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A chain saw can be used to trim the woods or cut the trees into logs. They provide muscle for cutting firewood, tree trimming and other tough jobs around the yard. Commonly used chain saws are categorized as lightweight (8-14 inches), for trimming branches and felling small trees; midweight (14-18 inches) for cutting larger trees and logs. Professionals use saws that are larger (over 18 inches). These saws can cut your work time by more than half; however they need to be respected for the power that they possess. Safety goggles, safety hard hat, gloves, sturdy footwear and earplugs are a must as part of the safety gear when using chain saws. Power models are heavier, have more cc rating and longer bars are standard. These are used by farmers/timber growers/businesses regularly but are not meant for professional timber fellers. They also cost more. The values for money type of models are lighter with lesser cc and shorter bars. These saws are normally meant for the occasional user.
Features and working of chain saws Chainsaws consist of a small two-stroke gasoline internal combustion engine or electric motors on smaller models, the blade and the cutting chain which loops around the outer edge of the blade. Each segment in the chain has a small blade, called a "tooth". "Skip tooth" chains have a tooth only on every second link, and prevent clogging of the chain when cutting very soft wood. The teeth in the modern chainsaws are not straight blades; instead they have a forward section which first chips a piece of wood from the bottom, then another section, at a right angle to the first, chips a piece from the wall of the cut. There are left and right handed teeth which are alternated in the chain. The underside of each link on the chainsaw has a small metal finger to center the tooth between the bar rails and also circulate the lubricating oil around. It also engages with the engine's drive sprocket inside the body. The engine drives the chain around the track at a high speed, providing the cutting action. Before starting to use the chainsaw, ensure that it is sharp and the tension is properly adjusted. Loose tension can result in the saw coming off track and too tight tension would make the saw bind often, both of which could be potentially dangerous. What to look for when buying a chain saw Familiarize yourself with the various functions and controls, by understanding the manufacturer’s specifications/instructions thoroughly. Get acquainted with the saw and have a good understanding of how it works. Mistakes with chain saws could be a serious safety risk. A Kickback is caused by the saw contacting an object with the upper part of the bar nose and the saw is thrown as a result of the chain’s force. Usually the saw gets thrown up and backward. Some chain saws have a chain brake/hand guard that stops chain automatically if kickback occurs. Automatic gear driven chain oiler for lubrication to bar and chain when the saw is running, anti-vibration system and air filters are some of the other features that are available on certain models. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, requires you to have the following parts on a saw: Chain Catcher (protection from chain); Anti-vibration handle system (hand and protection);
Hand guard (hand protection); Muffler (hearing protection); Chain brake (kickback protection); Throttle (controls saw speed); Throttle interlock (kills power when dropped). With good care and regular maintenance, most non-professional saws will last almost 10 years, and the models do have the spare parts available for upwards of 10 years from the manufacturers. Dolmar, Echo, Husqvarna, John Deere, Jonsered, RedMax, Solo and Stihl are some of the names of reputed manufactures of chain saws.
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