Field Notes: Chainsaw Guides & Technical Insights

Ferrex Chainsaw Chain Size: Why It's 27 or 28 Drive Links
The Ferrex 20V ships with either 27 or 28 drive links depending on batch β€” the most common reason a replacement doesn't fit. How to count yours, plus the 53cc spec. Read more...
Kings Chainsaw Chain: The 40V 350mm Replacement Spec
The Kings 40V 350mm takes 3/8" LP, .043", 52 drive links. Why 350mm means 14", why the factory chain dulls fast, and what to run instead. Read more...
What Is Chainsaw Chain Pitch? How to Measure and Match It
Chain pitch is the span across three rivets divided by two. The five common pitches, how to measure yours, and the 3/8" LP versus standard trap. Read more...
What Is Chainsaw Bar Gauge? The Four Sizes Explained
Gauge is the thickness of the drive links riding in your bar groove. The four sizes, why too-thin is more dangerous than too-thick, and how to find yours. Read more...
Best Chainsaw Chain for River Red Gum: The Silt Problem
Seasoned Red Gum is hard enough, but it's the flood silt driven into the grain that finishes chains. Why semi-chisel copes, and where even steel struggles. Read more...
Best Chainsaw Chain for Ironbark: Why Grit Beats Density
Ironbark's silica-laden bark is what kills your chain, not just its density. Why semi-chisel survives it, where steel won't, and how often to file. Read more...
Best Chainsaw Chain for Spotted Gum: Interlocked Grain and Raker Height
Spotted Gum's interlocked grain grabs and binds where other timber cuts smooth. Why raker height matters more than profile, and why carbide isn't the answer here. Read more...
Stihl Mini Boss Chain: Every Model, and the One That Catches People Out
Mini Boss covers the MS 170, 172, 180, 182 and 162 β€” all 3/8" LP .043". The MS 211 and 212 look identical but run .050", and that's the mistake that catches people. Read more...
Husqvarna 120 Mark II Chain: Size, Drive Links and the .043" Mistake
What chain the Husqvarna 120 Mark II takes β€” 3/8" LP, .050" gauge, and the drive-link count for each bar length β€” plus the .043" mistake that catches most owners out. Read more...
How to Measure a Chainsaw Chain: Pitch, Gauge & Drive Links
The complete guide to measuring a chainsaw chain β€” how to find your pitch, gauge and drive-link count, what each number means, and how to read them off your bar and chain. Read more...
Protect Your Chainsaw: How Standard Steel Chainsaw Chains Manage Heat in Australian Hardwood
Discover the science behind the intense frictional heat generated when cutting seasoned Australian hardwood. Learn how this thermal energy transfers directly into your equipment, and why equipping your saw with a premium steel alloy chain acts as a vital thermal buffer to protect your expensive 2-stroke motor or battery saw. Read more...
Why Firewood Permitted Timber Wears Out Your Chainsaw Chain Faster
If you've picked up a firewood collection permit this season, you've probably noticed your chain dulling faster than it should. That's not bad luck β€” permit and salvage timber picks up grit from months on the forest floor, and it chips a cutting edge in ways ordinary sharpening doesn't fully fix. Here's what's actually happening to your chain, and how to set it up before you head into the forest. Read more...