How much effect does the guage of a chain have?

For example, I have a .325 pitch chain thats .050 guage, but I see .058 guage chain in the same pitch. I understand that this makes the drive links wider, but does it effect the with of the chisel as well?

If so, I'd imagine the .058 guage is stronger, but removing more wood and slower in the cut. However, I'd imagine it'd still be smaller than a 3/8, so it might come into be being a middle ground between .050 guage .325 and .375.

Anyways, just curious

No, well I can't say about 063, but 050 and 058 have the same thickness in the rivet area of the drive link (050). The 058 drive link is 050 at the top where the rivet holes are and 058 at the bottom of the drive link. The kerf width on 050 and 058 is the same.

Are there any advantages with moving to a .058 chain from a .050?


Or to the .063?

IchWarriorMkII said:

Are there any advantages with moving to a .058 chain from a .050?


Or to the .063?

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In "theory" the .063 oils better. I saw get what is most common in you're area. Around here it's .063 for Stihl, .050 for Husky.
Andy

sawinredneck said:

In "theory" the .063 oils better. I saw get what is most common in you're area. Around here it's .063 for Stihl, .050 for Husky.
Andy

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That's funny. round here is 050 for stihl and 058 for husky

IchWarriorMkII said:

Are there any advantages with moving to a .058 chain from a .050?


Or to the .063?

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I don't think it makes much of a difference, If you don't buy your
chain on-line, then I would see what is the most available in your area.
In my area you don't really see any .058 chain, on the shelfs for sale.

I'm probably wrong, but to get a little more life from a bar, and keep it cutting reasonably straight, I'd move up a guage after the bar was worn out. For a worn out 50 guage bar a 58 gauge chain would fit nice & tight......I did this when I was logging, trying to save the extra $.....Or sometimes just to make it threw the week, untill I could buy a new bar & chain for my saw.

Freakingstang said:

That's funny. round here is 050 for stihl and 058 for husky

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My MS250 came new with .063 chain. 16" bar, full-chisel, .325 pitch.

Can someone please explain to me what these numbers mean!

What does .325 and/or 3/8 pitch mean? I know that 3/8 in thicker then .325, but does it actually mean on the chain?

What does .050, .058 and .063 gauge mean?

I asked this question a while back and never really got a clear answer. Thanks!

The pitch of the chain is the physical size.
Common sizes from smallest to biggest:
1/4"
3/8" LP
.325
3/8"
.404
Little chain for little saws, big chain for big saws.

The gauge is how wide the grove in the bar is, and how thick the bottom of the drive links on the chain (the part that rides in the grove).
The chain and bar grove gauge need to match.
Different gauge has little to nothing to do with performance of any kind. It just represents an industry's failure to standardize.

Mike Maas, thanks. Another question. When you say "The pitch of the chain is the physical size", where is this measured, what part of the chain? Again I appreciate it, thanks!

It's the distance between any three consecutive rivets divided by 2. It's measured like that, and divided, because rivet spacing is not the same along the chain.
But that measurement only confuses the subject. For example, 3/8" Low Profile and regular 3/8" chain have the same measurement for rivet spacing, but the the two chains are very different in physical size and are not interchangeable.
Each of the sizes of chains I listed is a little bigger than the one before.
404 is about twice the size of 3/8"LP.
If you look at a few chains, you will see what I mean.
If you tried to put t huge 404 chain on a little topping saw, it'd just stop it in the cut. If you put a tiny 1/4 inch chain on a 100cc saw, it'd tear it apart.
You match the chain to the saw power. There are saws that cut about the same with two different pitch chains, then it's up to you to decide what works best.
A good example is 50 or 60cc saws, they can run with .325 or 3/8". The smaller .325 might cut faster, the 3/8" might last longer. With a stock 50cc saw, there will be noticeable throttle lag and you might even feel the weight difference using the 3/8" vs. the .325.
Another example is the new 35cc saws. In the old days, 3/8" LP was the choice, now with the new 35cc saws putting out much more rpm and HP, .325 works better.

NYH1 said:

Mike Maas, thanks. Another question. When you say "The pitch of the chain is the physical size", where is this measured, what part of the chain? Again I appreciate it, thanks!

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Simply measure across three rivets (center to center) Then divide that number by two. This will be the pitch of your chain. For example if the measurement is 3/4 your pitch is 3/8.

I forgot to mention. Do a google search on chain pitch and gauge and you should find a lot of info... with pics.

Awesome guys thanks!!! :greenchainsaw:

stihl no wiser

after reading all the threads on chain size I'm still no wiser on the subject, i have a mac335 which has an oregon type 91VG 3/8 050" 52 link chain fitted. this is a low profile chain. i ordered this size replacement from ebay and they have sent me a Stihl Picco Micro 3/8" 050 52 link replacement. the chain number is 3998. the shop is closed for the weekend now and i cannot get in touch to find out if this is correct for my saw. any help would be much appreciated. many many thanks in advance from an embarrassed newbie

maveric944 said:

after reading all the threads on chain size I'm still no wiser on the subject, i have a mac335 which has an oregon type 91VG 3/8 050" 52 link chain fitted. this is a low profile chain. i ordered this size replacement from ebay and they have sent me a Stihl Picco Micro 3/8" 050 52 link replacement. the chain number is 3998. the shop is closed for the weekend now and i cannot get in touch to find out if this is correct for my saw. any help would be much appreciated. many many thanks in advance from an embarrassed newbie

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Your saw has a 3/8" 050 52 link chain and you've got a 3/8" 050 52 link replacement chain. Everything that needs to match - pitch, gauge and length - matches.

cheers dan, the thing that cofused me more after reading all the threads was this taken from a reply earlier in this thread,

For example, 3/8" Low Profile and regular 3/8" chain have the same measurement for rivet spacing, but the the two chains are very different in physical size and are not interchangeable.

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,

sorry for being a pain, i just didn't wanna ruin my new saw.

That is correct, 3/8 LP or Picco can not be used on a regular 3/8 bar and rim/spur.

I believe that the Oregon 91 series is the same as Stihls Picco chain.

CaseyForrest said:

That is correct, 3/8 LP or Picco can not be used on a regular 3/8 bar and rim/spur.

I believe that the Oregon 91 series is the same as Stihls Picco chain.

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thanks again, that is great news as i can get this chain nearly half the price of the oregon chain that my local shop supplies, don't no how much you guys pay but this one cost me £10 including postage.

many thanks again mav