Chainsaw Alternative – look at which one you can use!

A chainsaw is a powerful handheld tool to cut huge trees and firewood, clean up wood, or prune trees faster with great accuracy. 

A chainsaw alternative is needed so that one can trim, remove brunches, and remove unwanted bushes or hedges when we don’t have access or in the absence of this dedicated tool for the dedicated project.

A chainsaw can be gas chainsaw and electric chainsaw [corded or cordless], and to keep that in mind, here in this article, I have discussed all these types of chainsaw alternatives so that one can easily choose the best chainsaw alternative for their projects.

Chainsaw Alternative Table

#8 effective Handheld electric tool alternatives of chainsaw

Pole saw

A pole saw is a superior alternative to a chainsaw as it functions the same as the chainsaw to cut limbs of trees and pieces of logs. Even it is known as a pole chainsaw for having a bar and chain. The main difference is that you get the long handle that attaches to the motor and blade.

For the long handle, you get the advantage of cutting overhanging limbs and thin logs that are higher above your shoulders. In addition, the handle can be up to 10 feet long to safely trim trees, hedges, and other foliage, and you don’t have to climb ladders to cut like you do while using chainsaws.

But the disadvantage you get is that with the pole saw, you can’t cut large trees and won’t get the same versatility to cut firewood, clean up wood, or prune trees like the chainsaw.

There are manual pole pruning saws and motorized and electric pole saws available you can choose any of them as an alternative to a chainsaw, and these won’t cost more than $100.

Lopper saw

An alligator lopper saw is structurally and functions the same as it has a chain heavy-duty cutting bar and is used to cut trees. However, they have a much smaller chain bar and chain used for cutting thick branches and logs of trees.

The advantage you get is that you can even handle it with one hand; it cuts faster, is safer, is more portable than a chainsaw, and have the versatility to cut firewood, clean up wood, or prune trees like the chainsaw.

The disadvantage you get is that you can’t cut large trees with the lopper saw as they come with a smaller chain bar and chain. Also, hard to cut overhanging limbs and thin logs that are higher than your shoulders

There are manual hoss loppers and electric corded and cordless alligator loppers available you can also choose them as an alternative to a chainsaw, and these won’t cost more than $100.

Jaw saw

A jaw saw is the same as the alligator lopper and a good alternative to a chainsaw. It has a smaller chain bar and chain like a lopper, and you get the performance of a chainsaw in it. 

Even the jaw saw is more protected and easy to handle than a chainsaw to cut through firewood, clean up wood, or prune trees. Also, can use an extension jaw saw pole to cut overhanging limbs and thin logs that are higher than your shoulders.

But unlike the chainsaw, it has limitations on cutting thicker trees or wood pieces for enclosed blades.

Electric corded and cordless jaw saws are available; they won’t cost more than $200.

Hedge trimmer or Hedge cutter

A hedge trimmer or cutter looks almost the same as a chainsaw; just the hedge trimmer is lightweight and has larger blades for trimming hedges or solitary shrubs.

A hedge trimmer is for lightweight work like pruning hedges and bushes, and a hedge cutter is for heavy-duty work like cutting logs and big branches and removing unwanted thicker bushes or hedges.

But both of these tools are not powerful, like a chainsaw to cut huge trees or firewood.

Electric corded and cordless jaw saws are available; they won’t cost more than $100.

Reciprocating saw, or Sawzall or Hackzall or Saber saw

The reciprocating saws, Sawzall, Sabersaw, and Hackzall, are structurally and functionally almost the same. They can be a suitable alternative to chainsaws as they can cut branches and roots both vertically and horizontally.

They all use universal sabre shank blades that can be long up to 12 inches to cut up to 10 inches of wood, limbs, branches, and pruning bushes easily. Another good thing is that you can operate it with one hand and get a more precise and better finish with great safety.

The disadvantage you get is the cut capacity; they all cut slower and can’t cut huge trees in the woods like a chainsaw.

Electric corded and cordless saws are available; they won’t cost more than $200.

Jigsaw 

Jigsaw is another alternative you can choose if you don’t have a chainsaw available at the time. It’s not as big as a chainsaw, but it can easily cut branches and roots with its sharp blade.

