Chainsaw Accessories for Tree Work

Buying guide

What every saw kit needs

Start with the cutting system. Keep at least one spare chain for every saw on the truck, and a spare bar for the saws you run hardest. Match the replacement bar and chain to the saw's pitch, gauge and drive-link count, which are stamped on the bar or listed in the owner's manual. Getting one of the three wrong means the chain will not fit or will not run safely.

Next is maintenance: a scrench or bar wrench sized for your bar nuts, round files in the right diameter for your chain, a flat file and depth gauge tool for the rakers. A few minutes of sharpening at lunch saves more fuel and frustration than any other habit on a saw crew.

Organize the saw kit so every saw has its own wrench, file and spare chain in a box or pouch that travels with it. When a climber sends a saw down for a sharp chain, the ground worker should be able to make the swap in a minute without hunting.

Protection and transport

Anyone running a saw on the ground should wear chainsaw-resistant leg protection, either chaps or chainsaw pants. Chaps are cheaper and easy to share across a crew; pants are more comfortable for full days and for climbers who come down to buck. Either way, replace them once the protective layer has been cut, because the fibers that stop a chain only work once.

A hard case or bar scabbard protects the chain and the truck bed, and keeps the bar from catching a leg when you carry the saw through brush. Cases also keep bar oil off the seats when a saw rides in the cab.

Fuel, oil and wedges

Premixed ethanol-free fuel is more expensive per gallon but helps saws that sit between jobs start reliably and avoids mixing errors. If you mix your own, use a quality two-stroke oil at the ratio the saw maker specifies and a clearly labeled can. Keep bar and chain oil topped off every tank of fuel.

For felling and bucking, plastic felling wedges are a must. Carry a few sizes so you can stack them, and drive them with an axe or a wedge hammer rather than the saw. Wedges keep a bar from pinching and give you control over where a stem goes.

Chainsaw attachments and add-ons

Common chainsaw attachments include bar tip guards, chain catchers, spike bumpers and lanyard rings for top-handle saws. Only fit parts made for your saw model, and never remove the chain brake, chain catcher or other factory safety features. When in doubt, check the owner's manual or a servicing dealer.

Chainsaw supplies like spare starter rope, spark plugs and air filters belong in the same box. They are cheap, and having them on hand keeps a saw running when the nearest dealer is an hour away. Restock after every week so the truck never runs out of the basics.