Chainsaw chains come sharpened when purchased from all major manufacturers. As a result, you should not need to spend any time sharpening your chain before it’s first use.

You can shorten a chainsaw chain by removing links with a chain break and then re-connecting the chain with repair rivets. However, you need specialized equipment for this process, and removing links could weaken the integrity of the chain. As a result, this process should only be used by experts.

Chainsaw chains do not technically stretch. However, the chain loop can get longer after the chain’s first use, as the chain’s rivets and links wear, or when the chain is heated causing the metal to expand. All of these conditions can make the chain longer, even though it hasn’t technically “stretched”.

Chainsaw chains are usually universal across brands. However, chainsaw chains are not “one size fits all”. It’s the chain’s pitch, gauge, and links that determine the proper fit.