The minimal assembly required for this chainsaw left me impressed right from the start. It only took about ten minutes in total to fit the bar and chain on, and then another few minutes to pour in fuel and oil. The fact that ParkerBrand has included a comprehensive tool kit with this machine makes the assembly process much faster. By way of conclusion I would say this: if you’re looking for a lightweight, easy-to-use chainsaw but are on a tight budget, there are other options out there that would suit you better (such as the Einhell, which is only slightly larger and heavier). However, if you don’t mind spending a little more on a quality chainsaw that’s extremely well designed and made, then this Husqvarna won’t let you down. It’s the best petrol chainsaw if you need something with a slightly smaller bar and it’s perfect for light DIY work around the home and garden. That said, it does feel a little lighter than the Hyundai, which makes it that much easier to use. If you’re only using it for short periods of time, this won’t matter so much. However, for those of you who’ll be using the chainsaw for extended periods, you’ll appreciate its lightweight nature, along with its anti-vibration system. Featuring an automatic chain lubrication system, the CSH56 eliminates operational concerns, providing a hassle-free experience. The petrol engine adds an extra layer of flexibility, allowing you to use the chainsaw at any time and place. Comfort and Safety First

Durable. Petrol chainsaws are designed with durability in mind. They tend to be very long lasting provided they are properly maintained and cleaned. When working with powerful petrol powered machines, it’s essential that you’re fit enough to operate them. Before I could get started, I had to assemble the chainsaw. Fortunately, this didn’t take long – I had it all put together in less than ten minutes. All you need to do is insert the bar and chain, which was made easier by the fact that this chain didn’t need to be unravelled. All the tools that you’ll need for assembly are also supplied with the chainsaw. To use a chainsaw safely, you’ll need to be both mentally and physically fit. You should be mobile, alert, physically strong, have good vision, good balance and a strong grip. Operating Your Chainsaw Safely This is partly down to its small engine size. At 38.2cc, it’s almost half that of some of the other chainsaws that I reviewed. This shouldn’t be an issue for light, occasional work, but it isn’t quite powerful enough for heavy-duty tasks.Very surprised at the build quality and features of this chainsaw, it's German designed and built in China, but don't confuse it with some of the unbranded Chinese throw away machines available. Machine Mart offer a range of petrol chainsaws, ideal for felling small trees, cutting logs for the fire, or for pruning jobs. We have more heavy duty models suitable for heavy duty domestic and light trade work. We also offer an electric chainsaws, that are lightweight and comfortable yet still able to cope with demanding jobs and a wide range of chainsaw chains and other accessories. In terms of performance, this Einhell chainsaw shines. It starts easily and was able to slice through everything that I asked it to. Due to the length of the bar, the maximum trunk diameter that I used this chainsaw on was around 80 cm (32”), and it cut through those without any problems. If you have larger trees that need to be cut, then you’ll need a larger chainsaw, but, for the average home user, this one should be able to handle everything that you need it to.

You can tell that this is a powerful chainsaw as soon as you start to use it. This is all thanks to its 62cc 2-stroke petrol engine, which has been designed to be eco-friendly and fuel-efficient. It gives the machine a rapid cutting speed, pushing it into the professional realm. There weren’t any issues when it came to turning the chainsaw on either. I did have my doubts at first, since the primer bubble didn’t seem to properly prime the machine, but it still started first time. It performed very well too – it handled everything that I asked of it, even slicing through trunks that were close to 102 cm (40”) in diameter. There’s no chance you’ll accidentally slice through the cord – which can happen a lot with mains powered chainsaws!Most of the chainsaws that I tested took about ten minutes to assemble, and this one was no exception. You do waste a bit of time unravelling the chain, but, when it comes to removing and replacing the side panel (so that you can fit the bar and chain), Husqvarna made things more convenient by positioning the screw for this at the front, rather than the side, of the unit.

I was dubious about this chainsaw to begin with, simply because I hadn’t heard of the brand before. However, once I got it going, it didn’t stop impressing me. It’s extremely powerful and performed well at whatever task I set it to, whether this was slicing up huge tree trunks or chopping up smaller branches. Once assembled, I could clearly see that this was an Einhell product, simply because there aren’t many other brands that use such a distinctive red colour for their products. The design of this chainsaw is well thought-out – from the Oregon bar and chain, which is a sign of top quality, to the size of the bar, which is 41 cm (16”) long but slightly narrower than the other chainsaws that I reviewed. The only potential flaw that I could see was the old-fashioned metal on/off switch – all of the other chainsaws that I tested had an on/off button instead.

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For cutting smaller trunks and logs below 64 cm (25”) , choose a chainsaw with a bar around 36 cm (14”) . Combined with a 40 cc motor, a chainsaw of this size will be suitable for the majority of average home users. A 50 cc motor is better suited to medium-intensity tasks as it will cut logs up to approximately 80 cm (32”). More power and speed than other models. Petrol powered chainsaws are the most powerful of the 3 types, which makes them perfect for heavy duty tasks Petrol chainsaw engines vary quite significantly, with this one sitting somewhere in the middle of the scale. Again, this is pretty much ideal for the average user – 50cc gives it all of the power it needs to work for several hours straight without any issues. All in all, I was absolutely delighted with this tool and recommend it as the best petrol chainsaw overall. It would be a great buy for anyone who needs a versatile tool – one that they can turn to for small tasks as well as bulk work. The first thing that stands out about the design of this chainsaw is the length of its bar. At 36 cm (14”), it’s significantly smaller than some of the others that I tested, but this could very well be all you need for the tasks that you have lined up for your chainsaw. Husqvarna also incorporated a number of clever design features into this chainsaw, such as the combined choke/stop control that enables you to easily start the machine from either cold or hot.

Design: A well-crafted petrol chainsaw prioritised ergonomics, offering users a comfortable handle and grip. Models equipped with anti-vibration or cushioned handles received top marks as these features enhanced user comfort during extended use. Balanced weight distribution plays a crucial role in manoeuvrability and control, so models that considered and executed this were given better marks.

Chainsaw Range 

Thanks to its size, as well as its narrower bar, I found this chainsaw to be much easier to manoeuvre than many of the others. If I needed to prune a tall tree and had to take a chainsaw up a ladder with me, then this (or the Husqvarna that I also tested) is probably the one that I would choose. The only downside, compared to the Husqvarna, was the weight of this machine. At 6.5kg, it’s pretty heavy, but this is compensated by the fact that it has a larger engine and longer bar (and lower price tag…!). Einhell is a brand that I know and love – I’ve used several of their power and garden tools before, including their electric scarifier, cordless leaf blower, and cordless chainsaw. However, no matter how good their cordless chainsaw was, I needed something a little more powerful to cope with the large trees that Storm Arwen had toppled around my farm, which is where the Einhell GC-PC 2040 came in. According to the brand, this chainsaw was made for hobby gardeners. The work that I had set out for it was a little more than “hobby”– it was a job that I would usually turn to one of my professional chainsaws for, but I had high hopes that this Einhell would be up to the task. You do need a bit of muscle on the starter pull cord as it's not spring assisted and there isn't a decompression valve, but mine started 3rd pull so that's fine. Machine is a little on the heavy side too, fine used at ground level though I guess, the weight being a bit of a bonus and also a sign of it's solid build. It also runs on 40:1 petrol oil mix, not 25:1 as most cheap unbranded Chinese chainsaws do.