Are you thinking of purchasing an electric chainsaw? Or maybe for the first time you’ve taken home just one? Anyway, this guide is for you if you are searching for tips about how to operate an electric chainsaw without any problems or injuries. Below are the 10 best simple tips that you can go through, We will explain to you what you need to know about using an electric chainsaw.
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How to Use an Electric Chainsaw
Safety First
While using an electric chainsaw, safety should always be your first concern. Because the accidents will occur at any moment and get injured, no matter how gently you use the device. And follow some protection guidelines any time you’re using an electric chainsaw. Take a look at the chainsaw safety equipment list for specific product recommendations.
Protective Glasses: When cutting, wear plastic goggles / protective glasses always. Your eyes are delicate. Safety goggles protect the eyes from being hit by tiny bits of wood and sawdust.
Wear a safety helmet: Especially when cutting around other trees. Limbs can fall at any moment and flying debris can hit your scalp.
Wear hearing protection: Chainsaws are noisy devices, which will damage the ears when operating without hearing aid for long periods of time.
Use cut-resistant gloves: It provides extra protection against the edge of the chainsaw and the falling pieces of wood.
Wear cut-resistant pants: This prevents the legs from accidental cuts and bits of wood.
Wear a long sleeve shirt: It will help you to protect your arm while cutting the woods and does not cause any harm.
Wear steel-toed boots. Wood is dense and heavy and steel-toed boots will protect your feet from getting hurt or crushed.
Step 1: Check the Chain Tension
When the chain tension is too loose, the chain will come off the chainsaw mid-cut and injure you.
Each chainsaw has a particular chain tensioning technique, so read and get more information from the owner’s manual and see how to do it. The basic recommendations are as follows:
To test for sufficient friction, draw the chain down from the bottom of the guide bar so two links are out and release it. The chain is expected to snap back into position. If it doesn’t, the link is too loose. When you can’t take down the chain ties, otherwise the chain is too tight.
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Step 2: Fill the Bar and Chain Oil Reservoir
Some chainsaws are compliant with SAE 30 gasoline, but please read the owner’s manual to check this. Some vendors prescribe a specific bar and chain oil, such that the chainsaw can be loaded with the recommended oil.
Just like a car engine, using the wrong oil can harm your chainsaw. Using the best oil for your chainsaw does not differ from using the correct oil in your car.
Before through use, make sure the bar and chain oil tank is complete so that you have enough lubrication for your cutting job.
Step 3: Connect a Power Cord
Electric chainsaws need electrical power to work, but such devices do not come with their own extension cords. So, you’re going to need to purchase one and add it to use the tool.
Make sure that when you cut, you’ve got enough ropes to get to work. Electric chainsaws should be plugged into a regular wall outlet, or to make it more compact, you should insert the electric chainsaw into the generator outlet.
That way, be sure that you insert a cord into the power source so that the cord will handle the amperage of the chainsaw.
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Step 4: Start the Electric Chainsaw
Most electrical chainsaws allow you to press and hold the safety lock button until the switch mechanism is active. When the safety lock is switched on, push the control button to start the chain spin.
Step 5: Make Your First Cut
Press the chainsaw blade into the wood with strong, solid strength, but do not force it.
Hold steady pressure on the wood with the chainsaw until you are around 3/4 of the way into it, then ease the pressure to complete.
The chain is meant to do all the cutting, not the power or weight from the arms.
When you notice that you are using a lot of pressure to get through the cuts, the chain can be dull and have to be sharpened.
It’s a smart idea to hold one of the best chainsaw files in your pocket.
Even, since your electric chainsaw has a manual bar and chain oiler, click the button every 30 seconds to oil the chain as you’re working. If your chainsaw has an automated bar and chain oiler, then you don’t have to do anything as it will properly oil the chain for you.
Step 6: Repeat Cutting
Repeat phase 5 until you have completed cutting through all the wood in your project.
Step 7: Turn Off the Electric Chainsaw
Unless your electric chainsaw has a control button, shift it to the off position such that the device is fully turned off.
Step 8: Unplug the Power Cord
Remove the power cord from the electric chainsaw and the power source.
Step 9: Let the Electric Chainsaw Cool Down
Electric chainsaws will remain hot about 10 or more minutes after the cutting job is complete. So, let the chainsaw cool down for 20 minutes, and you won’t accidentally burn yourself on the hot motor or blade.
Step 10: Store the Electric Chainsaw
Storing an electric chainsaw after each usage is very necessary to maintain it in good condition and avoid unintended injury.
If you may, cut the chain from the blade so that it is kept separately from the chainsaw. Alternatively, cover the blade with a sheath or stick the chainsaw in a carrying case to prevent the tips of the chain from being exposed.
Often, gently lubricate the bar and chain of the electric chainsaw so that they do not dry out or rust while in storage.
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Avoiding Kickback While Using Your Electric Chainsaw
Kickback happens as the tip of the chain is unexpectedly thrown back at you. This can lead to severe cutting injuries. Here are some of the most popular forms of kickbacks and how to stop them.
Learn More about Chainsaw Kickback
Rotational Kickback
Rotational kickback is the most popular and most harmful kickback. It occurs when the end of the chain nicks a hard object.
To stop this kickback, never strike any wood or other items on the tip of the bar and the chain assembly. If you do, the rotating saw blade will strike you directly.
Linear Kickback
Typically, we recognize linear kickback as “pinching the chain.” When you cut a piece of wood and the chain is pinched, the whole electric chainsaw will come back to you at maximum power.
Another strategy to prevent a linear kickback is to ensure that the wood you cut is properly balanced between the cut you produce and the end of the wood.
Linear kickback happens more frequently when the cut is not supported by either side.
Pull-in Kickback
Pull-in kickback happens anytime the electric chainsaw hits anything like a nail within the wood. This kickback often happens as the chainsaw strikes the branch at the other end of the cut.
To avoid a pull-in kickback, it is important to know the wood being cut and whether it was previously used or checked until some type of cut is attempted.
Final Thoughts
As you’ve learned in this step-by-step guide, using an electric chainsaw is not that complicated. It just requires a few techniques to get the chainsaw going and to actively spin to cut wood. Just remember to keep protection at the center of any cutting tasks you’re attempting to do. This way, you will protect yourself from any injury that may occur when operating your electric chainsaw. I hope this guide on how to use an electric chainsaw helped.