Few things are more frustrating than getting ready to tackle a big job with your chain saw, only to discover the teeth are too dull to cut. Rather than seeing wood chips flying, you work twice as hard for twice as long and only produce a pile of sawdust for your trouble. Sharpening the teeth on your chain might be an option, or it might be time to replace that old chain with a new one. In either case, knowing the correct size is imperative.
Neither chain saw teeth nor chain saw chains come in a one-size-fits-all format. One key component in properly sizing your chain saw teeth is the pitch. Pitch tells you how close together the links in the chain are. You can determine your chain's pitch by measuring the distance between any three consecutive rivets, then dividing that number by 2. U.S. manufacturers typically report pitch in inches, and common sizes include 1/4-inch, 0.325-inch, 3/8-inch and 0.404-inch.
Determining Cutter Type
There are two or three main types of cutters, or teeth, depending on who you ask: the chipper, the chisel and the semichisel. The chipper style is most common in consumer-grade chain saws. It is also the most versatile type of cutter, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The semichisel is less common but might be appropriate if you have a big job and need a more aggressive cut. You can sharpen both chipper and semichisel style teeth with a round file and a file guide. Chisel cutters are more common on professional-grade chain saws, and require a square shaped file to fit its cutting edge.
The cutting teeth on a chain saw come in different sizes. Consumer grades typically use diameter for their measure. This becomes important when it's time to sharpen the teeth. Common diameters include 3/16-inch, 5/32-inch and 7/32-inch. To get the best results, match the size of your round file to the diameter of your cutting teeth.
Freshly sharpened teeth on an old chain, or even a brand new chain, will do you no good if the drive links are worn out or the wrong size. The drive links drop down into the groove of the bar, or blade, in the chain and are propelled by the drive sprocket. The drive links have to fit properly into the groove, or they won't drive the cutting teeth efficiently through the wood you're trying to cut. Drive link sizes are referred to as the chain's gauge. The most common gauge for U.S. manufactured chain saws is 0.05-inch, but you might also find drive link gauges of 0.043-inch, 0.058-inch and 0.063. Because wear can distort the width of drive links and chain saw bar grooves, it can be challenging to get an accurate measure without a caliper. Fortunately, most chains have the gauge measure stamped into the metal.
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