Finding the Right Saw Chain for You
Overview
There are several ways to find the right saw chain for your saw. Knowing your make and model of your saw is a good starting point to use our Find Your Parts lookup. If you need help identifying this information you can take your saw to a dealer for assistance.
In many cases Oregon offers multiple saw chain options for a saw. Below is information to help you determine the right saw chain fit up for your saw and the different chain types to meet the needs of different saw users.
Topics
Parts of a Cutter
Four Basic Components of Saw Chain
Saw Chain Identification
How Saw Chain Works
What is Chain Gauge?
What is Chain Pitch?
Saw Chain Sequence
Cutter Type
Why Chisel Chain Cuts Faster?
How Do I Know What Size Guide Bar I Have?
How do I measure the length of my chain?
What are Oregon Product Families?
Retail Store Saw Chain
Servicing Dealer
Chain Anatomy - Parts of a Cutter
- Top Plate
- Cutting Corner
- Slide Plate
- Depth Gauge
- Gullet
- Toe
- Heel
- Rivet Hole
- Clearance Angle
- Depth Gauge
Four Basic Components of Saw Chain
- Cutter
- Rivet
- Drive Link
- Tie Strap
To identify saw chain you need to know the:
- Gauge
- Pitch
- Sequence
- Cutter Type
- Cutter Enters Wood — Saw chain cuts with a “porpoise-like” motion. The depth gauge setting determines the thickness of the severed cross grain
- Attack Position — Cutter feeds into the wood and begins to leave the guide bar
- In the Wood — The cutter slices through the wood. It is no longer touching the guide bar
- Severed Wood Chip — The “clearance angle” allows the cutter to pivot out of the wood severing the chip
What is Chain Gauge?
Chain Gauge is the Drive Link's thickness where it fits into the guide bar groove, matching the guide bar gauge. The gauge of the chain and the gauge of the bar must match. Oregon has several gauges of saw chain, .043”, .050", .058” and .063". Normal wear can make it difficult to accurately measure chain gauge on a worn chain. Always order by the number stamped on the drive link of your old chain to assure correct gauge. See the chain-pitch-and-gauge chart below.
Once you know the make, model, and bar length, there are some other features you need to know, such as:
What is Chain Pitch?
Chain Pitch is the size of the chain, and is defined as the distance between any three consecutive rivets divided by two. Oregon chain is made in several pitches - 1/4" is the smallest, 3/8" is the most popular, .404" is the largest hand-held chain.
Pitch is important because the drive sprocket must be the same pitch as the chain, and if applicable, the bar nose sprocket. An easy way to determine the pitch of your chain is to look at the number stamped on the drive link. See the chain-pitch-and-gauge chart below.
Saw Chain Sequence
| Chain Sequence | Recommended Bar Lengths |
Standard | 
| Up to 24" (61 cm) |
Semi-Skip |  | 24" to 32" (61–81 cm) |
Skip |  | 32" and longer (81 cm+) |
- Chipper
- Semi-Chisel
- Chamfer-Chisel
- Micro-Chisel Chisel
Why Chisel Chain Cuts Faster
Rounded cutters must re-cut the end-grain grain several times until the full width of the “kerf” is reached.
Chisel cutters are square and cut a full width “kerf” with every pass.
How Do I Know What Size Guide Bar I Have?
Your guide bar's length is represented by the cutting length (or "called length"), which is different from its total or overall length. The cutting length is the distance from the front of the saw to the tip of the guide bar, rounded to the nearest inch.
Tip: If you have an Oregon bar, look at the part number stamped on the motor end; the first two digits, such as 16, tell you the called length.
How do I measure the length of my chain?
The length of your chain is determined by counting the number of drive links in your chain. The drive link count is included in the saw chain part number, after the chain type designation (example, 20BPX066, H66).
Note: Your drive link count correlates to your guide bar’s overall size, which can vary by manufacturer. Oregon bars may take a different drive link count than that of another brand.
What are Oregon Product Families?
Oregon understand that the need of woodcutters – professionals and novices – are as diverse as the terrains and environments in which they work.
We have organized our saw chains and guide bars into product families with key characteristics that different users will value. These product families will ensure that you choose the right chain and bar based on your everyday needs. It will make understanding the differences between our products effortless. Learn More
Retail Store Saw Chain
Not all saw chain and guide bar mentioned on the packaging or in search results will fit every version of equipment listed. To make sure you are getting the correct part feel free to call our Customer Service team at 1-800-223-5168.
Oregon chain sold in retail stores such as mass merchants, home, and hardware stores, uses a letter system that corresponds to chain types, as well as pitch and gauge.
Please see table below for more information:
|
Pitch
|
Gauge
|
 |
| Retail Chain Code |
Chain Type |
| AdvanceCut |
| 3/8" Low Profile™ |
0.043" |
R |
90PX |
| 3/8" Low Profile™ |
0.050" |
S |
91PX |
| 3/8" |
0.050" |
D |
72V |
| 3/8" |
0.058" |
P |
73V |
| ControlCut |
| 0.325" |
0.050" |
H |
20BPX |
| 0.325" |
0.058" |
J |
21BPX |
| 0.325" |
0.063" |
L |
22BPX |
| 1/4" |
0.050" |
A |
25AP |
| VersaCut |
| 3/8" Low Profile™ |
0.050" |
T |
91VXL |
| SpeedCut |
| 0.325" |
0.050" |
M Pro Series |
95TXL |
| 0.325" |
0.050" |
G* |
95VPX* |
| PowerCut |
| 3/8" |
0.050" |
E Pro Series |
72LPX |
| 3/8" |
0.050" |
B |
72LGX |
| 0.325" |
0.050" |
Q Pro Series |
20LPX |
| 0.325" |
0.063" |
V Pro Series |
22LPX |
*Chain part numbers have been obsoleted. Contact your aurthorized Oregon Distributor for Availability.
Servicing Dealer
Not all saw chain and guide bar mentioned on the packaging or in search results will fit every version of equipment listed. To make sure you are getting the correct part feel free to call our Customer Service team at 1-800-223-5168.
| Saw Chain Pitch | Saw Chain By Gauge |
| 
.043" | 
.050" | 
.058" |
.063" |
| 1/4" | | 25 | | |
3/8"
Low Profile™ | 90 | 91 | | |
| .325" | | 20
95
| 21 | 22 |
| 3/8" | | 72 | 73 | 75 |
| .404" | | | | 27 59
68 |
