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Chain speed, pitch, gauge and drive links
Updated
Two sets of chain numbers matter. Chain speed tells you how fast the saw can cut. Pitch, gauge and drive link count tell you which replacement chain fits. Listings mix feet per second with meters per second, and some leave both sets out.
Chain speed, in one unit
- EGO CS161320 m/s
- Husqvarna Power Axe 350i11.8 m/s
- Greenworks 40V 16 in10.5 m/s
- Milwaukee 2527-20 Hatchet5 m/s
- WORX WG3223.8 m/s
One foot per second is 0.3048 meters per second. So the WORX figure of 12.5 ft/s is 3.8 m/s, and EGO's 20 m/s is about 66 ft/s. That is more than a five to one spread between two saws that both get called "cordless chainsaw". A faster chain clears chips faster and bogs less in thick wood. A slow chain is fine for limbs. Volts on the label do not tell you this. Husqvarna quotes its speed "at max power", and other makers give a top speed with no load stated, so treat small gaps as noise.
The three numbers on a replacement chain
Oregon, which makes chain for many brands, says you need to know these to identify a chain:
- Pitch. Oregon defines it as the distance between any three consecutive rivets divided by two. The drive sprocket must be the same pitch as the chain.
- Gauge. The thickness of the drive link where it fits into the bar groove. It should match the gauge of the guide bar. Oregon lists gauges of .043, .050, .058 and .063 inch.
- Drive links. The count of links that ride in the bar. This sets the length.
Oregon's advice is to order by the number stamped on the drive link of your old chain, because a worn chain is hard to measure.
What the picks use
| Saw | Pitch | Gauge | Drive links |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGO CS1613 | 3/8 in | .043 in | 56 |
| Greenworks 40V 16 in | 3/8 in | .043 in, per the replacement chain on the maker page | 56 |
| Husqvarna Power Axe 350i | 3/8 in mini | .050 in | Not stated on the page we read |
| Milwaukee 2527-20 Hatchet | 3/8 in low profile | .043 in | 28 |
| DEWALT DCCS621P1, WORX WG322, BLACK+DECKER LCS1020 | Not stated on the listings we read. Check the manual or the stamp on the chain before ordering | ||
Note the Husqvarna. Same 3/8 family pitch, thicker .050 gauge. A .043 chain will not sit right in a .050 bar. Oregon also warns that not every chain named on a package fits every version of a saw.
Low-kickback chain
Oregon says that in North America, chains that meet the ANSI low-kickback guidelines carry a green mark, and that if you are not trained to handle kickback you should use a low-kickback chain. When you buy a spare, look for that mark. More in kickback and safety features.
Run your own wood through the bar length and cuts calculator, or compare all seven picks on the roundup page.