I need to cut up a fallen cedar tree and trim some limbs at my house. I’ve never used a chain saw before so I have no idea how powerful of a one I need. The biggest part of the trunk is a little bigger than a foot around. I’d like to get a low cost chain saw that’ll have enough power. Please let me know what to look for.

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So far I have a bottle of wine to stick in his stocking and a cork-screw along with a mosaic glass candle holder. I also have a key-chain measuring tape for him. I’m looking for a few other little things to go in his stocking, but I’m running out of ideas.

So far this is what I have for under the tree:
- $100 gift certificate for Home Depot
- sushi book
- Home Depot home improvement book
- two wine stoppers
- a cellphone holder for tool belt
- pry bars
- a lunch box [it's like a construction workers lunchbox, heavy duty]
- 12 inch combo square [it's for wood working]
- Black and Decker Ready-wrench
- a handcrafted Snake-wood divot tool and another type of wood divot tool [which-ever one he doesn't want, I will use]
- a magazine subscription to Wine Access
- a magazine subscription to Canadian Home Workshop
- a wine tasting tour

Oh, and I had gotten him a 18-piece screwdriver set, but he saw it already, so he got that early.

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Ok, I’m going to be helping relatives with some landscaping work and probably using a chainsaw because it would take forever to do by hand. I’ve watched a good bit and helped neighbors with moving the cut debris, etc. but never used one myself.

Just to complicate matters, they can’t find the owner’s manual so I can’t even look at that. It’s a small Black & Decker electric chainsaw, and a neighbor has offered to let me use their medium size gasoline chainsaw…same thing, no manual.

I need any and all information, references, etc. on dos, don’ts, safety, proper technique, etc. to try and be “prepared”. At this point, I only know the obvious — safety goggles and hearing protection. Staying clear of the blade is a given but I’m not sure what to expect with kickback that could make that harder.

Any pointers from experienced people could help too.
P.S. Is gas or electric safer to operate? Or are they about the same?
Follow-up:
Ok, so I went ahead and tried it with the electric saw…didn’t get far and the saw was jammed in a limb about 2″ in diameter and motor wouldn’t turn and I couldn’t pull it free. It only pushed back with 10-20 lbs of force which was a lot less than I expected.

Long story short, my neighbor came over after a short bit (he has a gas powered saw and uses it a ton) and after some difficulty got the electric saw out and finished the job. With his help, we finished all the trimming much faster and neater than I think I could have ever done.

So I have 10 minutes experience…and I think I prefer watching. So I learned something.

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