Again like other chainsaw spare parts this is another mind field to understand which guide bar is right for the job. With many brands on the market and many sizes to choose from as they are not universal, here we have created a guide on how to get started and which type of guide bar you could choose for the task intended.

How do I work out what bar my chainsaw can take?

The main rule would be to have a like for like guide bar which is currently on your machine, this can be measured and identified with the information displayed on the guide bar.

A general understanding is a more powerful chainsaw should take a bigger bar and a less powerful chainsaw will therefore take a smaller bar. However as recommended by Stihl, it would be a case of machine/model dependent to know what bar is suitable.

Check out our chain and bar guides to know what bar is suitable for your Stihl, Husqvarna and Makita Chainsaws.

Stihl Chain and Bar Guide

Husqvarna Chain and Bar Guide

Makita Chain and Bar Guide

Stihl

Lightweight Guide Bars

A lightweight design to suit small and powerful felling saws with the Stihl E-light and ES-light Range.

Stihl Rollomatic E Mini Light

Designed for maximum weight reduction compared to conventional bars. Comes with maintenance free sealed bearings in the sprocket nose. The Star shaped sprocket can be replaced several times before the life of the bar ends.

Uses: Tree maintenance.

Rollomatic ES Light

Hollow body made from wear resistant steel which has been laser welded together. 30% lighter than Rollomatic ES bars with an angled Stihl ematic oil hose. Designed with maintenance free sealed bearings in the sprocket nose.

Uses: High performance professional wood cutting.

Light 04

For professional use as well as in gardening and landscaping. Constructed with improved balance and less fatigue when cutting. The slim design means this bar weighs 200g less than conventional bars.

Uses: Felling, limbing and maintenance.

Light P04

Designed for professional arborists and tree maintenance, the P04 is a newer version of the Rollomatic E Light containing a recessed side plate filled with glass fibre reinforced polyamide.

Uses: Small to medium sized tree work.

Standard Stihl Guide Bars

Rollomatic E Mini

For use on pole pruners and arborist applications. A narrow guide bar to reduce kickbacks. Suitable for small link ⅜” picco micro mini 3 saw chain or the ¼” picco micro 3.

Uses: Limbing.

Rollomatic E

Low Weight and high stability bar. A sprocket is incorporated in the nose of the bar that carries the saw chain from the top to the bottom of the bar. Typically this bar is not used by professional operators.

Uses: Universal Use.

Rollomatic ES

High performance bar for professionals. Bar nose is fully replaceable as well as contains oil holes for lubrication.

Uses: For Forestry when Felling and bucking.

Duromatic E

Solid hard wearing bar for medium to high performance chainsaws. Bar nose is protected by carbide alloy painting, elliptically shaped with angled oil holes.

Uses: For extreme conditions such as in the construction industry or rescue services.

Carving E

Small radius on the bar nose which reduces kickbacks. The light and durable bar contains markers so the user can determine cutting depth.

Uses: Carving, Tree Maintenance and general wood cutting.

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Husqvarna

X-Force

Laminated bars offer easier maintenance and increased productivity. Features include updated profiles, larger nose sprocket, cutouts in the centre plate, additional bearings, supported shields, and the removal of the grease hole.

Uses: Universal.

X-Tough Bar with Replaceable Sprocket Nose

Solid RSN bar is designed to be durable and sturdy. The load is transferred to the high quality roller bearing. The bars are coated to protect against scratches and corrosion.

Uses: Hard types of timber, thick bark and in very dirty conditions.

X-Tough Bar with Hard Nose

Recommended for use with long bars to reduce load on the bar tip. The load is transferred to the high-quality roller bearing. The bars are coated to protect against scratches and corrosion.

Uses: Hardwood, thick bark or in very dirty environments.

Laminated Bar with Nose Sprocket

The gentle curve and small nose radius reduce the risk of kickback and facilitates good cutting control. Coated bars to protect against scratches and corrosion.

Uses: General Woodcutting.

Carving Bar - Small Mount

Carving bars have a smaller nose radius and are suitable for sculpting and other precision work.

Uses: Sculpting and other precision work.

X-Precision Bar

Designed specifically for use with the X-Cut™ SP21G chain on battery powered professional chainsaws. The optimised overall geometry and small nose radius provide efficient cutting with precise control, excellent bore cutting properties and reduced risk of kickback.

Uses: For pruning with a small-size petrol chainsaw or battery chainsaws.

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Makita

Sprocket Nose

Slim contour and less weight provide increased manoeuvrability. Oil retaining features help improve bar and chain life. Allow the chain to move more quickly around the nose of the bar with a minimum loss of heat and power.

Uses: Professional, commercial and occasional use.

Solid Nose

Are used for cutting in very sandy, gritty, dirty conditions. They are also more robust than sprocket nose bars. These bars can also produce a lot of heat.

Uses: Cutting in harsh conditions.

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Oregon

Speedcut™ & Speedcut Nano

Small and mid-size saws engineered from the ground up with maximum efficiency in mind. Built to optimise saw performance, is the first .325" Low Profile system and meets the demands of arborists and tree care professionals.

Uses: Tree Maintenance and general wood cutting.

Versacut™

VersaCut guide bars are made for tree-cutting professionals who encounter all types of wood. Their aluminium core makes them strong, light-weight, and easier to manoeuvre.

Uses: Various conditions and all types of wood.

Controlcut™

Professional lightweight guide bar designed to reduce kickback for better cutting control. Top performance for professional woodcutters.

Uses: Light duty and tough jobs.

Powercut™

Strong, durable, light-weight, and long-lasting guide bar. The chrome-moly body is super-tough, and the replaceable nose promotes a long lifespan for loggers and tree care professionals.

Uses: General Woodcutting.

Duracut™

For professional woodcutters working in difficult cutting environments. Offer Extreme Durability technology for 30% more bar life, even in the most abrasive and corrosive conditions.

Uses: Trees in Challenging environments.

Advancecut™

The lightweight, durable and easy to manoeuvre guide bar for light commercial and occasional woodcutters using small to midsize saws.

Uses: Light duty tasks and occasional wood cutting.

Single Rivet

Designed for manoeuvrability and ease. They make tasks quick and easy by using premium light-weight technology that is durable.

Uses: Occasional woodcutters.

Sculptor™

Made of high quality, clear-coated and brushed steel. Is an essential tool for chainsaw artists seeking long-lasting performance and versatility.

Uses: Woodcarving.

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