Best Petrol Chainsaws

How do petrol chainsaws work?

A petrol chainsaw is powered by a two-stroke engine and is considered to be a high quality and high-performing machine best used for heavy-duty cutting including tree felling, sawlog prep, and milling.

With the proper maintenance and a full tank of fuel, petrol chainsaws can be taken anywhere, making them portable, durable and strong.

Pros and cons of petrol chainsaws

The two-stroke motor means a petrol chainsaw is much faster and more powerful than other types of chainsaws, making it a suitable choice for large-scale projects. Petrol chainsaws tend to be the largest and can support blades of up to 90cm or more, meaning they can tackle the largest of trees with no problem.

Petrol chainsaws are cordless and easy to move around; they have a run time of 15-45 minutes before they require refuelling. This is slightly shorter than battery chainsaws which can go for up to 2 hours. They are typically more affordable than battery-powered models, however.

The main drawback of the petrol chainsaw is maintenance. The engine needs to be serviced regularly, the tank needs to be full of fuel and the blades of the saw need to be sharpened. It's also the loudest of all the types of chainsaws, making it inconvenient for residential settings (at least on Sunday mornings).

Petrol chainsaws uses

The high-power output of the petrol chainsaw makes it ideal for heavy cutting such as tree felling, log splitting, saw-log prep and milling. If used for these purposes, the guide bar should be at least 50 cm (20") in length. Petrol chainsaws are also suitable for light-medium cutting such as pruning and small tree felling since the blades on chainsaws are interchangeable.

Petrol chainsaws are a great choice if you are working long hours out in the woods since you don’t have to carry extra batteries around. However, if you only do garden work, an electric chainsaw is an excellent alternative. Investing in two batteries will allow you to charge one while you are using the other. An electric saw is also a practical and comfortable alternative since the vibrations are smaller, and it is, therefore, less noisy. With electric, you also don’t have to worry about fumes and emissions.

What should you look out for?

Safety: Safety is of the utmost importance when operating chainsaws. Make sure you're properly equipped with head, eye, feet and ear protection, and have a pair of strong gloves to operate your chainsaw. The noise, fumes and high power-output of your petrol chainsaw may mean further consideration of the environment in which you plan to use it in.

There are many safety features found in chainsaws that can help operate your chainsaw more easily, thus minimising the risk of injury. These include having an anti-vibration system, a quick start option, a tool-free chain tenstioning feature, a chain brake and automatic oiling.

Weight & size: Since chainsaws are very hands-on equipment that you’ll be using for prolonged periods, the weight and size of your chainsaw should be taken into account. You’ll want to choose a model that feels comfortable to you in order to be able to operate it safely and for as long as you need to.

Engine capacity: The engine capacity of your chainsaw will determine how long it can go without refuelling, with larger engine models better suited for commercial or heavy use. Models with a smaller engine capacity may be more suitable for around-the-house and garden jobs.

Price: Prices for petrol chainsaws can range from $169 to $3,000. While those in the higher range may contain some fancier and more convenient features such as a carrying case and an engine air filtration system, they don’t always provide the best value for money. Therefore, it pays to do your own research before purchasing a petrol chainsaw.

You can read reviews on our website today on the top chainsaws in the market.