Gas chainsaws make up the largest and most popular category of chainsaws. Unlike their electric counterparts, gas-powered chainsaws provide more mobility, more power, high endurance, durability, and good performance characteristics.
Petrol chainsaws are most likely to be selected for professional usage: cutting trees, chopping firewood, clearing thicket and doing other sorts of activities for property maintenance or forestry work. Whatever work you have to do – fuel chainsaws will do it in the fastest and best way.
Today, on the market, you can find plenty of offers to buy various models of petrol chainsaws from different brands and companies. Sometimes, it can be really difficult to understand, how to choose a chainsaw and what parameters to take into account.
This article is going to be your buying guide about the best models of petrol chainsaws which are available on the market.
Professional chainsaws
If you are a professional woodcutter, logger or your main duty is to cut and fell trees or harvest woods, then you should stick with the Professional class of petrol chainsaws.
The best representatives:
Stihl MS 260
One of the top choices for professional usage. This model has almost the best weight-to-power ratio. Can be used during the whole working day, for 8 hours in extreme conditions.
Advantages:
- Easy-start system;
- Advanced anti-vibration system reduces the engine and saw vibrations;
- Carburetor heating allows using the chainsaw in winter during at low temperatures;
- Convenient chain tensioning – no need to use special tools or other equipment.
Technical characteristics:
| Bar Length | 13″/32cm to 18″/45cm |
| Weight | 4,8 kg |
| Power output | 2,6kW/3,5hp |
| Saw chain pitch | 0,325” |
| Fuel tank | 0.49L |
| Displacement | 50,2 cm³ |
Stihl MS 361
One of the world’s best-selling models. For heavy-duty works, such as tree felling, forest-clearing activities. This high-performance model has the best weight-to-power ratio and very low vibration levels.
Advantages:
- Low emissions;
- Easy-to-start system;
- Low vibration levels;
- Single lever control allows performing all operations such as start, stop, throttle via a single lever;
- Convenient side chain tensioning;
Technical characteristics:
| Bar length | 16″/40cm to 20″/50cm |
| Weight | 5’6kg |
| Power output | 3,4kW/4,6hp |
| Saw chain pitch | 3/8″ |
| Fuel tank | 0.68L |
| Displacement | 59 cm³ |