Power
Saw motor power in watts. For petrol tools (see "Power Source"), horsepower is additionally indicated, see below for details.
The higher the power, the better the tool is suitable for voluminous work and hard materials, the greater the depth of cut it can provide and the easier it can cope with significant loads. In addition, for different types of saws and different types of materials, the actual power values \u200b\u200bcan also be different. For example, a power of
2.5 – 3 kW is actually the limit for
chain saws, but in
chain saws this is an average figure, among such tools there are models of
3 – 4 kW and even
more. Detailed selection recommendations for various cases can be found in special sources.
No load blade speed
The maximum speed of the disk, provided by a saw of the appropriate design — disk, cut-off, etc. (see "Device").
Note that most of these saws use gearboxes, so that the blade revolutions are much lower than the engine revolutions (see above). This achieves an increase in torque, which in the case of saws is often more important than the high speed of the blade.
As for the specific number of revolutions, it is first of all worth noting that only saws with the same disc diameter can be compared according to this indicator. In these cases, higher speeds provide better performance, but the trade-off is reduced torque; such saws do better with relatively "light" materials. Conversely, low speeds reduce productivity, but allow the blade to effectively "bite" even into dense, stubborn workpieces. More specific recommendations regarding the choice of a saw according to the number of revolutions of the blade can be found in special sources.
Bar/blade size
The largest tyre size (in chain saws) or disc (in circular saws and some others, see "Device") that is allowed for this tool. Tyres are sized by working length, rims by diameter.
A larger bar/wheel allows for deeper cuts but requires more powerful motors. Therefore, this parameter cannot be exceeded — this can lead to an overload of the engine with all the corresponding troubles. However, in many models with a disc it is physically impossible to install a nozzle with a diameter larger than the maximum allowable.
Also note that saws with similar bar/blade sizes may differ in maximum depth of cut (mostly due to differences in design or power). As for the specific dimensions, they depend on the type of saw (see "Device"). For example, large discs of
450 – 500 mm are found exclusively in stationary chain saws, the maximum figure for cutting models is
400 – 450 mm, for trimming —
300 – 350 mm, and sizes of
500 – 550 mm or
more clearly indicate that speech It's about a chainsaw chainsaw bar. Detailed recommendations regarding the choice of a tool for a given size can be found in special sources.
Noise level
The noise level produced by the saw during operation. Note that this parameter is rather approximate, because in fact, the “loudness of the work” depends not only on the tool, but also on the material being processed and the characteristics of the environment. Nevertheless, the data given in the characteristics make it possible to assess the comfort of working with the tool. The lower this indicator, the less discomfort the noise will cause, and at high values, even special hearing protection may be needed.
Note that the noise level is usually measured in decibels, and this unit is not linear: for example, a difference of 3 dB corresponds to a difference of 2 times, 10 dB — to 10 times. Therefore, it is easiest to evaluate the noise level using comparative tables. Here is a simplified version of such a table for the range in which modern saws operate:
70 dB — loud conversation of several people in close proximity;
75 dB — a cry in the immediate vicinity;
80 dB — truck engine, mechanical alarm ringing;
85 dB — loud scream;
90 dB — freight car at a distance of 7 – 10 m;
95 dB — subway car at a distance of 7 – 10 m;
100 dB — industrial shop;
110 dB — tractor engine;
120 dB — demolition hammer, thunder from a close lightning strike (pain threshold of auditory perception).
Table dimensions
The size of the desktop provided in the design of the tool.
The working table is called the plane on which the workpiece is placed; it is found exclusively in stationary saws (see "Type") — in particular, circular and combined (see "Device"). The larger the desktop, the more convenient it is to use a saw with large materials; on the other hand, this nuance directly affects the dimensions of the tool.
Size
General dimensions of the saw. For a stationary tool (see "Type"), this parameter determines primarily the amount of space that will be required for installation; problems with this can only arise in very tight spaces, so in most cases the dimensions of a stationary saw do not need to be given special attention. In the case of hand-held models, the small size makes it easier to work in hard-to-reach places and improves overall usability. On the other hand, a compact tool inevitably turns out to be low-power; and some jobs by definition require large, heavy saws, with large bar lengths or blade diameters.
Weight
The total weight of the tool. For petrol models (see "Power Source"), usually, dry weight is indicated, excluding fuel.
In general, it makes sense to pay attention to this parameter primarily when choosing a hand tool. At the same time, note that higher power, a more capacious battery or a capacious tank will inevitably affect weight. However, tools with similar characteristics can and do differ markedly in weight. And here it is worth considering that a lighter model will be more comfortable to work with, but weight reduction may affect reliability and/or cost. In addition, a more massive tool is more stable, it is not so prone to jerks under uneven loads. If we talk about specific numbers, then a weight of
3 kg or less is considered very light,
3–5 kg is relatively small,
5–7 kg is medium,
7–10 kg is significant, and some powerful tools (mainly gasoline) weigh and
over 10 kg.
As for stationary saws, weight is of secondary importance for them — it mainly affects the ease of transportation.
