STIHL saw chains: features, choosing the right one and sharpening.
The chainsaw chain determines how smoothly the work goes. If the chain is correctly selected and maintained, the saw cuts faster, puts less strain on the engine, and the cut surface stays cleaner. If the chain is damaged or blunt, the saw will require more pressure, overheat, the cut will go crooked, and the work will become more dangerous.
If you are looking for a new chain, the most important thing is to start with three measurements. First, the chain pitch; second, the gauge (groove width); and third, the number of drive links. These must match the guide bar and drive sprocket. In practice, the easiest way is to check the details on the guide bar, since they are usually marked there. If the guide bar is worn or the information is missing, a reliable solution is to bring the guide bar with you or give us the exact model of your saw, and we can quickly select the right chain.
Choosing a saw chain: https://saemeister.ee/tootekategooria/tarvikud/saeketid/
Green and yellow markings and safety
STIHL uses a colour code that helps you quickly understand whether a chain has a lower kickback risk or greater cutting aggressiveness. For cutting firewood at home and general work, it makes sense to choose a chain with a calmer character and keep the focus on safety. Higher-performance chains are good when the work is more intensive and your skills and technique are well established.
How to understand a STIHL chain's name
The markings on a STIHL chain often reveal quite a lot already. The Picco series is a low-profile chain, often used on lighter saws and for jobs around the home. The Rapid series is more classic and more commonly used professionally, where a heavier workload and stronger cutting performance are expected.
Stihl Picco Micro (PM3) chain
Another important difference comes from the shape of the cutting tooth. A semi-chisel tooth usually stays sharp longer when the wood is dirtier, the bark is sandy, or you are cutting close to the ground. A full-chisel tooth cuts very quickly and cleanly but dulls faster if working conditions are harsh or the chain comes into contact with soil and sand.
STIHL Rapid Micro (RM) chain
STIHL Rapid Micro Special (RMS) chain
If the work is especially dirty, near roots, or in places where a normal chain dulls within minutes, it is worth considering a more durable solution, and definitely bear in mind that such a chain requires different maintenance. STIHL Duro chains stay sharp up to 10 times longer than a standard chain, but sharpening them requires a special sharpening bench and should be entrusted to specialists.
STIHL Picco Duro 3 (PD3) carbide chain
How to tell that a chain is blunt
A blunt chain may not always be immediately obvious, but the signs are fairly reliable. The wood chips become fine and dusty, the saw needs more pressure, and the cut tends to drift to one side. Overheating and an unpleasant smell often occur too, even though lubrication seems to be working. If these symptoms appear, it is worth sharpening the chain right away, since continuing to work will wear out both the chain and the guide bar more quickly.
Correct sharpening
Stability is the basis of good sharpening. If the guide bar moves, the correct angle is lost and the teeth end up uneven. That's why it is very practical to use a sharpening stand with a clamp, which lets you firmly secure the guide bar both at home and in the forest:
Sharpening stand clamp S – Garden and forestry equipment sales
There is also a larger version of the STIHL clamp:
SHARPENING STAND CLAMP STIHL L 700G – Garden and forestry equipment sales
When sharpening, it makes sense to choose one tooth as the reference and file all the others to match it. If a tooth has been damaged by hitting a stone, it should be repaired first, and then the other teeth filed to the same length and shape. This keeps the chain straight so the saw won't pull to one side when cutting.
The simplest and most reliable choice for home use is a sharpening kit, where the necessary files and guides are included together:
- https://saemeister.ee/toode/terituskomplekt-325/
- https://saemeister.ee/toode/terituskomplekt-3-8/
- https://saemeister.ee/toode/terituskomplekt-3-8-pm/
If you want an especially convenient solution that lets you correct both the cutting tooth and the depth gauge at once, in a single motion, then 2-in-1 sharpening frames are a very good choice:
- Sharpening frame with file holder 2-in-1 4.0mm – Garden and forestry equipment sales
- Sharpening frame with files and holder 2-in-1 3.2mm – Garden and forestry equipment sales
- SHARPENING FRAME WITH FILES AND HOLDER 2-IN-1 5.5MM – Garden and forestry equipment sales
- Sharpening frame with files and holder 2-in-1 4.8mm – Garden and forestry equipment sales
All sharpening accessories in one place: Sharpening accessories – Garden and forestry equipment sales
If the depth gauge is neglected, cutting power is lost
Many people only sharpen the cutting teeth, but the chain also has a depth gauge, which determines how much wood each tooth takes at a time. If the tooth gets shorter from sharpening but the depth gauge stays the same, cutting becomes sluggish and the saw seems reluctant to bite into the wood. That is why it is worth checking the depth gauge from time to time as well.
For this you need a flat file: Saw chain flat file 150mm – Garden and forestry equipment sales
The right chain oil extends the life of the chain and guide bar
A sharp chain and poor lubrication do not mix. The right chain oil reduces heat build-up and wear, and helps keep the guide bar groove in better condition. ForestPlus chain oil is suitable for winter use down to minus 20 degrees.
- Saw chain oil ForestPlus STIHL 1L – Garden and forestry equipment sales
- Saw chain oil ForestPlus STIHL 5L – Garden and forestry equipment sales
- All chain oils: Chain oils – Garden and forestry equipment sales
Both the guide bar and the chain need to be in good condition
If the chain stretches unusually quickly, keeps loosening, or the cut still pulls to one side even after correct sharpening, it is worth checking the condition of the guide bar as well. Groove wear and dirt affect the chain's performance more than it might seem at first.
Guide bar selection: https://saemeister.ee/tootekategooria/tarvikud/juhtplaadid/
Firewood, household work | Agri- culture, horticulture | Forestry | Tree care | Carving- work | Cordless saws | Electric saws | Pole pruners | Chain type | |
| PMMC | ++ | – | – | ++ | o | – | ++ | + | 3/8P |
| PMC | ++ | – | – | ++ | o | ++ | ++ | ++ | 1/4P 3/8P |
| PS | o | o | ++ | ++ | – | – | o | – | 3/8P |
| RMC | o | ++ | ++ | – | – | – | – | – | 1/4 325 3/8 |
| RSC | – | ++ | ++ | – | – | – | ++ | – | 325 3/8 |
| PD | ++ | ++ | o | + | – | – | ++ | – | 3/8P |
| RD | ++ | ++ | o | ++ | – | – | – | – | 325 3/8 |
If you are not sure which chain suits your saw, or which sharpening solution would be most sensible to start with, the quickest way is to write or call us. Beforehand, it helps to have your saw's manufacturer and model, as well as the guide bar details, ready.
