Chainsaw Storage Ideas: How To Store And Winterize A Chainsaw Correctly

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Correct chainsaw storage is important for keeping your machine in tip-top shape.

We took a deep dive into the different ways people store chainsaws and have a wide range of ideas to share. Our chainsaws are mostly stored on shelves in the workshop and garage, but hanging is another space-saving choice.

The table below has some products that can help with better chainsaw storage, but we’ve got plenty of other DIY ideas that don’t involve spending money further below.

How To Store A Chainsaw

Heavy Duty Chainsaw Wall Mounts

  • Black low profile chainsaw wall hanger/mount
  • Can hold up to 100 lbs
  • Made in the USA
View On AmazonView On Home Depot

Husqvarna Powerbox Chainsaw Case

  • Strong storage case and scabbard
  • Protects powerhead, bar, and chain
  • Fits Husqvarna chainsaws up to and including the 372xp and 575xp
View On AmazonView On Tractor Supply

EGO Soft Chainsaw Bag

  • Soft case for chainsaw storage or transport
  • Made of thickened weather resistant canvas
  • Designed for EGO, but suitable for other brands like Dewalt, Greenworks
View On AmazonView On Northern Tool

Wall mounts or hooks are among the best ways to store a chainsaw.

A lot of people choose to hang their chainsaws from hangers, but other good options include shelves, cases, bags, boxes, scabbards, and so on.

There’s nothing wrong with keeping your chainsaws on the floor, but if you want to free up some space, consider the options we’re sharing today. It may also prevent chainsaws from being accidentally damaged or spilling oil on the floor.

This is what happened when we left our Dewalt 20v Battery Saw on the floor…

ideas for storing chainsaws
Leaking chainsaw on the garage floor

It leaks bar oil like nothing else!

Nowadays we store this saw without any bar oil in it. I’ll only top it up as much as I need, and drain whatever’s left in there when I’m finished. It doesn’t matter which way I store it – hanging or on its side – it still leaks.

Here are chainsaw storage solutions for those who want to free up space, clean up their garage/workshop, and avoid accidental damage.

Chainsaw Storage Ideas

best way to store chainsaws
Chainsaws on shelves in my shed

Chainsaws can be stored for both long and short term in various positions.

They don’t have to be standing on end with the bar pointing to the ground, nor do they need to be lying flat on a shelf. However, whatever way you store them it’s best to drain the bar oil first to prevent leakages.

Chainsaws can be stored:

  • On an angle as they are often displayed in stores
  • Sitting on the ground as most of mine are in the garage right now
  • Upright which can be a much better use of space

We store our chainsaws flat on the garage floor or on shelves in a shed, but this is mostly because we haven’t set up an alternative at the moment.

The shelves are OK, but it would be nice to at least get more saws onto shelves and off the floor.

Here are other DIY or pro chainsaw storage ideas.

1. Chainsaw Hangers And Hooks

hang chainsaws for storage
Image: @rissers_custom_milling

Can you store a chainsaw vertically?

Yes!

These saws are hung from heavy-duty hooks.

This option is a very easy, quick, and cheap option for storing chainsaws. You’ll want to ensure the hooks can hold the weight over time as the worst thing would be having a chainsaw drop from a height.

Rissers Milling shared about their post:

Dollar store flower pot hooks will hold a chainsaw

#shedthings #husqvarna #stihl #chainsawstorage

The hooks don’t look ultra-tough, but they are doing the job.

Make sure to install wall hooks into a stud to avoid the chainsaw weight pulling them out, especially when you’ve got plasterboard lining the walls.

This brave person has chainsaws hanging from nails from the ceiling…

How to hang chainsaws for storage
Image: @wildcaughtfirewood

That’s one way to get chainsaws off the garage floor!

Try to store chainsaws without any fuel or chain oil to avoid drips. Or, at least make sure you’re chainsaws are not prone to this before hanging them up.

We also like this DIY chainsaw storage idea…

hang chainsaws upside down
Image: @westwoodlumberco

The hanging hooks used here look very strong, and they are holding some large heavy saws like the 066.

It’s very neat, tidy, and organized. 

2. Chainsaw Shelving

shelves for chainsaws
Image: @glennpupino

This is a great example of Stihl Chainsaw storage shelves.

It’s reasonably easy for anyone to build solid shelving for chainsaws like this. If you have lumber lying around, this will save a ton.

It doesn’t matter what chainsaw brand you are using, Stihl, Husqvarna, ECHO, or anything else. They can all be stored in the same ways.

Each manufacturer will have its own chainsaw storage best practices that you should consider. How you store them may factor into warranty concerns, so always have a quick read of your manual.

Stihl recommends:

  • Storing the chainsaw out of the sun
  • Cleaning the saw and putting it away free from dust
  • Making sure it can’t be accessed by children and pets
  • Storing it in a dry location with no chance of getting wet

All good advice.

When storing a chainsaw long-term, there are other things you might like to do like draining the fuel. We’ll cover that down below in how to winterize a chainsaw.

Here is another chainsaw shelving idea from Kain Kustom Garage

storage for all types and sizes of chainsaw
Image: @kainkustomgarage

It looks like he needs more shelves – the collection is piling up at the bottom!

These are another good example of homemade shelving strong enough for a lot of chainsaws.

Alternatively, build shelves to display and showcase your chainsaw collection like this example…

Chainsaw display shelving ideas
Image: @steelehollowvintage

The account shared:

Why not start a chainsaw collection?

What!?

My husband did – which is okay with me since he keeps them at the tree farm where he works.

It’s nice to have that antique chainsaw signage in the back too.

