How's Your Chainsaw?

It's starting to warm up outside, and every year the same question comes up, "Where's my chainsaw?" This year its time to think, "How's my chainsaw" can you get through the season with what you have or is it time to think about replacing that old chainsaw.

Chainsaws are one of the big workhorses of the spring seasons. The snow thaws, and you see all the fallen brush and trees on your property. Now's the time to do a quick check of your equipment to determine whether your saw can handle the rest of the year or you should think about replacing it. Some questions you should be asking yourself when thinking about replacements should be:

• How Often Do I Use It?

Obviously, as with any other tool, the more you use it, the shorter its lifespan will be. Most manufacturers will give you a general "run time" for life expectancy. That general run time is around 2,000 hours

• When Was the Last Time I Sharpened my Chain?

Signs of a dull blade include the saw not pulling itself into the wood, uneven cuts, and smoke even when the saw is oiled and tensioned correctly. You can sharpen a chain about 5 times before replacing it.

• Am I Checking Everything?

While the chain is important for the use of your chainsaw, you should take a look at your entire chainsaw. Bent, cracked, or pitted bars will not hold the chain correctly. Not only does this reduce the efficiency of the saw, but it also makes the saw dangerous to use. If the blades of the chain are tilted instead of pointing straight up, this could be a sign of worn-out grooves on your bar.

• When Was the Last Time I Serviced This?

We've all done it, pulled something out of storage and thought, when was the last time I took this in or even gave it a good once-over. Regular maintenance is important to the lifespan of your chainsaw. By replacing worn out parts on the saw your ensuring it works more efficiently and in turn longer for you. Keeping the chain and teeth oiled and sharpened, and replacing the filter can also help extend the life of your chainsaw.

 

If you're not sure if your chainsaw is up to the task feel free to bring it in! Our knowledgeable repair and sales staff can make sure your tools are up to the task for whatever job your getting into.