Makita Chainsaws
Makita chainsaws are for fast, controlled cutting when you are clearing trees, ringing up logs, or pruning on site and in the yard.
When you have got timber down and it needs shifting, you want a Makita chain saw that starts first pull or first trigger and stays predictable in the cut. From Makita cordless chainsaw options on LXT and XGT to Makita petrol chainsaw models for longer runs, pick the right handle style, bar length, and chain speed for the work and you will cut cleaner, safer, and quicker.
What Jobs Are Makita Chainsaws Best At?
- Clearing fallen timber and cutting wood down to manageable lengths so it can be dragged, stacked, and loaded without wrecking your back.
- Ringing up logs for firewood where a steady chain speed and decent torque stops the saw bogging down in knotty sections.
- Pruning and tree cutting on maintenance rounds, especially with a Makita top handle chainsaw when you need close control in tight branches.
- Landscaping and garden maintenance work where a Makita electric chainsaw or Makita battery chainsaw keeps noise down and avoids petrol faff on smaller jobs.
- Forestry work and heavier site clearances where a longer guide bar length and a rear handle chainsaw give you reach and stability on thicker stems.
Choosing the Right Makita Chainsaw
Sort the right saw by matching power source, handle style, and bar length to what you actually cut all week, not what you cut once a year.
1. Cordless, Electric, or Petrol
If you are already on Makita batteries, a Makita cordless chainsaw is the sensible buy for site and maintenance work. If you are always near power, a Makita electric chainsaw keeps it simple for yard jobs. If you are out all day away from chargers and cutting continuously, a Makita petrol chainsaw is still the one for long runs.
2. Battery Platform and Voltage
If you want the lightest, most common setup, a Makita 18V chainsaw on LXT is ideal for pruning and smaller timber. If you are regularly into thicker cuts, look at Makita 36V chainsaw options or step up to Makita XGT chainsaw models for more sustained power, especially in hardwood.
3. Top Handle vs Rear Handle
If you are pruning and need close control, a Makita top handle chainsaw keeps the saw compact and easy to position. If you are logging up and cutting firewood on the deck, a Makita rear handle chainsaw is the safer, steadier choice for two handed cutting and longer sessions.
4. Guide Bar Length, Chain Speed, and Vibration
Do not oversize the bar just to look the part, because it makes the saw heavier and slower to handle. Pick a guide bar length that matches your usual log diameter, and if you are on it all day, prioritise a Makita brushless chainsaw with low vibration so your hands are not shot by mid afternoon.
Makita Chainsaws FAQs
What is the real difference between a Makita cordless chainsaw and a Makita petrol chainsaw?
Cordless is cleaner, quieter, and quicker to grab for pruning and general maintenance, especially if you are already on Makita LXT or XGT batteries. Petrol still wins for all day cutting away from chargers and for sustained heavy logging, because you can refuel and go again without waiting on batteries.
Is a Makita 18V chainsaw man enough for logs and firewood?
Yes, for normal garden maintenance and processing smaller logs it does the job properly, as long as the chain is sharp and you are not trying to run an oversized bar. If you are regularly cutting thicker hardwood or working all day, a Makita 36V chainsaw or Makita XGT chainsaw is the better shout for sustained power.
Top handle or rear handle, which is safer for general cutting?
For general ground cutting, logging up, and firewood work, rear handle is the safer and more stable option because it is designed for two handed control. Top handle saws are for pruning and controlled positioning, and they are not the right choice for casual ground work.
Do Makita chainsaws have proper safety kit like a chain brake?
Yes, Makita chainsaws are built with the key safety features you expect, including a Makita chainsaw chain brake for kickback events. It is solid kit, but it still relies on correct stance, two handed grip, and not cutting in awkward positions that invite kickback.
Is tool free chain adjustment actually useful, or is it a gimmick?
It is genuinely useful for quick tension tweaks when the chain beds in, especially on a busy day of stop start cuts. Just do not use it as an excuse to ignore basic checks, because the right tension is what stops poor cutting and reduces the chance of the chain coming off.
What maintenance do Makita chainsaws need to stay reliable?
Keep bar and chain oil topped up, keep the chain sharp, and clean out chips around the bar and sprocket area so it does not bind up. If cutting gets slow, do not just lean on it, check chain condition and tension first, because that is nearly always the cause.
Who Uses Makita Chainsaws?
- Landscapers and grounds teams cutting back, felling small trees, and processing brash, because a Makita cordless chainsaw is quick to grab and easy to live with day to day.
- Tree surgeons and arb crews choosing top handle and rear handle options to suit pruning versus logging up, with chain brake safety that reacts fast when things get lively.
- Site maintenance and facilities teams dealing with storm damage and clearance work, because battery platforms like Makita LXT chainsaw and Makita XGT chainsaw keep everything on one charger.
- Rural trades and firewood cutters who want a Makita professional chainsaw that will take regular use, as long as you keep chain oil topped up and the chain sharp.
The Basics: Understanding Makita Chainsaws
Chainsaws are simple kit, but the details that matter are the ones that keep cuts clean and keep you safe. Here is what to look at before you pick a Makita chain saw.
1. Bar and Chain, and Why It Matters
The guide bar length sets your practical cutting capacity, and the Makita chainsaw bar and chain setup needs to match the work. Too long and it is clumsy and drains batteries quicker, too short and you end up forcing the cut and working harder than you need to.
2. Chain Tension and Tool Free Adjustment
A loose chain cuts badly and can derail, and an over tight chain wears bars and sprockets fast. Makita chainsaw tool free chain adjustment is handy for quick tweaks on the job, but you still need to check tension cold and re check after the first few cuts.
3. Lubrication and Chain Brake Safety
Automatic chain lubrication keeps the chain running cool and stops premature bar wear, so keep proper Makita chainsaw oil in it and do not run it dry. The Makita chainsaw chain brake is there for kickback moments, but it is not a licence to cut one handed or rush awkward positions.
Makita Chainsaw Accessories That Keep You Cutting
The right spares and consumables stop a simple chain issue turning into a wasted half day on site.
1. Replacement Chain
A spare Makita chainsaw replacement chain is a must, because once you hit soil, stone, or fencing wire, the job slows to a crawl and you start forcing the saw. Swap chains and keep moving, then sharpen properly back at the yard.
2. Bar and Chain Oil
Makita chainsaw oil is not optional, it is what stops the bar burning out and the chain stretching. Keep a bottle in the van and top up little and often, especially on cordless saws where you tend to do lots of short cuts.
3. Spare Guide Bar
If you are cutting daily, a spare bar saves you when the original gets pinched, burred, or worn. It is also the clean way to change guide bar length if you want the same saw set up for pruning one day and logging up the next.
4. Chainsaw File and Sharpening Kit
A quick touch up keeps chain speed up and reduces grabby cuts that tire you out. If you are regularly cutting dirty bark or reclaimed timber, you will get your money back fast just in reduced downtime.
Shop Makita Chainsaws at ITS
Whether you need a Makita lightweight chainsaw for pruning, a Makita 18V chainsaw on LXT, a Makita XGT chainsaw for heavier cutting, or a Makita petrol chainsaw for long days, we stock the full range and the key bar and chain sizes to match. It is all held in our own warehouse, in stock and ready for next day delivery when you need it on site.