Questions about pitch and gauge

[Chainsaw Pete]

Why do we have two different pitch chains that are so close - .325 and 3/8? Both pitches are available in three common gauges. Is the duplication due to one manufacturer deciding on one pitch and another on the second pitch? Are there any significant differences in performance between the two pitches?

I guess the .404 pitch, which only comes in a .063 ga is meant for larger, more powerful saws although the pitches noted above are also available in this larger pitch. Somewhere I read that mechanized saws use the .404 which suggests strength is part of the reason for this size.

I'd also surmise that the .043 - low profile 3/8 chain is for small low powered saws like my pole pruner, and I consider this a specialty chain.

 

[sean donato]

Tons of variables between pitch size. Narrow curf, low profile etc. Different cutters/ profiles, differences in depth gauges, safty bumpers etc. The gauge is up to the user, generally speaking .050, .058, a.d .063/4 are rhe normal ones. Some odd balls with the .043, but you can get the same chain in .050. I wouldn't say it's a specialty item, or for low power saws per say. The .043 allows a narrower curf, which allows for less parasitic loss = faster cutting. It's more or less a stihl thing, but others have adopted it.
Gauge is Just personal preference really. I usually try to stick with .050 up to 24" then .063 for .325 and 3/8. Only have one saw running .404 .063 is about the only gauge you can get anymore.
.404 can be had .063 then .080 (harvester chain) then there's still 3/4 chain for harvester use, .122. Some old saws ran 1/2 pitch or 3/4 pitch, pretty much obsolete for hand held saws these days.

 

[Chainsaw Pete]

Tthen there's still 3/4 chain for harvester use, .122.

What is harvester use?
I'm running 3/8, .050 on my two saws, but for some reason I have 3 loops and a Woodland Pro bar in .325 for my MS250. Dinged if I know now why I bought that bar and chains. I try to standardize my tools having another gauge for the same standard Oregon chains that I use makes no sense to me (well, it does now, maybe it did not when I bought them).

 

[Mad Professor]

What is harvester use?
I'm running 3/8, .050 on my two saws, but for some reason I have 3 loops and a Woodland Pro bar in .325 for my MS250. Dinged if I know now why I bought that bar and chains. I try to standardize my tools having another gauge for the same standard Oregon chains that I use makes no sense to me (well, it does now, maybe it did not when I bought them).

Big machine that grabs a whole tree by the trunk and cuts it off at the base



The MS250 has the smaller mount bars. Most 3/8 chain bars are 3003 mount.

 

[sean donato]

What is harvester use?
I'm running 3/8, .050 on my two saws, but for some reason I have 3 loops and a Woodland Pro bar in .325 for my MS250. Dinged if I know now why I bought that bar and chains. I try to standardize my tools having another gauge for the same standard Oregon chains that I use makes no sense to me (well, it does now, maybe it did not when I bought them).

Harvester = mechanized industrial cutting.
I had that "standardize" thought for a hot second. Doesn't work in practice. I have saws from 30cc to 100+ cc. Different brands, different mounts. Doesn't make any sense to try and standardize all of them on one chain type. .325 and 3/8 belong on different saws for various reasons, and I'm not running std 3/8 on a 50cc or smaller powerhead, have a few 60cc class saws that still run .325 that have small mount bars. Beyond that it's all 3/8 or .404 for the larger saws. I'd never run std 3/8 on a ms250, spire leaving a lot of performance on the table with a full size cutter and wide kerf chain.

 

[BeatCJ]

Why do we have two different pitch chains that are so close - .325 and 3/8? Both pitches are available in three common gauges. Is the duplication due to one manufacturer deciding on one pitch and another on the second pitch? Are there any significant differences in performance between the two pitches?

I guess the .404 pitch, which only comes in a .063 ga is meant for larger, more powerful saws although the pitches noted above are also available in this larger pitch. Somewhere I read that mechanized saws use the .404 which suggests strength is part of the reason for this size.

I would guess it was a random chain development thing. Now it's a typical use perpetuated by manufacturers.

I suspect that with a smaller saw, 3/8 would be too grabby for acceptable performance. I just watched a performance video on Youtube for Ego battery saws. With the saw they were running, the 3/8 performed significantly faster. I did notice that had more issues with it bogging when they tried to push it. The video stated the saw they were testing was equivalent to a 50cc saw. My only saw with .325 is my 42cc 024. It is my belief that's about the switch over point.

 

[Del_]

Look into Stihl Pro chain .050, .325. Supposed to be a faster cutting chain and makes a narrower kerf.

I run 3/8 Stihl Picco Super on my 241C. I'm square filing it as it comes round ground.