Chainsaw facts for kids

A Stihl chainsaw

A chainsaw is a powerful, portable tool that uses a special chain with sharp teeth to cut wood. Think of it like a bicycle chain, but with tiny blades! This chain spins around a long metal bar called a guide bar. Chainsaws are mostly used for cutting down trees, trimming branches, and cutting logs into smaller pieces for firewood. They are also used to clear paths during wildfires. Some artists even use chainsaws to create amazing wood sculptures! Special chainsaws can also cut concrete or ice for things like ice sculptures. A person who uses a saw is called a sawyer.

Staying Safe with Chainsaws

A chainsaw operator wearing full safety gear using a gasoline-powered chain saw

Chainsaws are very powerful tools, so it's super important to use them safely. Even with special safety features and protective gear, accidents can happen. This is because of the strong forces involved, the fast-moving sharp chain, and the noise and vibration the machine makes.

One common danger is called kickback. This happens when the tip of the chainsaw's guide bar hits wood without cutting through it. When this happens, the chainsaw can suddenly fly upwards and backwards towards the person using it. This can cause serious injuries.

Another risky situation is when a heavy tree or log starts to fall or move before it's fully cut. The person using the chainsaw could get trapped or crushed. Also, if a tree falls in an unexpected direction, it could hurt the operator or other workers nearby. Working with chainsaws high up in trees also carries the risk of falling.

Using chainsaws for a long time can sometimes cause health issues like vibration white finger (a problem with blood flow in the fingers) or hearing loss. Modern chainsaws have special parts that reduce these vibrations and noise, which helps make them safer. Some even have heated handles for comfort.

Because of these risks, people who use chainsaws usually wear special protective clothing. This includes chainsaw boots, special trousers that protect against cuts, and hearing protectors. In many places, people need to be trained or have a license to use a chainsaw safely. It's also important to keep the chainsaw well-maintained. If the chain breaks during use, it can be very dangerous.

Gasoline-powered chainsaws produce a harmful gas called carbon monoxide (CO). This gas is especially dangerous indoors or in places that are partly enclosed.

A dangerous way to start a chainsaw is called "drop starting." This is when someone drops the saw with one hand while pulling the starting cord with the other. This is against safety rules in most places. It's important to keep both hands on the chainsaw for stability and control when starting and using it.

Parts of a Chainsaw

A chainsaw has several important parts that work together:

• Engine — Most chainsaws use a two-stroke gasoline (petrol) engine, similar to a small motor in a dirt bike. Some chainsaws are powered by an electric motor.
• Drive mechanism — This includes a clutch and a sprocket. The clutch helps connect and disconnect the engine's power to the chain, and the sprocket is a gear that makes the chain move.
• Guide bar — This is the long, flat metal bar that the cutting chain runs along. It's usually made of strong, wear-resistant steel and can be different lengths, often from 16 to 36 inches. It has a groove that guides the chain.
• Cutting chain — This is the most important part for cutting! It's made of many small metal sections, similar to a bicycle chain. Each section has tiny, sharp blades called teeth. The bottom of each link has a "drive link" that fits into the guide bar, helps move oil around the bar, and connects with the engine's sprocket.

For people who do chainsaw carving, there are special short guide bars with very narrow tips. These are sometimes called "quarter tipped," "nickel tipped," or "dime tipped" bars, named after the size of the small, rounded tip.

Images for kids

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  A chainsaw being used on a small board

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  Historical osteotome, a medical bone chainsaw

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  Typical of the earliest chainsaws, this gasoline-powered Dolmar saw was operated by two men

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  Electric chainsaw

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  A cordless 4 inch chainsaw commonly known as a "Ripper"

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  The cutting chain seen here features the popular chipper-teeth style of cutting blades.

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  Centrifugal clutch

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  Sprocket

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  A chainsaw used to trim the 2016 U.S. Capitol Christmas tree

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  A professional logger limbing a downed tree

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  A water-cooled chainsaw cutting concrete

See also

In Spanish: Motosierra para niños