Not all chainsaws are created equally, some are more powerful, some run on electricity. With the diverse world of chainsaws, you may begin wondering if chainsaw bars are interchangeable amongst brand, size, and type.
Chainsaw bar brands are not interchangeable because of the way chainsaw bars mount to the chainsaw. The size of the chainsaw bar is not interchangeable and is dependent on the size of the motor. Finally, chainsaw bar types are interchangeable and the different types change the durability of the bar.
We have a lot to dig into with whether or not these different aspects of chainsaw bars are universal. In many cases they aren’t, but in some cases they could be. Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Are Chainsaw Bar Brands Universal
- Are Chainsaw Bar Sizes Universal
- Are Chainsaw Bar Types Universal
- How to Buy the Right Chainsaw Bar
Are Chainsaw Bar Brands Universal
All brands of chainsaw are built slightly differently. Because of these differences, most chainsaw bars are not interchangeable between brands.
The detail that makes the difference is how the bar mounts to the chainsaw itself. For example, you can’t put a Husqvarna bar on a Stihl saw because the bar won’t fit on the Stihl saw.
There are numerous different mounts out there, and some are indeed interchangeable. Unfortunately, the biggest name brand saws, like Stihl, are very specialized so you can only use their bars on their saws.
Here’s the biggest exception. Companies that make chainsaw equipment but not chainsaws themselves will make chainsaw bars that fit chainsaws not of their same brand.
For example, the brand Oregon is primarily a parts manufacturer (they’ve started selling chainsaws in recent years, but they’re better known as a parts maker). Therefore, they make bars and chains that will fit many different types of chainsaws.
But, if you buy a chainsaw bar for a Stihl from Oregon, that bar still won’t fit a Husqvarna.
So, while this may allow you to get a bar for a slightly cheaper price, it won’t allow you to use that bar among many types of chainsaws.
Most companies are great at listing which saws the bar is compatible with. If you’re not sure if you have the right part, simply check the list on the back of the bar label to see if your saw is listed.
For a step by step guide on how to buy the right chainsaw bar, skip down to this section.
Are Chainsaw Bar Sizes Universal
Chainsaw bars come in all shapes and sizes, unfortunately, these sizes are not universal among all chainsaws.
There are a couple of reasons why chainsaw bars are not interchangeable when it comes to sizes.
One, your chainsaw bar has to be compatible with the size of motor that is on your chainsaw. And two, a different sized chainsaw bar will need a matching chain to go along with it.
Let’s talk about motor size first.
Matching Bar Size to Motor Size
A smaller sized motor can only handle a smaller sized bar. Here’s why. The motor’s job is to spin the chain around the bar. The longer the distance that the chain has to travel around the bar, the harder the motor has to work.
If the distance around the bar is too long for the motor, the chain will move slower than necessary to cut effectively.
Therefore, if you have a small motor, it won’t have the power necessary to spin the chain around a longer bar to cut through wood.
There is a range of bar sizes that chainsaws can effectively work based on the size of the engine. Here’s a table that gives an overview of these ranges:
| Engine Type | Power Rating | Compatible Bars |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 25 – 35 CC | 12 – 16 Inches |
| Gas | 35 – 45 CC | 12 – 18 Inches |
| Gas | 45 – 60 CC | 16 – 20 Inches |
| Plug-in Electric | 8-12 Amps | 10 – 16 Inches |
| Plug-in Electric | 13-15 Amps | 14 – 18 Inches |
| Battery | 18-20 Volts | 10 – 12 Inches |
| Battery | 36-40 Volts | 10 – 16 Inches |
| Battery | 54-60 Volts | 14 – 16 Inches |
If you’re still not sure what size bar your chainsaw can take, you can check the owners manual pretty easily to find it. A quick google search for your manual online can help if you no longer have the manual.
If you want a more in-depth explanation of this topic, we have a whole article about putting longer bars on chainsaws.
Matching Chain Size to Bar Size
The other reason why bar sizes are not interchangeable is that chain sizes are not interchangeable.
If you get a larger or smaller size bar, you’re going to need a larger or smaller chain to fit on that bar.
Seems pretty straight forward, right? Right.
All you have to do is make sure you have the correct size chain. You can easily do this by reading the information on your bar stamp and matching it to a chain.
Check out the stamp of information on your bar. To get the right size chain you will need the link count, the gauge, and the pitch.
Then, just match these numbers to a chain to ensure you have the right size.
We have an article about how to measure a chainsaw chain, and a section of that article specific to buying the right size chain, check it out for more information.
