The Best Chainsaw For Oak Trees – Top Picks For You

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IMAGE PRODUCT DETAILS  
Top pick Husqvarna 460 Rancher
  • Best all round chainsaw
  • powerful engine
  • 24 inch bar
best value Husqvarna 455 Rancher
  • 20 inch bar
  • Usable for many years
  • Well priced
Husqvarna 450e II Gas Chainsaw
  • Great for medium or small trees
  • Excellent engine power
  • Easy cleaning
Husqvarna 130
  • Great for cutting small trees
  • Lightweight
  • Affordable

Are you looking for the best chainsaw for oak trees?

Well, you’ve come to the right place because that’s exactly what we’ll be going over in this post.

Oak is one of the hardest types of wood out there. It doesn’t matter if you’re felling or splitting oak wood. They’re still hard to cut either way.

That’s why we’ll be covering ONLY chainsaws that will easily rip through oak wood.

Husqvarna 460 Rancher

Husqvarna 460
Check Price of the Husqvarna 460 Rancher
  • 24 inch bar
  • Gas powered
  • 13.2lbs

Bar size

This has a 24 inch bar which is fantastic for cutting down thick trees and splitting thick wood.

You’ll be able to go straight through the tree without an issue. If you’re felling, 24 inches is a great size. You’ll be able to cut a long stump in the tree to help with the felling process.

And if you’re having to split the wood, 24 inches will go straight through.

Powerful engine

This has a gas powered engine that runs at 60.3cc at 9,000rpm (turns per minute).

Simply put, this engine is extremely strong and the saw turns at a very high speed. You’ll be ripping through the hard oak without an issue.

Not too heavy

Weighing in at 13.2lbs, you won’t be struggling to carry this. It’s surprisingly lightweight for a 24 inch chainsaw.

You can keep cutting through the tree without tiring yourself out quickly.

Automatic chain oiler

When cutting through hardwood, chainsaws can very easily heat up. Why? Because friction is created and this is why the chainsaw heats up.

To prevent this, the chainsaw needs to be lubricated with bar oil. To make this easy for you, the designer has an automatic chain oiler built in.

So you just have to refill the bar oil instead of manually applying it yourself.

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Husqvarna 455 Rancher

Check Price of the Husqvarna 455 Rancher
  • 20 inch bar
  • Gas powered engine
  • Weighs 13.2lbs

20 inch bar

A 20 inch bar is still a great option for felling oak trees. You can still create a large enough stump to help you fell.

When it comes to splitting wood, you can still cut straight through comfortably.

Powerful gas engine

This has a 55.5cc powered engine, giving a massive amount of power for a 20 inch chainsaw.

The blades run at 9,000rpm (turns per minute) allowing the chain to cut extremely sharply. Churning through that hard oak wood without an issue.

Useable for many years to come

A reviewer mentioned how he’s had this chainsaw for 10 years. In fact, he left it sitting with gas inside for 6 months without use.

And when he started to use it again, it ran without an issue. Now, that’s what I call value for money.

Easy chain tensioner

As you use your chainsaw, overtime, the chain will loosen. This can be dangerous because if it’s too loose, it can fly off the bar.

The simple chain tensioner on the side allows you to tension it with ease. You get a free scrench included.

Husqvarna 450e II Gas Chainsaw

Check Price of the Husqvarna 450e II
  • 18 inch bar
  • Gas powered
  • Weighs 11.2 lbs

18 inch bar

The 18 inch bar won’t be cutting down large oak trees. It’s good for medium sized trees.

You’ll be able to create large enough stumps for your medium sized oak tree. 

Excellent engine power

For an 18 inch bar, it packs a pretty powerful engine. There’s a 50.2cc powered engine that turns the chain at 9,000 turns per minute.

So it’s going to slice through the oak very well.

Quick release air filter

The air filter is there to prevent any debris from getting inside the engine. As time goes on, the air filter gets clogged up and will stop working as it should.

That’s why there’s a quick release air filter that allows for easy cleaning.

Automatic chain oiler

The automatic chain oiler helps lubricate the bar and chain to prevent the bar from burning and keeps the chain working optimally.

You just have to top up the bar oil when it’s getting low. Easy-peasy!

Husqvarna 130

Check Price of the Husqvarna 130
  • 16 inch bar
  • Gas powered
  • Weighs 10.3lbs

Great for small oak trees

The Husqvarna 130 is great for cutting down small oak trees. If you’ve got oak wood that’s not very wide, you can split or fell it with this 16 inch bar.

The gas engine has 38cc of power. So it won’t be shredding down your thick hardwood trees but there’s enough power for smaller trees. 

Lightweight

This only weighs 10.3lbs, allowing you to hold this chainsaw with ease. It’s well balanced and you can cut for long periods of time. 

Automatic chain oiler

The automatic chain oiler makes sure oil is getting to the bar and chain in order to prevent overheating.

It’s a simple mechanism that does an important job stopping your chainsaw from overheating.

Affordable

This chainsaw comes in at an affordable price. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Is Oak Wood hard to cut?

Oak wood is hard to cut depending on the chainsaw you’re using. If you’re using a chainsaw with a small bar and electric powered engine, cutting oak will be difficult. However, if you’re using a 20+ inch bar that’s gas powered, it will be easier due to the bar size and powerful engine.

What is the best chainsaw chain for hardwood?

The best chainsaw for hardwood is the Husqvarna 460 rancher due to its 60.3cc powered engine. The chain rotates at 9,000rpm and has a 24 inch bar to fell large trees. It has an automatic chain oiler to help prevent overheating when cutting oak.

Quick oak wood cutting tips:

Let the chain do the work – When cutting, make sure the chain teeth are doing the work. There’s no need for you to try and force the bar in there. In fact, this will damage it.

Have a plan – oak wood is extremely heavy and if it falls on you, it could be game over for you. So make sure you know where the tree is going to fall if you’re felling.

Maintain your saw – After you’ve finished, your saw will be exhausted, so give it the care it needs. Make sure to sharpen the chain, refuel, and air blow it to unclog debris.

Conclusion

So those were the best chainsaws for oak trees.

Make sure to pick the one that’s best for your situation. There’s a saw in here that’s suitable for your situation.

It doesn’t matter if you’re cutting large oak wood or small, there’s something here for you.

I made sure to research deeply into this topic and ONLY pick the suitable saws for you.

Hope you found what you were looking for.

Happy sawing!

– Adam