Which saw is better: electric or gasoline?
In recent years, electric chainsaws have become increasingly popular. They are compact and cheap – an electric saw can be ten times cheaper than a gasoline one. However, under certain conditions, both one and the other tool have an advantage.
Design features
The design of chainsaws, as a rule, is not too different. In any case, the working organ of the chainsaw is the saw chain. It consists of small segments with a sharp tooth, which can be rotated in a closed ring.
The movement of the chain is guided by an elongated rod with a groove at the end all around the circumference. At the ends of the rail are chain wheels with a saw chain ring stretched between them. The groove in the rail, on which the tensioned chain slides, guides its movement and exerts pressure on the chain when sawing.
The compound sentence of a sword, chain wheels and a tensioned saw chain is called a “saw.”
On one side, the bar is attached to the frame and engine of the chainsaw. At the point where the bar is attached, one of the chain wheels is connected to the machine’s main gear and provides the chain drive power to the machine’s engine. The bracket can be used to swivel the headset and change its angle relative to the engine block.
The difference between the two types of saws is the engine design. An electric chainsaw uses an electric motor as the motor. A chain saw for chain drive contains an internal combustion engine in its design.
Most of these devices use two-stroke engines. Gasoline with a small amount of motor oil is required for operation. The exact types of gasoline and oil, as well as their proportions are specified in the passport of the tool.
Comparing chainsaws and electric saws
When choosing a tool, there are many factors to consider. These include the amount of work required, the conditions in the workplace, and possible restrictions on noise and environmental loads.
amount of work
Differences in the design of the units determine the peculiarities of the use of chain saws of different types. When working at home, the master is not limited to connecting to the power grid. The length of the cable of each electric saw is usually enough to reach the neighboring outlet. At the same time, work around the house usually does not require high power or power tools.
Sawing and construction work requires a powerful and productive tool. Not every budget electric saw can handle cutting thick tree trunks or sturdy beams. Gasoline units in such conditions are much more convenient.
Electric bars have no toxic exhaust fumes and are virtually silent. The chainsaw is lightweight and easy to operate. However, when working with an electric tool, keep in mind that high humidity (such as morning dew in the garden) can lead to electrocution of the operator.
Gasoline units are easier to move from place to place. They are convenient for working in large rooms and open spaces. But chainsaws make a lot of noise, and the exhaust fumes require good ventilation of the workplace. The use of gasoline units in enclosed areas is not always possible.
Comparing the properties of gasoline and electric chainsaws shows that for small jobs in the home the electric chainsaw is beyond competition. Work in the woods, on the construction site make chainsaws preferable. But both types of devices are equally well suited for cottage and garden work.
You should only keep in mind that working with an electric saw in high humidity can be dangerous.
mobility
Using an electric saw, the master finds himself “tied” by the wire to the socket. When working indoors, this is not at all burdensome.
Another extreme situation is in the woods, for example. An autonomous generator is needed to start the electric saw. Often this is quite convenient, but the gasoline-powered saw still gives an advantage in moving around.
A long power cable also creates a significant inconvenience in the garden. The wire needs to be carried from place to place, be careful not to damage garden plantings or fall into a container.
The chainsaw’s light weight and compact size may outweigh the disadvantages of plugging into an outlet. Nevertheless, it is much easier for women to handle an electric saw. A man is likely to prefer a chainsaw – albeit heavy, but with more freedom of movement.
reliability
Because of its simple design, an electric saw can be more reliable than a chainsaw, all other things being equal. It doesn’t have a complicated combustion engine. The electric motor starts immediately and can be turned off at any time. It does not depend on fuel quality and engine oil.
Modern chainsaws are also quite reliable. Long gone are the days when a woodsman had to agonize for half an hour to start the old “friend”. And now you no longer have to carry around a box of spare parts. The new chainsaw starts up literally with the pull of a cord and reliably lasts at least two to three years.
