A chainsaw is a tool that cuts wood with a circular chain that is driven by a motor and made up of many connected sharp metal teeth, the chainsaw bar is the part that cuts the wood, for various reasons the Chainsaw bar can be replaced.
When the need arises to replace the chainsaw bar, knowing the length of your chainsaw bar, is the most important and the first step to start with, as this will save you from a lot of troubles.
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Precaution & Safety Tips
Before knowing how to how to measure a chainsaw bar you should know the safety precaution first. Here is some suggestions for you.
- To avoid the occurrence of accident and injury arising from measuring your chainsaw bar, when you are set to measure your chainsaw bar, ensure that the chainsaw is turned off.
- Ensure to also remove the spark plug wire from the plug, as the current can sometimes still find it way to the chainsaw, when not completely removed.
These measures will guarantee your safety and save you from any accident that will ensue when the machine is not turned off completely.
Step By Step Process of How to Measure a Chainsaw Bar?
Step 1; is to know the cutting length of the bar; this can be achieved by using a tape.
The measurement should start from the tip of the chain to the chainsaw area where the bar is located.
Step 2; The measurement obtained in the first step above should be round up to the nearest inch and then follow step 3.
Step 3; Keep the inch gotten from step 2, to help you purchase your chain for your chainsaw.
Step 4;Use your tape and measure the length of your chainsaw bar from one tip to the other tip, this measurement should be greater than the measurement taken in step 1.
Step 5; To know the exact length of your bar, you are advised to remove the plastic or if in your case your casing comes in a metal form, you are to remove the casing to get accurate measurements.
Step 6; If you followed through from step 1-5, then you should be sure to have gotten a full measure chainsaw bar.
When to replace the chainsaw chain ?
Just like the bar, the chainsaw chain is an important part of the chainsaw and must be looked out for; just the same way the bar is looked out.
The chains are known to have a shorter life than the bars, so this list seeks to give you relatable signs to look out for, to know when to change your chainsaw chains to avoid a situation where they tear-off or even cause an accident doing use.
1. When the chainsaw chain is dull:
This you can easily tell because a dull chain will not easily go through the wood as fast and smooth as it has done in the past. Once you notice this kind of situation, the sign is that it is time to change your chain.
2. When the chain does not fit:
The bar properly again or it rattles when used, the chain should be replaced with a new one immediately.
3. When smoke and sawdust are seen during usage:
Sawdust particles and smokes are usually a no for a chainsaw, once you start experiencing smoke or sawdust particles or even both. The sign is that your chain needs to be changed.
FAQs
Q. When to Replace Your Chainsaw Bar ?
Ans. To ensure your chainsaw bar works effectively and also to save yourself from an injury that may arise as a result of using a defective machine to do work, the following should guide you as signs to look out for, this to know when exactly you should replace your chainsaw bar. But don’t forget to buy best cordless electric chainsaw which is handy and at the same time effective as well. But if you need it at a low price you can check our best cheap chainsaw under 200 list to pick one.
1. When the Chainsaw Bar is Not Straight.
When you notice that the chainsaw bar is not straight again, choosing to continue using the chainsaw bar at this point is dangerous, this is a sign that the bar should be replaced immediately.
2. When the Rails of the Chainsaw Bar are Cracked.
When you notice that your rails are cracked, it is an important message that you should not ignore, at this point changing your bar is best advised. Damaged rails cannot hold the chain correctly and this is a dangerous situation to work with.
3. When Your Chainsaw Does not Cut Straight ?
Chainsaws always cut straight and once you notice a defect to this end, it is a sign that you need to replace your bar. You have to check your bar properly and access if it is damaged, crooked cutting is an example of a bar that is damaged.
Q. What is the Difference Between a Cutting Length & Overall Bar Length?
Ans. Following steps you need to follow.
1. Cutting Length:
This is the length of the bar that usually sticks out of your plastic or metal casing, and is the area of the chainsaw that does the cutting. As a fact, the cutting length is always shorter than the overall length of the bar.
2. Overall bar length:
This is the whole length of the bar and not just the area of the chainsaw that does the cutting; this is the actual size of your bar.
Q. Why You Must Measure Your Chainsaw Bar Before Replacing it ?
Ans. When a mistake is made in your measurement, it will affect how the chainsaw bar works; this is so because, when the chainsaw bar is replaced with a bar that is either too short or too long, the bar will not work. And to avoid this kind of situation from happening, you must measure your chainsaw bar before replacing it with a new one.
Final Verdict
Expecting you already got the exact idea about How to measure a chainsaw bar. A chainsaw is an important machine for anyone out there, looking to maintain a yard or for commercial carpentry use. Just like every other machine the chainsaw also wears and tears, knowing when to replace defective parts are essential for safe use of the machine, which is well explained in this article.