Homesteading is commendable. It’s one of those practices where you’ve got to put in a lot of work. But the results are satisfying.
As a homestead owner, you’ve got to do some cutting every now and then. And if you’re keen on getting quality results, it’s perfect you get the best homestead chainsaw.
With the perfect homesteading chainsaw working for you, you’ve got no worries when something needs putting down in your surroundings.
And with the help I’m here to give you, you’ll make a most satisfying choice that’ll surely thrill you with every use!
Without wasting much time, let’s take a look at the finest homestead chainsaws in stores.
We’d also take a closer look at what these chainsaws possess to boost ops around your property. Let’s take a look!
In order to make a well informed purchase, read our other reviews: 50cc chainsaw reviews, Best chainsaw under $300 reviews, Best 16 inch chainsaw reviews, Best beginners chainsaw reviews
Types of Homesteading Chainsaws
A lot of operators may not know, but there’s a way to check out the exact saw you need for homesteading. Here’re the three (3) types of homesteading chainsaws out there right now;
Homeowner chainsaws
A homeowner’s chainsaw sports the basic features required for proper homesteading. A homeowner’s saw is more comfortable to control and is an excellent choice for training novice cutters.
It’s essential you start off with a homeowner’s saw as a newbie and progress from there should you need a higher-powered saw.
Homeowner’s saws should be within a certain range.
If you’re using the homeowner’s saw for yard clean-up or after a storm, it should be within 35cc – 40ccs for gas engine. If you’re going electric, ensure you check out its equivalent with the gas-powered engine.
Not much power is needed to safely operate a homeowner’s chainsaw. And many of these saws come with features such as low kickback chains and inertia-activated brake systems. These features give you greater safety potential during operation.
But if you’re keen on something else, there’s another homesteading chainsaw perfect for you;
Pro Homesteading Chainsaws
With a pro homesteading chainsaw, you can do just about anything effortlessly.
Pro homesteading chainsaws come with a high –powered engine, usually within 50ccs and above. These saws are also made for some serious cutting and sport 18” – 20” guide bars in most units.
Pro homesteading chainsaws are not to be handled by newbies in any circumstance. The power these machines provide can cheaply outclass a newbie’s skill level, leading to a nasty accident.
These saws should only be handled by operators with intermediate knowledge of chainsaws.
Here’s the reason why.
Pro homesteading chainsaws come built for power cutting. These fast cutting features limit the machine’s safety systems in many aspects. And to ensure injury-free operation, it’s got to be handled by a true professional.
Pro homesteading chainsaws are perfect for milling in the comfort of your property if you’ve got a plane to provide greater guide bar accuracy. These saws are also ideal for regular logging activity, and storm cleanup.
Ranch/Farm chainsaws
These chainsaws regularly sport decent weight-to-power ratios and perform a lot of tasks around your ranch naturally.
A ranch/farm chainsaw features the right amount of power to handle firewood chopping tasks. With a ranch chainsaw, you can also get small trees down in moments.
These saws are also ideal for land clearing, if you’re keen on getting more space for homesteading.
A lot of homesteading chainsaws come with at least 40ccs of power for gas engines and sport 14” – 16” guide bars.
Such saws also possess a decent amount of features to keep its operators safe. It should be the next choice after a newbie’s got the hang of a homeowner’s saw.
How to Choose the Best Homestead Chainsaw
Here’s how to pick the perfect homesteading chainsaw;
Purpose
If you’ve got a constant need to cut trees and other tough stuff around your homestead, you need a more powerful chainsaw.
But if you don’t really need to do much cutting, it’s perfect to get a decent chainsaw with the right level of power for your cutting needs.
Frequency of use
If you make use of your chainsaw more times than you can count, its better you get a chainsaw with durability as its main focus. But if you sparingly use your chainsaw, there’s lesser strain on your engine and any good engine could be fine.
Budget
Money is a key fixture in getting a good homestead chainsaw. Make a choice for the right chainsaw based on how much you can afford to spend. Chainsaws come in a range of prices within a few to several thousands of dollars.
Bar and chain
If you’re a regular logger, checking this out is a must.
When you’re in the market for a chainsaw, considering the trees you’re planning on bringing down will give you better cutting potential over a shorter period.
In most cases, a chainsaw’s guide bar can cut up to two (2) times its length. So measuring up your marked down largest tree should give you an idea of what you need.
Still don’t know what choice to make? Most trees will be down in a few moments with chainsaws sporting 18” – 20” guide bars. But ensure you’re experienced enough to handle such bar lengths.
Note: Getting an overpowered saw to do a small job isn’t the best. For example, pruning your front yard garden with a 20” bar chainsaw could be dangerous. Consider using a smaller bar size instead.
