Difference between chainsaw chains. Tips from a professional

Finding the right chain for your chainsaw requires at least a basic knowledge of chain characteristics. Chainsaw chains are not as universal as you might think. Chains differ from each other based on specific measurements, chain arrangements, cutter types, and more. Only certain chains will fit your saw. They are making chain shopping a bit more complicated than shopping for other chainsaw accessories.

Difference between chainsaw chains:

In general, chainsaw chains differ in Pitch, Gauge, and Number of drive links. Another parameter is the chain arrangement: Full complement, Full skip, and Semi-skip. And the chisel type: Full chisel, Semi-chisel, and Low profile. Also, the chain material is a factor and includes Chrome, Carbide, and Diamond.

Depending on the job you plan to do, specific chainsaw chains can make the work much easier. In this blog post, I will look into these in more detail to help you choose the proper chain. I will also answer some common questions and look at some Specialty Chains

Chain Compatibility Parameters:

The most crucial factor in choosing a chainsaw chain is to ensure that the chain you choose will fit your chainsaw perfectly. It should be compatible with your chainsaw. If it does not match your saw’s settings, the chain will jam up or lock up the guide bar. The key parameters in finding the correct chain for your saw are pitch and gauge:

● Chain Pitch:

Pitch can be defined as the distance between two drive links on a chain or the distance between the first and third rivets divided by two. The right pitch is significant because it has to exactly match the teeth spacing on the drive and bar tip sprockets.

Here’s a guide for you to determine the right chain pitch for a job:

• 1/4 Inch Pitch: Recommended for chainsaws with engines up to 38cc; extremely lightweight, will create clean and smooth cuts.
• Pixel 3/8 Inch Mini Pitch: Lightweight and low kickback blades. These chains are recommended for battery-powered chainsaws because they need less power.
• 3/8 Inch Mini Pitch: Recommended for chainsaws with engines up to 45cc. Are often used by woodcutters in high production environments.
• Pixel .325 Inch Pitch: Suited for chainsaws with engine power between 35cc-55cc. These chains are narrow with low vibrations and kickbacks; not recommended for heavy-duty cutting such as clearing trees.
• .325 Inch Pitch: This chain can handle a chainsaw with an engine and power anywhere between 35cc-60cc. This chain offers more power at low vibrations.
• 3/8 Inch Pitch: Suited for high production environments because of its flexibility, strength, and substantial cutting speed with a low weight. A 3/8 inch chain is suited for chainsaws with engine power between 50-100cc.
• .404 Inch Pitch: These chains are suited for heavy-duty work by professional wood chippers. This chain is suitable for aggressive, high-speed work and is very durable.

● Chain Gauge:

Gauge is a measure of the thickness of a chain’s drive links. Gauge counts as a compatibility parameter because the chain’s drive links must fit in the grooves in the drive bar for the chainsaw to run.

The most common chain gauges are 0.043’’ (1.1mm), 0.050’’ (1.3mm), 0.058’’ (1.5mm) and 0.63’’ (1.6mm). Chains with smaller gauges are more common, although chains with thicker links are stronger.

● The Number of Drive Links:

Knowing the total number of drive links is significant since a chain’s length is the combination of its pitch and the number of links. A record of the exact number of drive links helps manufacturers keep their chain types in order.

Difference between Chain Arrangements:

The chain arrangement significantly affects a chain’s speed, power, vibrations, and kickback risk. Certain arrangements are better suited for one job than other. Chains are broadly classified into three categories based on chain arrangements:

● Full Complement/Standard Chain: smooth cuts

The full complement, also known as the standard chain, features the highest number of cutting teeth. This makes it the best chain for smooth cuts. A full complement chain is a full skip chain only on a larger bar. The standard chain is suited for chainsaws whose guide bar length is up to 24 inches.

The key disadvantage of a full complement chain is that it does not cut as fast as full and semi-skip chains do. Still, it is the best option for builders who want the cleanest finish.

● Full-skip Chain: cut larger wood portions at an incredibly fast pace

The full-skip is the most efficient chain arrangement for fast cutting. The full-skip chain features fewer teeth but goes on a larger bar (24 inches or more) than the standard chain arrangement. You might think that a chain with fewer teeth would give less cutting power, but this is not true at all. With their fast operational speed and special teeth arrangement, full-skip chains cut larger wood portions at an incredibly fast pace.

The downside of the full-skip arrangement is that its cuts are not as smooth as the standard chain. So the full-skip arrangement is the best option when cutting firewood and other such jobs, where smoothness and cleanliness of the cut don’t matter too much.

● Semi-skip chain: balance between power and efficiency

The semi-skip arrangement is a mid-grade chain arrangement, a compromise between the standard and full-skip arrangements.

The teeth are arranged at points with one or two links between the cutters in the semi-skip arrangement. Professionals use this chain for particular jobs. Although it doesn’t cut as fast as a full-skip chain, it offers a strong balance between power and efficiency with much smoother cuts.

Difference between Chisel Types:

Chisel types significantly affect the type of wood that your chain can cut. The smoothness and cleanliness of a cut will depend on the chisel type. Chains are classified into the following types based on chisel types:

● Full Chisel Cutter:

The full-chisel cutters feature square-cornered or sharp teeth that enable them to cut at very high speeds. They are most well suited for cutting hardwoods when the smoothness of the cut is not too important. The full chisel cutter chains are used for cutting down trees and limbs and for cutting firewood.

