Battery-powered chainsaws have come a long way. A few years back I wouldn’t have trusted one to cut a full cord of firewood — the batteries died too fast, the motors bogged down in dense wood, and you’d lose half a day waiting on a charge. That’s not the case anymore. On my ranch in…
Most budget chainsaws I’ve picked up over the years fell into one of two categories: surprisingly capable, or a complete waste of a Saturday afternoon. The difference usually isn’t the price — it’s knowing which ones are worth your money before you pull the trigger. I run a ranch in Montana. I cut firewood every…
I’ve seen what a chainsaw can do to unprotected hands, and I’ll leave it at that. Whether you’re dropping trees on a Montana ranch or clearing brush in your backyard, your hands are too close to that chain for comfort — and regular work gloves won’t cut it. They will, however, get cut through. Chainsaw…
I bought my first chainsaw before I really knew what I was doing. I grabbed something that looked powerful, hauled it out to the back forty, and spent the first twenty minutes wondering why my hands were shaking and my arms were already tired. Too heavy, too much bar, too much machine for where I…
A $300 budget gets you a lot more chainsaw than most people realize. I run a ranch in Montana, and over the years I’ve run everything from beat-up $150 box-store saws to professional-grade machines that cost more than my first truck. The sweet spot for a homeowner who needs to clear trails, cut firewood, or…
If you want a chainsaw that starts every single time, never runs out of battery mid-cut, and costs less to maintain than a gas saw, a corded electric chainsaw deserves a serious look. I’ve used corded electrics on my Montana property for everything from trimming storm-damaged limbs to bucking small logs for the firepit —…
Let me save you some time right up front: you’re not going to find a gas-powered chainsaw worth buying for under $100. Gas saws have real engines, carburetors, and enough moving parts that even the cheapest ones start around $150 — and those are saws I’d skip anyway. What you can find in this price…
