Power Saws Buying Guide

Chainsaws are used for felling trees, cutting through thick branches, chopping firewood, or clearing large organic debris. Due to their powerful engines and rotating blades, chainsaws can make short work of large cutting jobs, which makes them a popular tool in woody backyards.

As the name suggests, a chainsaw cuts using a chain of saw blades known as ‘teeth’. These spin with a smooth motion, at high speeds, to cut through wood. It’s important to note the length of the blade, also known as the cutting width, and ensure it would be wide enough to tackle your particular cutting jobs. The wider the cutting width, the wider piece of wood, logs, etc it can effectively cut. Keep in mind that cutting with a chainsaw will require upper body strength to guide and keep control of the blade. The strength needed to utilise a chainsaw increases with the width of the cutting blade or the size of the cutting job.

You should also look for a selection of safety features designed for your protection and the easy use of the power saw. This can include ergonomic handles, a lighter or more balanced design, and safety cut-offs. 

Jigsaws are a common tool used for woodworking or whenever a project calls for curved/intricate cuts in wood. While wood-cutting is their general function, jigsaws can be used to cut other materials such as plastic and ceramic tile.

A jigsaw works by driving a narrow jigsaw blade in a rapid up-down motion, similar to the movement of a sewing machine. Designed for making curved cuts, a jigsaw can easily be used for making straight cuts. They are often one of the first power saw cutting tools used for DIY tasks, due to their ease of use and relative safety. However, they are still power tools so make sure to take the proper safety precautions when using and storing a jigsaw.

When looking for a jigsaw, it’s a good idea to look for features designed to optimise safety and the ease of cutting. Features such as low vibration, a visible blade, and dust blowers, all help with delivering precise cuts

Circular saws are a great tool for making repetitive cuts, such as trimming down 2x4s for a DIY or construction project. These power saws feature a disc or blade and rotary motion to cut through an assortment of different materials, including wood and masonry. Circular saws are a great choice for undertaking rip-cuts, which is cutting a piece of wood across the grain.

Circular saws are portable and favoured for their high precision and high sawing capacity. They perform a similar function to a larger table saw but with the convenience of being able to take the saw to the material that needs cutting.

When looking for a circular saw, it is important to note the orientation of the circular saw blade, as many models are designed for either left- or right-handed users, depending on the position of the blade and the guard.

Speaking of the guard, you should ensure it completely covers the blade and provides plenty of protection for when you’re using the saw. You could also look for additional features such as ergonomic, anti-slip grips for precise control, lightweight construction, electric brakes, and dust extraction. 

Smaller than a hedge trimmer or chainsaw, a pruning saw is designed to trim back live leaves and shrubs. Many pruners are hand tools but like many of the other saws in this buying guide, you can achieve faster and more efficient results using a powered saw. If you have a large garden or tend to do a lot of pruning, a powered pruning saw is a great tool to include in your toolbox.

When looking at pruning saws, it’s important to look for ergonomic designs and simple manoeuvrability, especially if the pruning saw features a longer handle to reach higher branches. It’s also a good idea to note the effective cutting width of the saw and how many branches it can cut on a single tank of fuel or on a single charge. 

A powered lopper is another power tool designed for cutting back branches. Loppers feature the functionality of a chainsaw in a smaller, more compact unit. A powered looper is ideal for smaller branches where you don’t need the full-width cutting blade of a chainsaw. They make use of a similar chain to a chainsaw but within alligator-style jaws to protect the hands of the user.

Of course, features that amplify safety, both during use and during storage, should be of paramount importance. This can include dual-switch grips, a lightweight construction, and fully-enclosed bar and chain. It’s also good to note the branch size the powered looper can effectively cut, to ensure it will suit your needs. 

This can be an important decision when looking for the right power tool for the job and it really comes down to how you intend to use the tool. For example, a cordless circular saw may offer flexibility and convenience of not having to worry about a cable, power points, and extension cords, but you'll have to remember to keep the cordless battery charged. This is where tools which feature interchangeable batteries can come in handy, you can connect a flat battery to its charger while a fresh battery lets you continue on with your cutting task.

On the opposite side of the coin, corded power tools offer unlimited use, provided you can maintain a connection to a power point, and generally deliver more torque. This allows them to power through a variety of tough construction or DIY jobs. However, a con of corded power tools is the cord itself, which can sometimes get in the way or obstruct your workspace.