Why Is My Chainsaw Cutting Uneven on a Curve?

If your chainsaw won't cut straight, watch this video to find out why. James explains why your chainsaw is cutting on a curve. He'll take you through the main causes of this issue so you can get your chainsaw cutting straight again!

Find chainsaw accessories on are website by following this link,

If you enjoyed this video please hit the LIKE 👍 button, leave a comment and share the video with your friends!

Hi and welcome to the Machinery Nation YouTube channel (Formerly known as Hayes Machinery). We are here to make entertaining videos involving all types of machinery. On this channel you'll find comparison videos, product reviews, challenge videos, restoration projects, and much much more!

SUBSCRIBE to Machinery Nation to enjoy regular videos!

Join Machinery Nation for only 99p a month!

If you'd like to visit our other YouTube channel at Hayes How 2, find the link here,

Contact email,

Visit our shop for YouTube Merch

Visit our sponsors Website

Follow us on Social Media,

@OREGONproducts @Stihl @stihlusa @STIHLde @STIHLGB @husqvarna @HusqvarnaUK

#chainsaw #howto #chainsawcuttingonacurve

[MachineryNation]

If you subscribe, you could be picked as the next winner of our Subscriber giveaway! :)

[j.elliottcole]

Excellent video. I spent time running a saw for a living and bar warping was never mentioned as a potential cause of uneven cutting. This was made clear to me when my brand new chain for my saw immediately cut uneven.

[billsmith]

Well explained, been using and sharpening chains forever, just ordered new bars and chains for my saws, many thanks for your input,

[wojciechcieslukowski]

Great explanation and entertaining at the same time. You are a natural teacher. All the best.

[AppalachianArmstrong]

“Cutting on the wonk” is my favourite new phrase I’ve heard all day.

[tedsmith]

When I sharpen the chain, I check the bar rails with an engineers square. If needed I will put the bar on the table of the disc sander and sand it so both rails are the same height. Far more accurate than filing by hand.

[KensSmallEngineRepair]

Brilliant James! I did get nervous watching you stroke the bar with your thumb. Bar Slivers are nasty!

[lillyrayman]

Great vid, simple diagnosis, simple fix, love it

[diogenesegarden]

When I was learning chainsaw maintenance as a student with the Forestry Commission we used vernier callipers to make sure all the teeth were the same length and then ran over the rakers with a depth gauge and flat file and tickled the bar taking any burrs or uneven wear off with a flat file, using a square to make sure they were flat and even as part of your weekly maintenance, notwithstanding your regular ‘in the woods sharpening’. Needless to say this is a bit of a ball ache and as an infrequent chainsaw user now this is rarely, if ever gets done. On another note, I have found that turning the chainsaw upside down for the opposite cut (if your vice is high enough) makes the sharpening position a bit less awkward. I actually sharpen mine on a Workmate with a couple of blocks to hold the bar and allow the chain to be pushed along. Being a shortarse this is much easier as my bench vice is a little on the high side for me.

[almclean]

Very informative video, James. Nothing worse than a poorly cutting chain.

[tweakerkid]

Great advice, gonna check and file my bar today, cheers

[thomasgronek]

also, even though the bar and chain might be in fine shape, it might be the wrong gauge chain, either incorrectly boxed, or the wrong size was purchased (or given to you), and therefore acting as though the guide bar rails were splayed out. Thanks for the video.

[georgej]

Not sure if its been mentioned already but a really effective hack is to flip the bar when it's worn out on the bottom. If you're just bucking using the bottom of the bar you'll get another 50 percent life out of the bar. An old west coast logger taught me that and it works like a charm.

[jrgenrasmussen]

Wery good explained. Thanks for sharing

[SuperJ]

Good info here. Now let's see if I can put it to good use!

[tinkeringtaylor]

i agree with Ken i grinched when you rubbed your thumb down the bar, but thank you that was a good video James i think my bar is shot as it always cuts on a curve 👍

[badgerjim]

Bar dressing tools like the one Stihl make are great for keeping bar in good condition.

[laurateaho-white]

From experience working in forestry, there are two main reasons why you are cutting on a curve: 1) Pushing on the chainsaw (due to a blunt chain or poor posture) and 2) Shifting the position of your hand on the front handle as you cut.

[mrpearl]

I got a two chain pack, new chains and one cut at an angle NEW ! As Ricky Ricardo said Lucy you got some esplanin' to do ! Oregon .

[eds]

Nice light filing, each and every hour or so,
Achieving 2 things, you learn the art of edging, and you can remedy curve, while you're aware, and fresh in your mind, what you might have done wrong to create the curve cut.
Buying a new bar, may have been a bit drastic, learn the art of edging your chain, you might as well learn first, than last.
Excellent tutorial