8 Best Gas Chainsaws for Firewood Cutting (October 2026) Trusted Reviews

If you cut a cord or more of firewood a year, the best gas chainsaws for firewood cutting sit in the 50 to 60cc class with an 18 to 20 inch bar. That combination handles rounds up to about 16 to 18 inches thick all season without leaving you carrying more saw than you need.

Our pick for most people is the Husqvarna 455 Rancher. Its 55.5cc two-stroke engine, 20 inch guide bar and side-mounted chain tensioner cover the full range of seasonal firewood work, and owners routinely report five or six years of service before anything significant fails.

We compared eight gas saws on engine displacement, guide bar length, listed powerhead weight, automatic chain oiling, cold starting behaviour and how each one handles green hardwood rounds. Every saw here is rear-handle and gas powered, which is what sustained cord production actually calls for. If you are still narrowing the field, our guides to the best chainsaws for firewood and the best chainsaws for beginners cover the lighter and first-saw cases in more depth.

Table of Contents

Top 3 Picks: Best Gas Chainsaws for Firewood Cutting (October 2026)

Three saws stand out here. The Husqvarna 455 Rancher is the most proven firewood saw of the eight, the NEO-TEC 62cc delivers genuine 62cc output at a budget-tier cost, and the SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc matches the cutting speed of much larger premium machines on hardwood.

EDITOR'S CHOICE
Husqvarna 455 Rancher

Husqvarna 455 Rancher

★★★★★★★★★★4.6
  • 55.5cc two-stroke
  • 20 inch bar
  • Automatic chain oiler
  • Side-mounted tensioner
BUDGET PICK
SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc

SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc

★★★★★★★★★★4.0
  • 62cc full-crank engine
  • 20 inch low-kickback bar
  • Quick-stop chain brake
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Quick Overview: All 8 Gas Chainsaws at a Glance

This table lists every saw in the roundup with its engine class, bar length and the firewood job it fits best. Scan it for the engine size and bar length first, because those two numbers decide whether a saw suits your wood.

ProductSpecificationsAction
Husqvarna 455 RancherHusqvarna 455 Rancher
  • 55.5cc two-stroke
  • 20 inch bar
  • Automatic oiler
  • 15.5 lb listed weight
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Husqvarna 450 RancherHusqvarna 450 Rancher
  • 50.2cc 3.2-HP
  • 20 inch bar
  • LowVib damping
  • 14 lb listed weight
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NEO-TEC 62ccNEO-TEC 62cc
  • 62cc 3.5HP
  • 20 inch bar
  • Chain brake and lockout
  • 8500 RPM
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PROYAMA 68ccPROYAMA 68cc
  • 68cc 4.5HP
  • 20 and 24 inch bars
  • Magnesium chain brake
  • Anti-vibration
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Echo CS-590-20AAEcho CS-590-20AA
  • 59.8cc engine
  • 20 inch bar
  • 5.3 horsepower class
  • Heavy firewood duty
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SUPMIXTOOLS 62ccSUPMIXTOOLS 62cc
  • 62cc full-crank
  • 4.2HP at 8500 RPM
  • 20 inch bar
  • Quick-stop brake
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Troy-Bilt 42cc 16-InchTroy-Bilt 42cc 16-Inch
  • 42cc full-crank
  • 16 inch low-kickback bar
  • SpringAssist start
  • 3-point vibration
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ECHO CS-3510-16ECHO CS-3510-16
  • 34.4cc commercial grade
  • 16 inch bar
  • 8.2 lb listed weight
  • i-30 starter
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1. Husqvarna 455 Rancher: Best Gas Chainsaw for Most Firewood

EDITOR'S CHOICE
Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc 2-Stroke Gas-Powered Chain Saw, Orange (965030298)

Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc 2-Stroke Gas-Powered Chain Saw, Orange (965030298)

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 / 5

55.5cc two-stroke

20 inch guide bar

Automatic chain oiler

15.5 lb listed weight

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Pros

  • Powers through 28 inch plus hardwood rounds
  • Easy cold starts on the first or second pull
  • Reliable across many years and multiple chains
  • Side-mounted chain tensioner

Cons

  • Heavy at 15.5 pounds for long sessions
  • Very loud so hearing protection is essential
  • Light-duty choke and kill switch hardware
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The 455 Rancher is the saw I recommend to anyone who has never chosen a gas chainsaw before and plans to keep cutting wood. It arrives with the bar and chain installed, a bar cover and a small bottle of pre-mix fuel, and bar and chain oil is the one consumable you need to buy separately.