3. Chainsaw Log Stands

how to put chainsaws into stand
Image: @_dustbag_

This is a unique idea for storing chainsaws – stuck in a log of wood!

However, while it looks great, it may not actually be the best idea.

Unless the wood is completely dry, sap and moisture could damage your bar and chain when left like this.

There are other variations of this idea…

is it safe to store chainsaws on logs
Image: @builds.by.brendin

But it would pay just to keep an eye on how your chains and bars weather in this type of setup.

4. Chainsaw Wall Racks

mounts for chainsaws
Image: @kooybros

How can you store a chainsaw in a garage to make the most of limited space?

This is the FGS Chainsaw Rack (Farm-Garage Solutions Store) which is made of alloy steel and designed to hold one chainsaw, bar oil, and spare chains.

Putting chainsaws on the wall like this creates a strong, durable stand that they can easily slip in and out of without being damaged.

how to store weed whackers
Image: @kooybros

They even have options for storing brush cutters and weed whackers. These are their “Trimmer Rack Garage Storage Hanger Wacker Rack” products.

5. Chainsaw Cases

storage cases for chainsaws
Image: @simplycribbage

Chainsaw cases and bags are also good for organizing, storing, and transporting a chainsaw.

You can make your own, as in the example above, or buy a chainsaw case suitable for your saw. Some are universal, while others may only fit a specific brand or model of saw.

saw haul for storing chainsaws
Image: @wpc_me

For storing or carrying your chainsaw on a tractor or other vehicle, check out the SawHaul chainsaw carrier.

Winterize Chainsaw

There are different ways to store your chainsaw over winter.

Depending on who you’re talking to or what you’re reading, they will have a different opinion on what to do.

Steve from Steve’s Small Engine Saloon recommends running your saw once a month through winter to exercise the carburetor. He also recommends using a fuel stabilizer with fresh fuel during this period.

The Toolsman also recommends using Seafoam or Stabil fuel stabilizers.

Stabil (or STA-BIL) is the brand that pops up most frequently when asking others how they winterize chainsaws. It’s guaranteed to keep fuel fresh for up to 2 years in storage.

Using a product like this means you won’t need to drain your fuel tank before storing, and allows your machine to start quickly again next season. It’s suitable for all gas engines, including small 2-cycle chainsaw engines.

Drain Fuel And Oil For Storage

In this Stihl video, we learn how to drain a chainsaw of fuel and oil.

Regular fuel from the gas station breaks down quickly which is why it’s not good to leave it in your tank. The chemical composition changes, and running or keeping old fuel in your chainsaw can damage it.

If you know you won’t be using your saw for longer than 2 months it’s important to put it into storage mode.

After draining the tank, add a product like Stihl MotoMix. It’s a high-grade, ethanol-free, fuel mix that will remain stable for up to 2 years. The product will need to then be run through the system for storage.

Of course, this won’t be an issue if you have a battery-powered chainsaw or an electric chainsaw.

Long-Term Storage Tips

how to hang chainsaw
Don’t store chainsaws on the bookshelf – wives don’t like it

Don’t store your chainsaw in the living room for long.

Especially if it’s leaking oil like that MS 181 was.

Neither is this a good idea…

how to store chainsaw
How not to store chainsaws

Looks like somebody was a Husqvarna fan.

The story behind this picture is that the guy picked all these saws up from an estate sale and then didn’t have anywhere to store them. They ended up living in the boot of the car for a while!

Here are a few long-term storage tips for chainsaws:

  • Top up the bar and chain oil (if it doesn’t leak) so that it doesn’t dry out, if it does leak, definitely remove the oil
  • Remove the guide bar and chain so that it’s safer around pets and children
  • Make sure all dust and chips are removed from the chainsaw (give it a clean)
  • Keep chainsaws off the floor in case of an unexpected water leak

Small air compressors are the ideal tool to have for cleaning chainsaws. Blast away all that sawdust and oil!

And people often ask, “Should you run a chainsaw dry before storing it long-term?”

There is a lot of debate about whether or not this is good for a small engine. Those who are mechanics think this is the worst thing possible, though there are plenty of people who do it.

Here’s the advice of one gentleman on Facebook:

how to store a chainsaw

If you’ve ever worked on a chainsaw carb you wouldn’t be telling anyone to run it dry and leave it to sit… diaphragm will harden up like woodpecker lips.

I don’t know how hard woodpecker lips are, but I’m thinking pretty hard!

Best Way To Store Chainsaws

Some chainsaws, such as Stihl’s biggest chainsaws, take up more room but can be stored all the same.

When hanging saws, make sure to over-engineer your set-up. You want hooks to hold much more than you’re going to put on them. Whether they’re in the garage, shed, or workshop, the last thing you want is a saw dropping to the floor.

Let us know how you store your chainsaws and feel free to offer any further advice in the comments below.

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5 thoughts on “Chainsaw Storage Ideas: How To Store And Winterize A Chainsaw Correctly”

  1. Hi I see a lot of chainsaws on Amazon are sold with chainsaw cases designed specially for them. Are these necessary or important? Judging by the pictures in this post they aren’t!

    Reply
    • No they are totally optional. If I had to guess, I’d say less than 5% of chainsaw owners keep their chainsaw in a chainsaw case. You can get the cases on Amazon for Husqvarna chainsaws (without buying the chainsaw as well), and I’m sure this one would be suitable for many other brands as well. Cases do have their benefits – they stop oil leaking onto your garage floor and can carry spare chains, etc as well, but they’re not a must-have!

      Reply
  2. My chainsaws just sit on the floor of my workshop. Some of them leak oil but it’s all good. Want a better solution and think the vertical hanging is probably the answer.

    Reply

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