Chain Saws: The Real Story

Thriller and murder mysteries genre movies may have depicted it as a killer instrument, but a chain saw still remains one of the most well known instruments amongst all classes of power tools. It is a commonplace item in almost all households in the world.

To put it very simply a chain saw is nothing but a motorized saw

This instrument is commonly used in logging activities, where trees and branches need to be chopped and felled. However, a chain saw is not just restricted to loggers use. It is portable and therefore it is used by firefighters in controlling fires and cutting firebreaks. Chain saws are utilized for everyday chores like wood cutting, across the households of the world.

Although a chainsaw is not used for precision oriented woodworking projects, nonetheless it is a great help in cutting up large pieces of wood for more detailed and intricate operations. Chain saws in woodworking can be likened to a roller brush in painting, where the roller brush is used to put the primer on the wall, before smaller brushes are used in painting a fresco.

Chain saws can be categorized into two types. This categorization is based on the type of engine used. Some chain saws use two-stroke gasoline powered engine while the other use an electric motor. Riveted metal parts are joined in a fashion akin to a bicycle chain strategy. Due to this “chain” in the chain saw, the chain saw gets its name. This chain is the key ingredient in making the chain saw a household name. It has sharp blades which are singularly known as tooth. Each tooth is mounted on each link, as the tooth motor rotates it and cuts into whatever surface it is aimed at.

Another classification of chainsaw is based on the gap positions of the tooth. When the tooth is mounted on every second link, the chain saw is known as a skip tooth chain saw. This chain saw is used in cutting soft wood, as due to its structure, there is a reduced clogging risk of the chain. The modern amendments include an alternation between the right and the left handed teeth, thereby making the chain saw cuts more even.

The chain saw history suggests that the first chain saw was developed by Bernard Heine, a German orthopedist. However, this chain saw was not used to cut wood; rather it was developed to cut bone. In 1929, Dolmar invented the first gasoline driven chainsaw. This chainsaw was used to cut wood and could be operated by two people. The earlier models of chain saws were bulky and often mounted on wheels.

Post World War II, due to the modifications in engine design, chainsaws evolved into lighter and compact versions than their predecessors. These chainsaws were the “base design” or simply put the forerunners of the modern day chainsaws.

Today, thanks to the power chain saws, the simple muscle driven chainsaws have become obsolete and redundant. Chain saws have made wood cutting activities quick, precise and trouble-free. Sculpting can also be accomplished by chain saws by using special chain saw teeth.