Tools make our life easy. One such tool is a chainsaw. It is used for tree felling, bucking, limbing, pruning, and cutting firebricks for wildfire suppression or domestic burning purposes. A chainsaw consists of many parts and is regarded as one of the most dangerous tools in the world. Hence, you must learn about its basics and safety measures before you start using it. In this article, we will explain everything a beginner needs to know about chainsaws. This guide will discuss:
- The parts of a chainsaw
- How to use a chainsaw
- Safety precautions
- Chainsaw maintenance
- Some common terms associated with chainsaw
Parts of the Chainsaw
A chainsaw consists of three main parts. They are
- The engine: the driving force behind the movement of cutting chain,
- Guide bar and
- The chain.
All these parts have some further parts that allow you to control the chainsaw and complete your work safely. Let’s look at the explanation of these parts.
Engine
Most chainsaws come with a 2-stroke gasoline engine. The gas needs to be mixed with engine oil before adding it to the tank. The latest models require 2-5% of oil in the fuel. 4-stroke engines are also available for chainsaws, but they don’t deliver enough power compared to the 2-stroke engines. You will find a choke, oil reserve cap, starting cord, and a fuel tank cap on a gasoline chainsaw.
You can also go for an electric chainsaw. There are two options for buying an electric-powered chainsaw: corded or cordless (battery-driven). While an electric-powered chainsaw may offer freedom from maintenance and mixing oil and petrol, they fail to deliver the power compared to gas-powered chainsaws. Secondly, they don’t work in remote areas and at times of power outages. Battery-powered chainsaws need frequent charging, and it can be quite a hassle during work.
Guide Bar
The guide bar is the area where the cutting chain revolves. It consists of a gauge, oil holes, grease holes, and a guide slot.
Chain
The third most important part of the chainsaw is the chain. If the chain is out of order, there is no benefit of having a maintained engine and guide bar. Therefore, it is very important to keep the chain sharpened and in nice condition.
The above three parts are the most important components of a chainsaw. Apart from these parts, the following are also important for its working, and each has a purpose and benefit of its own.
Clutch
The clutch plays an important part in the driving mechanism. By clutch, we don’t mean the clutch in your car. The clutch in a chainsaw is quite a simplified version. It is used to ensure that the chain won’t move when the engine is running idle. It protects the engine when the chain is stopped while cutting wood and also protects the user in the case of the kickback.
Handles
Almost all the chainsaws come with two handles, a front handle, and a holding handle. You need to grip the handles properly to ensure that you stay safe while working with a chainsaw.
Throttle and Safety Lock
All the chainsaws come with a throttle, and almost all of them have a safety throttle or safety lock. The throttle is used to increase the chain’s speed; the safety throttle is placed to ensure that you don’t accidentally turn on the chain when the saw is not in use. It is a basic safety measure and must be kept in proper working conditions.
Chain Brake/Hand Guard
A chain brake or handguard is installed to ensure that your hands stay safe during the unfortunate event of a chain brake or any other mishap.
Choke
A choke is helpful when starting a cold chainsaw. The purpose of the choke is to stop air from entering the carburetor.
Decompression Valve/Switch
It comes in some gasoline chainsaws and releases compression from the combustion chamber. It helps to start the engine easily.
Now that we know about the basics of all the parts in the chainsaw, it is time to learn about using a chain saw. We suggest that you read the entire procedure and follow the safety procedures. Please keep in mind that this usage guide is not a professional course; neither is it a replacement of the instruction manual that comes with the product. The skillset is developed gradually after some experience.
How to Use a Chainsaw
First of all, a beginner must learn how to start a chain saw. The following steps will walk you through the starting and using process.
Step 1: Place your chainsaw on a flat surface, preferably ground. Engage the chain brake until it locks in its place.
Step 2: Now, you need to pull the starting cord. If the chainsaw is cold, move the choke to the on position. If you have a decompression valve, push it. Prime the engine and pull the cord. The best and most hassle-free way to start the engine is to place your right foot on the back handle and hold the front handle with the left hand. Now pull the starting cord with your right hand. Your saw will start in 1-2 attempts. The throttle may need to be pushed to power up the engine and disengage the clutch.