4 Best Homestead Chainsaw -Review
Since there’re so many choices for a homestead chainsaw, picking a top saw should be your priority. That’s why I’ve made your selection job easier with a closer look at each product.
The special features of each saw will give you a glimpse of what you stand to gain, and you’ll be endlessly thrilled with your choice.
01. Husqvarna 460 Rancher Gas Chainsaw - Top Pick
Huskies remain among the top chainsaws on the market, particularly when you’re in need of gas power. This saw comes with lots of exciting features that’ll be so useful in your homestead. Here’s more info on how this saw works, and all the vital stuff it’s got to add more value to your homestead;
What’s Standout in This Chainsaw?
Husqvarna 460 rancher comes with a powerful, 24” long bar for cutting through stuff with greater ease. With so much length assured from this saw’s bar, you’ll be able to cut a lot of dense trees with time to spare!
And as if that’s not all, this saw’s got more for you! It also comes with a 60.3cc gas engine. If you’re not impressed by the engine size, then knowing that it produces speeds at around 9000 rotations per minute will surely fascinate you!
With this engine, you’ll be able to exert much power through hard stuff. This huge engine size makes your chainsaw perfect for a host of large-scale operations. So if you’re planning on setting up a mill on your homestead, this saw could serve you just fine!
Also, an inertia chain brake system is added to this saw. With this system, you’ll be totally safe as the chainsaw shuts off automatically to prevent serious injury.
The right kind of tensioning from your saw is also a must if you’re keen to avoid headaches when operating your saw. That’s why this saw comes with a side-mount chain tensioner for easy tweaking of your chain’s fitting on its bar.
You’re also assured a stress-free packaging when you pick this saw. It comes fully fitted out the box, so there’s no chance of getting anything damaged from a DIY moment.
Engine protection is also a chief concern when you need your chainsaw to function for longer. Your saw comes with a centrifugal air cleaning system, making your crankcase totally safe. There’s no chance of dirt and debris getting into your engine!
Features And Benefits of Husqvarna 460 Rancher
Features | Benefits |
24” bar | Long bar for cutting through much thicker stuff. Perfect for milling operations in your homestead. |
60.3cc gas engine | Big-size, high-powered engine ensures more performance for your chainsaw. Ideal for cutting through more challenging objects. |
Inertia chain brake | High-quality safety feature included to boost safety you get whenever your saw’s on. |
9000rpm | Fast speed engine makes cutting through a lot of hard stuff more comfortable. |
Side-mount chain tensioner | Chain tensioner system boosts the ease of operating your chainsaw. |
Quick-open air filter | Improves your saw’s maintenance potential. Ideal for quick cleaning and fixing on your saw. |
21lbs | Decent weight for all the power you get from this saw. Won’t weigh your hands down when in use for some time. |
No assembly required | Hassle-free packaging increases the comfort you get from buying this saw. |
Centrifugal air cleaning | Prevents your engine from getting damaged by blowing away dirt and debris far from your crankcase. |
Anti-vibration system | Low-vibe potential boosts the steadiness and comfort you get from using this saw. |
Pros
Cons
02. Husqvarna 455 Rancher Gas Chainsaw - Runner Up
Husqvarna 455 rancher got the right balance between power and performance. It comes with a 20” long bar powered by a 55.5cc gas engine. With such performance from your saw, there’s no hard object that won’t be down in seconds!
Also, this saw comes with a cleaning system that prevents engine damage. It’s the perfect system for keeping your engine protected.
And as if these features are not adequate, there’s still more from this saw! It comes with an anti-kickback chain which limits the chances of any injuries.
There’s an X-Torque engine design in any unit of this saw you select. Your engine assures lesser gasoline emissions, as well as less fuel consumption.
With such stuff from your saw, you’ll be able to operate smoothly without worrying much about the environment.
A smart start technology is added to your chainsaw, and you’ll get cold starts in record time! There’s a lot this saw’s got on offer.
Also, the decent price it’s sold at boosts the value you get when you make it your choice!
Features and Benefits of Husqvarna 455 Rancher
Features | Benefits |
Auto oiler | Automatic chain oiler boosts the lubing of your bar and chain for better performance. |
Centrifugal air cleaning system | Prevents dust and dirt from damaging your saw’s engine. |
Smart Start Tech | Easy start technology makes your engine start with a few pulls. |
12.8lbs | Lightweight design boosts better handling of your saw for extended periods. Also assures better control over your saw. |
20” bar | Long bar eases cutting time. With it, you’ll get through tough stuff a lot easier. |
Anti-kickback chain | Prevents you from getting seriously cut if your chainsaw kicks back accidentally. |
Inertia chain brake | Chain brake system limits the chances of getting injured when using this saw. |
55.5cc gas engine | Big, powerful engine capable of handling a lot of challenging cutting tasks. |
X–Torque | Brisk speeds assured from this engine increases cutting potential. Also reduces fuel consumption and gas emissions significantly. |
9000rpm | High speed rotations per minute boosts engine’s cutting power. You’ll get through a lot of tough stuff with time to spare! |
Pros
Cons
03. Greenworks 14-Inch 40V Brushless Cordless Chainsaw
This saw comes with a 40V battery which powers up to 90 cuts per full charge. It comes with a decent 14” bar and brushless motor to handle all you’re planning to cut with ease.
