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Best Chainsaw Chains

Whether you're a home handyman, or you live in a forest and rely on firewood to keep warm in winter, a chainsaw is a power tool you will find quite useful. This convenient tool is a must for cutting down or trimming trees, cutting boards down to size for furniture, or taking apart that old armoire to use as firewood or repurpose into something else.

One key factor with any chainsaw is that each individual one is only as good as the chainsaw chain. Using the wrong type of chainsaw chain can turn a perfectly good chainsaw into a very heavy and expensive paper weight.

Here's a list of Best Chainsaw Chain


What Is A Chainsaw Chain?

We all know what a chainsaw is. It’s that rather large machine used to cut wood. However, most people give little thought to the actual chainsaw chain. Without this chain, the chainsaw is useless. The chain has sharp teeth that fit over the guide bar. The chain moves quickly over the outer edge of the guide bar and this motion is what propels the chain’s teeth or blades, enabling the chainsaw to cut through the wood.

What To Look For In A Chainsaw Chain?

Bar Length – Chainsaw chains come in a variety of lengths to fit a specific size of bar guide. If you’re not sure of which size you need, measure your chainsaw from the from the point where the bar just comes out of the chainsaw casing, to the tip of the bar guide. The most common lengths or chainsaw chains are 16, 18 and 20 inches so you would normally round off to the next even number.

Drive Links – The bottom of the chainsaw chain is where you’ll find the drive links. Their purpose is to fit in the guide of the bar to keep the chain stable during operation. Each of these links will help you get a more accurate measurement of the size of chainsaw chain you need.

Gauge – The gauge of your chainsaw chain refers to the thickness of the drive links. Your chain will work best when the chain’s gauge matches the bar guide. If the gauge is too thin, the chain may constantly slip off your bar guide. Too thick and it most likely won’t even fit the bar guide properly.

Cutter Design – The cutter design refers to the type of teeth your chainsaw chain has and their intended purpose. Chipper chains are designed for messy work and are perfect for cutting down trees or trimming branches that aren’t too thick. Semi-chisel chains are generally considered to be an all-purpose cutter suitable for soft and hardwoods. They also work well at keeping a clean cut of whatever you are working on. The teeth on full chisel chains are square shaped and make light work of cutting through harder wood.


Finding The Right Chainsaw Chain For Your Chainsaw

Choosing the right chainsaw chain may seem complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. Count your drive links, check your gauge thickness, measure your bar length and decide what you will be using your chainsaw for. If you’re still not sure, talk to your local chainsaw specialist or check out the loads of information available online.

Now that we’ve looked at some of the basics of chainsaw chains, it’s time to check out some of the best ones for your chainsaw.

Husqvarna 531300439 H-30 Saw Chain

Husqvarna 531300439 H-30 Saw Chain

Husqvarna has been making exceptional quality machines and replacement parts for a few centuries. They also make some of the best chainsaws and chains. This one is ideal for chainsaws that are lighter in weight so you'll get less kickback and a low vibration. It's ideal for those who love to maintain a pristine garden.

Main Features:

  • Low kickback & low-vibration
  • Designed to meet the specific needs of modern lightweight chainsaws
  • Great cutting performance and bore cut
  • Perfect for arborists those using smaller-size chainsaws
  • Suitable for commercial cutters, arborists, and occasional users

Pros

  • Increased safety due to low vibration and kickback
  • Suitable for a variety of chainsaws
  • Durable
  • Great for precise cutting

Cons

  • Caution advised in buying for certain chainsaws as it may not fit, despite the details on the packaging.

Cost

This Husqvarna chainsaw chain is well priced and it should last for a considerable amount of time, even with frequent use. That makes it great value for money.

Consumer Experience & Reviews

Most customers were satisfied with the performance from these chainsaw chains. They reported that it made their tasks and using the chainsaw considerably easier. However, some were disappointed that the chainsaw chain did not fit their particular model of chainsaw, despite the information on the packaging claiming it would.

Oregon D70 20-Inch AdvanceCut Chainsaw Chain

Oregon D70 20-Inch AdvanceCut Chainsaw Chain

If you want a chainsaw for heavier work, this one from Oregon is a winner. It can tackle thick logs and harder wood. The teeth are chrome hardened and can deliver all the precision you need. You'll also benefit from low kickback and a minimal amount of vibration. This will help you prevent fatigue on your arms when you've got a lot of cutting to do.

