Again, in terms of both performance and power, there wasn’t really a significant difference between the P1PE and the Hyundai. The P1PE was able to neatly slice through trunks that were roughly 102 cm (40”) in diameter, yet it handled smaller branches just as well too. Alina Jumabhoy has spent several years learning about, and experimenting with, different organic growing techniques at various gardens and farms around the country. Fuelled by her quest for self-sufficiency, she’s now putting that information to good use on her own rural farm.

Primer bubble isn’t very effective. Thankfully, it didn’t need to be, since the chainsaw had no issues starting from both hot and cold 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”).In terms of design features, there are a few that stand out. Firstly, the 30cm Oregon bar and chain . Anyone that’s familiar with chainsaws will know that this is a sign of great quality. Oregon chainsaw parts are very high-performance and are known for lasting the years, so it’s great that this machine is fitted with them.

I managed to use it to cut up wood that was around 50cm in diameter. These were trunks that I previously used a petrol chainsaw for – although the Ryobi was a little slower, the end result was just as good. That said, don’t assume that this is a slow machine – its cutting speed is 10 m/s, which is faster than most of the other cordless chainsaws out there. The only faster one that I tested was the Makita. When testing these chainsaws, I realised one feature worth looking out for is a chain-tension dial on the side of the machine . This made it a lot easier to adjust chain tension compared to models where it was positioned on the front. Long 50 cm (20”) cutting bar gives this chainsaw the ability to slice through wood that’s 102 cm (40”) in diameter cm (14”) bar isn’t capable of cutting through large trees, which limits this chainsaw’s versatility Has a number of safety features. Even chainsaw first-timers should feel confident enough to safely use it

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. 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. The length of the bar will determine the size of the log or branch which can be cut in any one movement. Chainsaws with a shorter bar can be used to cut large pieces of wood, but it’ll take more than one pass to get through it. As mentioned, the tool-less chain tensioning is a big plus, although all of the six cordless chainsaws that I tested have been designed with this feature. Just like the others, this one also has a claw stop, as well as ergonomic handles to improve the user experience. In terms of runtime, my 5.0aH battery gave me about 20 minutes . Ryobi claims that it should last for about 40 cuts, but this varies depending on what you’re cutting. If I had focused on smaller and lighter branches, then I would have probably been able to use the machine for closer to 30 minutes. However, since I was cutting large and dense trunks, this took the runtime down to about 20 minutes.