In addition, chainsaws have historically been a tool for professionals. There are almost no cheap chainsaws, and those that are available are designed for difficult working conditions and heavy loads. Unfortunately, most chainsaws are designed for infrequent use in “greenhouse” conditions and cannot boast of the quality of manufacture.
In any case, you should not save money when buying a tool. Whether the saw is electric or gasoline – it is a complex technical equipment. The cheapest devices, most likely, will not last long. And since the saw in any case poses an increased risk, then, saving on the purchase, you can hurt yourself.
Performance
Most electric chainsaws are designed for “home use.” They are compact, lightweight, but less powerful than chainsaws. If you need to cut a few boards, shorten a hole in a wooden wall or cut firewood, an electric saw is powerful enough.
Gasoline-powered saws are designed first and have more power than electric saws.
If you need to saw thick logs, cut a lot of firewood, or cut heavy beams when building a house, you can get the job done much faster with a chainsaw.
The unit is easy to move from place to place, changing the workspace. To start working in a new location, you need to install a power outlet nearby for the power saw and take the time to move the power cord. In addition, you have to be careful that the cord itself doesn’t accidentally get caught under the saw’s teeth when you’re working.
Any motor heats up during operation. When working with an electric saw, you need to take a break every half hour for ten to fifteen minutes to let the engine cool down. But chainsaws can run for hours without a break. This also makes the chainsaw a more productive tool.
frugal
An electric chainsaw is usually much cheaper. The simplicity of design allows electric saws to be sold at a lower price, comparable in power and performance to their more expensive gasoline “brethren.”
In addition, electricity is relatively cheap. Using an electric saw, you can almost never worry about the price of its “fuel.”
A chainsaw is much more onerous in terms of operating costs. First, gas chainsaws themselves are much more expensive than electric ones. They have a more complicated design. In addition, chainsaws have traditionally been designed to be reliable, and therefore expensive.
The cost of consumables for a chainsaw (gasoline and motor oil) is also staggering. Fuel is becoming more and more expensive, and the chainsaw is a very “voracious” consumer of fuel.
However, sometimes the need to work “on the spot” allows you to put up with the high cost of chain saw operation. In addition, the inherently longer life span of a chainsaw makes investing in the tool more rational than buying a “disposable” electric chainsaw.
Ease of maintenance
A chainsaw is very simple and therefore easier to maintain. The electric motor is virtually maintenance-free. To change the bar or the chain, on most electric chainsaws you just have to loosen the large, practical nut with one hand. Virtually all maintenance depends on timely lubrication of the bar and main gear.
Putting the electric saw into operation is very simple: just plug in the socket. With a chainsaw you need to prepare the fuel mixture, pour it into the gas tank and check the lubrication of the engine and transmission. The gasoline engine is started manually, for this you need to pull sharply the starter rope on the handle. It is not always possible to start the engine from the first time. Sometimes you have to play with the auxiliary fuel valve and the throttle key position at the start.
Gasoline chain saws require much more attention and care. In addition to lubricating the tires and transmission, the engine lubrication level and the quality of the fuel mixture must be carefully monitored.
The mixture of gasoline and engine oil itself must also be prepared in time and filled into the fuel tank of the saw. Once mixed, the fuel mixture does not store well, so it must be prepared each time just before work.
Changing the tires on a chainsaw is also more difficult than on an electric saw, because it requires special tools.
But an experienced user can repair a chainsaw in his workshop or even in the woods. Electric saws – if they break down, they need to be taken to a specialized service center.
What is the best saw to give as a gift?
People work at home or in nature, and they are usually near an electrical outlet. And the amount of work on the site is not as large as when logging. As a rule, the options of electric chainsaws for home use are sufficient.
It is important that the electric saw does not require much storage space, it can be stored in a workshop or even in a residential home. The gas saw smells of gas, it is always covered with oil and soot from the exhaust. A chainsaw needs to be stored in a special place – usually a shed.
