How to Use a Chainsaw | This Old House

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook and chainsaw expert Tim Ard cover safe and efficient chainsaw cutting techniques. (See below for a Shopping List and Tools.)

Shopping List for How to Use a Chainsaw:
- hardhat with face shield and hearing protection
- thick work gloves
- ballistic-nylon chaps
- work boots

Tools for How to Use a Chainsaw:
- chainsaw
-file with sharpening guide, used for hand sharpening the saw chain
chain saw
- grinding-stone attachment, used for power sharpening the saw chain

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How to Use a Chainsaw | This Old House

[Optimumfiton]

Had some bad weather in the Northeast last week and a huge tree came down in my backyard. Having never used a chainsaw, I watched your video and felt confident enough to tackle the job! Thank you!

[mrwannabetryhard]

Excellent video for beginners. I think the only thing he didn't mention is the saw should be at full speed before beginning the cut. He showed it, just didn't state it.

[ellieban]

This is great. Much better than the official training videos by the manufacturers. Thank you!

[poptartgofast]

I wanted to get chainsaw to clean up grandma's land. I realized I have never been instructed how to chainsaw. Thank you for this video.

[WaylandJoe]

When I did my chainsaw course, my instructor told me there is nothing of interest on the righthand side of the bar, in other words keep yourself to the left of the bar, just in case of kickback.

Another safety feature is the anti vibration features on the saw. And when starting the saw, I was taught to check everything is working, the lubrication of the bar and test the chainbrake, run the saw upto full power and apply the brake and that it stops the chain from running.

Always use the righthand on the throttle and when starting the saw, give a quick press on the throttle to drop the revs to prevent unnecessary strain on the chainbrake band.

[frost]

So say I’m cutting into something soft and then I hit bones is there a good technique to keeping control of the saw while that happens? Also what do you do if the engine gets gummed up with red sticky liquid? Thanks for the help guys!

[malikdigger]

The best home improvement show ever next to ( Rehab Addict) & ( Main Cabin Masters).

[patricktatten]

You're obviously from New England! This is such a great instructional video

[rochat]

Rahger's accent is wicked awesome.

[jacquesblaque]

Nice seeing Roger's old 455 Husqy. Not for snobs. Had one myself for 3 yrs, couldn't hurt it. Bud now stables it.

[Jarhead]

For beginners should have shown the starting it process. Include the use of the choke

[simonparker]

Good video. Gets straight to the point and informative.

[BigDaddy-jenq]

If you start the saw standing up, hold it perpendicular to yourself and push the saw down with the same force as you pull the cord instead of only pulling the cord

[paultrigger]

they definitely covered the PPE. The vast majority of homeowners who work with a chainsaw will not wear saw chaps, yet ask anyone who has worked with them for a living about the times they've broke a chain or nasty kickbacks

[enolux]

god bless these men. they really helped me.

[MurCurieux]

Great was a great basic refresher.
Stihl has a more in depth video for follow up.
Thanks!

[glamrus]

Ahhh. This is definitely a breath of fresh air !!🌸😇

[kingraiderr]

As a serial killer i needed this for my next project .

[Easystreet]

Let me go ahead and say USE LEG CHAPS today I was cutting and got very lucky in cutting right above my knee an inch or two deep but it could have been insanely nasty if I didn’t get lucky. USE PROTECTION

[jmd]

Be very careful when stotting the saw with the shoppener attached.