Petrol Chainsaw Buyer's Guide

Why Buy Petrol Chainsaws?

The old faithful will give you that unbeatable roaring motor we all love to hear at World of Power, and there's a range of power in that engine you can choose from depending on your task. Usually, petrol engines are good for professional use or work taking place outside of simple gardening, and it's not wise to invest in an excessively powerful saw simply for minor work. With the fuel stored on board, petrol saws are much more mobile and make for good forestry work. However, despite their cordless nature, petrol saws can be quite heavy and usually require appropriate training for handling. They'll need regular refilling, so make sure you know exactly how each one powers back up again.

Entry Level Petrol Saws

Designed for infrequent use, these entry-level saws are built for light tasks such as trimming, clearing work and cutting small to medium sized logs. They're also good for occasional light felling. Keeping their weight down to a minimum, these machines are designed with ease of use in mind, making their onboard features uncomplicated and simple to use. If you're unsure about what kind of chainsaw is best for you, contact us and tell us what you need and we'll be happy to recommend the best product for you.

All-Round Regular Use Saws

Well balanced, these mid-level saws are designed to be powerful enough to tackle light forestry applications and are good for dropping and trimming saplings and small stands of trees. Powerful, with plenty of practical onboard features and anti-vibration ergonomics, they are extremely useful tools, but do not possess the same force and torque characteristics as a heavy duty pro saw, and shouldn't be substituted for the heavy work. These are all-round saws are versatile enough for limbing and canopy surgery.

Professional Level Saws

Extremely robust with excellent anti-vibration ergonomics and prodigious power/torque to weight ratios, these heavy-duty saws often require specialist training and documentation before use. Designed for professional arborists, agriculture and forestry specialists, these saws are built for daily use all year round and should be tough enough to withstand extreme weather and environmental conditions.

They're available in different configurations for specialist applications and are feature-rich, with a range of onboard safety mechanisms. They should only be used by those experienced with saws, or if you have received the correct training.

Buying The Right Size Chainsaw

Buying the correct size of chainsaw for the job is important. It's pointless purchasing a saw with a 36" bar (see below) when all you are ever going to be cutting are 10" diameter trees. Conversely, a 10" bar is not going to cut the mustard - or the tree - when tackling a 36" trunk or limb.

There are a number of other important things to consider before making your purchase.

• What sort of horsepower will you require?
• What bar length will be required?
• What weight is right for you?
• What type of handle do you need?
• What type of chain will I require?

Horsepower & Cubic Capacity

This very much depends on the job in hand. If you are hobbyist or occasional user, then a huge saw with massive torque is simply not suitable. Choose a saw that fits the bill of work. If you're in any doubt, simply ask one of World of Power's experts and they'll be more than happy to point you in the right direction with some helpful advice.