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| Photo Credit: The Black & Decker Corp. |
| Lightweight, cordless chain saws still offer heavy cutting power. |
If you’re thinking about buying a chain saw but you’re not built like a lumberjack, you’re in luck. There’s a new emphasis on designing lighter, easier-to-use, easier-to-maintain saw tools.
Another good thing is that chain saw prices can be very reasonable. The cheapest (which you might consider if you think you’ll do just a small project or two a year) start at an amazingly low $40! A quality medium-sized chain saw that can see you through a lot of cutting over the years will come closer to $200. No matter the price point, you have two basic choices when it comes to chain saws: electric or gas-powered. Electric models are light, quiet, inexpensive, require minimal maintenance and turn on with a switch. What they don’t have is enough power for big jobs. Big limbs and regular chores (like cutting firewood) are better handled with gas-powered equipment, which simply have more oomph. Once you’ve determined whether you want a gas or electric saw, you’ll need to think about blade size. The bigger the blade (often called a bar), the more heavy-duty the saw’s cutting ability. However, the bigger the blade, the less maneuverable the saw will be – which can make tight cuts, like at the crotch of a branch, difficult. Another thing to consider is the added weight and cost of a bigger blade. Most homeowners do fine with bars in the 12- to 20-inch range. A chain saw longer than 20 inches may be difficult for the average homeowner to handle. In fact, the bigger saws are targeted more for pros, with price tags to match: $250-$350.
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