Owners describe it as unusually powerful for its size class, reporting that it fells trees over 28 inches in diameter and slices through large oak and shagbark hickory without bogging. That headroom matters on firewood because round diameter varies wildly between a single oak and a scrubby softwood stand.

Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc 2-Stroke Gas-Powered Chain Saw, Orange (965030298) customer photo 1

Starting is the other reason it keeps the top slot. Reviewers consistently report first-pull or second-pull ignition, including from cold, which is the opposite of the common gas saw complaint. A few owners mention that the choke and kill switch feel cheap and worry about the pull cords, so treat those as consumables rather than permanent parts.

The 55.5cc two-stroke engine carries 2.6 KW of output, and the automatic chain oiler delivers a steady feed to the bar and chain over long sessions. A quick-release air filter makes seasonal checks fast, and the X-Torque engine cuts fuel consumption and emissions against older designs.

Husqvarna 965030298 455 Rancher 20-Inch 55-1/2cc 2-Stroke Gas-Powered Chain Saw, Orange (965030298) customer photo 2

What it handles well and where it strains

This saw thrives on rounds in the 12 to 18 inch range, which covers the overwhelming majority of home firewood work. A small number of owners have reported loose muffler bolts after very heavy use, so a torque check before a big wood lot is worthwhile.

The honest limit is weight. At 15.5 pounds listed, this is not the saw you want for a full day of small-diameter bucking, and the 20 inch bar gets in the way when you are only cutting 8 inch limbs. If your wood is mostly small rounds, look at the lighter saws further down.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the 455 Rancher if you cut a few cords a year, want one saw that handles both firewood and storm cleanup, and would rather buy once. It is the most heavily reviewed saw in this roundup, and long-term owners describe five to six years of heavy firewood cutting without problems.

Skip it if weight is your main worry or if your biggest rounds stay under about 10 inches. In that case the 450 Rancher gives you a similar platform roughly a pound lighter, or the ECHO CS-3510-16 goes much further in the other direction.

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2. Husqvarna 450 Rancher: Best for Lightweight Full-Size Handling

BEST FOR LIGHTWEIGHT HANDLING

Pros

  • Light and well balanced for a full-size saw
  • Cuts live oak and pine smoothly
  • Soft inlay trigger and LowVib damping
  • Air filter access is quick

Cons

  • Some owners need several pulls to start
  • The included bar and chain disappoints some buyers
  • Less high-RPM bite than the 445 Rancher
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The 450 Rancher answers a question plenty of firewood cutters ask: can a full-size gas saw feel light enough for a whole weekend of bucking. At 14 pounds listed, it is noticeably easier to hold than the 455, and the asymmetrical handle and soft inlay trigger keep it comfortable through long sessions.

Cutting performance is the real surprise. Reviewers report that it cuts live oak and pine smoothly on the supplied chain, and the 50.2cc X-Torq engine delivers 3.2 HP with emissions and fuel use improvements over the generation it replaced.

Husqvarna 450 Rancher Gas Chainsaw, 50.2-cc 3.2-HP, 2-Cycle X-Torq Engine, 20 Inch Chainsaw with Automatic Oiler, For Tree Pruning, Yard Cleanups and Firewood Cutting customer photo 1

The trade-off shows up in two places. Several owners report needing five to ten pulls to start instead of one, which is a real annoyance on cold mornings. Others note less high-RPM bite and more tendency to bog than the older 445 Rancher when the chain gets dull.

A recurring complaint worth flagging is the quality of the bar and chain included in the box. A few buyers report burring and jumping off the rail. Check the chain before your first cut and budget for a replacement bar if the supplied one runs poorly.

What it handles well and where it strains

This is the sweet spot for someone who cuts one to three cords a year out of mixed hardwood and softwood, with rounds that stay under about 16 inches. The Air Injection centrifugal air cleaning system keeps maintenance intervals reasonable, and Smart Start simplifies warm starts.

