerful chainsaw that you can count on in cutting wood. The 9-amp motor makes it easy to cut branches and thick brush up to 11.5 inches wide. You can quickly cut a chunk of wood, gather a load of logs, or trim a pine tree by pressing a button. A built-in safety switch keeps the device from turning on by accident. The Sun Joe chainsaw does not weigh more than 7 pounds, so it is easy to move around the garden or yard without wasting too much gas.
Given that this saw has so many high-quality features, its price is reasonable. There is an immediate start button, an automatic chain lubrication system, a safety hand guard with a kickback brake, and a safety switch that keeps the saw from starting unexpectedly.
This chainsaw’s brushless 100V DC electric motor gives it a power level unlike any other—1,500 watts. It is one of the few cordless chainsaws that can easily cut through large-diameter trees and logs, and it also has useful bucking teeth.
Sun Joe SWJ700E chainsaw has all the safety and convenient features you could want. This means the chain gets oiled automatically and tightened by hand without tools.
The front handle is padded for comfort. Moreover, you can hold it at a high or low angle, which makes it perfect for left-handed people. With a chain guard that also works as a brake, you can stop or shut it quickly if needed.
- Very affordable
- Light and simple to operate
- Perfect for daily household usage
- Noiseless when in use
- Can easily serve as a pole saw
- The chain oil panel is not very visible
- Limited use in areas without power supply
5. WORX WG322 10” Cordless Chainsaw – Small But Powerful Chainsaw
The WORX WG322 is an excellent choice if you want a powerful cordless chainsaw that is also light and easy to use for cutting, trimming, and pruning light plants around your home and yard. This tiny, ultralight chainsaw has a long chain that makes quick work of simple cutting and building jobs that do not require a long bar.
This WORX tool is helpful because you can easily change the chain pressure and use it as an extension saw. It also lubricates itself. Fewer chain and bar kickbacks, better hand protection, and less vibration make it safe to use.
The WORX WG322 is an example of an electric model that has many of the same benefits as a gas model but does not require as much experience to run or require oil changes as often. It’s the least expensive of these options and does not cost more than $150.
- Small and easy to move around
- Low noise emission
- Ideal for everyday, casual use around the house
- It’s easy to use as a pole saw
- No form of chain control present
- Chain tension is unstable
Buying Guide for the Best Firewood Chainsaw
Having the right information saves you the trouble of spending money on the wrong product. Here are a few things to check before purchasing a chainsaw for cutting firewood.
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Type of Chainsaw
There are different types of chainsaws, and each one has its pros and cons. Gas-powered chainsaws are the most common and best for heavy-duty use. These have the best sawing speed and cut through thick wood with ease. Electric chainsaws are cheaper than most gas models but just as effective in cutting firewood. However, they have slower sawing speed thus limiting their use. Battery-powered electric chainsaws are cordless and easy to carry around. Most people prefer this type as they are more environmentally friendly but work just as well as gas chainsaws. Just ensure that it is fully charged before use.
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Power
When you consider the power of a chainsaw, gasoline or battery power are your only alternatives. The chainsaws we mention in this article can use either of them.
People who need to cut a lot of wood or chop it often will find gasoline power the most useful. Most of the time, these saws are robust and well-made. They have enough power to cut through large pieces of hardwood. If you often need to cut wood for fires, a chainsaw that runs on gas is more useful. But it gives off emissions that are bad for the environment and needs fuel all the time. Because the engine burns fuel, it may also need regular maintenance.
A few years ago, the idea of power tools that ran on batteries was laughable. But thanks to innovations from companies like DeWalt and Makita, many saws now run on batteries. Several chainsaws we have looked at are big enough, but they run on batteries instead of gas. Most of the time, these saws are cheaper and quieter than their gas-powered counterparts. Also, they stop the release of harmful greenhouse gasses, which is a big plus.
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Longevity
When cutting through thick wood, chainsaws are put under a lot of pressure and motion. We recommend that you stay away from brands of saws that use a great deal of plastic since they are more likely to break when constantly vibrating. However, the chainsaw’s longevity also depends on how you take care of it.
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Handle
The chainsaw’s chain turns around the handle, which is the pivot point. The standard length for a saw’s handle is between 6 and 27 inches. Most of the time, a 20-inch chainsaw is all you need to chop firewood. In some situations, bigger saws might be too heavy or expensive. Moreover, you would not need big and heavy chainsaws to cut through firewood.
