Even Saws Laden with Safety Features Must Be Used Carefully

Chain saws range from small, light-duty electrics to large gas-powered models intended for forestry work. Chainsaws with specially designed bar and chain combinations have been developed as tools for use in chainsaw art.

Specialist chainsaws are used for cutting concrete. Chainsaws are also used for cutting ice, for example in Finland for avantouinti.

The kinds of jobs you plan to do should dictate the type of chain saw you buy. Here's what you need to know before you shop.

Gas-powered chain saws

These tend to cut more quickly and smoothly than electrics, and their faster chain speeds require less pressure. But most are heavier and noisier, require fueling and regular service for the engine's air filter and spark plug, and emit exhaust fumes. And starting the engine usually requires several hard yanks on a starter cord. Chain-bar lengths are typically 16 to 18 inches for homeowner saws, longer for pro models.

Electric chain saws

Most electric saws have a plug-in power cord and cost less than gas-powered models. Most also weigh less. And all start effortlessly: Just plug them in and squeeze the trigger. But their slower sawing limits them to lighter-duty chores, while their power cord keeps you tethered to the nearest electric outlet. Cordless electric chain saws run on battery power and free you from a power cord. But they can cost more than many gas saws
 

Reduced-kickback chain

Extra guard links and a less-aggressive cutting profile help keep the chain from taking too large a bite, which could cause kickback. Most saws now include this feature.

Reduced-kickback bar

Most chain saws have a bar with a narrow tip or nose to limit the cutting area that generates most kickback.

Chain brake

This feature stops the chain almost instantly when the front hand guard is pushed forward or if the saw kicks back. Most gas-powered saws and many electrics now have one.

>>More

Despite safety features and protective clothing, injuries can still arise from chainsaw use, from the large forces involved in the work, from the fast-moving, sharp chain, or from the vibration and noise of the machinery.

A common accident arises from kickback, when a chain tooth at the tip of the guide bar catches on wood without cutting through it.This throws the bar (with its moving chain) in an upward arc toward the operator which can cause serious injury or even death.

Another dangerous situation occurs when heavy timber begins to fall or shift before a cut is complete — the chainsaw operator may be trapped or crushed. Similarly, timber falling in an unplanned direction may harm the operator or other workers, or an operator working at a height may fall or be injured by falling timber.

Gasoline-powered chainsaws expose operators to harmful carbon monoxide (CO) gas, especially indoors or in partially enclosed outdoor areas