Step 3: When you want to make the cuts, hold the front handle with your left hand. Make sure that the thumb is on the internal side while holding the saw. Your right hand will hold the back handle. It is the handle with the trigger. Move your legs at least one foot apart to get better stability and avoid awkward standing and working postures. Push in the throttle and place the chain in the cutting place. While cutting, you must avoid cutting the bar tip and the upper portion of the chain. It can cause kickback injuries. Remember to cut below the waist height. More safety precautions are given in the safety section below.
Step 4: Once you have made the desired cuts, turn off the saw and keep it aside. Make sure you don’t keep it near your work area to not accidentally stumble upon it. Engage the safety lock.
Safety Precautions
The following safety precautions will help you achieve a safe working experience.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – It is the most important safety measure you need to take while working with a chainsaw. A chainsaw is not like a table saw or circular saw. It is a very dangerous tool, and the injuries can be very severe. You must don a hard hat, safety goggles, hearing protection, chaps (thigh and knee protection pads), heavy-duty work gloves, and work shoes with a steel toe. A hard hat protects you from falling branches while working in the open; hearing aids save your ears from loud noise; goggles protect your eyes from tiny wood chips, and chaps will keep your legs safe from blades. All the items in the PPE are very important, and one should never miss out on them.
Inspect the Chainsaw – Before starting your chainsaw, you must check the saw. All the parts must be properly working. You must check that chain links are intact and not broken. The chain must be mounted properly and must not be loose. It must not be too tight either. Check that you have enough gas in the engine before working. If you are using an electric saw, check all the parts. Make sure that the wire is spread safely and is not in contact with water. You must not stretch the wire fully, and it must be loose. We don’t want the wire coming out while the saw is cutting a tree.
Cutting Procedure Safety – You must follow the cutting safety all the time. Apart from wearing the right PPE, you must not cut with the tip of the saw and operate the saw below waist height. If you have to make a low cut, don’t bend over the saw. It can be very dangerous. The best way to deal with such a situation is to sit down on your knees and make the cut with a flat back. Hold the chainsaw to the side of your body while cutting. It will help avoid injuries from kickback.
Chain Safety – Never compromise on the sharpness of the chain. Dull and blunt chains can lead to injuries and put extra load on the engine. One must never remove the chain guard/brake. Follow the safety measures while sharpening or replacing the chain.
Keep the Children Away – If children are accompanying to the forest, make sure that they are at least 15 feet away from the place where the chainsaw is being used. Children are usually curious about tools, explain to them the dangers, and instruct them not to touch the saw in any case.
Use Common Sense – One of the most important safety measures you can take is to make use of your common sense. Look, hear, smell, and feel everything while using a chainsaw. If you notice extra vibration during cutting, burning smell, or see anything out of order, stop immediately and check what’s wrong. Remember the saying; a stitch in time saves nine.
Chainsaw Maintenance
For gas chainsaws:
- Add fresh gas and oil to the gas chamber
- Check the chain tension and adjust if needed
- Inspect the bar before using it and keep it cleaned
- Check the sharpness of the chain
- Keep the air filter neat and clean
- Replace the oil when necessary
- Check the gauges, air intake, exhaust regularly. All the parts must be free from debris and dust
- Follow all the instructions given by the manufacturer for storing, using, and maintaining your saw
For electric chainsaws:
- Chain sharpening and inspection before use
- Battery charging in cordless models
- Check the power cord in corded models
- Run a safety check before starting the saw
- Follow all the instructions given by the manufacturer for storing, using, and maintaining your saw
Some Common Terms Associated with Chainsaw
Let’s look at some of the common terms associated with a chainsaw. They are also considered to be the applications of the chainsaw.
Felling – The process of cutting individual trees is known as felling. It is also referred to as downing.
Bucking – The process of cutting a downed tree into logs is known as bucking. Logs are used for stoves and fireplaces.
Grubbing – The process of removing a tree from the ground is known as grubbing.
Pruning – It is the trimming of the tree by cutting branches, shrubs, twigs, and roots.
Undercutting – When you cut upward from the bottom of the log, it is known as undercutting.