Chainsaws are more convenient to use when you need to feed the plantation in a gardening dodge. Even to the back of the plot is not always convenient to pull the electric wire needed to work with electric saws. And it’s not safe to use power tools in wet weather.
It’s better to choose a home electric saw. Chainsaws are more appropriate in the country house. However, if funds and conditions allow, it is useful to have both types. The compactness, lightness and unmatched power of electric saws are indispensable for work around the house and in the workshop. A chainsaw, powerful and self-contained, helps you get firewood, build buildings and tend your garden.
Each tool is worth using. The main thing is to consider its features, advantages and disadvantages. In doing so, it is useful to take into account the reviews of people who have had the opportunity to work with tools of both types.
Comparison of chainsaws and electric saws. Review, reviews
Electric chainsaw is a versatile tool for working with different types of wood. The most common modern application of electric saws is work in the furniture industry, domestic use for cutting firewood, as well as construction work (for example, construction of wooden poles, houses, cottages, saunas, bathhouses), sawing work on wood
The mechanism that makes the electric saw work is the electric motor, which runs through the power cord when the tool is plugged in. Cordless saws can also be categorized as electric, because the battery is also charged from the mains. The performance of electric saws varies depending on the type of tool: domestic, semi-professional or professional.
The main area of application of the electric saw:
- sawing of wooden boards, bars;
- gaps in furniture;
- construction work with wood;
- interior work in conditions of limited space;
- sawing, bush mowing, chopping up diseased trees, special knots;
- ability to work outside the home (for cordless models) with any volume of wood.
chainsaw
A chainsaw or chain saw is a tool used in conjunction with an electric chainsaw. This type of tool is designed to work with wood on both domestic and industrial scales.
Modern units run primarily on two-stroke gasoline engines.
Chainsaws operate on a special fuel mixture, for the preparation of which oil is mixed with gasoline in various proportions. The most common proportions that allow engines to work well are 1:40, 1:50, and for some chainsaws – 1:25.
For professional tasks and heavy loads, chainsaws with four-stroke engines are used, their volume is 70 cc or more. The fuel tank capacity of such units can exceed 4 liters of gasoline.
Fuel mixture is not needed to fill 4-stroke chainsaws, as they run on pure gasoline, and oil is poured into the oil sump.
The main area of application of chainsaws:
- Working long distances from a gas station, residential home, public places (e.g.
- Heavy-duty, long-distance use on a professional scale – forestry, construction in desert regions, forestry;
- Sawing branches, bushes, thin woods;
- Domestic use of chainsaws – cutting firewood, small domestic works on wood and other soft materials (chipboard, OSB, fiberboard, etc.).
The common element for electric and gasoline-powered saws is the saw blade, which is assembled from a chain, bar and star, and the most important principle of work – the chain rotates on the diameter of the groove and has a sawing action. The length of the gasoline chain or electric saw can be different for different models. There are chains for 45, 50, 75 members.
Saws differ in the length of the bar and, accordingly, the skills of cutting different diameters. Professional chainsaws and electric saws can work a total of 6-8 hours a day to quickly unwind and maintain performance.
Semi-professional electric and gasoline models run up to 5 hours a day and are used for virtually the same tasks as saws.
Domestic units are geared toward infrequent use and small loads.
advantages and disadvantages
chainsaw
The main advantages of electric saws are:
- A large selection of models for any task;
- relatively low noise level compared to gasoline saws;
- Environmental friendliness and availability of electricity as a cheaper resource, if you compare it with gasoline, as you know, powerful gasoline chainsaws and affect fuel consumption for prolonged use.
- Working with an electric saw is safer, especially in closed rooms – there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during prolonged work.
- Modern manufacturers produce saws that can reliably work in a state of overload, during prolonged use. Many of the semi-professional models work no worse than saws in this category.
- Electric saws – a good and reliable helper in small private households, if there are no professional tasks for sawing or logging wood. Taking a chainsaw just does not make sense.