Though the full chisel cutter is a very powerful chain, there are some downsides to it too. First, it isn’t the most durable chain out there. I do not recommend using it in rough-cutting environments, such as cutting dirty wood. Secondly, this chain type has an increased risk of kickbacks because of the very high operating speeds that it can achieve. And finally, the full chisel cutters don’t make clean cuts and are therefore not the best choice for cutting softwoods.

● Semi-chisel Cutter:

The semi-chisel cutters feature teeth with rounded corners. The semi-chisel chains run at slower speeds compared to the full chisel ones. Slower speed generally means cleaner cuts. These chains are more suited for softwoods.

Although semi-chisel cutters do not have the speed of full chisel cutters, they are more durable. These chains can easily handle rough and dirty cutting environments and cut frozen or even dry wood.

Another advantage of semi-chisel chains is that they have a much lower risk of kickbacks, making them much safer than the full chisel cutters.

● Low Profile Cutters:

The low profile cutters are also known as “low pro” cutters. I recommend them for beginners, as they are the safest. Low pro cutters also have rounded teeth like the semi-chisel cutters. The standout feature that makes low-profile cutter chains very safe is that they have elements placed between the teeth that prevent kickbacks. These cutters can handle various types of woods like semi-chisel cutters, and they too can’t reach the high speeds of a full chisel cutter.

Low-profile chains generally come in a 3/8” pitch and a .050” gauge to fit bars made specifically for these chains. If your chainsaw bar requires a chain with more than 72 drive links, a low pro cutter chain will not fit on it.

Different Types of Cutter Tips:

Besides chain arrangements and cutter types, the cutter tip material also significantly affects a chain’s cutting ability. Therefore, chains are also differentiated on this basis. These are the most used cutter materials:

● Chrome-tipped Cutters:

Chrome-tipped cutters are the most common cutters out there. Both full chisel and semi-chisel chains usually come with chrome-tipped cutters. These cutters are quite resistant to debris, and therefore, stay sharp longer.

● Carbide-tipped Cutters:

Carbide-tipped cutters are not as common as chrome-tipped ones, but they are heat resistant and used to cut objects that can quickly dull standard chains.

Carbide-tipped chains are generally more expensive compared to standard chains, but they are more durable. Professionals use carbide chains to cut cement roofs, frozen wood, walls, and waterlogged wood in frozen streams.

● Diamond-tipped Cutters:

Diamond-tipped cutters are the least used chain material. They are used for special tasks such as cutting concrete and rocks. These cutters are the strongest and most expensive and can only be used with saws and bars designed to cut concrete and rocks.

Specialty Chains:

In addition to the common types of chains, certain special chains for particular jobs have been designed over the years. These chains are called specialty chains. Ripping chains and narrow kerf chains are the most popular specialty chains.

● Ripping Chain:

The ripping chain is a common specialty chain used for milling logs into planks.

The first difference between a ripping chain and a standard chain is that a ripping chain’s cutters are cut at a lower angle (10 degrees) than those of the standard one (30 degrees). The second difference is that a ripping chain cuts along the wood’s grain instead of cutting against it. These traits make a ripping chain exceptional for removing smaller chunks of wood and the best option for creating fine cuts and smooth planks.

● Narrow Kerf Chain:

Just as a low pro chain features smaller cutters compared to a standard chain, a narrow kerf chain features narrower cutters. Therefore, a narrow kerf chain is best for jobs where thinner, narrower cuts are desired.

Because of thinner cuts, a narrow kerf chain removes much less wood compared to a standard chain. The main benefit of a narrow kerf cutter is that the cuts become faster and require less power since you are cutting through less wood. A narrow kerf chain is generally considered the best chain option for battery-powered chainsaws. The battery will last longer with them.

What does 73 mean on a chainsaw chain?

Chainsaw chains have numbers such as “73” written on them. These numbers are a code for the chain’s pitch and gauge. Each number corresponds to a different pitch and gauge arrangement. 73 corresponds to a 3/8 inch pitch with a 0.058 gauge.

What is the difference between .325 and 3/8 chains?

.325 and 3/8 are chains with two different chain pitches. Both chains have their own use case, as explained earlier. Usually, the .325 inch chains are used with lower power chainsaws than the 3/8 inch chains.

How do I identify my chainsaw chain?

You can identify your chainsaw chain based on its measurements such as pitch and gauge, chain arrangement, tip material. When looking for a replacement chain, you should first identify your chainsaw chain because only a particular chain will go on your chainsaw.

What is the most aggressive chainsaw chain/ what is the fastest chainsaw chain?

In general, an aggressive chainsaw chain is a fast chain. Aggressive and fastest for a chainsaw chain is essentially the same. An aggressive chainsaw cuts very fast. Usually, a square, full chisel chain is considered to be the quickest/most aggressive chain. The most aggressive chain pitch is .404 inches.

Which chainsaw chain is the best?

There is no single or definite answer to what chainsaw chain is the best. It all depends on the job you are doing and which chainsaw you are using. The best chain would be the one that is best suited to the job at hand and works well with your chainsaw. In this blog post, I try to help you find the best chainsaw chain for your job.