Choosing the Right Chainsaw Chain: Some Tips

Choosing the exact right saw chain is important if you want to get the most out of your chainsaw. There are a few things to keep in mind here.

When choosing a chainsaw chain, you first need to know the pitch, size and number of drive links. Once you have those, everything else about options is basically about what you like.

Pitch is the average distance between two rivets on a saw chain. Its value (1/4", .325", 3/8", or .404") is usually displayed on the guide bar. If you can't find it, our best advice is to have your dealer measure your old chainsaw chain, as it's a little tricky.

The gauge is the thickness of the drive chain link and it is important to know this in order for the chainsaw chain to fit properly into the guide bar. The gauge (0.043", 0.050", 0.058", or 0.063"), likethe pitch, may appear on the guide bar. If not, we recommend having your dealer measure the gauge on your old saw chain.

The length of a chainsaw chain is determined by the pitch and the number of drive links. This is usually not printed anywhere on the bar or elsewhere on the product, so the links on old saw chains need to be counted.

Teeth and muscles

Putting a more aggressive chain on a standard chainsaw will never give you better performance. It's like putting a shark's tooth on a piranha - it won't get better when you bite.

If you make sure your chain and saw are a perfect match for each other (power saw chains for power saws, etc.), your cutting equipment will always provide the best performance.