It is less suited to heavy residential felling. Owners who moved up from a 445 sometimes describe it as feeling softer under load, and there is less headroom for very large rounds than the 455 gives you.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the 450 Rancher if you are sensitive to weight, already know how a gas saw runs, and want a full-size bar without the full-size mass. It also carries a two year manufacturer warranty and ten years of listed spare part availability, which matters for long-term ownership.

Skip it if easy cold starting is your top priority or if your wood is full of 18 inch plus rounds. The 455 Rancher gives you both the power and the starting behaviour, at the cost of about a pound and a half.

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3. NEO-TEC 62cc: Best Value in the Roundup

BEST VALUE

Pros

  • Genuine 62cc output at a budget-tier cost
  • Quick-start system fires in one or two pulls
  • Wrap-around handle aids maneuvering
  • Bar and chain arrive installed

Cons

  • Listed weight of 17.1 pounds is heavier than expected
  • About 11 percent one-star durability complaints
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The NEO-TEC NCS6200 is the reason this roundup contains three budget saws. It puts genuine 62cc and 3.5 HP behind a 20 inch bar, which places it in the same displacement class as the premium machines above it on paper.

For firewood that matters, because 62cc is where most seasonal cutting work tops out before heavier saws become necessary. The quick-start system with its starter and choke knob is designed for one or two pull ignition, and the precision carburetor is tuned for fuel efficiency across a load range.

NEO-TEC 62cc 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaw 2-Cycle Petrol 3.5HP Handheld Reliable Motosierra De Gasolina for Tree Pruning Wood Cutting Firewood Preparation and Yard Maintenance customer photo 1

Two things temper the enthusiasm. First, the listed weight of 17.1 pounds makes this the heaviest saw in the group, which undercuts the lighter feel the marketing implies and matters over a full day of cord production.

Second, the rating distribution includes about 11 percent one-star reviews, a meaningful share of durability and build-quality complaints among buyers. Owners who get a good saw praise the power, while others report problems appearing sooner than they should.

NEO-TEC 62cc 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaw 2-Cycle Petrol 3.5HP Handheld Reliable Motosierra De Gasolina for Tree Pruning Wood Cutting Firewood Preparation and Yard Maintenance customer photo 2

What it handles well and where it strains

The chain brake and trigger lockout give it the safety basics you need for bucking and felling small to medium trees. With 0.325 inch pitch, 0.058 inch gauge and 76 drive links on the standard 20 inch bar, replacement chains are easy to source in the common size class.

Its weakness is sustained comfort. At 17.1 pounds, this is the saw you will want to put down first at the end of a long session, and the build-quality spread in the reviews suggests some units age faster than others.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy it if you want full-size displacement at a budget-tier cost, cut rounds in the 14 to 18 inch range, and are comfortable servicing your own saw. Chains, bars and typical repairs are all within reach for an experienced owner.

Skip it if you want the lightest saw in your shed, or if you cut firewood often enough that durability uncertainty would bother you. The Husqvarna 455 Rancher pairs comparable displacement with a dealer support network and far longer owner histories.

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4. PROYAMA 68cc: Best for Maximum Displacement

BEST FOR RAW POWER
PROYAMA 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw, 24 Inch 20 Inch Top Handle Chain Saw

PROYAMA 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw, 24 Inch 20 Inch Top Handle Chain Saw

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 / 5

68cc 4.5HP two-stroke

20 and 24 inch bars

14.5 lb listed weight

Magnesium chain brake

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Pros

  • Largest engine displacement of the eight saws
  • Both a 20 inch and 24 inch bar included
  • Magnesium alloy chain brake and case
  • Anti-vibration system for long sessions

Cons

  • Lowest average rating of the eight picks
  • About 18 percent one-star reliability complaints
  • Heavy 24 inch bar reduces maneuverability
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On paper the PROYAMA PCS68 is the most capable saw here. At 68cc it has the largest engine displacement of any other pick, and it is the only one that includes two bars, a 20 inch and a 24 inch, so you can cover small rounds and large diameter wood with one purchase.

That headroom is real. If your wood lot contains genuinely big hardwood, an engine this size will keep pulling a chain through it where a 50cc saw would stall and overheat. The magnesium alloy chain brake and case are also better hardware than most budget saws use.

PROYAMA 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw, 24 Inch 20 Inch Top Handle Chain Saw customer photo 1

The catch is consistency. At 3.9 stars with around 18 percent one-star reviews, this is the weakest satisfaction score in the roundup, and those reviews concentrate on durability and quality control rather than on cutting performance.