With this jigsaw, you can cut up to 6 inches of thick wood, limbs, branches, and pruning bushes easily and preciously.

But the thing is that cutting vertically is tough with this jigsaw, and they are mostly preferred for dry woods and can’t get faster cut like a chainsaw.

Electric corded and cordless jigsaws are available; they won’t cost more than $200.

Oscillating saw

An oscillating saw vibrates its blade and moves side by side to put pressure and cut through wood. They come with multiple attachments and come in many sizes and designs.

The attachment blades help you to thin wood, limbs, and branches and prune bushes easily and efficiently.

These oscillating saw blades are not too long to compare cuts with a chainsaw. But with this, you can cut small tree limbs and branches that are making a mess in your garden and home.

Electric corded and cordless oscillating saws are available; they won’t cost more than $100.

Circular saw

A circular saw is mainly for construction projects and DIY home improvement, but with its round blade and horizontal and vertical cutting capabilities, you can easily cut wood, limbs, branches, and prune bushes.

Like the chainsaw, it can do demolition jobs and can cut through firewood, clean up wood, or prune trees, and also can cut faster with great accuracy.

But the thing is, you can cut much thicker with a circular saw because of its round blade, which can give you a maximum of 4-inch-thick cut and is suggested to use on dry wood or dead trees.

There are mini and large electric corded and cordless circular saws available; they won’t cost more than $150.

#4 Effective handheld Manual Tool Alternatives of chainsaw

Manual alternatives are like a backup. For example, you may have a running chainsaw or don’t have a chainsaw available at that time; you can use one of these manual hand tools to make one or two quick cuts.

Bow saw

A bowsaw is a perfect alternative to a chainsaw if you want a manual, handheld tool to cut trees, limbs, and branches and remove unwanted bushes or hedges.

They have a metal structure that attaches the thinner blade and slides through any surface, so you can easily cut wood. With this tool having a sturdy blade, you can easily cut up to 12-inch trees.

They come in different sizes; the maximum size won’t cost more than $50.

Hand saw, or Crosscut saw

Cutting smaller or larger trees with a handsaw and cross saw is a better manual option than a chainsaw. 

A hand saw, and a crosscut saw have thicker blades and larger blades to cut through firewood, clean up wood, prune trees, and remove unwanted bushes, hedges, and limbs.

Both saws can be used with one hand, but for cutting huge trees, you need to use both hands on the crosscut saw as it has a longer blade.

Hand saw, and cross saw come in different sizes. A hand saw costs around $20, and a cross saw costs up to $200.

Pruning saw

A pruning saw is like a manual pole saw; they are much smaller and really sharp to cut small limbs and branches. Also, there are larger blade pruning saws like hand saws to cut large trees like a chainsaw.

But a pruning saw is best for removing low-hanging branches, trimming limbs, and removing unwanted bushes or hedges. Also, the comfortable grip makes it easy to use in tough situations.

They come in different sizes; the maximum size won’t cost more than $50.

Rope chainsaw

A rope chainsaw works with a chain blade that you see on a chainsaw bar, and it is also called a homemade pocket chainsaw. Here, you have to toss over a tree or tree branch and move it back and forth to cut through thick trees quickly.

With this rope chainsaw, you can cut overhanging limbs and thin logs that are higher than your shoulders, and you don’t have any ladders to cut those. Also, it can be used for removing branches and removing unwanted bushes or hedges.

They come in different sizes; the maximum size won’t cost more than $50.

Why do we need alternatives to Chainsaws?

While working something like you have the rush to submit projects at the time and that time your chainsaw is not functioning properly, or it could wear out, or where you are working, you don’t have access to this tool, or you are using an electric chainsaw and don’t have electricity; on those time an alternative can be a lifesaving option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A chainsaw is best for trimming, sprucing, and pruning huge trees and blocks of wood. But in the absence of this tool or an access problem without any choice, you must use an alternative to finishing the task on time.

I have given you all the possible alternatives that you can use instead of a chainsaw. Now check which one you have access to use and have in your workshop. Thank you.