Using a chainsaw isn’t difficult at all. Using a chainsaw correctly will become second nature once you’ve mastered a few fundamental basics.

In addition, you should know how to safely split logs and limb trees. Even though a chainsaw is one of the most useful and convenient garden tools, many people are hesitant to use one for the first time for a variety of reasons.

An unsafe chainsaw can be exceedingly dangerous to operate if not utilized properly. If you want to avoid these dangers, you need to know how to use your chainsaw appropriately.

This article will help you understand how to do so. It is possible to use a chainsaw safely with some practice, although this is not recommended.

As if it were not there, they will hack through flesh and bone with no qualms. Chain brake is your only hope if you find yourself cutting too close to your face or head and encounter a kick back.

If you don’t have sufficient control of the saw, this is the only way you’ll be spared serious injury.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Chainsaw Safety Basics

Protective gear for the wearer. With that out of the way, let’s begin with your personal protective gear (PPE). You should always wear your eyes protection, have excellent safety boots, ear protection, a long-sleeve shirt, long pants, gloves, and chainsaw chaps when using a chainsaw.

When cutting down a tree, it’s best to wear a hard hat to protect your head. There’s nothing wrong with wearing full personal protective equipment even if you’re just going to cut down a few limbs that were blown down by heavy winds last night, but nonchalance can be fatal.

You can’t go wrong with chainsaw chaps! They work like this: The nylon outer shell is encased in many layers of Kevlar, the same material used in bulletproof vests.

Kevlar strands first resist cutting, but then they’re dragged into the saw’s sprocket and block the chain in a matter of seconds, preventing further damage.

For the sake of not being explicit, consider how quickly a chainsaw can cut through wood, and then consider the damage it may cause to an unprotected person’s leg. Chaps, on the other hand, are priceless.

Create a safe place for people to work. Check the environmental safety of the unique scenario before beginning any cutting. In the case of a hunch, glance up, down, and around.

When the tree falls, is there a way out for you? Is it possible to see where the tree is going to fall?

What would happen if it veered off course and ended up in the doghouse or the electrical lines? Do bugs or illness weaken the tree? How do you want the tree to fall?

At the end of the day, ask yourself if you are comfortable sawing and don’t be scared to say no if you are not. In fact, if you’re really worried about the danger, it’s probably best to go ahead and re-contact the tree service.

Using the Chainsaw

Lumbering, bucking, and felling are the three primary functions of a chainsaw. Remove branches from a downed tree via limbing. Bucking is the process of reducing the diameter of a downed tree’s trunk.

Felling, on the other hand, is the process of carefully chopping down an upright tree so that it will fall safely in its intended location.

Keeping up with the latest workplace slang will help you impress your co-workers: In the same way that firewood is not chopped but split, unless you are young George Washington with your trusty axe, trees are never “cut down,” but “felled.”

When preparing onions for your home fries, don’t bother cutting them.

Check out this primer for detailed instructions on how to limb, buck, and fall. Regardless of the task at hand, the following are safe-use recommendations and procedures to keep in mind:

Before you begin using a chainsaw…

Before you start the saw, check the controls, bar, handles, as well as the chain sharpness and tension to make sure everything is in order. We’ll go into more depth about maintenance tomorrow.

Even if you’re only going to use the saw for a few minutes, remember to refuel the gas and bar oil reservoirs every time.

The saw will never run out of lubricating oil if you make this a regular practice. Designed to run out of a full fuel tank before running out of a full bar oil tank. Why?

Running out of gasoline isn’t an issue; all you have to do is refuel the saw. However, when the saw’s bar oil runs low, the friction and heat it generates are severe enough to harm the saw.

While the saw is on the ground, do not place it on the ungrounded tailgate of a truck to add fuel and oil. When refueling, make sure the saw is not hot. Of course, it goes without saying that you should abstain from smoking while you are refueling.

Starting the chainsaw

It is possible to start a chain saw on the ground or even between your legs safely and securely. To start either, make sure the choke is closed (“on”), then in case the chain brake is engaged always push the handle forward, and turn on the start switch.

Handling the saw

Regardless of what you’re using a chainsaw for, there are a few common-sense regulations to follow. Keep a firm grip on the saw while sprinting and avoid any bizarre body contortions by keeping your feet planted firmly on the ground and keeping an eye out for any potential tripping hazards.

The thumb on your left hand should be securely grasped around the front handle.

Dealing with pinching and kickback

Remember that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. That principle (Or, is it a law?) is demonstrated by saw kickback. Theory? Hypothesis? I can’t remember, and occurs when the bar tip’s upper corner collides with an impervious surface or gets pinched.

A bar is pushed up and towards the operator before he or she has a chance to respond due to the saw’s tremendous amount of power and speed. It is best not to engage the saw with the bar’s upper corner during cutting, and to keep an eye on the tip at all times.

Otherwise, learn how to properly use the saw by using a firm, two-handed grip, a balanced posture, a sharp, tensioned chain, and by being aware of circumstances in which the bar could be squeezed by the wood being cut through. Practice these skills until they become second nature.

Related Article: Top chainsaw tips and tricks

There are pressures in a branch, log or standing tree that determine how an operator will approach a cut, and “pinching the bar” is an excellent entrée into this concept of pressures. Every limb, log, and tree has some combination of tension and compression.

