Hot Saw

However, to stick to the traditional ethos, the chainsaw must be either completely homemade or self-modified in some way, within certain restrictions; one required modification is for the competitor to add a super engine.

The saws used by top competitors are typically snowmobile or watercraft engines cut in half, and are far heavier than regular chainsaws.

[4] The tools used for the event have been called the "most ridiculous modified chainsaw[s]",[3] and are known to walk the line between performance and failure due to their homemade nature.

[1] Competitors may also wear chainmail under their chaps, and many have saws with safety switches in case they get out of control and need to be quickly stopped.

[6] In Stihl Timbersports, the hot saw event sees competitors race to cut three cookies from a horizontal log.

[3] In the Lumberjack World Championship, a one cylinder engine chainsaw is used to make three cuts, first down, then up in a white pine log.