The main disadvantages of electric saws:
- Electric saws operate within the limits of the mains cable or battery life (that is, the tool must be charged or near a power source at all times).
- Professional electric saws are in some ways inferior to gasoline saws.
- From time to time you have to replace the battery with batteries, in addition, some models of electric saws are sold without a battery, which automatically increases their total cost.
chainsaw
The main advantages of chainsaws are:
- high performance, endurance, ability to endure frequent use and serious loads;
- Autonomy of chainsaw (until the fuel is exhausted), which is maintained by refueling with a new portion of gasoline or oil and gasoline mixture;
- Wide range of petrol saws of different capacities, purposes, for different scope of work;
- Ease of operation and maintenance of the chainsaw;
- Possibility of autonomous operation of the chainsaw from the power source (as opposed to electric saws).
The main disadvantages of chainsaws:
- The presence of harmful exhaust gases (it is good that in modern models of chainsaws this disadvantage is minimized);
- It is recommended to work with a chainsaw only in the open air, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning;
- High cost of professional chainsaws;
- Expensive spare parts, especially for chainsaws of the world’s leading manufacturers.
Conclusion: Which chainsaw is better and why?
It is impossible to say with certainty which type of chainsaw is better – electric or gasoline – because these tools are suitable for a variety of tasks. And these tasks determine which chainsaw you choose. The following – the basic tasks and the requirements for these tasks for both gasoline and electric saws will help you choose a specific model.
Tasks for which a chainsaw will come in handy:
- Regular use of an electric saw is good for domestic purposes, such as B. for cutting small boards, timber, repair work in the barn, garage, chicken coop, installing a fence on the plot.
- Construction work, creating structures out of wood – shed, bathhouse, sauna, gazebo, wooden benches;
- Protocol work;
- Pruning dry branches, thinning vegetation in small areas (for greater mobility, you can use battery-electric models);
- Treatment of wood with an electric saw in closed rooms and poorly ventilated rooms (work in basements, storerooms, balconies is also allowed).
Tasks for which a chainsaw will come in handy:
- Intense loads, such as felling wood, sawing large tree trunks;
- Construction work with wood, wooden beams or beams;
- Sawing wood, working in furniture production;
- Working outdoors, away from residential buildings (forest, taiga, summer houses, forest plantations);
- Low-capacity chainsaws are good for home use, including cutting firewood, trimming dry tree branches, felling bushes, thinning vegetation in the suburbs, and cutting reeds;
- work with a chainsaw helps with weak power grids (with electric shocks it is undesirable to operate powerful appliances, such as a chainsaw for power grids and cables).
Before buying and choosing the model of a chainsaw or electric saw, we recommend reading the materials of thematic forums, as well as the opinions and reviews of owners of chainsaws or electric saws on certain devices and manufacturers.
Video review
How to choose a good chainsaw
How to choose a great chainsaw?
Owners reviews
Dmitry, Chernivtsi:
“People on forums write different things, it is doubtful to believe all the advice. Of course, you need experience. I tell you about my experience: I have a farm with two electric saws – domestic “Dnepr” and the German “Stihl. I am very pleased with these tools, chainsaw mostly needed only for sawing wood in the woods and only for firewood, and in the economy, in my opinion, it is not needed, although it is good if it is. A chainsaw is superior in every way. The output up to 1500 watts is enough, and there is no need to make any fuss with petrol.
Gennady, Boyarka:
“As a chainsaw owner I can say that the tool is not the most revolving, but the power is worth it. I use Swedish Husqvarna 236, its power is 1400 watts. Honestly, I can not name a single significant disadvantage even if I wanted to, because the Husqvarna saw is of high quality and the lack of maintenance headaches works well. And if the opportunity arises and the budget will allow, I would also like to buy an electric saw from the same manufacturer, although they are expensive compared to chainsaws.
