DeWalt LP Pitch Chainsaw Guide Bar

I swapped the stock bar on my compact cordless saw for DeWalt’s 10-inch LP bar to see if it could steady the cut and stretch runtime in the kind of pruning and limbing work I do most. After several days in mixed hardwood and softwood, the takeaway is straightforward: this bar prioritizes control and efficiency on small saws, and it’s at its best in the tree-care tasks it was built for.

Why a 10-inch LP bar

A 10-inch bar won’t win any bucking contests, but that’s not its purpose. On a compact cordless saw used for pruning, crown cleaning, storm cleanup, and bucking small logs, shorter is better—lighter nose, tighter maneuvering, and less fatigue aloft or in awkward positions. Pairing that length with a low-profile 0.325 pitch and a 0.043-inch gauge narrows the kerf and reduces drag. The result, when matched with the proper chain, is a cut that feels calmer and more predictable, especially as you feather in to start a kerf on a wiggly limb.

Setup and compatibility

This is a bar-only purchase. You need to bring your own 10-inch, 0.325 LP, 0.043 gauge chain. That compatibility detail matters more than it sounds:

• Pitch must match the drive sprocket on your saw. If your saw is set up for 3/8 LP, this 0.325 LP bar will not play nice without a corresponding sprocket and chain change.
• Gauge must match the bar groove. A 0.050 chain won’t seat correctly in a 0.043 bar.

Fit-up on my cordless saw was uneventful. The mounting slots lined up, the oiler port fed cleanly, and the chain tensioner pin located as expected. The bar arrived with a light oil film, and the rails were square and true. If you’re upgrading from a worn bar, give the chain a once-over too—an uneven-worn chain will make even a nice new bar feel off.

Cutting performance

In use, the standout trait is how little the nose flutters when entering the cut. On small limb cuts (2–6 inches), the bar tracks with less “nibble” at the start, and I saw fewer instances where the chain tried to walk sideways when I was slightly off-line. Crosscuts on green hardwoods (oak and maple) were smooth with a fresh chain, producing consistent chips rather than powder. On drier hardwood, as the chain wore, the cut quality predictably slipped toward sawdust—but the bar itself stayed honest and didn’t introduce extra chatter.

Plunge cuts—occasionally needed when notching or relieving—were controlled, provided the chain was sharp and properly tensioned. The shorter nose keeps the kickback zone manageable, but that’s technique-dependent; the bar won’t save sloppy form.

On larger pieces (8 inches or so), the 10-inch length is just enough if you work methodically. For anything beyond that, you’re in the wrong class of tool.

Runtime and efficiency

The narrow 0.043-inch gauge helps a cordless saw. With less material to clear and less friction at the rails, I could feel the motor working a little less hard during long limbing sessions. That translates to a noticeable runtime gain compared to a wider-kerf setup on the same saw and battery. It’s not night-and-day, but over an afternoon it adds up to fewer battery swaps.

The other efficiency win is control. When the bar isn’t vibrating or chattering, you spend less time reorienting mid-cut, which—again—saves juice and time.

Durability over time

I put in multiple sessions of limbing, crown thinning, and bucking small rounds. After the first day, I pulled the bar, cleaned the groove with a scraper, flipped it, and checked the rails with a straightedge. The rails stayed square, and there were no burrs folding over the edges. Oil delivery through the port remained consistent; I didn’t see burnishing on the rails even after a few heat cycles.

As with any narrow-gauge setup, you need to keep an eye on chain tension and bar oil. Let either slip and you’ll accelerate rail wear. With a reasonable maintenance cadence—flip the bar every battery or two, keep the chain sharp, and clean the groove—this bar looks set for a long service life.

Maintenance tips that helped

• Keep the chain keen. With low-profile chains, sharpness is everything. Once chips turn to dust, pause and touch up the cutters. The bar rewards you with smoother, straighter cuts.
• Flip the bar often. Even with light work, flipping prevents one-sided rail wear and extends life.
• Clean the groove and oil hole. A few passes with a groove tool and a poke through the oil port keep lubrication consistent.
• Mind chain tension. Too loose invites rail hammering and chatter; too tight robs runtime and heats the rails.

None of these are unique to this bar, but this setup in particular benefits from disciplined upkeep.

What could be better

• Compatibility clarity. Many 10-inch consumer saws run 3/8 LP, not 0.325 LP. If your saw isn’t already set up for 0.325 LP, you’re looking at a system change (sprocket and chain) to use this bar. That’s not a flaw in the bar, but it’s a practical hurdle.
• Chain availability. Depending on where you shop, 0.325 LP, 0.043 chains can be less common than 3/8 LP equivalents. I recommend keeping at least one spare loop on hand.
• Length limitations. The 10-inch length is ideal for tree care and pruning, but it’s naturally limiting for general firewood or storm cleanup with larger limbs. That’s an application fit note, not a knock on performance.

Who it’s for

• Arborists and landscapers who prioritize control, maneuverability, and predictable cuts on smaller material.
• Homeowners who already own a compatible saw and want a smooth-cutting, narrow-kerf bar for limbing, pruning, and yard cleanup.
• Anyone chasing a little more runtime out of a cordless saw through reduced cutting resistance.

If you’re primarily bucking larger logs or you need a bar that will accept more widely available 3/8 LP chains, this isn’t your match.

The bottom line

The DeWalt 10-inch LP bar does what a small tree-care bar should do: it keeps the cut calm, helps a cordless saw use its power efficiently, and holds up under routine maintenance. It won’t mask a dull chain or sloppy technique, and it won’t turn a compact saw into a felling rig—but it will make the right saw feel more precise and less fatiguing in the jobs that matter for pruning and limbing.

Recommendation: I recommend this bar if you already run (or plan to run) a 0.325 low-profile, 0.043-inch system and spend most of your time in pruning, limbing, and small-diameter cuts. You’ll get smoother entry, steadier tracking, and a modest runtime benefit with a properly matched chain. If your saw is built around 3/8 LP and you don’t want to change over, or you need a longer bar for frequent cuts over 8 inches, look elsewhere.