Electric Chainsaw - The Truth About Electric Saws

There always seems to be a lot of confusion about whether to buy an electric chainsaw or gas powered model particularly among inexperienced users.

The truth is, if you live in a suburban area, don't have a big yard and don't have a lot of trees and brush to worry about, the answer is simple; get yourself an electric chainsaw. The biggest benefit is they don't cost a fortune so you will generally have no problems fitting one into your budget.

Electric Chainsaw Disadvantages

Yes, there are a couple of disadvantages with an electric chainsaw, not the least that it's at the end of an electric chord plus it perhaps lacks the power of a gas powered chainsaw but these are not really issues especially if you live in areas described above.

Obviously with an electric chord to worry about, you're going to be restricted in how far you can travel with an electric saw. Small yards shouldn't be an issue while large yards means extra extension chord. Also, electric chainsaws should not be operated when it's wet for obvious reasons.

Electric Chainsaw Advantages

One of the biggest advantages of electric saws over gas models is they are a lot quieter and much more neighbor-friendly. If you live in a tight-knit community then noise shouldn't be a problem.

Price is a big consideration and electric chainsaws can just about be "bought for a song" in some instances. There are some excellent buys around and don't think just because a saw is less than $100 it's not a keeper. Some models to keep in mind include the Poulan 16-inch 3.5HP Electric Chainsaw, McCulloch's 16-inch 4HP saw and Remington's 16-inch 12 AMP low kickback model.

These saws are in the $80-$120 range but there are smaller models well under a hundred dollars.

Electric vs. Gas Powered

It really shouldn't come down to a decision between an electric chainsaw or a gas powered saw. Truth is, if you can afford it then having both would be the ideal scenario. An electric saw is sufficient enough for suburbanites in most instances but if you have a little land to look after then consider having the best of both worlds.

Of course budget will determine this but having an electric chainsaw and a gas saw means you can use the former for the lighter jobs when power really isn't needed and the latter for the heavy duty cutting.