Everyone who uses a chainsaw has been there: You’re at full throttle, the beautiful two-stroke symphony at max RPM, but you’re only seeing fine dust exiting the log, and you aren’t getting anywhere.

I love primitive and colonial tools like stone axe heads, bucksaws, and such—but I also love a modern chainsaw just as much. For many years, I have used chainsaws for farmwork, firewood cutting, trail ...