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How to use a Bosch chainsaw

Updated: 22 October 2026

The chain is on the floor, the tension ring on a UniversalChain 18 will not sit right, and the manual is still in the bag. That is more common in UK reviewer text than kickback drama. Treat cold tension, oil and battery removal as one routine. This page assumes you already chose a model from the [Bosch chainsaw comparison](/hub/forestry-tools/bosch-chainsaw). It does not rank saws. Figures defer to the manual for your bar length. Peter F. used the saved listings and Bosch’s GB pages. This is not a laboratory test. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The chain is on the floor, the tension ring on a UniversalChain 18 will not sit right, and the manual is still in the bag. That is more common in UK reviewer text than kickback drama.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare

Best overall

Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare
9.6/10about £172.86
View offer
Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare

Best value

Bosch Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 bare
9.4/10about £104.94
View offer
Bosch Bosch UniversalChain 18 with 2.5 Ah

Rank 3

Bosch Bosch UniversalChain 18 with 2.5 Ah
8.8/10about £143.00
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Before the battery goes back in
  2. 2.Oil
  3. 3.The cut
  4. 4.Stop

Before the battery goes back in

Remove the battery, or unplug a corded machine, before you touch the chain, cover screws or bar nuts. Reviewers describe chains jumping off when tension was wrong, the cover was loose, or the chain was set hot and then cooled slack. Cutting teeth should point forward on the top of the bar. Seat the bar, fit the chain, then tighten the cover in the order your manual shows. Tension a cold chain. Bosch’s corded UniversalChain 35/40 guidance describes roughly 2–3 mm lift at the centre of the bar. That PDF is not the same ring as an 18 V UniversalChain, so copy the millimetre figure only if your manual repeats it. UK owners often mention over-tightening and the SDS ring catching wood. If tension feels gritty, re-read the SDS steps. Which pruner fits branches is on Bosch chainsaw for pruning.

Oil

Automatic-oiling models still need oil in the tank before the first cut. Bosch’s GB range page describes filling the tank and running the chain near cardboard until an oil streak appears. The UniversalChain 18 model page lists automatic oiling, and amazon kits include 80 ml. The EasyChain model page says no automatic oiling, while amazon still ships 50 ml and Screwfix lists “no lubrication required”. That retailer line is not “run dry”. Follow the EasyChain manual. Check oil before a long session. Pole-saw reviewers report high oil use and clogged heads. Use bar chain oil, not random engine oil. If the chain smokes or the cut turns to dust, stop and oil before you blame the battery.
Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch PKE18V-30-28 bare
9.6/10about £172.86
View offer

The cut

Keep both feet on the ground and both hands on the handles, and never cut from a ladder with a handheld saw. Use a sawhorse or a stable log, not a piece pinched between your boots. Keep the bar nose clear of nails, wire and stone. Kickback is the nose throwing the bar back. INDG317 is clear that brakes and low-kickback chains reduce harm without removing that physics. Many green garden listings stop the chain when you release the trigger. The GKE lists a gyrosensor brake. Do not remove the UniversalChain tip protector. Force shows up as stalled cuts and overheated 2.5 Ah packs. HSE’s ground-work list is helmet, hearing, eye or face protection, gloves, leg protection and boots. A short bar does not change that. Model choice sits in the Bosch chainsaw buying guide.

Stop

Call a tree surgeon when the cut is off the ground, a branch is hung or under tension, or you are felling near buildings, roads or overhead lines, and when you are being paid without PUWER-level training. Stop if the chain will not stay on after cold tension, if the motor cuts out unless you tilt the saw, or if the pole head or strap fails. Battery off for cleaning. Scabbard on, oil wiped, recharge on a BS 1363 plug in a dry place.

Common questions

How tight should the chain be?
Cold tension, per your own model manual. Do not copy a 2–3 mm lift from the corded UniversalChain 35/40 booklet unless your manual repeats it. UK owners of the 18 V saw often over-tighten, and the SDS ring can catch wood.
Why did the chain jump off?
Slack after a hot adjustment, a loose cover, a worn bar, or forcing the cut. Those are common patterns on garden saws, including UniversalChain UK reviews. Remove the battery, refit the chain in the direction of travel, and tension it cold before you try the cut again.
Does the EasyChain need oil if a retailer says no lubrication is required?
Follow the EasyChain manual and the 50 ml oil bottle in the box. Bosch’s model page says no automatic oiling. A Screwfix line that says no lubrication is required is not a substitute for that model page, and it is not the same instruction as running the bar dry.
What PPE do I need at home?
HSE’s chainsaw PPE list for ground work: helmet, hearing protection, eye or face protection, gloves, leg protection, and boots to the listed standards. A short bar does not take the job out of that list. The same injury class applies on a small pruning cut.
Can I cut from a ladder if the pole saw is too heavy?
No for handheld saws. The pole saw is still an overhead tool with fatigue limits, not a ladder replacement. Keep both feet on the ground. If the branch is hung, under tension, or near lines and buildings, stop and call a tree surgeon.
What do I check before the first cut?
Battery seated, an oil streak test where the model oils the bar, cold tension, chain direction, scabbard off, and an area clear of bystanders and trip hazards. If the chain smokes or the cut turns to dust, stop and oil before you blame the pack.
When do I stop and call someone?
Felling, work at height, hung timber, lines or buildings nearby, and paid work without the training PUWER expects. Also stop if the chain will not stay on after cold tension, or if the motor cuts out unless you tilt the saw.

Related pages

Best Bosch cordless chainsaw

Bosch chainsaw: 18 V or 36 V

Bosch chainsaw

Bosch chainsaw buying guide: your job, battery and kit

Bosch chainsaw for pruning from the ground or pole

Sources

Manufacturer pages and UK public sources first. Listing prices, stars and review counts are amazon.co.uk figures captured on 19 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test.

  1. Bosch DIY GB chainsaw range (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  2. Bosch EasyChain 18V-15-7 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  3. Bosch UniversalChain 18 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  4. Bosch AdvancedChain 36V-35-40 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  5. Bosch PKE18V-30-28 manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  6. Bosch Professional GKE 18V-20 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  7. HSE chainsaw PPE (retrieved 19 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9 (retrieved 19 October 2026)