The Lidl Parkside Petrol Chainsaw will be available in the Middle of Lidl from 28 October 2021, costing just £79.99.
With winter around the corner, it won’t be long before those with wood burners are in need of logs to keep the fire roaring.
If we’re in for a windy winter, there may also be the need to cut back any fallen branches following storms. This is when a chainsaw can really come into its own and save the need for getting out the axe or saw.
To find out if this chainsaw from Lidl was good value for money, our garden experts tried it out by cutting wood of varying sizes.
Go straight to the top performers: the best chainsaws we’ve tested.
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Is it a good deal?
The petrol chainsaws we’ve tested range from £80 (a previous Lidl model) up to a whopping £445, so at first glance £79.99 piqued our interest.
Here are the specs:
- Petrol chainsaw
- 53cc engine
- 45cm blade length
- Around 7kg in weight
The chainsaw also comes complete with a bottle to mix the two-stroke oil and petrol, a bottle of chain oil, a pair of ear defenders and some protective glasses.
This only goes some way towards the protective equipment you should use with a chainsaw. Look at our advice on chainsaw safety to find out more.
Read our first look review of the Lidl chainsaw to decide if you should buy it.
How to buy the best chainsaw
There are three types of chainsaws: cordless, corded electric and petrol. Which type you go for should depend on the tasks you’ll predominantly be using it for and your budget.
Petrol chainsaws are designed for more substantial jobs, so are worth the extra expense if you have lots of logs or heavy pruning to get through. They tend to be speedy at cutting through large logs and you don’t have to worry about cutting through a trailing power cable.
Prices of models we’ve tested range from just £80 all the way up to £445, but don’t assume the most expensive models will be the top performers.
Cordless chainsaws are ideal for cutting branches and hedges as they are typically quite light and compact to manoeuvre. Again, you won’t risk cutting through a cable. Looking at our reviews, they can be quite pricey, ranging from £169 to an almighty £829.99.
Corded electric chainsaws are ideal for using close to the house as you’ll need a mains socket and most likely an extension cable – complete with a residual current device (RCD) for safety if the cable is accidentally cut – to provide enough reach. Prices of models we have tested range from £85 up to £130.
For more advice, read our guide on how to buy the best chainsaw.
Which sort of petrol should I use?
It’s generally recommended that unleaded fuel used for chainsaws does not have a higher ethanol content than 10% – this is because ethanol attracts water which can cause corrosion if fuel is left in the tank for long periods.
E10 fuel is fine to use, but super unleaded with an ethanol content of 5% is better and what we would recommend.
It’s good practice to empty the fuel tank as much as possible – and completely if not in use over winter. Petrol is better stored in a bespoke container rather than in the machine.
What protective clothing do I need?
Before you get going, you’ll need to buy a full set of protective clothing. We recommend a safety helmet, boots and ear defenders as well as chainsaw gloves and chainsaw trousers.
It’s also essential that you attend a chainsaw training course as they can be lethal if used incorrectly.
Find out more by reading our guide to using a chainsaw safely.
