STIHL develops saw chains and guide bars as well as engine units in-house. The result is that all the components work together perfectly.

Guide bars

Thinning, carving, cutting to size, harvesting – whatever you plan to do with your chain saw, it all goes very smoothly with STIHL guide bars. According to your purpose you can choose between the lightweight, low-friction Rollomatic guide bars with sprocket nose and the extremely rugged Duromatic guide bars with a carbide tip.

Quality features of STIHL guide bars

The guide bar’s role is to guide the saw chain precisely with minimal friction losses. Together with the sprocket and the chain it translates the engine power into cutting performance with as little loss as possible.

		STIHL Ematic system The STIHL Ematic system reduces chain oil consumption by up to 50%, depending on the cutting attachment and the type of wood. It consists of the Ematic guide bar, Oilomatic saw chain and a variable flow or reduced flow oil pump. The chain oil is delivered in measured amounts exactly where it is needed, with minimal losses.
		Rollomatic E sprocket nose Rollomatic E guide bars have a sprocket nose with covered roller bearings. This promotes low-wear chain running and keeps dirt out to prevent corrosion.
		Hardened bar rails Hardening by electromagnetic induction makes the entire bar rail assembly more resistant to all kinds of wear. This extends the life of the guide bar.
		Symmetry STIHL guide bars have a perfectly symmetrical shape, so they are reversible. This ensures the stresses on both long sides are equal.
		Weight reduction The STIHL Rollomatic E is a three-part spot-welded laminated guide bar with holes punched in the middle section. This saves up to 15% weight compared with similar bar sizes of other makes.

bar models

STIHL guide bars are designed for a wide range of requirements and applications. There are two basic models: Rollomatic with the sprocket nose and the ultra-rugged Duromatic solid bars.

		STIHL carving Very high-quality guide bar with a very narrow bar radius and stellite reinforcement. Ideal for carving and tree maintenance, in conjunction with the 1/4″ RM chain.
		STIHL Rollomatic E Mini Light New lightweight bar for light chain saws and pole pruners. Attains a weight advantage of up to 25% (with 35 cm length) over comparable conventional bars. For easier working, especially when using pole pruners or harvesting small-sized timber. Available in 25 cm, 30 cm and 35 cm versions.
		STIHL Rollomatic Mini STIHL Rollomatic Mini: The combination of this ultra-flat guide bar with the fine-link Picco Mini saw chain results in a perceptible weight reduction as well as enhanced cutting performance. Very low kickback tendency. Very good for limbing. Ideal for everyone who only occasionally uses a chain saw at work, or for leisure applications.
		STIHL Rollomatic E Light The STIHL Rollomatic E Light bar consists of two hollowed-out metal plates which are electrically welded together. The cavities are filled with fiberglass-reinforced polyamide in an injection molding process. Result: 38% weight reduction. Very low kickback tendency. Ideal for tree maintenance. Interchangeable sprocket nose.
		STIHL Duromatic E Duromatic E guide bars are extremely rugged. They are made from solid, extremely strong steel. The bar nose is protected by a carbide alloy. Use: For extreme conditions, e.g. in the construction industry or rescue services. For medium to high powered machines.
		STIHL Rollomatic ES Rollomatic ES guide bars have a solid, extremely rigid bar body. The bar nose is completely interchangeable. Use: Professional forestry with high-powered machines for felling and bucking.
		STIHL Rollomatic E The Rollomatic E is a three-part spot-welded laminated guide bar with holes punched in the middle part. This gives it the advantage of high stability combined with low weight. The rugged Rollomatic E guide bars are designed for universal use.

Guide bars – Understanding technical features

A little glossary with the main technical terms connected with STIHL guide bars.

