Get the Most Value Out of Your Chainsaw With These Great Tips!

From buying chainsaw chain online to safely cutting, there’s a lot to learn when you get your first chainsaw. These powerful tools can revolutionise your outdoor and garden work, but it’s incredibly important that you understand how to use and maintain them. Otherwise, you risk damaging your chainsaw and even injuring yourself.

Getting Started With Your Chainsaw

If you’ve never used a chainsaw before or a similar power tool, it can take a little time to get used to. However, once you get in the groove, it will feel very natural.

When it comes to beginners, here’s a few things to remember:

• Always cut below shoulder height. This is important to minimise risk to yourself if there is any kickback. If what you want to cut is higher than this, do not stand on a ladder. Instead, use another tool that is specially designed for cutting higher branches, like a hedge trimmer.
• Learn the correct stance. Your feet should be firmly but comfortably planted. This will help keep you stable as you work
• Hold your chainsaw in both hands for maximum stability and control. Be sure to hold it either at an angle or a little to the side of you too — if it is directly in front of you, you can cop quite the punch when there’s kickback.
• Know what your chainsaw can handle. As a general rule of thumb, 16–20 inch blades are fine for most cutting jobs. Anything over 20 is more heavy duty and also harder to control.
• Avoid hitting dirt, rock and anything else that isn’t wood to avoid damage to your chainsaw or injuring yourself.

Staying Safe As You Saw

Now that you’ve gotten to grips with using your chainsaw, it’s time to talk about safety. Chainsaws can do a lot of damage if used incorrectly or in a dangerous way. Therefore, make sure these safety tips are front and centre of your mind whenever you get your chainsaw out.

• Just like knives in the kitchen, a sharp chain will help keep you safe. It should also be properly tensioned. This helps minimise the likelihood of kickback.
• Always have someone nearby or around in case something happens. Acting quickly can save your life.
• Make sure your companion has easy access to a first aid kit, including materials to assist with blood clotting or stemming the flow of blood.
• Kit yourself out with protective equipment, including chaps to protect your legs, a specialised helmet with face guard to protect your face and eyes from flying debris, and gloves and steel-toed boots to protect your extremities.
• Avoid wearing loose clothing that can get caught in the teeth of the saw.
• Know the area you’re working in, including power lines. Downing a power line isn’t just a hassle — it’s extremely dangerous too. So make sure that if you are cutting down limbs or trees that you are not going to hit a power line at any point.

Keep on Top of These General Maintenance Rules

When it comes to staying safe, as well as getting value for your money, knowing how to maintain your chainsaw ticks both boxes. Like any tool, your chainsaw needs to be regularly looked over and adjusted to ensure that it’s running at its best. At a minimum, make sure you’re doing the following:

• Check the chain tension before every use to ensure an optimal performance. Chains that are too tight are more likely to break, while if they’re too loose, they can fly right off.
• Sharpen the chain every 3–4 uses so that it continues to cut properly and efficiently. It’s also time to sharpen if your saw is not cutting in a straight line or you are getting a fine sawdust rather than wood chips as you cut.
• Have your chain sharpened by a professional after sharpening it 5 times yourself. This helps ensure the chain is filed at the correct angles, making it cut more effectively and last longer.
• Check your guide bar each time you use your chainsaw for any bends, wearing or cracks. If it is badly damaged, it will need to be replaced.

Store Your Chainsaw With Care

Along with maintenance, proper storage of your chainsaw will go a long way to keeping it in good condition. To do so, remember to:

• Store your chainsaw somewhere dry and out of the weather. This helps prevent it from becoming rusty or getting damaged.
• Keep it out of reach of children to avoid accidents. Locking it away is best.
• Pack it away in a carry bag or special case to prevent dust from getting into the intricate inner workings and causing premature wear.
• Make sure it is not left in direct sunlight as parts can become brittle when exposed to excessive UV.

Ready to Rip With Your Chainsaw?

By following the tips and guidelines above, you’ll become a chainsaw master in no time, plus get maximum use out of your chainsaw. And when it comes time to replace that trusted friend, Bargains Online has a great range of affordable and quality chainsaws to choose from.