How Much Does a Chainsaw Weigh | A Quick Guide | HomVela

Even if you are new to chainsaws, you can readily tell that they are potentially dangerous tools. Therefore, they require careful handling.

How Much Does A Chainsaw Weigh? On Average, a chainsaw weighs between 10 to 15 pounds. However, some small electric chainsaws can weigh as low as 6 pounds while some of the larger gas chainsaws can go up to 20 pounds.

Electric chainsaws are smaller and compact in build, so they usually weigh less than the others. You may find them around six pounds. On the contrary, the gas-powered chainsaws are often higher in weight and size.

Certain factors that may add to the weight of the chainsaws are the size of the guide bar, chainsaw chain, power source, etc. Thus, if you are looking to buy a chainsaw with a specific weight, you might have to look at all these aspects.

Everything from their build to blade and the grizzly noise they make exhumes power. When you buy a chainsaw, it is natural and necessary to look at various factors such as the bar and chain size, position of the handle, motor power, RPMs, etc.

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Why Is The Question Of How Much Does A Chainsaw Weigh, Is Essential?

Having explained the importance of the weight of the chainsaws, it goes without saying that your first look would be on the weight as you go shopping. The weight of a chainsaw essentially impacts its performance as well.

Especially if you plan to buy a chainsaw in the near future, this guide about how heavy is a chainsaw becomes even more essential of a read. So, let’s question the critical question.

Type Of The Chainsaws And Their Impact On The Weight Of The Chainsaw

As we already discussed, the type and power source of a chainsaw significantly impacts its weight. Therefore, it becomes customary to have a deeper look at them.

Electricity Powered Chainsaws

Let’s start with the class of the chainsaw that is considered lightest in weight. Yes, they are electric chainsaws. When compared with the other two types, they have the lightest relative weight.

To operate such chainsaws, you need a power cord. If the accompanying chainsaw cord is short, you may have to buy an extension cord to take the powerhead to the worksite.

They relieve you of a lot of hassles, such as mixing fuels, as you may do in the case of gas-powered chainsaws. Additionally, their eco-friendly nature is a big plus as there is no emission whatsoever with these chainsaws.

Finally, as you might be concerned, there is no need to wait for batteries to get recharged, as in the case of battery-powered chainsaws. Thus, the freedom of work for as long as you want makes them matchless. Besides, these chainsaw’s lighter weight also causes less fatigue.

However, you might still need to lubricate these chainsaw’s bar and chain to avoid friction when cutting through wood. The lubricating oil may add some weight to the overall weight of the power tool. Lubricating your chainsaw is important as Keeping the chain and bar oiled saves your saw.

Among so many pluses of lighter weight and eco-friendliness, the only downside is that you might be constrained due to the availability of a power source.

Battery-Powered Chainsaws

You might have understood that we are moving from lightest to heavier chainsaws. The second in the sequence is a battery-powered chainsaw. Concerning weight, they lie between the gas-powered and electric chainsaws.

Nevertheless, they run on batteries, and adding the battery may add a little weight to the machine’s total weight.

Some of the manufacturers do not include the weight of the battery in the machine’s mentioned weight. So, when shopping for such a chainsaw, make sure to look at these details carefully.

Like other chainsaws, they have their set of pros and cons. Similar to an electric chainsaw, it is also eco-friendly, with no risk of emissions or any hassle of mixing fuels.

However, they might limit you with their batteries’ runtime or wait for the battery to get charged.

Secondly, they might not be as powerful as gas-powered chainsaws. Nevertheless, they are lightweight and offer no hassle of using electric cords or connecting extension cords.

Gas-Powered Chainsaws

Now let’s talk about the chainsaws that carry the most weight but at the same time delivers the most powerful performance. They are the heaviest among the whole lot, but you might prefer them for your heavy-duty cutting ability.

The 2-cycle engine chainsaws also require mixing of fuel that needs care. A faulty mixing ratio may cause the chainsaw to stop working or may damage it altogether.

You might have understood the seriousness of asking How much does a chainsaw weigh as it impacts the performance.

Weight Grades Of The Various Chainsaws

You already know the factors that may add to the overall weight of the chainsaw. However, if you speak a chainsaw professional’s language, you might want to learn the actual terms used.

Dry Weight

Many a time, the specifications provided by the manufacturer include the dry weight of the chainsaw. The dry weight of the chainsaw implies the weight of the chainsaw in the absence of any fuel, gas, lubricating oil, or liquid in it. In layman’s terms, it is the weight of an out-of-the-box new chainsaw that does not have fluid in it.