		Risk of kickback Kickback is a sudden uncontrolled movement of the chain saw and this is one of the most dangerous situations that can occur when using a chain saw. It happens when the saw chain in the area of the upper quarter of the guide bar nose unintentionally comes into contact with wood or a solid object. STIHL guide bars are optimised in terms of a reduced kickback tendency.
		Number of teeth on sprocket nose The number of teeth on the sprocket nose affects the properties of a Rollomatic E guide bar. Sprocket noses with up to 10 teeth have a lower kickback tendency than models with 11 or more teeth. The more teeth the sprocket nose has, the higher the cutting performance. This is especially so when working with the bar nose.
		Pitch The sprocket nose pitch allocates a Rollomatic guide bar to a particular sprocket and a particular chain pitch.
		Bar length The bar length determines the application and the number of drive links in the chain.
		Groove width Lateral control of the saw chain is provided by a continuous groove around the perimeter of the guide bar through which the drive links run. The groove also channels the chain oil. The chain slides over the guide bar between the lugs that remain at both sides.

Saw Chains

STIHL saw chains are ‘Swiss precision-made’ at the STIHL factory in Wil, Switzerland. They are made using special machinery developed and built in-house by STIHL.

Saw Chains – Understanding technical features

		Risk of kickback Kickback is a sudden uncontrolled movement of the chain saw and this is one of the most dangerous situations that can occur when using a chain saw. It happens when the saw chain in the area of the upper quarter of the guide bar nose unintentionally comes into contact with wood or a solid object. STIHL guide bars are optimised in terms of a reduced kickback tendency.
		Bar length The bar length determines the application and the number of drive links in the chain.
		Pitch A chain’s performance class is determined by the pitch. The size of the cutters also depends on the pitch. To determine the pitch, measure from the centre of one rivet to the centre of the next but one rivet and divide the result by two.
		Number of teeth on sprocket nose The number of teeth on the sprocket nose affects the properties of a Rollomatic E guide bar. Sprocket noses with up to 10 teeth have a lower kickback tendency than models with 11 or more teeth. The more teeth the sprocket nose has, the higher the cutting performance. This is especially so when working with the bar nose.
		Drive link gauge The chain and drive links are routed in the guide bar. To avoid undue wear the drive link gauge should match the groove in the guide bar.

STIHL Saw Chains – Maximum precision in every link

Choosing the right saw chain is essential for effective use of a chain saw. STIHL supplies the optimum chains for every application, every power class and every chain saw make. All our chains are characterised by rugged first-class quality.

Choosing the right saw chain is essential for effective use of a chain saw. STIHL supplies the optimum chains for every application, every power class and every chain saw make. All our chains are characterised by rugged first-class quality.

		Picco Micro Mini Comfort 3 Low-vibration saw chain by STIHL. For users who value a high level of convenience and reduced kickback tendency along with good cutting performance. This low-profile saw chain for use on lightweight chain saws is for universal use. Ideal for occasional users or for wood carving.
		Picco Micro Comfort 3 Low-vibration low-profile saw chain with the high cutting performance of a standard chain combined with reduced kickback tendency. An all-purpose chain for use on light chain saws. Ideal for all users who appreciate power as well as comfort. This saw chain is ideal for harvesting small timber, limbing and maintenance using tree service saws.
		Picco Duro The world’s first carbide-tipped, low-profile saw chain. Stays sharp, without resharpening for up to four times as long as standard saw chains with substantially longer durability, even under extreme loads. Additionally, the Picco Duro is low in vibration and has a low kickback tendency.
		Rapid Micro Special Low-vibration comfort saw chain with very good cutting performance. Due to the shortened top plate there is no need to push down when plunge cutting. Achieves perceptibly better plunge-cutting speed than the conventional 1/4″ chain. Particularly suitable for arborists and wood carvers (in conjunction with carving guide bars).
		Rapid-Micro Semi-chisel chain. For universal use. Excellent control and high cutting performance. Relatively easy to sharpen. Uses include felling, bucking, limbing and all sawing work in agriculture, construction and forestry.
		Rapid Micro Comfort Comfort version of the STIHL Rapid Micro universal saw chain with low vibrations, smooth cutting behaviour and low tendency to chatter. This is achieved by means of a bevel on the bottom of the cutter, as on the STIHL Rapid Super Comfort and Rapid Super Comfort 3 saw chains.
		Rapid Micro Comfort 3 Comfort version of the STIHL Rapid Micro universal saw chain with low vibrations, smooth cutting behaviour, low tendency to chatter and reduced kickback. This is achieved by means of a bevel on the bottom of the cutter, as on the STIHL Rapid Super Comfort and Rapid Super Comfort 3 saw chains.
		Rapid Super High-performance chain for professional forestry. Uses include felling, bucking, limbing in medium to heavy stands with mid- to high-powered machinery.
		Rapid Super Comfort Very low vibration high-performance saw chain for professional use in felling and harvesting timber. Good positioning, very smooth cutting and low tendency to chatter. Cutting performance and use is similar to Rapid Super or Rapid Micro. The special design with a bevelled cutter heel ensures that less vibration is transmitted to the guide bar and the operator.
		Rapid Super Comfort 3 This saw chain was also designed for professional use. The cutter is the same as on the Rapid Super Comfort. As well as reduced vibration and a lower tendency to kick back, it is also characterised by even greater ease of use, thanks to the humped drive link. This drive link produces very smooth, comfortable cutting behaviour.
		Rapid Duro A special carbide-tipped saw chain that remains sharp for a very long time in frequent use and, above all, in extreme conditions (such as when cutting dirty or frozen wood and in demolition work).
		Rapid Duro R Special chain for use on STIHL rescue saws. The cutters are reinforced throughout with impact-resistant carbide for perceptibly longer service life. Large-area brazing of carbide tipping to top plate increases strength. A 3-humped tie strap is fitted on the opposite side of the chain in front of each cutter to guide the cutter smoothly and gently into the cut, thus reducing the risk of cutter damage.

