Best Ways to Use Chainsaws

Chainsaws are dangerous equipment with the very real potential to hurt you, if used incorrectly or in circumstances that they weren’t designed for. A chainsaw is a tool used to cut down trees, and chainsaws should only be used to perform this function. If you’re not sure if chainsaws are the right tool for the job then it’s highly recommended that you don’t use chainsaws. Asking for help is a good way to ensure that your chainsaw works well and doesn’t hurt anyone else.

Chainsaws were designed for cutting down trees while freeing them of branches. If chainsaws are used for anything other than this purpose there is a significant potential that chainsaws can hurt you. Using them for purposes other than their original design, including any chainsaw modifications at all, there is an even greater chance that chainsaws will hurt you and/or others around you.

Safety Tips for Chainsaws Users

Having understood the risk involved when using a chainsaw it is important to make note of some safety tips for chainsaws.

1. Never use chainsaws when unsure of what you are doing or if you don’t know chainsaw mechanics.
2. Always ensure that your chainsaw is sharp before use, and check for any chainsaw damages that might affect the chainsaw’s ability to cut correctly
3. Ensure that chainsaws are not used by anyone under the age of 16
4. Always wear chainsaw safety equipment such as chainsaw goggles or chainsaw gloves to protect your chainsaws and yourself from injury.
5. Never use chainsaws in close proximity with other people if possible, which helps avoid chainsaw accidents.
6. Make sure that you are wearing appropriate clothing at all times when chainsawing.
7. Never chainsaw in a rainy or windy environment, if chainsaws are used under these conditions chainsaws may be damaged and chainsaws could hurt you.  

Protective Gears

Apart from chainsaw safety tips, wearing chainsaw protective gear is also an important chainsaw safety tip. Wearing chainsaws goggles or chainsaws gloves are very helpful in protecting yourself from any chainsaw injuries that could happen. Use protective gears like;

• Helmet with faceguard
• Gloves
• Steel-toed or logging boots
• Earplugs
• Never wear loose clothing, as it can get caught in the teeth of the saw

Stance for Holding Chainsaw.

There are many chainsaw stances, which stance you use depends on what chainsaws you’re using and where the chainsaw is needed to go.

1. Keep both feet planted as you operate so you don’t risk losing your balance. Rather than holding the chainsaw straight in front of you, hold it at an angle or to one side with two hands.
2. The most popular chainsaws stance for holding chainsaws is the overhand chainsaws stance because it can easily be used for cutting down trees that need to be cut from the base upwards.

Use the Right Chainsaw

There are many chainsaws available, each with different chainsaws chains and chainsaws handles.

• When cutting wood that needs to be cut from side to side, use a chainsaw that has an offset handle or two handles on opposite sides of the chainsaw’s bar.
• When chainsawing wood that needs to be chainsawed from top to bottom, use a chainsaw with a straight handle or chainsaws chains that are located in the center of the chainsaws bar.

How to Operate an Electrical Chainsaws

When chainsawing with an electrical chainsaw it’s important to remember a few tips for electric chainsaw safety.

1. Ensure that the chainsaws are fully plugged in before starting to use them.
2. If chainsaws chain gets caught or jammed, turn off chainsaws immediately and wait for chainsaws to stop completely before attempting any repairs.
3. Ensure chainsaws are not being used around any flammable substances.

How to Start an Electrical Chainsaws

1. Plugin your chainsaw cord into a power outlet if it uses a cord, if not make sure it is fully charging.
2. Ensure chainsaws are not near anything flammable chainsaws may ignite.
3. Slide chainsaw start switch to ON position.
4. With your chainsaws switch in the starting position, push the chainsaw’s electric trigger until the chainsaws startup.
5. Let go of the chainsaw’s electric trigger once the chainsaw has started up completely.

How to Use a Chainsaw to Cut Trees

1. Startup the chainsaw: Ensure chainsaws are sharp and not damaged in any way before chainsawing anything. Keep the chainsaw’s chains free from any debris that could jam or damage them, clear away fallen leaves and branches surrounding where chainsaws will be used to avoid this.
2. Place chainsaw where you want to make the cut: Carefully lay the device against the wood and allow the blade to cut through it. Don’t push or force the saw to go through the wood.
3. Hold chainsaw firmly with both hands: Keep chainsaws chains at full throttle and chainsaws chains in the middle of the wood to avoid chainsaw kickbacks.
4. Cut straight through: Cut chainsaws completely in one stroke, don’t saw chainsaws back and forth since this could damage chainsaws and lead to accidents.
5. Don’t stop chainsaw without turning it off: It is important chainsaws chains stop moving before it gets removed from the chainsaw. Removing chainsaws chains while chainsaws chains are still running is dangerous and can lead to chainsaw kickbacks or accidents that could cause serious injury.
6. Turn off chainsaws: Slide chain stops switch when chainsaw has completely stopped turning on chainsaws. Wait for the chainsaw’s chains to completely stop moving before removing the chainsaw.

What are Kickbacks?

A chainsaw kickback happens when chainsaws chains are released accidentally when chainsaws chains meet heavy resistance or when chainsaws chains jam. It can also occur when the saw jams and the sawyer tries to pull it out of the jam too quickly causing chainsaws chains to jump out of chainsaws. It is important to know how to prevent kickbacks, what they are, and how to react if one occurs.

Prevent Kickbacks:

• Don’t cut upward at angles greater than 45 degrees chainsaw may kick chainsaws chains upwards at this angle.
• Don’t stop chainsaw chains abruptly if chainsaws chains do stop, release chainsaws chains slowly to avoid chainsaw kickbacks.
• Don’t make cuts above shoulder height. Chainsaw can fly upwards and back at this angle chainsaws chains may not come out of the cut properly.
• Be cautious when chainsawing wet wood: chainsaws chains could slip or be pulled from chainsaw’s bar easily.
• Don’tapply pressure when chainsaws meet resistance chainsaw chains may come out of chainsaws.

What do Chainsaws Kickbacks Look Like?

When chainsaws chains are released, chainsaws chains are sent in the opposite direction causing the chainsaw to fly at the chainsaw operator with great force.

Anyone over the age of 16 can legally operate chainsaws in Canada. Anyone under the age of 16 is not legally allowed to operate chainsaws in Canada without adult supervision and chainsaw training. It is important chainsaws chains be trained before operating chainsaws and taught tools and techniques, such as how to prevent kickbacks, approach a chainsaw properly, what steps to take if a kickback occurs, and chainsaw safety.

NOTE: It’s also important to know chainsaws aren’t toys.