Powerhead Weight

Another way of mentioning the weight in the specification sections is by stating the powerhead’s weight only. Since it is the only part of the machine that weighs the most, some manufacturers resort to mentioning this weight.

While this might not be the accurate depiction of the weight, it is one way of mentioning a chainsaw’s weight. You can measure the powerhead weight by subtracting the weight of the chain and bar, lubricating oil, or any fuel. Consequently, you have the engine, the surrounding casing, and equipment weight only. 

Total Weight

As the term implies, it is the chainsaw’s total weight, including the chain and bar, lubricating oil, and full tank of the fuel. Simply put, it is the weight of the machine that is ready for action.

This is an accurate depiction of the weight as you will be bearing this burden when working with a chainsaw.

On the contrary, you might have seen some manufacturers skip the chainsaw’s total weight and resort to listing only dry weight or the powerhead weight.

Be aware of this sales tactic, trying to create the illusion that the machine is light in weight, not true in reality.

Factors Affecting The Weight Of The Chainsaw

Now that we have covered the back story of the chainsaw types and how manufacturers measure and list their weight let’s move to the front stage scenarios.

The below-mentioned factors add to the weight of the power tool. Taking an average measure of these weights may help us understand how each part constitutes the total weight.

Power Source

The power source is the main factor that contributes to the weight of a chainsaw. You may buy a chainsaw that is powered by gas, electricity, or battery.

In the case of an electric chainsaw, adding the weight of the power cord may add extra weight to the whole machine.

An average gas-powered chainsaw has 7 to 44 oz of fuel capacity. Considering a gallon of fuel can adjust 6 pounds of fuel, you can calculate the chainsaw’s weight with a full fuel tank. Thus, the added weight might be from 0.32 and 2 lbs. of the total weight.

The second is the weight added by the inclusion of the battery. On average, a battery may weigh around 1.4 to 1.5 pounds. This weight can vary depending on the model of the chainsaw.

Also, there is the consideration of the number of batteries. Some of the chainsaws work with two batteries, so this might be considered when calculating the weight.

Lubricating Oil For Bar And Chain

If you are working with an electric or battery-powered chainsaw, an indispensable weight in all chainsaws is the weight of the Lubricating oil for the bar and chain.  

The basic lubricating oil capacity of the chainsaw can vary between 5 and 24 oz. Depending on the density, the weight of the oil may vary. Nevertheless, you can expect an increase of 0.25 to 1.25 lbs. due to bar and chain oil.

Guide Bar And Chain Length

One of the measures to gauge the size of a chainsaw is the guide bar and chain size. A bigger bar and chain offer a greater depth of cutting. At the same time, they can significantly increase the weight of the chainsaw.

Generally, you may find a guide bar and chain between 12 to 36 inches in size. According to a rule of thumb, the longer the bar and chain size, the more they will weigh. The smaller chain and bar weigh less, but their cutting capacity is also comparatively low.

You can expect a 1 to six pounds increase in the chainsaw’s weight due to the inclusion of a bar and chain combo.

How to Find The Right Chainsaw?

Now that we have answered how heavy is a chainsaw and what goes into increasing or decreasing the weight of the machine let’s look at a holistic approach to finding the right chainsaw.

The best chainsaw is one that corresponds to your cuttings needs, goes parallel to your physical stature, and comes in the perfect weight for effortless handling.

If you are looking for a chainsaw for beginners, you should look at the specifications and various numbers mentioned on the box. Most importantly, look for the chainsaw’s total weight because that is what you will deal with.

If you are shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, try to hold the chainsaw in both hands and see if it feels comfortable. One shortcut to finding the best chainsaw is looking for famous brands that have years of experience. You may find those machines with the most features but at the same time weighing less.

On the contrary, if you are looking for a chainsaw for home use, look for lighter weight and more affordable chainsaw, as you might be working with it infrequently. In case you are looking for lightweight chainsaws for women to use, check this article about the best lady chainsaws.

Conclusion

Finding the most suitable chainsaw is a highly tricky job, and its weight plays an essential role in it. Therefore, finding how heavy is a chainsaw or how much does a chainsaw weighs goes without saying.

The most suitable chainsaw should not weigh much because a bulky chainsaw will make you tired and impact your productivity. When shopping for a chainsaw, your first stop should be the specifications on the box.

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