Main Features:

  • Low kickback and minimal vibrations
  • Heat treated to get through thicker wood
  • Chromed hardened for durability
  • Increased safety during use

Pros

  • Strong and durable
  • Heat treatment assures you have a strong chain
  • Versatile. Fits on a variety of chainsaws

Cons

  • Important to check the sizing for your specific chainsaw as it won't fill all the models described

Cost

This is a well-priced chainsaw chain and well suited for a wide range of jobs. It is also quite durable making it a great choice for those on tight budgets.

Consumer Experience & Reviews

Most customers are impressed with the performance of this Oregon chainsaw chain. It cuts beautifully with nice, precise lines. It is also durable and can tolerate a lot of heavy-duty cutting. Some customers commented that they chose this chainsaw chain because the packaging stated it was suitable for their chainsaw. Upon opening the packaging and trying to fit it to their chainsaw, they realized the fit was not a good one. Additional caution is advised to ensure you will get the right chainsaw chain for your model chainsaw.

STIHL 26RS 81 Rapid Super Chainsaw Chain 

Stihl 26RS 81 Rapid Super Chainsaw Chain

STIHL is a brand you can certainly rely on when it comes to all things chainsaw. Their chains are reliable and durable right across the spectrum of chainsaws. One thing you will notice about this STIHL chainsaw chain is that it features a unique design that is guaranteed to work well, regardless of the type of cutting you need to complete. STIHL chainsaw chains can power through large logs and a variety of hard woods and is often favored by those in the logging industry.

Main Features:

  • High performance chainsaw chain
  • Suitable for a variety of STIHL chainsaw models
  • 20-inch length, 325-inch pitch, .063 gauge

Pros

  • Effective, even under high pressure
  • Fits on most STIHL chainsaws
  • Easy to sharpen
  • Minimal vibration and kickback

Cons

  • Not suitable for work on dirty logs
  • Only fits STIHL chainsaws

Cost

The STIHL chainsaw chain is a little pricier than many chainsaw chains, but it lives up to its reputation for high performance and durability. If you don't need to replace it frequently, and you can get your work done faster, it's definitely worth a few extra dollars.

Consumer Experience & Reviews

This STIHL chainsaw chain is one of the most reliable products on the market. You will get a lot of use out of this chain and you can use it for tasks such as trimming trees, right through to slicing large logs. Some customers report that it is the fastest performing chainsaw. Those who are not accustomed to using chainsaws felt somewhat daunted at the prospect of sharpening the teeth. Otherwise, they were happy with this STIHL chainsaw chain.

SUNGATOR 18-Inch Chainsaw Chain SG-S62

SUNGATOR 18-Inch Chainsaw Chain

Some people make the mistake of thinking a chainsaw chain must be expensive to be considered good quality. This chainsaw chain from SUNGATOR comes as a pleasant surprise. The chain is chrome plated, so you get a precise cutting edge, and it has a low kickback making it a nice safe chainsaw chain to use. This chainsaw chain is more suitable for the avid garden and it will trim all of your trees beautifully.

Main Features:

  • 18 Inch, .050" Gauge, 3/8" LP Pitch, 62 Drive Links
  • Low kickback
  • Reliable quality
  • Chrome-plated teeth

Pros

  • Low kickback for easier use
  • Chrome plated for precision work

Cons

  • Not suitable for hard wood
  • Quality can be unpredictable

Cost

The SUNGATOR 18-Inch Chainsaw Chain SG-S62 is a budget brand of chainsaw chain, and although it may work perfectly for some, the quality is often inconsistent. You may get an exceptional chainsaw chain, or you may get something that will barely trim a rosebush. Cost-wise, you may not lose much, but if you need to return your chainsaw chain, you will lose precious time.

Consumer Experience & Reviews

The first thing to keep in mind when purchasing this SUNGATOR chainsaw chain is that it is a budget brand, so the quality can be somewhat hit and miss. Some customers gave rave reviews after using this chainsaw chain, while others relegated the chain and the review to the trash. If you need serious work done, such as cutting through large logs or you need to work for longer periods, this may not be the chainsaw chain for you.

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