There’s no doubt chainsaws save time and effort when pruning and cutting firewood, but whether you’re a new owner of the chainsaw or about to add one to your tool collection, getting to grips with the technical jargon will give you a greater understanding when it comes to choosing the right saw or troubleshooting problems with your current one.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Drive links? Centrifugal? Hunting? Here’s our A to Z of regularly used chainsaw terminology
A
Air filter – Checking and cleaning the air filter is incredibly important due to the high levels of sawdust that comes with cutting wood. A clogged air filter can cause the chainsaw to splutter and stop. They are a low-cost item and it’s a good idea to have a spare on hand.
Anti-vibration system (AVS) – Using a chainsaw for any length of time can cause strain on the wrists, arms and shoulders. Most chainsaws have been designed with an anti-vibration system consisting of springs and dampers to separate the handle from the engine.
Automatic chain oiling – This handy function Chainsaws need chain and bar oil to keep them running smoothing and to stop the chain from overheating. Oil stops these metal parts from rusting and protects the chain teeth. Most chainsaws have a small pump that pushes oil onto the chain and bar through a small hole in the bar itself. It’s essential to keep the oil lines and lubrication holes clear of sawdust.
B
Bumper spikes / Felling Dogs – A small spiked bar at the base of the chain bar made of either metal or plastic. The spikes grip against the wood whilst cutting offering more stability.
C
Centrifugal clutch – the clutch on a chainsaw disengages the chain when the saw is idle whilst keeping the engine running. A centrifugal clutch will not fully engage the engine until the engine has reached its optimal torque range, this is considered a smoother process and minimises the load on the engine.
Chain – The chainsaw chain runs around the guide bar and is made up of links (cutter, guide, drive), tie straps and rivets. It’s important to keep your chain sharp, if you are unsure how to sharpen a saw chain effectively, we recommend you take it to a service centre.
Chain brake – The chain brake or inertia brake is integrated into the top handle of the chainsaw and is an important safety feature. The handle is designed to be the perfect weight and automatically reacts to the force of ‘kick backs’ or sudden backward movement by stopping the chain. The handle also protects hands from debris whilst cutting.
Chain catcher – A safety feature consisting of a small hook designed to catch the chainsaw chain if it breaks or comes off the guide bar.
Chain tensioning – When in use, the chain heats up and has a risk of becoming slack and coming off. Chainsaws either have a tool-free chain tensioning feature where the user can use a wheel to maintain the correct tension or the adjustments can be made using a multi-tool.
Chock – Wedge or block for manipulating the direction a tree falls or can be used to hold logs in place whilst sawing. They are usually made from wood, plastic or metal and come in varying heights which taper down to a thin edge.
D
Drive link – The drive links are on the bottom of a chainsaw chain and must be counted when ordering a replacement chain to insure it will fit your guide bar.
F
Felling Dogs – see Bumper spikes
G
Gauge – The width of a chain’s drive links. This measurement is required when ordering a replacement chain. The higher the gauge, the wider the links will be.
Guide bar – The metal saw bar that the chain runs around. Short bars are suited to pruning small trees and domestic logging, whilst longer bars can cut through thicker logs, branches and trunks.
H
Hunting – When an engine surges or ‘hunts’. This is usually caused by a fuel issue see our blog on Chainsaw Maintenance for further information on trouble shooting.
I
Inertia Brake – see Chain Brake
K
Kickback – When the chainsaw encounters material it cannot cut through it can cause the guide bar to force upwards towards the user, this is called ‘kick back’. It is vital that full training is given before using a chainsaw, newer chainsaw are fitted with inertia or chain brakes as a crucial safety feature.
M
Muffler – Acts like a silencer and reduces back pressure.
O
Oil reservoir – Fills with oil and lubricates the bar and chain.
P
Pitch – The pitch of a chain is the distance between three connected drive links divided by two. Mini-pitch chains are popular as they are low vibration and low kickback.
S
Safety Throttle – A safety feature to prevent accidental start-ups. A rear handle switch that needs to be pressed for the throttle and chain to engage.
Scabbard – A plastic cover for the chainsaw blade.
T
Tip guard – Tip guards are fitted to the end of the saw blade to some and are proven to reduce kickback. They do however prevent users from using felling techniques such as boring cuts.
W
Wedge – See Chock
Always refer to your user guide for troubleshooting and before starting any maintenance on your chainsaw.