Choosing an electric chain saw: rules and subtleties of choice.

Advantages of a chain saw

Such a tool for home use and small industries is more convenient and profitable than a gasoline one. Electric saws:

Electric chain saw

• do not require fuel;
• create little noise;
• do not depend on ambient temperature.

In addition to ease of use, a significant advantage of the power tool is its environmental friendliness due to the absence of exhaust gases. This is especially true when sawing indoors.

The disadvantages include the need for a long power cord and a nearby power source, and the inability to work in the rain. But there are saws that run on batteries; their use solves the issue of maneuverability.

How to choose the right electric saw - tips for beginners and more

Choosing an electric saw for gardening and other household purposes is a rather difficult task, especially if the buyer does not have the experience and necessary knowledge. To choose the right tool that will meet your specific requirements, you should study a number of basic factors. Their list includes:

• engine power - the higher this parameter, the larger the equipment will be. As a rule, a saw with a power of 2 kW is optimal for household needs, but we must not forget that the tool’s motor must have a certain power reserve. This is required in order to avoid excessive loads on the device motor;
• the presence of a soft start function - at the moment of starting the saw, the maximum current affects it, which leads to increased wear of the engine. The soft start option allows you to avoid this and extend the life of the electric saw;
• chain brake - this mechanism allows you to avoid kickback when the saw set comes into contact with the surface being cut;
• an automatic lubrication system is a set of elements and mechanisms whose main task is to distribute the required amount of oil to the saw bar and chain;
• 12 Volt battery – the presence of this element allows you to temporarily use the tool in places remote from a direct power source.

In addition to all the listed parameters, the availability of spare parts for the selected electric saw is of great importance. In most cases, finding spare parts will not be difficult, since brushes, gears and other consumables are almost universal and are suitable for completely different electric saws. However, there are still tools on sale whose malfunctions can only be repaired using exclusively original spare parts.

Area of ​​application of the tool

The electric chain saw is used for gardening and preparing firewood. It is very convenient:

• when sawing logs;
• for cutting wood building materials;
• for decorating tree crowns.

When working with a tool, you need to monitor the stability of the current and give it a “rest”.

Scope of application of electric chain saws

Chains and chain brake

Many people are also interested in how to choose a chain for a power saw. Modern power saws use low-profile chains. They have lower performance than high profile ones. But they are safer due to the fact that they are subject to less vibration. However, when working with chain saws, there is always a risk of kickback. It was to protect the operator and the tool itself from this kickback that a chain brake was introduced. The whole scheme is simple in design. In front of the front handle, i.e. There is a protective shield in front of the worker's hand. If during an impact the hand slips and touches the shield, a special spring will act, activating the chain brake.

Types of electric chain saws

They are divided into two types - household and professional. The latter have a large power reserve, which allows them to work non-stop for a long time.

The continuous operation time of household tools is a quarter of an hour, then you need to pause to “rest” the motor. But such electric chain saws are affordable and compact.

Characteristics of electric chain saws

Rating for quality and reliability

The brands of electric chain saws are very diverse, and each manufacturer does everything possible to create the most productive equipment, the price of which will be within affordable limits. It is often not enough for users to simply choose the optimal model. We bring to your attention a rating of electric chain saw brands based on reliability, based on reviews from experts:

1. Stihl.
2. Husgvarna.
3. Bosh.
4. Huter.
5. Makita.
6. Hitachi.
7. Storm.
8. Energomash.

The characteristics of electric chain saws may vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but it is quite easy to compare the general capabilities. Depending on the model, you can use different attachments for your electric saw.

Design features of a chain saw

A standard saw, in addition to an electric motor with a gearbox, has:

Electric chain saw device

• chain with cutting edges;
• guide bar;
• lubrication system;
• protection and control units.

Rotation is transmitted to the chain using a sprocket through a gearbox or direct drive. Many models are equipped with a centrifugal clutch, a lubrication intensity regulator and special oil control windows located on the body.

Additional functions

Manufacturers of saws try to make their use convenient and safe. A good electric saw must have an overheating protection system, an automatic brake, a power-on lock and a soft start.

Engine overheat protection

This function protects the electric chain saw from overheating when the load is too high. A relay built into the mechanism turns off the power and prevents the saw from turning on until it cools down.