A one year manufacturer warranty is thinner than what the Husqvarna saws carry. The 24 inch bar is also heavy and awkward for bucking, so you would realistically swap to the 20 inch bar for most firewood days and keep the bigger one for occasional large rounds.

PROYAMA 68CC Gas Powered Chainsaw, 24 Inch 20 Inch Top Handle Chain Saw customer photo 2

What it handles well and where it strains

The anti-vibration system and ergonomic handle genuinely help with fatigue, and the easy-start system reduces pull effort. That combination makes the higher displacement more usable over a long session than the raw numbers suggest.

What it does not do is solve the weight problem. At 14.5 pounds listed before you add the 24 inch bar, this is a saw for people cutting large wood, not people cutting a lot of small rounds.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the PROYAMA if your firewood comes from large-diameter hardwood, you want one saw that can also fell medium trees, and you value having two bar sizes over brand support.

Skip it if your wood is mostly under 14 inches, if you value a long service life over peak power, or if you would rather not be the first call when something goes wrong. The lower rating here is not about how it cuts, it is about how long it keeps cutting.

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5. ECHO CS-590: Best for Big Hardwood Rounds

BEST FOR BIG ROUNDS
Echo CS-590-20AA 20 in. 59.8 cc Gas Chainsaw

Echo CS-590-20AA 20 in. 59.8 cc Gas Chainsaw

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 / 5

59.8cc gas engine

20 inch bar

5.3 horsepower class

Heavy firewood duty

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Pros

  • Does not bog down under load
  • Handles large oak and storm-fallen trees
  • Owners report a full truckload on one tank
  • Good fit and finish for its class

Cons

  • Hard to crank for smaller-framed users
  • Floods easily if you over-pull the choke
  • Some saws arrived faulty from third-party sellers
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The CS-590 is the saw owners reach for when a round stops cooperating. At 59.8cc and a 5.3 horsepower class, it is built for load, and reviewers repeatedly describe it throwing large chips and working through big oak without the bogging that stops lighter saws.

One owner report stands out: cutting a full F-250 truckload of firewood on a single tank of fuel. That kind of endurance is what makes a difference if you are processing a whole wood lot in a weekend rather than a cord at a time.

Echo CS-590-20AA 20 in. 59.8 cc Gas Chainsaw customer photo 1

The dominant learning curve is starting. Owners describe it as hard to crank, particularly for smaller-framed users, and it floods easily if the choke is pulled too many times. Learn the decompression and choke sequence before your first cold morning and the complaint disappears.

Be careful about where you buy this one. A share of reviews describe saws arriving faulty or from third-party sellers with limited warranty support, and the listing brand shows as a reseller channel name rather than ECHO itself. Buy from a source that honours the manufacturer warranty.

Echo CS-590-20AA 20 in. 59.8 cc Gas Chainsaw customer photo 2

What it handles well and where it strains

It is a proven choice for rounds above 18 inches and for storm cleanup where you are cutting on the ground. Heavy timber work is exactly what this class was built for, and reviewers commonly describe it as replacing larger premium saws.

It is not the right saw for smaller users or for someone intimidated by a hard pull. The weight field on this listing is also unusable, so plan on handling it as a full-size professional saw rather than trusting the published figure.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the CS-590 if you cut large diameter hardwood, have the upper body strength to pull a recoil starter repeatedly, and process wood in volume. Very few saws at this displacement hold up as well on cutting performance alone.

Skip it if you are smaller framed, new to gas saws, or cutting mostly rounds under 14 inches. The Husqvarna 455 Rancher is easier to start and lighter, and it covers the same firewood sizes without the learning curve.

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6. SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc: Budget Pick With Real Cutting Speed

BUDGET PICK
SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc Gas Chainsaw 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaws 2-Cycle Petrol

SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc Gas Chainsaw 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaws 2-Cycle Petrol

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 / 5

62cc full-crank two-stroke

20 inch low-kickback bar

4.2 HP at 8500 RPM

14 lb listed weight

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Pros

  • Outcuts much larger premium saws on knotty hardwood
  • Very fast and easy cold starts
  • Snappy throttle with no bogging under load
  • Well balanced at 14 pounds

Cons

  • Needs pre-mix fuel to start reliably
  • Chain adjustor placement is awkward
  • Bar arrives loose and needs correct assembly
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The SUPMIXTOOLS 6250 is the most surprising saw in this roundup. Owners running side-by-side comparisons report that it outcuts a new Stihl MS 271 on thick knotty hardwood, which tells you more about its cutting speed than any specification here.