You’d also get a manual tensioner for balancing your bar/chain alignment. Get a quick boost from this engine with an electro-ignition feature.
This feature makes sure you don’t have any stress when turning on your saw. It also comes with a transparent oil tank, making sure you’ve got a handle on maintaining your bar and chain the right way!
And to crown it all off, this saw comes amazingly, decently-priced. It’s the perfect budget product which makes doubly sure you get the cuts you need!
Features and Benefits of Greenworks 14-Inch 40V Brushless Cordless Chainsaw
Features | Benefits |
40V battery | Highly-durable battery increases the performance of your saw. |
Brushless motor | Improves engine performance with its smooth, noiseless design. |
14” bar | Decent bar size ideal for cutting through a lot of stuff. |
Auto chain oiler | Auto lubing of your engine prevents kickback and improves cutting performance. |
Fast charger | Gets your saw’s battery full in 90 minutes. |
90 cuts per full charge | Cuts up a lot of trees with a single charge. |
7.28lbs | Easy for you to handle longer with so little weight to carry. |
Manual chain tensioner | Tweak your bar/chain to the right fitting. |
Electro-ignition | Electric ignition boosts the comfort you get when starting up this engine. |
Transparent oil tank | Maximizes maintenance and gauging of your bar oil. |
Pros
Cons
04. Ryobi 14 in. 37cc 2-Cycle Gas Chainsaw
It comes with a 37cc gas engine capable of cutting through many hard trees easily. Also, it comes with an auto chain oiler and a 14” bar to make sure those cuts happen as fast as possible.
This saw features an anti-vibration handle, ensuring you maintain greater control over your saw. It also features an inertia chain brake system, a safety tip, and tool free air filter cleaning.
These elements make the chainsaw perfect for maintaining your safety while assuring you the best performance. You've also got a 3yr warranty included in this saw’s package to ensure you get more from buying this saw.
There’re so many exciting features from this saw, and they all help you get the best from your homesteading.
It’ll also interest you to know that this saw comes at an amazing price with all these features loaded up. So if this is what you fancy, it’s a perfect choice to check it out!
Features and Benefits of Ryobi 14 in. 37cc 2-Cycle Gas Chainsaw
Features | Benefits |
37cc | Decent power for maximal cutting power |
14” bar | Good bar length for cutting through a lot of stuff with ease |
Automatic chain oiler (adjustable) | Adjustable chain oiler makes lubing of your bar and chain more comfortable |
Anti-vibration handle | Easier handling and more control of your chainsaw |
Side tensioning system | Proper alignment of your chainsaw on its bar |
Inertia-triggered chain brake | Keeps you safe from a nasty chainsaw injury |
Tool-free air filter access | Easy-to-reach air filter boosts the maintenance potential of your saw |
Safety Tip included | Kickback-prevention guard added. It becomes impossible to use your saw’s tip, thereby limiting kickback incidents. |
10lbs | Lightweight for better, comfier operation |
3yrs warranty | More value for money |
Pros
Cons
FAQs
What is Homesteading?
Homesteading is the practice of being self-sufficient. In a homestead, residents grow their crops, tend to livestock, and do a lot of stuff on their own. Most homesteads are situated in a large expanse of land secluded from the public.
Why Should You Choose an Ideal Homesteading Chainsaw?
It’s on record that there’re tens of thousands of injuries every year from chainsaw incidents. Most of these injuries are a direct result of choosing the wrong chainsaw.
Some operators with little experience may believe chainsaws are perfect when they’re larger. And in most cases, such operators could get seriously injured.
Choosing the right homesteading chainsaw will give you better control over your cutting job and significantly limit any injury incident.
What are the Best Homesteading Areas in United States?
If you’re in the US and need to homestead, here’re the best spots for you;
- Wyoming
- Michigan
- Idaho
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Arizona
Conclusion
If you’re planning on homesteading, or already practice self-sufficiency, here’re the best homestead chainsaw choices for you.With these saws among your tools, you’ll be able to cut better, and enhance your homesteading activities. Make your choice today, and you’ll be thrilled by the performance you get!