Scheppach CSH56 Chainsaw

Product Information

Very surprised at the build quality and features of this chainsaw, it's German designed and built in China, but don't confuse it with some of the unbranded Chinese throw away machines available. To use a chainsaw safely, you’ll need to be both mentally and physically fit. You should be mobile, alert, physically strong, have good vision, good balance and a strong grip. Operating Your Chainsaw Safely Design: A well-crafted petrol chainsaw prioritised ergonomics, offering users a comfortable handle and grip. Models equipped with anti-vibration or cushioned handles received top marks as these features enhanced user comfort during extended use. Balanced weight distribution plays a crucial role in manoeuvrability and control, so models that considered and executed this were given better marks. In terms of design, this chainsaw boasts everything that you’d expect from a high-end chainsaw. It has a 50 cm (20”) bar, making it suitable for professional use too, and its trigger, on/off button, primer bubble, and choke button are all positioned for convenient access. It even comes with its own carry bag – granted, this isn’t a huge deal, but for someone like myself who often carries chainsaws around, having a carry bag is definitely convenient.

The chain tensioning is also important. Some models will come with a tensioning tool included, while others have a dial on the side that allows you to adjust the tension without the worry of losing a tool. Weight Directly Impacts Ease of UseIf you want to comfortably move with your chainsaw up and down ladders, choose a weight closer to 5 kg . Now onto the part that could potentially be a dealbreaker for many – the price. This was the most expensive of the five chainsaws that I tested, even though it was the smallest both in terms of bar size and engine power. It doesn’t come with any spare parts either, although a maintenance toolkit has been included. Instead, the higher cost is attributed to the quality of the parts used to produce this chainsaw, as well as the Husqvarna name. Not familiar with the P1PE brand? Neither was I, until I tried their impressive 62cc Petrol Chainsaw. Turns out, P1PE, which is short for Position One Power Equipment, is well-acquainted with producing power tools and garden machinery, with all of them being powered by Hyundai engines. So, having recently tested out Hyundai’s 62cc petrol chainsaw, I was curious to see how this lower-priced alternative would compare. It’s aimed at people who need to carry out both small clearance jobs as well as heavy-duty tree felling, making it seem like the ideal machine to help me tidy up all of the damage that Storm Arwen had caused around my farm.

Petrol chainsaw engines vary quite significantly, with this one sitting somewhere in the middle of the scale. Again, this is pretty much ideal for the average user – 50cc gives it all of the power it needs to work for several hours straight without any issues. You do need a bit of muscle on the starter pull cord as it's not spring assisted and there isn't a decompression valve, but mine started 3rd pull so that's fine. Machine is a little on the heavy side too, fine used at ground level though I guess, the weight being a bit of a bonus and also a sign of it's solid build. It also runs on 40:1 petrol oil mix, not 25:1 as most cheap unbranded Chinese chainsaws do. Sturdy boots are a must, and you should avoid wearing loose trailing clothing which could get caught on something.

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I was dubious about this chainsaw to begin with, simply because I hadn’t heard of the brand before. However, once I got it going, it didn’t stop impressing me. It’s extremely powerful and performed well at whatever task I set it to, whether this was slicing up huge tree trunks or chopping up smaller branches.

There weren’t any issues when it came to turning the chainsaw on either. I did have my doubts at first, since the primer bubble didn’t seem to properly prime the machine, but it still started first time. It performed very well too – it handled everything that I asked of it, even slicing through trunks that were close to 102 cm (40”) in diameter. The length of the bar will determine the size of the log or branch which can be cut in any one movement. Chainsaws with a shorter bar can be used to cut large pieces of wood, but it’ll take more than one pass to get through it. This ParkerBrand chainsaw was the least expensive of the five that I tested, yet its power and performance matched, if not exceeded, that of costlier models. This makes it fantastic value for money. It genuinely surprises me that it’s possible to even get a chainsaw this good for such a low price. I was expecting to find several flaws during the testing process, but there were near to none. Even better, ParkerBrand has added extra value to this product by including a spare chain, a full maintenance tool kit, a measuring bottle, a protective cover, a carry bag, and a one-year warranty. You’d struggle to find all of this at such a reasonable price from any other company! Have only assembled it and started it up so far, not been put to work yet so can't comment on durability, but the signs look good.Derek has real-world tested 61 products for DIY Garden, and is one of our most experienced testers.