If you are planning to do some landscaping or outdoor work, there are a few very useful tools that you have at your disposal. When it comes to this kind of outdoor work, both the hedge trimmer and the chainsaw are great tools to have in your arsenal.
With that being said, these two tools are very different. Right now, we want to figure out what exactly they both are, what the differences between them are, and what they’re both best used for.
Chainsaws and Hedge Trimmers: The Basics
Before we start getting into similarities and differences, let’s first figure out what both the chainsaw and the hedge trimmer are.
What Is a Chainsaw?
The chainsaw is a special type of saw designed specifically for outdoor use. Chainsaws are designed to cut down trees, cut logs, and to cut apart branches. Chainsaws are fairly large and heavy, and they also have powerful motors, which allow them to easily make their way through hard logs and trees.
Moreover, the defining feature of a chainsaw is that it has a very long chain that is fitted with very sharp teeth, which spin around a guide bar or shaft, hence why it is called a chainsaw. Chainsaws can be gas-powered, electric, or battery-powered.
What Is a Hedge Trimmer?
A hedge trimmer is also an outdoor pool, and as you can probably guess by the name, one that’s designed for trimming hedges. It can also be used for trimming shrubs and bushes. Just like chainsaws, hedge trimmers can also be gas-powered, electric, or battery-powered.
Although not quite as large as chain saws, hedge trimmers can also be quite sizable. They do feature a relatively long blade system.
The defining feature here is that hedge trimmers feature a dual set of blades that are mounted directly on top of each other. One set of blades moves back and forth very rapidly, whereas the other set is stationary. Small branches and leaves are therefore caught between the moving and stationary blades and are cut off.
Similarities of Chainsaws and Hedge Trimmers
Now that we know what these tools are, let’s figure out what makes them similar.
1. They’re Both Outdoor Tools
The first major similarity here is that these are both tools exclusively used outdoors. You would not use either of these tools or any kind of indoor work.
2. They’re Made for Cutting Wood and Branches
More specifically, both chainsaws and hedge trimmers are designed for cutting wood and small branches. However, you would not use these tools for carpentry. You simply cannot cut apart a board with either of these tools, at least not effectively.
3. They May Be Similar in Size and Weight
If we are talking about very small and basic models that you would use at home for relatively lightweight purposes, chainsaws and hedge trimmers may be of similar weights and sizes. That said, chainsaws are usually a bit bigger.
4. Both Require Two-Handed Operation
Another similarity shared by both of these tools is that both require two hands to use. Both tools are definitely heavy enough and sizable enough that they cannot be operated with one hand. This is especially the case with a chainsaw, which is especially dangerous to operate with just one hand.
5. Both Require Some Caution
Although a hedge trimmer is not really a deadly weapon, it can still cause some damage. If you get your fingers caught between those blades, your fingers will probably come off. Of course, a chainsaw is much more dangerous than a hedge trimmer, but both do pose risks of injury.
6. Both Use the Same Power Sources
As mentioned previously, both chainsaws and hedge trimmers can be gas-powered, electric, or battery-powered.
Differences Between Chainsaws and Hedge Trimmers
Now that we know what makes chainsaws and hedge trimmers similar, let’s determine what makes them different.
1. The Type of Blade
Perhaps the biggest difference here has to do with the way in which these tools cut. A chainsaw features a long chain that is fitted with teeth that spin around a guide bar in a continuous motion.
On the other hand, a hedge trimmer has a more classic cutting mechanism. It uses actual physical blades. In fact, there are two levels of blades stacked on top of each other that effectively create many small pairs of scissors.
2. The Motion of the Blade
As touched on above, with a chainsaw, that chain spins in one continuous loop. On the other hand, with a hedge trimmer, one set of blades moves back and forth in a reciprocating manner very quickly, while the second set of blades is stationary and effectively acts as a backing for the moving blades.
3. Size and Weight Differences
Although basic models may be similar in size and weight, generally speaking, chainsaws will be larger and more powerful. The reason for this is quite simple, as chainsaws need to have more power to cut through big trees.
For this reason, a chainsaw designed to cut down moderate to large trees is always going to be bigger and heavier than your average hedge trimmer.
4. Power Level
We did already touch on this above, but chainsaws have way more power than hedge trimmers.
5. Intended Purpose and Overall Functionality
Of course, the main point here is that hedge trimmers are designed to trim through hedges, while chainsaws, on the other hand, are designed to cut down large trees, for logging, and for cutting apart branches.
6. Safety
What does need to be said is that chainsaws are of course far more dangerous than hedge trimmers, due to their size and power.
Can You Use a Chainsaw as a Hedge Trimmer?
The unfortunate reality is that no, you really cannot use a chainsaw as a hedge trimmer, just like you can’t use a hedge trimmer as a chainsaw. Sure, a chainsaw definitely has more than enough power to cut through thin hedges, bushes, and shrubs, but power is not the issue.
Hedges are very flexible and those branches are very thin, which means that they bend when you apply pressure to them. There is not going to be enough resistance pushing against the chainsaw for that chain to be able to make its way through the hedges. This is why a hedge trimmer has two sets of blades, one that moves, and one that is stationary.
This acts like a pair of scissors, providing a backing so that the small branches cannot move out of place. Even if resistance were not an issue, you just couldn’t achieve a nice result with a chainsaw, as you would end up shredding your hedges.
Chainsaw vs. Hedge Trimmer: Which of the Two Should You Use?
It’s really quite simple. If you are trimming hedges and small bushes, then it is a hedge trimmer that you need to use. If you are cutting down trees, cutting apart logs, cutting branches off of trees, and so on and so forth, then you’ll want to use a chainsaw.
Summary
Now that you know exactly what the differences between chainsaws and hedge trimmers are, you can decide which one you need for specific jobs. When it comes down to it, it’s all really quite self-explanatory.
How Do Chainsaws Compare with Other Tools?
See how chainsaws compare with: reciprocating saws