When stocking your landscaping shed, some of the most versatile and effective power tools available are chainsaws. Traditionally consisting of just a motor and a bladed chain, today's chainsaws come in a variety of styles and formats suited to multiple tasks. Here's a look at a few of the most popular and useful types.

What Are the Most Common Types of Chainsaws?

1. Gas-Powered

The classic style and still the go-to for most people, gas-powered chainsaws consist of a powerful handheld engine attached to a bladed chain. These are ideal for cutting up larger pieces of material like tree trunks and thick limbs, particularly in heavily wooded areas far from the nearest power source.

Gas-powered models come in several grades rated by power and size, with smaller 32cc engines being better-suited for home and garden use and hefty 60cc engines the default for logging and other heavy tasks.

2. Electric

A modern alternative to gas-powered models, electric chainsaws can be either corded or battery-powered. Corded saws are lightweight, easy to use, and more affordable than gas-powered options. However, they tend to be much less powerful and more appropriate for lighter tasks, such as pruning and trimming small trees and shrubs and cutting up brush.

Battery-powered saws have the same drawbacks and advantages as corded models. However, they also feature the portability of gas-powered saws, and the batteries are usually interchangeable with those used with power tools like drills and circular saws.

3. Pole Saws

A pole saw is essentially a lightweight chainsaw on a metal stick, with the controls at the lower end. These are capable of handling the same light jobs as electric saws, but they’re ideal for trimming hard-to-reach tree branches. They come in a variety of subtypes and lengths and can be powered by either gas or electricity. Due to their configuration and size, they’re usually only suitable for tree care.

When you’re in the market for a new chainsaw, stop by Southside Equipment in Milledgeville, GA. This family-owned and -operated company offers an extensive selection of power tools and landscaping equipment from leading manufacturers like Stihl®, Kubota®, and Land Pride®. Call (478) 452-5523 to discuss your needs, and visit them online to view their featured products.