What we like: For those who want to try chainsaw carving, plus this is also a good tool for yard work. Eight-amp motor produces reasonable power. Has tool-free chain adjustment and automatic oiling.

He started carving wood with a knife “as soon as I was old enough to cut myself,” but it was only in 2001 that he picked up a chain saw and tackled a big piece of white pine. He was hooked.

Some people dismiss chainsaw carving as a form of tourist-driven kitsch. But with the proper sculptor, a block of old-growth spruce takes on a spectacular life of its own.