Before attempting tree work, it's crucial to learn how to properly use a chainsaw to ensure your safety.
Time Varies
ComplexityIntermediate
CostVaries
Introduction
Ensure your safety while learning how to use a chainsaw. Follow our step-by-step instructions for proper chainsaw setup and operation.
Chainsaws are excellent tools for cutting fallen trees and large branches. They are incredibly powerful and can cause severe injuries if used improperly. It is essential to be cautious while using a chainsaw and to follow all safety guidelines to prevent accidents. Remember that most accidents occur during the initial cut and the finish of the cut.
Most newer chainsaws come with safety features built into the chainsaw, which are beneficial but should never be considered a replacement for thorough training in chainsaw operation. Before starting the chainsaw, ensure you have all the necessary safety gear:
- Safety gloves
- Steel- or composite-toe boots
- Hearing protection
- Full face shield
- Safety chaps
- Safety helmet
Electric vs gas chainsaws
With various options available, including gas-powered and electric models, deciding which suits your needs can be overwhelming.
Gas chainsaws are known for their incredible power, making them capable of handling large-scale tasks such as cutting down trees and thick logs. They require regular maintenance, including fuel and oil, air filter cleaning, and spark plug replacements. Compared to electric chainsaws, gas chainsaws tend to be heavier and louder.
Electric chainsaws are lightweight, easy to start and require minimal maintenance. They are eco-friendly since they run on electricity but are typically less powerful than gas chainsaws. Depending on the model, battery-powered chainsaws may have limited runtime and require frequent recharging, or you’ll need to have additional batteries charged and ready to go.
A gas chainsaw would provide enough power if your work mainly involves large-scale tasks. For smaller projects around your home, the cutting capabilities of an electric chainsaw may suffice. If you’re a beginner or have limited physical strength, an electric chainsaw’s lightweight design and ease of use may be more appropriate.
Avoid chainsaw kickback
Always wrap the thumb of your left hand around the front handle while cutting. This encircling grip keeps the saw under control during a kickback. Cutting with the chain on the bottom of the bar is the most common and natural-feeling way to cut. Cutting with the bottom bar will pull the chainsaw towards the trunk. Cutting the underside of a trunk requires you to cut with the top of the bar, which is a little unnerving initially because the saw pushes toward you. But it’s safe if you’re well-braced and follow all other precautions.
You should avoid a spot on the bar called the kickback zone, which is the top half of the bar’s tip. If the kickback zone comes in contact with something while the chain moves, the saw will kick up and back toward you. Modern chainsaws have a chain brake to stop the chain if a kickback occurs.
I recommend taking the time to stand back and assess the situation. Think about how you’ll cut each branch and what will happen. Branches facing up will fall, so make sure the fall path is open. Even seasoned pros can’t always predict how far the trunk will drop or whether the tree will roll. But you should always imagine the worst-case scenario and be prepared for it.
Tools Required
- Adjustable wrench
- Chainsaw
Materials Required
- 2-cycle small engine oil
- Bar and chain oil
- Fresh gas
Watch How To Use a Chainsaw Safely
Project step-by-step (10)
Step 1
Preparation and inspection
Before using your chainsaw, ensure you have the proper safety gear and read the operator’s manual because each chainsaw is unique.
Inspect the chain to see if the blades are dull and need to be sharpened or replaced. A dull chain is unsafe and overworks the saw. If you don’t know how to sharpen a chainsaw chain, you can purchase a new one from a hardware store or home center.
Step 2
Check the chain tension
Next, check the tension of the chain. When pulled, a correctly adjusted chain should offer some give but not disengage from the guide. To make adjustments, use an adjustable wrench to loosen the bar nut that holds the bar. Then lift the bar while tightening the adjusting screw until the chain is snug against the bar. The tension is correct when you can’t lift the chain drivers free of the bar groove, but you can still drag the chain easily around the bar with a gloved hand. Retighten the bar nut.