Chain brake

The chain brake (stopper) is a part of the safety system of modern models, which ensures braking of the electric saw chain when it suddenly jerks upward. This can happen if you hit a branch or log with the end of the tire. The brake lever is positioned so that when the saw is pulled up, it will hit your hand. This will immediately switch it to the stop position. To start the saw again, you will need to manually move it to the working position.

Power lock button

The power lock button is designed to protect the user from accidentally starting the saw. Even if you touch the power button, the saw will not start working. To start, you will also have to press the lock button.

Smooth engine start

The soft start system gradually accelerates the engine after starting. Even if the saw is turned on at full power, it will be easy to hold it.

Selection rules

The choice of electric chain saw depends on the intended conditions of use. First of all, you need to pay attention to power. The more powerful the equipment, the more reliable it is, but more expensive and heavier.

Engine location in a chain saw

When there are voltage fluctuations, for example, far from a big city, the electric chain saw will work at the limit and overheat. You need to use a stabilizer or buy a tool with a power higher than 2 kW. The longer the bar, the thicker the log the tool can handle. Models with a canvas of 30–40 cm are suitable for home use.

It is also worth considering how the motor is located in the housing. If the tool is narrow, then the motor is installed along the axis. This electric chain saw is well balanced and lasts twice as long as a tool with a transverse motor. But with a tool of the second type it is convenient to cut wood from top to bottom, which is important for rafter work and preparing firewood.

How to use a power saw - recommendations for beginners

Proper operation and care of the electric saw are the most important factors on which the service life of the tool you choose depends. The instruction manual and a number of factors can help with this; if you adhere to them, you will be able to work with the equipment without worrying about its breakdown. The basic rules for using a saw include:

• Sharpen the saw chain regularly - this will create minimal load on the tool’s motor. Chinese electric saws suffer especially badly from working with a dull chain - because of this, their engines overheat almost instantly;
• store the electric saw correctly - this issue will be especially relevant for batteries, which should be stored only in a warm and dry room;
• Do not use the saw under any circumstances during strong voltage drops in the network - some models of equipment are not equipped with a protective relay, which will lead to instant overheating and failure of the saw motor. The same Chinese saws suffer especially often from voltage surges;
• Operate the saw only in a dry room, away from sources of water and moisture.

Compliance with all of the above recommendations will help you avoid sudden repairs of your equipment and unnecessary financial costs.

Rating of popular models of famous brands

It is believed that the best electric chain saws are produced by Bosch, Champion, Husqvarna, Stihl, Hitachi, Karcher, Interskol, Zubr.

Characteristic features of the most popular models:

After selecting a suitable option, it is worth finding out if there is a service center nearby that services the tool of the corresponding brand, so that in case of a breakdown, you can quickly solve the problem. With proper use, the tool will last for more than five years without replacing spare parts, repairs or other additional costs.

Related video: How to choose a power saw

Publications on the topic

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Review of the Sturm CC9922 electric saw

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Cordless chainsaws

The cordless tool is very convenient, almost silent, the absence of toxic exhaust allows you to work indoors, its autonomy is constantly increasing, along with new, more powerful batteries.

Just a few years ago, three-amp batteries seemed an unattainable crown of engineering; today manufacturers offer batteries with nine ampere hours (at voltages of 18, 36, 54 Volts) to the market! The cost of powerful batteries is not small, but we can say with confidence that this is not the case for now.

Older people remember how unattainable computers seemed, and that computers and mobile phones, in just one generation, turned from special communication items into a mandatory attribute of a modern person. The technological wonders of the modern world give us hope that they, these same wonders, will become more accessible.

Have you seen a cordless lawnmower? Manufacturers have already decided on the trend to increase battery power and are equipping those types of tools with batteries that we are used to seeing only in gasoline / diesel or electric / network versions. Well-known brands have set the task for any type of gasoline/diesel/corded tool to produce a battery analogue. It may not be the most powerful tool, but the trend is obvious.

Realizing that the cost of batteries is still high, but not wanting to lose potential customers, manufacturers are offering cordless power tools to the market without an expensive battery and charger. If you have already purchased a complete cordless tool, then why do you need another charger and battery?

