TOP-5 light chain saws up to 5.5 kg

A high-quality German-made saw has a relatively light weight of 4.1 kg and a 350 mm long tyre, which makes it in demand among utilities that need to do a lot of clearing communications from shrubs and felling trees. The manufacturer equipped the device with a special compensator, which is installed at the carburetor inlet and regulates the fuel supply. It provides always the same current of the gasoline-oil mixture (no overflow) and stable engine power. There is also a four-channel mixture processing, which increases the efficiency of the engine. The piston system is very sensitive to the flammable mixture, so use only 95 gasoline and only original STIHL oil.

The STIHL MS 180 35 is equipped with a Quick Stop overrun brake. It stops in a matter of seconds when the front brake is pressed (folding handle in front of the operator) or when the saw kicks back strongly (when we hit a knot or a metal object in a log), thereby protecting a person from injury. The chain is lubricated using Ematic technology: the pump automatically regulates the supply of lubricant, preventing a single drop from leaking out in vain. According to the manufacturer, lubricant consumption is reduced by up to 50% compared to competitors.

Quick access to the air filter is well organized here — just turn the plastic lever, and the filter can be removed for cleaning. The manufacturer recommends cleaning the filter no earlier than it is 80% dirty. The anti-vibration system reduces vibration transmitted to the operator's hands, allowing you to work longer without fatigue. The undoubted advantage is numerous service centers, which are located in almost all major cities of the country.

The saw of Swedish origin is equipped with a 350 mm long bar for felling trees up to 700 mm in diameter. It is worth noting the high-quality chain teeth, which do not become dull for a long time (enough to harvest several stacks of firewood). Some sellers additionally put branded files for sharpening the chain in the kit (you need to check with a particular store). In this chainsaw model, the anti-vibration system is well organized, which is represented by steel springs located between the handles and the engine. Thanks to them, the amount of vibration transmitted to the operator's hands is reduced by 50%.

The chainsaw is equipped with an air pre-cleaning system. With the help of centrifugal force, dust is collected in the cylinder and evenly distributed over the filter. Thanks to this, the filter needs to be cleaned quite rarely, and it will last longer. The engine was developed using X-Torq technology, which made it possible to reduce the amount of harmful emissions into the atmosphere (exhaust gases). The manufacturer also claims reduced fuel consumption compared to competitors, but this can only be verified empirically.

The model is equipped with an inertial chain brake that blocks its rotation when the saw kicks off the object, and protects the user from injury. For additional pumping of fuel there is a manual fuel pump made in the form of a rubber hemisphere (primer). Just like STIHL, Husqvarna has numerous chainsaw service centers throughout the country. Some users complain about the malfunction of the ignition system after a year of using the saw — the magneto fails, which causes the spark to disappear. Its repair can cost a person 10 – 15 dollars.

The Hyundai X 460 model is designed for cutting firewood, pruning bushes and felling trees. Thanks to a long tyre of 450 mm, the device is capable of felling trees up to a metre in circumference. One of the main advantages of the saw in comparison with models of this class is a quick start with a single jerk of the cable (wiggle). It is possible thanks to the installed decompressor, which reduces the excess pressure in the cylinder and allows the flywheel to spin faster. Also, a thermal protection is installed here, which turns off the engine in case of overheating, in order to avoid its breakdown.

According to the manufacturer, Hyundai's two-stroke engine is capable of operating for 300 hours before its first revision. Near the handle there is a quick-release filter mount, thanks to which you can get it out in a matter of seconds (just turn the plastic lever) and clean it from dust. The oil sump with a volume of 260 mL is equipped with an automatic adjustment of the lubricant supply to the chain: the more revolutions we give (gas), the more lubricant is released. True, some users complain about leakage of oil from the crankcase from time to time.

The saw system is equipped with a front brake (folding lever) and an internal inertial chain lock. Together, these features provide reliable user protection. There is also a rather large (as for saws with a power of up to 2 kW) 550 mL fuel tank — it will be enough to harvest two cubes of wood (depending on the density of the wood and the size of the chocks on which it is sawn). The long tyre and the increased fuel tank affected the rather considerable weight of the saw — 5.15 kg.

The device is equipped with a 1.5 kW motor that accelerates the tyre to 13,000 rpm. Thanks to this speed, the cutting speed is significantly increased (most saws of this power have a maximum speed of up to 12,000 rpm). And so that at such speeds the operator’s hands do not get tired of vibration, the device was equipped with an anti-vibration system, represented by rubber pads, as well as steel springs installed between the engine and the handles.

The GS 35 C-14 is equipped with the Power Sharp chain sharpening system. It is a small grinding wheel mounted directly into the protective cover for the tyre. It is enough to insert a tyre with a tensioned chain into it and make a gas pass — in 3 seconds the chain will return to its former sharpness. When the chain hits a knot or the saw kicks off a metal object, the chain stops instantly.

The saw itself weighs relatively little — 4.4 kg, so you can work with it for quite some time. The oil and gas compartment covers are equipped with plastic mesh holders, thanks to which the covers cannot be lost. The primer (manual fuel pump) is securely closed by the winding handle, which ensures that it is protected from branches. The downside is the plastic teeth limiters, which after a while can simply break off.

The Makita EA3203S40B domestic class chainsaw is equipped with a 400 mm long bar. With such a bar length, the saw weighs relatively little — only 4.2 kg. The model has an excellent workmanship of the piston system, steel limiter teeth, a durable flywheel and chain rotation gears — everything that the user expects from Japanese production.

The main difference from many saws of this class is keyless chain tension. It is represented by a plastic lever at the base of the tyre. Thanks to it, you can tighten or loosen the chain without resorting to a screwdriver and without disassembling the case. Users note the fast winding speed of the saw, designed using MPI's own technology: in the warm season with one pull, and in the cold season with two. The front and inertial brakes are responsible for stopping the chain.

The anti-vibration system here is represented not by two (as in many saws), but by four steel springs separating the handles from the engine (two for each handle). Thanks to it, vibration is practically not felt during operation. The volume of the fuel tank is 400 mL, which is enough for cutting two cubic metres of wood or for cutting several dozen trees from branches. The cost of the saw and its accessories is rather big, but it pays off with excellent workmanship and performance.