STIHL MS181 16" / 40cm Chainsaw

Chainsaws are incredibly useful tools, used in tree care professionals and home gardeners alike. But there are all kinds of things to think about, including whether you want a petrol-powered machine, a corded electric saw or a battery-powered unit.
You might also want to consider the size of the bar around which the chain rotates, the speed of that rotation and vibration rates, particularly if you’re going to be working with your Chainsaw for an extended period of time.

The power source which best meets your needs will depend on how and where you plan to use your machine. For many professionals, a Petrol-powered saw is the preferred choice. Petrol machines tend to be the most powerful examples on the market and are totally portable, so are often the choice of landscaping professionals. However, their power comes at a price; they are noisy, require more maintenance than their electric equivalents and aren’t particularly eco-friendly.
An increasing number of electric Chansaws can offer performance that is comparable to petrol machines. However, with a corded saw, you are constrained by the power cable so need to be mindful of the size of the job and the location of plug sockets. They’re a great option if you have a small to medium-sized garden and a limited amount of foliage to tackle.
A cordless electric Chainsaw can therefore offer the best of both worlds, combining the convenience of battery power with the portability of a petrol machine. The newest battery-powered machines match many petrol machines for performance and power.

Brushed motors use carbon brushes to transfer power from the fixed part of the motor to the rotor. This creates a reliable and relatively inexpensive motor, but brushed motors d require regular maintenance, in order to either clean the brushes or replace them as they wear out. A brushless motor, by contrast, uses a magnet mounted on the rotor to generate the power and electrical switching to perform the function carried out by the brushes. The additional complexity of the motor’s working means that brushless motors are usually more expensive than brushed.
However, eliminating the brushes also eliminates internal friction and maintenance, meaning that brushless motors offer both increased power and a longer working life. Brushless motors also generate less heat and noise and so, on balance, are considered superior to brushed motors.