Quality features of STIHL saw chains

STIHL is the only chain saw manufacturer to make the saw chains and guide bars in-house as well as the engine units.

The result is that all the components are perfectly matched to one another – essential for good cutting performance and exemplary reliability.

STIHL saw chains are characterised by technical innovations and high manufacturing quality. Find out on this page which convincing quality features are typical of STIHL.

		Oilomatic chain lubrication system The Oilomatic lubricating system means less friction and wear. Fine oil channels in the chain drive links pick up oil from the bar groove and deliver it quickly and evenly to the chain links and running surfaces of the cutters. Most Oilomatic saw chains are equipped with additional chain oil reservoirs.
		Wear limit marks The cutters of STIHL saw chains have marks on the heel as a wear indicator and sharpening guide. They show how much the cutter can be sharpened or how much more wear is possible.
		Hard chrome coating Each cutter is carefully made from special steel in a series of production steps. In addition, the top plate is electrolytically chromium-plated to increase wear resistance.
		Stretching At the end of the production process each STIHL saw chain is subjected to a high, constant tensile load. Stretching it in this way reduces chain ‘give’ at first use, reduces wear and thus ensures longer service life.
		Holes in the links STIHL uses a special punching process to produce mirror-smooth holes in the links. The result is long service life and improved chain mobility.
		Hardened rivets Each rivet is inductively hardened in a strong high-frequency field. That creates an extra-strong collar.

Tip: STIHL saw chains deliver outstanding cutting performance not only on STIHL chain saws but also on other makes of chain saw.

STIHL chain sprockets – Driving the saw chain

STIHL chain sprockets are made from wear-resistant steel and are designed to transmit the power from the engine to the saw chain with as little loss as possible. The teeth of the chain sprocket press against the drive link tanks and the saw chain starts to rotate.

		Hardening process Every single STIHL chain sprocket undergoes maraging in a hardening furnace. This production process increases the wear resistance and life of this part.
		Spur chain sprocket STIHL spur chain sprockets are permanently attached to the clutch drum by a special soldering process. They are standard on compact saws and Farmer class saws.
		Rim sprocket STIHL sintered steel rim sprockets ensure very smooth chain running. They are arranged on the clutch drum hub and can move axially. If wear occurs, only the rim needs to be replaced.
		Quality assurance All spur chain sprockets are thoroughly tested again with computer-assisted test methods before being brazed onto the clutch drum. That ensures consistently high quality