Are Chainsaw Bar Types Universal
This question is slightly different than the others. Let me explain, different types of bars wont change how the bar fits on your chainsaw, but it will change how the chainsaw runs.
So, they are universal in the sense that different types of bars will fit on the same saw (as long as they’re the right size), but they will have an effect on the price of the bar and the saw’s performance.
The main differences between bars comes from how they’re made, and what type of nose they have. Let’s break down the different types of construction and nose pieces.
Laminated Bar vs. Solid Bar
A laminated bar is made with several layers of steel sandwiched together into a single bar. They are usually connected through rivets, welding, or a combination of both.
The benefit to a laminated bar is that it is more lightweight than a solid bar while still being fairly durable.
That being said, laminated bars are more prone to bending and damage to the bar track.
Solid bars are made out of one solid piece of steel and the bar track is milled into the steel. These are more expensive and heavier than laminated bars but offer more durability and resistance to damage.
Someone who only uses their chainsaw occasionally to work around the house will do just fine with a laminated chainsaw bar.
If your entire job or life revolves around working with a chainsaw you may benefit from investing in a more durable solid bar.
Replaceable Nose vs. Solid Nose
This is exactly what it sounds like. Some chainsaw bars are made so that the end nose piece and nose sprocket can be replaced.
This is great if you use chainsaws often or have a rather expensive bar, you can replace the nose without paying the full price for a new bar.
The replaceable noses are held together by rivets that can be removed and replaced with a new one in the event of damage to the nose or the nose sprocket.
A solid nose is the opposite, the nose is built directly into the bar and cannot be removed. These are less expensive but if the nose gets damaged you will have to buy a completely new bar.
How to Buy the Right Chainsaw Bar
If you need to buy a new chainsaw bar or are looking to put a different sized bar on your chainsaw, you might be wondering how to make sure you purchase the right-sized bar.
Let’s go over how to buy a replacement bar as well as a different bar from what you already have.
Buying a Replacement Bar
If you’re just looking to replace a bar you already have, then the process is pretty easy.
There’s a couple of different ways you can do this. If you have a local chainsaw or hardware store you like to go to, you can simply take your old bar in and tell them you want a replacement.
They should be able to give you an exact replacement or order a replacement for you.
If you’re an order online kind of person, then you need a few measurements to make sure you’re getting the same size.
All this information can be found on your bar information stamp. You will need the length of bar, the pitch, and the gauge.
The pitch is the top number, denoted with the letter ‘P’ after the number. The next number is the length of the bar. The third number is the gauge. And the last number is the link count, but you don’t need that for buying a bar.
The pitch, bar length, and gauge will give you the right-sized bar. But, as we discussed earlier, not all bars are created equally.
So, when shopping online for a bar, make sure you put in the brand and model of your saw. For example, if you have a Stihl MS125, then make sure you find a bar that is marked as compatible with the MS125. You can do this kind of search pretty easily using Oregon’s part lookup tool. Or, the other major brands usually have a similar tool on their websites.
Then, double-check the length, pitch, and gauge to make sure it matches what you want, then you’re done.
Buying a Different Bar
Maybe you want to change it up a little bit and get a different bar for your chainsaw. Well, that’s pretty easy too.
First, if you’re looking to get a different length, you’ll want to check our table or your owners manual to make sure the size of the bar is compatible with your engine.
Second, you will have to ensure that you are buying a bar with the same pitch as before. The drive sprocket in your saw has a specific pitch that cannot be changed.
You can, however, use a different gauge of bar. This only changes the width of the bar and, as long as you have a chain to match, can be changed to whatever you prefer.
So, to recap, make sure the length you want is compatible with your motor, match the pitch to your previous bar or chain, and decide what gauge you want for your chain.
Now, you’re all ready to go get a brand new bar.
For more information about chains, their measurements, and what these words mean, check out our article that covers all the chainsaw chain fundamentals.
Wrap-Up
We covered a lot of information in this article. Let’s break it down to do a quick review.
Chainsaw bar brands are not interchangeable because they attach to the chainsaw in different ways. When looking for a new bar, make sure it has your specific chainsaw model listed on the label.
Chainsaw bar sizes are interchangeable to some degree. But, you have to make sure your chainsaw motor has enough juice to pull your chain all the way around the bar.
Chainsaw bar types are indeed interchangeable. The main differences between the types are weight, durability, and cost.
Hopefully we’ve given you everything you need to know about the differences between chainsaw bars.
Also, if you want to know whether chainsaw chains are universal, check out my article “Are Chainsaw Chains Universal (Interchangeable)?“.
Now go do something awesome!