But for your already purchased battery, manufacturers offer powerful flashlights, radios, boomboxes, etc. Indeed, why not replenish your toolkit with a new tool without a battery (the so-called zero configuration), for an inexpensive price?

Cordless chainsaws cannot yet boast a long bar or a powerful electric motor, but that’s it for now. A twenty-centimeter tire equipped with a nose stop (hook) is a fairly convenient tool, capable of working silently, indoors (because there is no exhaust), and quite productively (8-20 meters per second).

The weight, even of a chain tool equipped with two batteries, allows it to be operated with one hand, which is very convenient when cutting twigs and branches; in addition, it is possible to work with the upper part of the tire. Well-known brands, in order to unify and develop battery technology, are developing and implementing “one for everything” programs, that is, one battery is suitable for the entire tool. In addition, the batteries that are being developed again will be suitable for older tool models.

Unfortunately, batteries do not last forever, despite their long service life (8-10 years), and the opportunity to purchase a new, even more powerful power source for your tools seems quite practical.

Batteries

Electric saw BISON ZCP-2001-02

When cordless tool manufacturers implement “one-for-all” programs, the battery and charger become key elements of the toolkit.

One, but quite powerful and universal battery, which is suitable for everything, in its new quality looks more profitable than several batteries of different sizes, which, moreover, are suitable only for their tool.

Do not forget that the battery, no matter how good it is, has a service life.

With the advent of lithium-ion batteries on the market, other types of batteries seem like yesterday, but a short overview seems useful.

There are three types of batteries available for power tools:

• (NiCd) - nickel-cadmium;
• (NiMH) - nickel metal hydride;
• (Li-Ion) - lithium-ion.

(NiCd) - nickel-cadmium batteries

Nickel-cadmium batteries have good capacity and low cost, but this is already the century before last (that’s when they were invented).

• Batteries are not afraid of negative temperatures;
• withstand 1000 charge and discharge cycles (lithium-ion more than 5000);
• can be stored for a long time in a discharged state;
• You can work with the battery until it is completely discharged.

(NiCd) - nickel-cadmium batteries are heavier than other batteries of the same capacity, and they also have a “memory effect,” that is, if they are not allowed to fully discharge, they are charged only to the level of the previous discharge.

(NiMH) - nickel metal hydride batteries

Manufacturers of nickel-metal hydride batteries tried to get rid of the negative parameters of nickel-cadmium batteries and they succeeded:

• have smaller dimensions;
• low toxicity;
• slight “memory effect”;
• large capacity;
• resistant to mechanical stress;
• The number of charge-discharge cycles has been increased.

But, (NiMH)-nickel-metal-hydride batteries are of little use at subzero temperatures, they discharge quickly, their service life is shorter than nickel-cadmium batteries, high cost, significant charging time, deep discharge kills the battery.

(Li-Ion) - lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries, especially after modernization, have become unattainable for competitors (in the household segment).

• You can charge a lithium-ion battery at any charge level;
• power is stable at any discharge level;
• service life more than 8 years;
• slight self-discharge;
• charging time is electronically regulated;
• non-toxic;

Manufacturers are constantly improving their products and new lithium-ion batteries are not so sensitive to mechanical stress, and the discharge and recharge processes are regulated electronically, but at low temperatures they can quickly lose charge.

Manufacturers claim that the parameters of lithium-ion batteries bring cordless tools closer to the parameters of gasoline tools (that is, they can already work an entire shift without recharging). Lithium-ion batteries have a high capacity and short charging time; unfortunately, the high cost limits the possibility of purchasing.

The characteristics of the batteries are indicated in the description and on the battery itself: capacity (amp hours) - determines how long the tool can work without recharging (the larger the capacity, the more expensive the battery). It is determined in ampere-hours, that is, if the battery says 9.0 A/hour, this means that within one hour the battery will deliver a current equal to nine Amperes.

Voltage and current determine the power of the battery and, accordingly, its cost. By carefully studying the instructions or receiving reliable information from the service personnel, you will learn how to achieve trouble-free operation and long-term operation of your power tool.

Perhaps you are looking at the “one for everything” program and want to purchase another power tool to complement your battery and thereby expand your toolkit.