Workit WX112 12-Inch Chainsaw Review

The easy-start system and a stop switch that returns to the run position are the headlines for a small gas saw.

An oiler you do not have to pump

Here the oiling happens on its own, which matters most to someone new to gas saws.

Safety features fitted as standard

The saw carries a chain brake, a hand guard, dual safety locks on the throttle and a one-stop engine switch. Those are the parts that protect a beginner during the first tanks of fuel, and they are the reason this saw makes sense as a first gas saw for light pruning.

A size that suits branches

A 12-inch bar and 25.4 cc of displacement put the WX112 in limbing and small-wood territory. The body measures 11 inches long, 11 inches wide and 13 inches high.

A top handle for close work

The handle sits over the top of the saw, which is the layout made for working along a branch where the cut is close to your body and the saw hangs under the hand. That layout has consequences for ground work, covered further down.

What buyers on Amazon report

Amazon's summary of its customer reviews says one buyer finds the saw performs well and offers good value, and praises how easy it is to use and how it cuts. Performance is the topic that comes up most often among buyers, and the large majority of ratings are four or five stars.

The top-handle layout is the biggest limit. The handle is built for working close to the wood, along a branch or in a tight spot, not for standing over a log on the ground and bearing down. If most of your cutting happens at ground level on felled wood, a rear-handle saw is the layout that fits that work.

A 12-inch bar sets the wood size

The bar decides what the saw handles comfortably. Branches and small wood fall inside its range; trunks do not. A cut wider than the bar means working from both sides.

8.2 lb is on the heavy side

For a compact saw, 8.2 lb is a lot to hold up.

Gas ownership is a routine

Premix fuel, a cold-start sequence and storage care come with any gas saw.

Figures to check before buying

Check the fuel-tank capacity, the oil-tank capacity and the chain speed before buying.

A light-duty displacement

25.4 cc is a light-duty displacement, so the saw suits light cutting rather than heavy, all-day work.

25.4 cc and 1.2 hp describe a small engine.

Anything wider needs a cut from the other side, which is where a small engine shows its limits.

8.2 lb is the figure to weigh against how you plan to use the saw.

The top handle and the easy start change how the saw is used more than any other spec.

The WX112 is a two-stroke, so it runs on a mix of gasoline and two-stroke oil. Follow the mix ratio in the manual that comes with the saw and do not guess.

Bar oil at every refuel

The automatic oiler needs bar oil kept topped up. Check the oil level each time you add fuel.

The cold-start routine

The exact sequence for the WX112 is in its manual, and following that order is what keeps the engine from flooding.

Break-in

Storage between seasons

Run the tank dry before storage or use fresh mix when you come back to it.

The saw takes a 12-inch bar and a 12-inch chain. The chain stretches as it runs and dulls as it cuts, so it needs tensioning and sharpening through its life, and a sharp chain is what keeps a 25.4 cc saw cutting well.

Tension and sharpening

Check the tension before each session: the chain should sit against the bar and still pull around by hand. The manual gives the chain pitch, the gauge and the file size for sharpening, and matching those exactly is what keeps the saw cutting straight instead of pulling to one side.

The two habits that matter most

The automatic oiler and a correctly tensioned chain are the two maintenance habits that keep this saw working. Oil protects the bar and the chain, tension keeps the chain on the bar, and neglect of either shows up fast on a small engine that has no power to spare.

A top-handle saw is built for close work along branches, where the handle sits above the saw and the cut happens near the body.

Not the layout for logs on the ground

A top-handle saw is not the right choice for cutting logs on the ground. A rear-handle saw puts your hands behind the bar and gives you the leverage and the reach for that work. If ground-level log cutting is your main job, this is the wrong saw.

Two hands, always

The saw is designed to be held with both hands, and one-handed use is not a feature to rely on: a top-handle saw kicks back toward the hand that is holding it, and the second hand is what keeps the bar under control.

What the safety features do

• Chain brake stops the chain when the saw kicks back or when you set it down.
• Hand guard sits between your front hand and the chain.
• Dual safety locks on the throttle keep the trigger from moving unless you grip the handle properly.
• One-stop switch kills the engine with a single motion.

The basics around the cut

Keep your footing clear and your stance balanced, and wear eye and ear protection with no loose clothing or dangling sleeves. Never cut above shoulder height, and keep bystanders well back from the line of the bar and the fall of any branch.