The 62cc full-crank two-stroke engine is rated at 4.2 HP spinning to 8500 RPM, and owners describe snappy full throttle with no hesitation and no bogging under load. At 14 pounds listed, it is also one of the lighter full-size saws in the group.

SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc Gas Chainsaw 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaws 2-Cycle Petrol customer photo 1

The catch is fuel. It needs pre-mix fuel to start reliably, and regular gasoline with a separately added oil makes starting much harder. Owners also report that the chain adjustment screw is awkwardly placed, and that the chain needs adjusting again after initial break-in.

Bar assembly deserves attention too. The bar arrives loose, and getting it seated correctly the first time avoids repeated disassembly. About 14 percent one-star reviews concentrate on customer support and warranty handling rather than on the saw itself.

SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc Gas Chainsaw 20 Inch Gas Powered Chainsaws 2-Cycle Petrol customer photo 2

What it handles well and where it strains

Fast cold starts beat several premium machines in owner testing, and the 20 inch low-kickback bar plus quick-stop chain brake make it reasonable for both bucking and light felling. The dual-tank design is a sensible layout for a saw you will refill repeatedly.

The engine is loud enough that ear protection matters. More importantly, pre-mixing fuel is a real ongoing task, and for many first-time owners that friction alone is enough to stop using the saw.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the SUPMIXTOOLS if raw cutting speed matters most to you, you already know how to mix fuel, and you cut a couple of cords of mixed hardwood each season. On pure cutting performance it embarrasses far more expensive saws.

Skip it if you want to pour regular fuel and pull, or if support matters to you. The Husqvarna 455 Rancher and the ECHO CS-590 both carry longer service histories and easier warranty paths for a saw you will rely on every winter.

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7. Troy-Bilt 42cc 16-Inch: Best for Lighter Seasonal Work

BEST FOR LIGHT DUTY
Troy-Bilt Gas Chainsaw, 42cc, 16-inch (TB4216)

Troy-Bilt Gas Chainsaw, 42cc, 16-inch (TB4216)

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 / 5

42cc full-crank two-stroke

16 inch low-kickback bar

SpringAssist start

15.3 lb listed weight

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Pros

  • SpringAssist makes cold starts easier
  • 16 inch bar cuts limbs quickly
  • Adjustable automatic bar and chain oiler
  • 3-point anti-vibration handles

Cons

  • Shortest bar here limits large round capacity
  • 42cc output is modest against 55 to 68cc saws
  • Smallest review base of the eight picks
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The Troy-Bilt TB4216 sits at the other end of the size range from the saws above it. A 42cc full-crank two-stroke engine with a 16 inch low-kickback bar is sized for limb work and lighter firewood duty rather than felling or big rounds.

For a household that burns under a cord a year, that sizing is genuinely correct rather than compromised. The SpringAssist system eases cold starting, and buyers consistently rate it well for starting ease, consistent oiling and vibration control.

What it handles well and where it strains

The adjustable automatic bar and chain oiler keeps lubrication steady through a session, which is the feature that matters most for bar and chain life on lighter work. The 3-point anti-vibration handles genuinely reduce the numbness you get on longer cuts.

The 16 inch bar is the natural ceiling. It handles rounds comfortably up to about 12 inches and will manage slightly more, but the moment you meet a 16 inch log you have no margin. The 42cc output is also modest against the 55 to 68cc saws in this roundup.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the Troy-Bilt if you cut a small seasonal load, do a lot of limb and brush work, and want a low-effort starter for a low-effort job. It does one thing well without pretending to be a professional saw.

Skip it if you ever intend to grow into bigger wood, or if you cut more than a couple of cords. Buy a 50 to 60cc saw with an 18 to 20 inch bar now rather than replacing this one after a season of frustration with big rounds.

