• Cordless battery-powered chainsaws give you full freedom to roam without the restriction of a cable.
• They're better suited for lighter jobs and the battery life restricts how long you can use them for. They're often measured in cuts per charge, giving you an idea how long each charge will last.
• As with electric, more watts mean more power. Most cordless models have a battery included, but others come without a battery, which is great if you already own a compatible battery.

• Portable and powerful, petrol chainsaws are best for heavy duty or tough jobs like cutting down large trees, cutting logs or thick branches.
• They can be noisier and heavier than electric and cordless chainsaws, and also require regular care and maintenance.
• Petrol chainsaws generally have 32cc or higher motors.

• Pole saws are smaller chainsaws that are designed to reach high branches. Ensure that you choose a pole saw that is long enough to reach the area you want to use it on.
• Attached to a telescopic handle, which makes it easy to get to those hard to reach high areas.
• As the chainsaw part is smaller, they are generally less powerful and better suited for use on thinner branches.

The larger and more powerful a chainsaw is, the harder it is to use. As safety is so important with chainsaws, you should never take on more work than you need to.

Chainsaws can be very heavy and are hard work to use. Make sure you choose a model with a weight you are comfortable with as fatigue during use could lead to an accident.

The cutting speed is measured in metres per second (m/s). The faster the cutting speed the faster the chainsaw will cut through wood.

Proper lubrication is important for keeping the chain moving smoothly. Many models include automatic lubrication, while others need lubricating manually using the correct oil recommended by the manufacturer.

• The chain bar is the part of the chainsaw that the chain runs around. The longer the bar is, the larger the branch or log you can cut with it.
• It is measured from the tip of the chainsaw bar to where the bar meets the motor.
• The chain bar should be able to cut a piece of wood twice its length. For example, if you want to cut a 60cm tree in one pass, then a 30cm chain bar or bigger is ideal. You can still cut larger trees than your chain bar length by making two or more passes, instead of one.