How To Measure Your Chainsaw Bar and Chain | The Family Handyman
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If yous need to buy a new chainsaw bar or chain, it's important to find the perfect fit. Hither's how to mensurate the size of your bar and chain.
Chainsaws are versatile tools, great for light pruning, cut up firewood and more. With all that use, eventually yous'll need to supercede your chainsaw bar or concatenation. But before yous buy, know the exact size of each. "Using the incorrect size bar or chain can impairment the chainsaw and injure the chainsaw operator," says Vince Christofora of Woodstock Hardware.
Read on to learn how to measure your chainsaw's bar and chain. It's not hard to practice and saves time at the hardware store. "Don't bring the dirty, sawdust- and oil-clumped, gas frazzle-smelling chainsaw into the store and put it up on the counter and inquire for aid," Chirstofora says. "Non a practiced way to start things off!"
How To Measure a Chainsaw Bar
Chainsaws are sold in even-numbered lengths, based the length of the chainsaw bar. Sometimes called a chainsaw blade, the chainsaw bar is the metal "arm" that holds and supports the chain during cutting. Then when you lot're ownership a sixteen-inch chainsaw, you're ownership 1 with a 16-inch bar.
You lot tin can measure a chainsaw bar two ways. The virtually common, Christofora says, is the effective cutting length. That'southward the altitude from the tip of the bar to the front of the chainsaw body, where the bar disappears into the saw.
To measure a chainsaw's effective cut length (or simply, "length"):
- Place a record measure at the very tip of the bar.
- Measure straight dorsum to the betoken where the bar enters the chainsaw torso.
- Round that measurement up to the nearest even number.
Considering chainsaws are just sold in even numbers, yous'll demand to round upward odd numbers and fractions. A saw with a 15-inch constructive cutting length is a 16-inch chainsaw. If you measure eighteen-3/iv-in., it's a 20-inch saw.
The true bar length is a 2d, less commonly used measurement. If you demand this to become a perfect fit for your replacement bar, here'due south how to do it:
- Loosen the bolts that hold the bar to the chainsaw trunk.
- Remove the bar and place it on a apartment surface.
- Measure the bar, cease to cease.
The chainsaw truthful bar length is a precise measurement. Don't circular this number upwards.
How to determine a chainsaw bar groove guess
If you're buying a new chainsaw bar, Christofora says you lot may too demand to know the gauge of the bar groove. Hither's how to find it:
- Gather a penny, dime and quarter.
- Insert the coins into the bar groove ane at a time.
- Determine which coin best fits into the groove.
"For close approximations, you tin can use a quarter for .063 inch, a dime for .058 inch and a penny for .043 inch," Christofora says. Another pick: Purchase an inexpensive estimate, which helps you lot measure chain pitch, concatenation judge and file size, too.
How To Measure a Chainsaw Chain
Your best bet when purchasing a new chainsaw chain? Search for a replacement based on your chainsaw's manufacturer and model number.
Information technology pays to exist precise here, Christofora says. "Nigh times when a customer comes into the store they just endeavor to buy a concatenation the same length." he says. "Simply chains, even the same length, vary by chainsaw manufacturer." If y'all know the manufacturer and model number, you tin cross-reference information technology with the information listed on the chainsaw chain packaging.
It doesn't hurt to write or engrave the numbers on the chain saw bar, near the saw'southward body, too. They reverberate the concatenation pitch, the number of commuter links and the chain link gauge. If y'all need these numbers and tin't locate them, or if they've worn off, you tin can measure each ofto determine its size.
How to measure out the chain pitch
The chain pitch refers to the distance between the chain's links. Hither's how to measure it.
- Using a ruler or measuring tape, mensurate the distance between three of the rivets on your concatenation.
- Divide that measurement by two. The resulting effigy is your chain pitch.
Common chain pitches include one/4-in., .325-in., three/viii-in. and .404-in.
How to measure the driver links
Determining the number of commuter links is equally easy equally counting the links on your chain.
- Identify the driver chain links. They're small bumps on the inside of the chain.
- Count the number of links on the concatenation.
How to measure out the chain link gauge
Chain link guess is the thickness of the drive links. When your chain link guess matches the gauge of your chainsaw bar, the chain fits snugly. You can utilize a caliper or an inexpensive multi-purpose judge to mensurate this.
- Place your caliper or gauge forth the groove where the concatenation fits into the bar.
- Write down the reading on your caliper or gauge.
Common drive link gauges are .043-in., .050-in., .058-in. and .063-in.
Chainsaw Sizing Guide
Having the right size chainsaw for the task makes cutting easier and safer.
Sizes often vary co-ordinate to the type of chainsaw, each proficient for different jobs. The most common chainsaw bar sizes are 12 to 20 inches, but they come up in sizes equally large every bit 72 inches, typically for professionals. The longer the bar, the heavier the chainsaw.
When choosing the correct chainsaw size for the job, it's best to have a chainsaw bar at to the lowest degree 2 inches longer than the thickness of the item that you're cutting. Sure chainsaw sizes are best suited for different types of activities:
- Gas-powered chainsaws outset at 16 to 18 inches, and go upwardly to as large as 72 inches. The sixteen- to 18-inch chainsaws are best for felling medium trees, while chainsaws with a 20-inch or larger bar are suitable for large trees or cutting firewood.
- Electric chainsaws tend to exist smaller, usually 14 to 16 inches. Use the 14-inch saws for felling small copse, and 16-inchers for medium trees.
- Battery-operated saws are xvi to 18 inches, good for bringing downward medium copse.
- Small bombardment-operated half dozen- to ix-inch chainsaws as well exist, including the Milwaukee M12 Fuel Hatchet Six-Inch Pruning Saw. Use these for pruning small limbs.
Source: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/measure-chainsaw-bar-and-chain/
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