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8. ECHO CS-3510-16: Best Lightweight Saw for Limbing and Small Rounds

BEST FOR LIMB WORK
Echo Commercial Gas Rear Handle Chain Saw with 16In Bar 34.4Cc

Echo Commercial Gas Rear Handle Chain Saw with 16In Bar 34.4Cc

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 / 5

34.4cc commercial grade

16 inch bar

8.2 lb listed weight

i-30 starter

Check Price

Pros

  • Lightest saw here at 8.2 pounds
  • i-30 starter cuts starting effort by 30 percent
  • 3-point spring vibration system
  • Air injection air cleaner cuts maintenance

Cons

  • 16 inch bar limits it to smaller rounds
  • 34.4cc has far less power on large hardwood
  • Several product images are duplicated
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At 8.2 pounds listed, the CS-3510-16 is the saw you will still be holding at hour six. That weight advantage is the entire reason to buy it, and it changes how much wood you can process in a single session compared with every other pick here.

It is a commercial grade 34.4cc engine in a compact chassis. The i-30 starter reduces starting effort by 30 percent, the 3-point spring vibration reduction system takes the sting out of long cuts, and the air injection air cleaner stretches the interval between filter checks.

Echo Commercial Gas Rear Handle Chain Saw with 16In Bar 34.4Cc customer photo 1

Be realistic about what 34.4cc means. Owners consistently describe it as a limbing and small-round saw, and reviewers compare its output unfavourably with the 50 to 68cc machines in this roundup once you hit large hardwood.

The listing media is thinner than most, with several duplicated product images, so read the written reviews rather than relying on the gallery. Verified owners still describe build quality and finish as genuinely commercial grade.

Echo Commercial Gas Rear Handle Chain Saw with 16In Bar 34.4Cc customer photo 2

What it handles well and where it strains

This is the saw for a lighter user, an older user, or anyone processing a lot of small-diameter wood such as small softwood rounds or brush. Cutting overhead and on the ground is far less tiring when the saw weighs under nine pounds.

It will not handle large hardwood. Once you are bucking rounds above about 12 inches, the small engine bogs and you will be fighting the saw rather than guiding it.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy the CS-3510-16 if weight is your binding constraint, if most of your firewood is small rounds, or if you want a dedicated limbing saw alongside nothing else. In that role it is excellent and nothing else on this list competes.

Skip it if it is meant to be your only saw and your wood includes anything over 14 inches. As a single-saw firewood setup it is undersized, and the 455 Rancher or the ECHO CS-590 will serve you far better for the same job.

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Buying Guide: How to Size a Gas Chainsaw for Firewood

Size a chainsaw by the wood, not by the marketing. Work out how many cords you burn and how thick your biggest round is, then pick the engine class and bar that cover them with a margin. Everything below is a way of answering those two questions before you spend anything.

Match engine size to cords per year

A 50 to 60cc two-stroke engine covers almost all home firewood cutting. That is the range where most saws in this roundup live, and it is the range experienced cutters call the sweet spot. Going above 70cc buys you the ability to take very large rounds without stalling, at the cost of weight you carry all day.

The pattern that shows up repeatedly on firewood forums is that owners regretting an 80cc saw almost always bought more power than their wood needed. If you cut one to three cords a year out of a homestead wood lot, 50 to 60cc with a 20 inch bar is the correct answer. If you cut larger rounds or process wood commercially, step up to the 60cc and above class.

Choose bar length from log diameter

Your bar should be at least two inches longer than the diameter of the largest round you expect to cut, so you always have clearance to complete a cut without burying the bar. That single rule resolves most sizing arguments, because people routinely compare saws by bar length when engine size is what actually matters.

A 16 inch bar comfortably handles rounds up to about 12 to 14 inches. An 18 inch bar gives you room for 14 to 16 inch rounds, which covers most hardwood firewood. A 20 inch bar pushes into the 18 inch range, and anything above that is where larger saws start to make sense for firewood rather than for felling.

For orientation, professional loggers reach for much longer bars when felling large timber, but that is a different job from cutting firewood rounds. For firewood volume, staying in the 16 to 20 inch range is the efficient choice.

Pick the chain for hardwood

For cutting hardwood firewood, a low-profile full-compass chain is the right default. It has rounded cutters that reduce kickback and stay forgiving when you are working close to the ground or cutting rounds still attached to larger pieces.

Skip-tooth chains cut very efficiently in hardwood but they will not dull as slowly, they kick harder, and they need frequent sharpening. They are a specialist choice, not a first-saw default. Whatever chain you run, keep the raker depth at manufacturer specification. Filing rakers too low slows the chain to a stop in the cut and puts real load on the drive links and bar.

