Purchasing a new chainsaw chain should be easy but when you are met with a website or showroom with 100’s of chains it can be a mine field! STIHL authorised dealers such as us at World of Power have access to a whole catalogue of information on different models, making it much easier for chain identification. We know how difficult it can be to choose the right chain but as a premium dealer we put a lot of time and effort into creating a user-friendly website experience to make it easier to select required accessories for your chainsaws.
Here we explain how to choose the right chainsaw chain for your chainsaw…
1: How to Select the Right Size Chainsaw Chain
When it comes to selecting the right ‘size’ chains, there are three crucial points you need to pay attention to: the length of the guide bar on the chainsaw, the drive link gauge and the pitch.
· Guide Bar Length – Usually displayed in inch or cm, the length of the guide bar will impact the size of the chain loop required. Typically, domestic STIHL Chainsaws are 12”, 14” or 16” long but some professional models can range up to 25” in length.
· Chain Pitch – The distance between every other rivet, in inches, divided by two. A chain rivet is the circular pin which holds the chain together as circled below and with STIHL chains there are 6 pitches: ¼”, ¼” P, 3/8” P, 3/8”, .325”, .404”. Most domestic STIHL chainsaws will either be ¼” P or 3/8” P. This needs to be the same as the pitch on your guide bar and drive sprocket as if it is different the chain will not fit on the chainsaw bar.
· Drive Link Gauge – The thickness of the drive link. You will usually find this stamped or printed on the guide bar near the end where it attaches to the chainsaw if this has worn away you will need to use the STIHL chain & bar check gauge to determine the drive link gauge.
Check out our video by clicking here on how to use the chain and bar check gauge to correctly identify your chain.
If you are unsure about the above or would like some advice you can pop into our Buxton showroom, email, live chat, WhatsApp or call us, with your chainsaw make and model information and our dedicated friendly team will be able to assist you in purchasing the correct bar and chain.
2: How to Choose the Right Type of Chainsaw Chain
Picco, Picco Micro, Rapid, Super, Duro, Semi Chisel, Full Chisel and Humped are all STIHL chain types or features. To put it simply for those who just need a new chainsaw chain here we break down the differences.
· Picco – Designed with a lower profile tooth so they sit closer to the guide bar making them less aggressive than chains recommended for professional use, ideal for sawing firewood or small jobs around the home and garden.
· Rapid – Designed with a larger tooth making them more ideal for professional users.
· Micro – Reliable and comfortable to use, STIHL micro chains have a semi chisel tooth making them more of a rounded shape, so they are easier to sharpen.
· Super – Offering a higher performance level, these chains can lose their edge much quicker so they do require sharpening more often and can need more experience to sharpen them at home correctly.
· Duro- A low profile, low kickback, reduced vibrations chain with carbide cutting edges, these extremely hard durable teeth keep the chain sharp up to four times longer.
· Humped Drive Link – Created with reduced kickback and vibrations these chains are ideal for domestic users. Chains which display a ‘3’ in the description mean they are humped and unless you are a professional user who regularly bores into the wood, choosing a humped chain is always a good idea.
3: Checking You Have the Correct Chainsaw Chain
All Chainsaw guide bars have the information of the bar and chain imprinted or stamped on the bar itself. As you can see from the STIHL MS 162 chainsaw example below the pitch is 3/8” P, the length is 12” and the drive link gauge is 1.1mm. Therefore, the correct chain for this model would be STIHL Picco Micro Mini 3/8P, 1.1mm with 44 drive links, which is usually corresponded with the last 2 digits on the part number- 3610 000 0044. From this information you can select the correct chainsaw chain off the shelf in our Buxton showroom or use the filters on the left-hand side of our website to find the correct chains available to you.
So how does a STIHL chain work?
They all work the same way as they pass through a log, during this process as each tooth (8) planes a chip from the wood, the top plate cutting edge (1) lifts the chip from the wood whilst the side plate cutting edge (2) removes the chip during the cut.
The depth gauge (5) is detrimental in how deep the cutting tooth enters the wood and the thickness of the chip removed. The depth gauge setting is the distance between the top edge of the depth gauge (3) and the front edge of the top plate (4) as shown in the below graphic. This distance can vary depending on the chain pitch. To ensure smooth cutting and less kickbacks, the depth gauge is designed to slope upwards (5) in line with the wear marker (6).
Each tooth is crafted from special hardened steel material whilst the top plate (4) and side plate (7) are made with a chromium coating for extra protection against wear, which allows the tooth to stay sharper for longer periods. This unique shape tapers to the rear to form a clearance angle to stop the teeth from jamming in the wood.
You can rest assured that whichever STIHL Chainsaw Chain you choose that you will get an outstanding cutting performance. All STIHL chains are precision made in Switzerland in STIHL’s dedicated factory to perfectly match them to the guide bar and chainsaws to deliver the best performance. One of the many reasons why STIHL is the number 1 manufacturer of petrol chainsaws in the world!