Wood fibers are stretched apart when a force is present, and the kerf (the groove in the wood formed by a saw) widens as the cut deepens as a result. It is the reverse of tension that causes the fibers to come together, causing a tightening of the cut as it becomes deeper.

If the operator is not paying attention, this can force the bar to pinch and the chain to come to a sudden halt. The best advise I can give is to pause and assess the situation before making any cuts. It is common for the kerf to open or close somewhat as the cut progresses.

Kerf opening indicates that you should go full speed forward; kerf closing indicates that you should draw the saw out and attempt to cut from the other side.

The Do’s and Dont’s of Using a Chainsaw

A chainsaw is one of the most useful instruments you may have in your garden. Using it can make tasks like chopping wood or removing tree limbs a lot more convenient.

If you’re going to use a tool like the WORX 18″ Electric Chainsaw, you’ll need to learn about chainsaw safety and some of the best practices for using a chainsaw.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to properly use a chainsaw safely, this is the post for you. Keep your chainsaw blades sharp, don’t cut on the ground, refill your chainsaw securely, and make sure your chain tension is correct.

Keep your chainsaw’s blades sharp at all times for your own safety

The sharper the blade, the better it is in cutting. You can still chop wood with a chainsaw, but dull blades make it more difficult and result in more wear and tear on the machine’s parts.

Sharpening your chainsaw blades is one of the best chainsaw safety recommendations since dull blades increase the chance of the saw bucking.

When using a chainsaw, avoid making any cuts on the ground

Cutting close to the earth increases the possibility of your bar sinking into the ground. The first thing you should do when learning how to handle a chainsaw properly is to make all of your cuts from the ground.

Related Article: Top 10 best rated chainsaws ever!

Clean the blades with a damp cloth to remove any dirt that might get into the chain. With frequent ground-level trimming, you may want to look at the 20V JawSaw Cordless Chainsaw.

You can cut close to the ground without fear of the blade contacting soil because of the jaws’ design.

Maintain Chainsaw Refueling Safety

You won’t have to worry about running out of gasoline if you have a 16-inch electric chainsaw like the 14.5-amp Electric 16-inch Chainsaw. Those with gas chainsaws, on the other hand, must master the proper techniques for mixing and refueling their fuel.

Related Article: Do chainsaws take regular or mixed gas?

As an important safety tip, never refill a chainsaw if it is still running hot. Fuel could be ignited by the engine’s heat. Before adding fuel, allow the chainsaw to cool for 10-15 minutes.

When first learning to use a chainsaw, avoid using any motor oil

For a chainsaw to function effectively, the bar and chain must be oiled. If you’re going to use something like motor oil in the chain lubrication reservoir, you might as well use what you have on hand.

Avoid using anything other than chainsaw lube when using a chainsaw.

Oil for chainsaws is designed to reduce wear on the chain by coating it and keeping it from slipping off the bar. However, while using motor oil would be preferable to using nothing at all, it is not intended for this function and so will not perform as well as the lubricant advised in the chainsaw user guide.

Maintain the Correct Chain Tension at All Times

A chainsaw’s chain tension is one of the most critical aspects of safe use. To prevent the chain from falling off the bar while the machine is running, make sure it is not too tight.

Check the chain tension before starting your chainsaw to avoid injury and to extend the life of the equipment.

Maintaining proper chain tension is simple with the WORX 8 Amp Electric 14″ Chainsaw. With its tool-free tensioning system and auto-tension chain system, it is easy to tighten the chain. Chainsaw safety is made simple with this device.

One of the most important chainsaw safety tips is to never use old gas

Gas-powered chainsaws have the disadvantage of requiring more regular maintenance. You’ll need to drain the gas tank and run the carburetor dry before putting the tool away for the winter.

Removing old gas from the chainsaw before storing it is recommended by most manufacturers.

When it comes to chainsaw safety, it’s a good idea to empty the gasoline tank before each use. Using a chainsaw safely is a crucial element of getting the job done.

Keep these chainsaw pointers in mind when you’re first learning how to use one so you don’t make any mistakes.

Conclusion

By following this straightforward instruction manual, anyone may safely and effectively use a chainsaw. Using a chainsaw in a safe and confident manner will be possible. There is a steep learning curve involved in mastering the art of chainsaw safety and dexterity.

To improve your skills with a chainsaw, take a practical chainsaw operator’s course, which teaches you how to handle various circumstances.

A comprehensive set of safety gear, including a hearing protection, gloves, face shield, hard hat and chainsaw chaps to protect the legs from the chainsaw, is strongly recommended.

A tourniquet could save your life if you accidentally cut a major blood vessel. When you’re not cutting, make sure your chain brake is engaged to assist prevent accidents. When using a saw, be sure to have another person nearby in the event of an accident.

As a general rule, it’s best to learn the ropes from a person with a lot of expertise with chainsaws the first time you use one. In other words, chainsaws can accomplish a lot of work, but they must be managed with care, just like any other powered saw.

Author – Richard Forde

Richard is the founder of thewoodcuttersson.com and is crazy about everything to do with axes, hatchets, chainsaws and forestry tools. Much of his free time is spent in the woods or writing articles for his blogs.