Decide on weight before engine size

Weight matters more than most spec sheets suggest. If a saw tires your arms by midday, you will cut less wood and dread the next session, and that ends up costing you more time than a heavier saw ever would. Saw weights here run from 8.2 pounds on the ECHO CS-3510-16 to 17.1 pounds on the NEO-TEC.

Most owners who cut cords by hand land in a 10 to 14 pound comfort band. Above that, the anti-vibration systems and wrap-around handles matter a great deal, because they are what make a heavy saw usable rather than merely tolerable.

Gas or battery for firewood volume

Gas wins for sustained cord production because runtime is not tied to a charge. A full tank of pre-mix runs for hours, and you refuel in a minute. Battery saws have become genuinely competitive for lighter duty, and owners who use one often still recommend an entry level gas saw as the primary tool when it is your only saw.

The honest comparison is about volume. Battery platforms suit limbs, brush, small rounds and storm cleanup where pauses are frequent. Gas suits the wood lot day, where you are running the saw continuously and moving between logs without stopping.

If you go gas, use ethanol-free fuel where you can. Ethanol in fuel is a real cause of hard starting and degraded oiling for owners who store fuel across the winter, which is a common habit among firewood cutters.

What firewood gear pairs with the saw

The saw is one part of a system. Once you have rounds bucked to length you still need to split them, dry them and store them properly. Our picks for firewood racks and firewood processors cover the next two steps, and a simple chainsaw comparison across power types is in our general best chainsaws roundup.

Budget roughly one quart of bar and chain oil per two full tanks of fuel as a starting point, and check the oiler output at every chain change. Dull chain wastes fuel and bar life quickly, so keep a spare chain and learn to sharpen before the cut slows down.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size chainsaw is best for cutting firewood?

A 50 to 60cc two-stroke rear-handle gas saw with an 18 to 20 inch bar covers the overwhelming majority of home firewood cutting. Go lighter, around 42cc with a 16 inch bar, for under a cord a year and rounds under 14 inches. Step up above 70cc with a 20 inch bar or longer when your rounds regularly exceed 18 inches or you cut wood commercially.

What is the best chainsaw bar length for cutting firewood?

Pick a bar at least two inches longer than your largest round. That makes 18 inches the sweet spot for typical hardwood firewood, 16 inches for small-diameter wood, and 20 inches for rounds in the 18 inch range. Longer bars only add weight once the wood no longer needs them.

What type of chainsaw chain is best for cutting hardwood?

A low-profile full-compass chain with rounded cutters is the best all-round choice for hardwood firewood because it reduces kickback and stays forgiving in awkward cuts. Skip-tooth chains cut faster in hardwood but dull faster and kick harder, so they suit experienced users rather than a first saw.

What’s better, a gas chainsaw or an electric chainsaw?

Gas is better for sustained cord production because runtime is not tied to a charge and you can refuel in about a minute. Battery saws are now competitive for limbs, brush and smaller rounds, and are quieter with no fuel mixing. If the saw is your only saw and you cut a cord or more a year, gas is the stronger choice.

What is the best budget gas chainsaw?

Among budget options, the SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc stands out for cutting speed, with owners reporting it outcuts much larger premium saws on knotty hardwood. The NEO-TEC 62cc is the stronger value pick if you want more displacement and are willing to accept a heavier saw and more durability complaints.

Why does my chainsaw constantly leak bar oil?

A small amount of oil seeping from the bar area while the saw runs is normal on nearly every gas chainsaw, and a bit of oil on the ground after a few minutes of cutting is expected. A puddle under a parked saw means something else, usually a loose bar nut, a full oil tank or a worn oiler, so check those before assuming a leak.

Which Gas Chainsaw Should You Buy for Firewood?

The best gas chainsaws for firewood cutting come down to one number: your largest round. For most households burning one to three cords a year with rounds under 18 inches, the Husqvarna 455 Rancher is the right buy, with the Husqvarna 450 Rancher as the lighter alternative and the SUPMIXTOOLS 62cc as the budget route to the same displacement class.

Match the saw to the wood, keep the chain sharp, run ethanol-free fuel where you can, and check the oiler at every chain change. A well-matched saw with a sharp chain will outrun a bigger saw with a dull one every time.

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