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Weight
The weight of the chainsaw depends on the handle. If your saw is too light, it may take more work to cut through thicker logs for the fireplace. If it is too heavy, it may be hard to use. Everyone has a different ideal weight, but remember that chainsaws that run on gas are usually heavier than those that run on batteries or electricity.
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Ease of Control
Cutting accurately will be hard, and if the handles do not feel good in your hands and joints, you may end up with pain. Choose a chainsaw that you can easily control. Some chainsaws are light enough for women to use but can effectively cut wood. The pressure should be maintained without straining your arm. Moreover, check the chainsaw’s safety features in case of accidents.
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Price
It is essential to keep this in mind before making any purchases. You should spend too much, but you do not want a cheap saw either. It would be best to look around for a chainsaw until you find one that meets your needs and fits a price you can afford.
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Guarantee
Think about the guarantee every time you buy something. If something goes wrong with the product, ensure that you can return or replace it without any issues. Look for a chainsaw with at least a one-year warranty, which is what most of them have. Some brands offer a two-year warranty.
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Additional Features
Some models of chainsaws come with helpful extras like automatic oilers and chain brakes, for example. You should think about them when shopping for a chainsaw because they may make it easier and safer to use.
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Tool Size
Medium to heavy gas chainsaws measures 16 to 18 inches. On the other hand, there are lightweight or small chainsaws that come at 14 inches. Electronic chainsaws are usually smaller compared to gas-powered ones. It’s to know the right size because it changes how the tool works and how much wood it can cut at once. It does not matter how big of a saw you have if you are only going to be cutting a few logs at a time. However, a larger machine will be necessary if you plan on cutting trees or a great deal of woodworking.
Conclusion
Due to its high power and adaptability, the Makita UC4051A is our top pick for the best chainsaw for cutting firewood. It also comes with an electronic ignition and other features that make it reliable and easy to use.
The Greenworks 16-Inch 40V is our top pick for a gas chainsaw that will not break the bank. Even though it is not as powerful or has other extra features, it’s still a great deal for the money. It works better than any battery-powered alternative, even if the battery and charger cost the same as the device.
Always practice caution when using a chainsaw. Wear protective equipment and follow proper handling and position. A good chainsaw should make the task easy without straining. Invest in a powerful chainsaw if you regularly need to split large amounts of firewood. By reading this article you may learn what to look for and where to put your attention.
Factors To Consider Before Buying
1. Power
One of the most important factors to consider before buying a firewood chainsaw is its power. The power of a chainsaw is usually measured in CC or cubic centimeters. The higher the CC, the more powerful the chainsaw. It is important to choose a chainsaw with enough power to handle the size of the logs you will be cutting.
2. Bar Length
The bar length of a chainsaw determines the size of the logs it can handle. A longer bar length means the chainsaw can handle larger logs, but it can also make the chainsaw heavier and more difficult to maneuver. It is important to choose a bar length that is appropriate for the size of the logs you will be cutting.
3. Weight
The weight of a chainsaw is another important factor to consider. A heavy chainsaw can be difficult to handle and can cause fatigue over time. It is important to choose a chainsaw that is light enough for you to handle comfortably.
4. Safety Features
Chainsaws are dangerous tools, and it is important to choose a chainsaw with safety features to protect you while you work. Look for features like anti-vibration systems, automatic oilers, and safety switches to ensure your safety while using the chainsaw.
5. Brand and Warranty
Choosing a reputable brand and a chainsaw with a good warranty is important to ensure that you are getting a quality product. Look for brands with a good reputation for producing high-quality chainsaws and choose a product with a warranty that will protect you in case of any defects or issues with the chainsaw.
FAQs
What is the difference between a firewood chainsaw and a regular chainsaw?
A firewood chainsaw is specifically designed for cutting firewood. They typically have a longer bar length and are more powerful than regular chainsaws. They also often have safety features specifically designed for firewood cutting, such as automatic oilers and anti-vibration systems.
What size logs can a firewood chainsaw handle?
The size of logs a firewood chainsaw can handle depends on its bar length. Most firewood chainsaws can handle logs between 12-24 inches in diameter.
How often do I need to sharpen the chainsaw chain?
The frequency of chain sharpening depends on how often the chainsaw is used and the type of wood being cut. In general, chainsaw chains should be sharpened after every 5-10 hours of use.
What safety gear do I need when using a firewood chainsaw?
When using a firewood chainsaw, it is important to wear appropriate safety gear, including a helmet, safety glasses or goggles, hearing protection, gloves, and sturdy boots. Additionally, chainsaw chaps or pants can provide added protection from accidental cuts