Step 3
Top off the oil and gas
Fill the saw with gas. For chainsaws with two-cycle engines, premix gasoline with the proper ratio of two-cycle chainsaw oil (found in the owner’s manual). Then, fill the oil reservoir with bar and chain oil. Move at least ten feet from the filling area to a spot cleared of ignitable debris.
Step 4
Set up the work area
Position the trunk or branch you will cut in one of two ways:
- So both ends are supported and stable, and you’ll cut in the middle.
Or
- So one end is supported and stable, with one end in the air, and you’ll cut at the end in the air.
If possible, cut at waist level. Do not operate a chainsaw on a ladder to prune tree branches above shoulder height. If you are cutting on a hill, even a gradual one, you should cut on the uphill side of the log in case it begins to roll after or during the cutting process.
Step 5
Activate the chain break
Put on your safety gear. Place the chainsaw on the ground. Gently move the chain brake forward until it securely engages. Typically positioned as a distinct lever between the chainsaw’s top handle and the blade, the chain brake halts the chain’s rotation until you disengage the brake and activate the throttle.
Step 6
Starting the chainsaw
When using a gas-powered saw equipped with a choke, activate the choke. If the saw has a primer button, press it four to six times to allow fuel into the carburetor.
With the saw on the ground, put your right boot into the back handle loop and grasp the front handle with a stiff left arm. Wrap the thumb of your left hand around the front handle and pull the pull cord handle to fire up the engine. Once the engine has warmed up, release the choke lever.
For an electric chainsaw, press the power button to start.
Step 7
Engage the throttle
After starting the engine, the chain will stay still. To set the chain in motion, you need to engage the throttle. Safely position yourself before engaging the throttle by firmly planting your feet and holding the saw securely. Experiment and become familiar with how your saw responds to the throttle. Only start cutting when comfortable and well-balanced, with your feet shoulder-width apart. Always stand to one side of the saw and never directly behind it. Before touching the wood, the chainsaw should be at full throttle.
Step 8
Cutting with a chainsaw
The actual cutting process will look a bit different depending on how your log is set up. Either way trim all the small branches from the before moving on to cutting the log.
If the log is set up so that both ends are supported and stable, and you’re cutting in the middle:
- First, cut through 1/3 of the log from the top down.
- Finish the cut cutting from the bottom up through the remaining 2/3 of the log.
If the log is set up so that one end is supported and stable, with the end you are cutting unsupported in the air:
- First, cut through 1/3 of the log from the bottom up.
- Finish the cut cutting from the top down through the remaining 2/3 of the log.
Cutting the log in this way creates as little binding as possible, as the trunk’s weight pinches the saw’s bar. When you’re ready to start cutting, release the chain brake and fully engage the throttle. Place the saw in the intended cutting position. Avoid attempting to force the saw through the wood. Only release the throttle after you have finished each cut.
When you move from place to place with the saw running, even if it’s only to the next branch, remove your right hand from the back handle and carry the saw at your side with your left hand holding the front handle. Then, if you trip or stumble, the saw’s engine cannot accelerate and start the chain spinning.
Step 9
Turn off the chainsaw
Before putting the bar cover back on the chainsaw or placing it back into its case, switch off the chainsaw and let it cool off. Store your chainsaw in a dry location away from outdoor elements. If you have a gas chainsaw, empty the fuel tank or use a fuel stabilizer to winterize the chainsaw or for long-term storage.
Step 10
FAQ
When do you need to replace a chainsaw chain?
Replace the chain if you notice that the drive links on your chainsaw are not aligning correctly with the bar or if the cutter teeth and drive links are cracked or bent. Also, a general rule of thumb is that if the chain has been sharpened 10 times, it may be time to consider replacing it.
What size should you cut wood for firewood with a chainsaw?
Cut a log on the ground into 16-inch lengths for firewood by sawing three-quarters of the way through it. Then, roll the log over and complete the cuts.
What is the correct tension on a chainsaw chain?
The chain should have a bit of slack, but not so much that the drive links separate from the bar nose. The bar links should feel like they’re lifting without disengaging from the guide bar.
