Chainsaws
Bar length should match the size of what you're actually cutting — a longer bar doesn't make a saw better, just heavier and harder to control. Most homeowner tasks like limbing, small trees, and firewood are well served by a 14-16 inch bar.
Battery chainsaws have become genuinely capable for occasional yard work: quiet, no mixed gas, and instant starts. Gas saws remain the choice for daily use, larger trees, or all-day firewood cutting where runtime and raw torque matter most.
What to look for
Match bar length to the job
A 14-16 inch bar handles most residential limbing and small-tree work. Save 18+ inch bars for felling larger trees or processing bigger firewood rounds.
Safety features aren't optional
Chain brakes, low-kickback chain, and chain-catch guards reduce serious injury risk. Never buy a chainsaw, new or used, without a working chain brake.
Battery saws trade runtime for convenience
A battery chainsaw is excellent for occasional trimming and cleanup, but expect to swap batteries for anything beyond an hour of continuous cutting.