Skil 8 In. Pole Saw Replacement Bar

Why I swapped my pole saw bar—and how this one held up

I put Skil’s 8-inch replacement bar on my PWR CORE 20 pole saw after a season of aggressive pruning left the original a bit worse for wear. Bar swaps on pole saws aren’t glamorous, but they matter: a straight, well-oiled bar with intact rails makes a night-and-day difference in cut quality and safety. After several weekends cutting limbs in the 2–6 inch range, here’s how this bar performed and what I learned about getting the most life out of it.

Compatibility and installation

This bar is built for Skil’s PWR CORE 20 8-inch pole saws (including the PS4563B-10 family). Fitment in my saw was drop-in simple: the mounting slot lined up cleanly with the studs, the oil hole aligned with the oiler port, and the chain tracked true on first tension. It ships as a bar only—no chain—so plan to reuse your chain if it’s in good shape or pair the new bar with a fresh low-kickback chain.

Installation is straightforward:
- Remove the side cover, slip the bar over the studs, loop the chain onto the sprocket and around the bar, set tension, then snug the cover.
- Tension matters. Set it so the chain snaps back into the groove when pulled down by hand, without sag, and recheck after the first few cuts as it heats and stretches.

In short: it mounts like any modern laminated bar should, with no shimming or fiddling required.

Cutting performance

With a sharp chain, the bar tracks cleanly and resists wandering. On straight, free cuts (limbs with clear relief cuts and no pinching), it fed smoothly without chattering. The low-kickback profile at the nose, paired with an appropriate chain, keeps the bar predictable—especially appreciated on a pole saw where leverage and body position are less than ideal.

I worked mostly on hardwood limbs around 4 inches. In those sizes, the bar stayed cool, the chain stayed seated, and I didn’t see premature rail mushrooming. Oiling was consistent; there was no dry streaking on the bar’s return path, which tells me the oil hole and groove are correctly sized and aligned for the saw’s pump output.

Weight and balance

The lightweight construction is noticeable overhead. On a pole saw, every ounce at the end of the stick matters. This bar keeps the head from feeling nose-heavy and reduces the temptation to “help” the cut with extra pressure—exactly what you want to maintain control and avoid binding.

Lightweight, of course, is a double-edged sword. Laminated bars save weight but don’t love side loads (more on that under durability). As long as I let the chain do the work and kept the cut aligned, the weight savings were all upside.

Kickback characteristics

No bar eliminates kickback, but design can help manage it. This one’s low-kickback geometry and small radius nose reduce reactive force when the upper quadrant of the bar tip touches wood. In practice, the saw felt composed when I made careful nose-first starts on small limbs. The chain’s cutter profile and depth gauge setting still matter most, but this bar contributes to a calmer, more predictable feel—useful when you’re working at full extension.

Durability and limitations

This is a laminated bar, not a heavy solid-rail unit, and it behaves like one. The rails stayed square for me during normal pruning, and flipping the bar at the start of each session kept wear even. Where issues popped up was in off-axis cuts:

• If I skewed the bar during a binding cut, I could feel it protest. Side loading can spread the rails and scuff the groove quickly.
• Striking the nose into a trunk while repositioning the head is an easy way to shorten the bar’s life. The thin, laminated nose doesn’t appreciate impacts.

I didn’t destroy a bar, but I could see how abuse would. Technique is the differentiator here—this bar rewards a straight, supported cut and punishes prying or twisting at the kerf. That’s not unique to Skil; it’s the reality of light laminated bars on pole saws.

If you regularly cut dense hardwood at awkward angles or often work near full extension where control is limited, budget for a spare bar. A bent or split bar will end your day, and a swap in the field takes just a couple minutes.

Maintenance that actually extends life

A few habits made a visible difference:

• Flip the bar regularly. I flipped at the start of each session. It keeps the rails wearing evenly and helps the chain track.
• Keep the chain sharp and properly tensioned. A dull chain builds heat and hammers the rails; a loose chain chews them up.
• Clean the groove and oil hole. A bar groove cleaner, thin putty knife, or even a zip tie clears sawdust that blocks oil flow.
• Lightly dress the rails. If you feel a burr at the top of the rails or see the groove opening up, a few careful passes with a flat file trues the edges and slows wear.
• Avoid using the bar as a lever. Make a relief cut, then a finish cut, and let the branch fall away cleanly. If it pinches, stop and re-establish the kerf rather than twist.

Follow those, and you’ll get respectable service life out of a bar this size and weight.

What I liked

• True fit and good oiling alignment on my PWR CORE 20 pole saw
• Predictable cutting with a low-kickback profile that suits overhead work
• Lightweight feel that reduces fatigue at full reach
• Reversible design that extends life with simple flipping
• Straight tracking and clean cuts when technique is solid

What could be better

• Tolerance for side loads is limited; twisting in the cut or bumping the nose can shorten its life quickly
• No included chain (expected for a replacement bar, but worth noting for planning)
• Not the bar I’d pick for frequent, heavy, off-axis cuts in hardwood at maximum extension

Who it’s for

If you maintain trees and shrubs a few times a year and want an OEM-fit 8-inch bar that keeps your PWR CORE 20 pole saw light and predictable, this is a good match. It prioritizes control and ease of handling over brute rigidity. With basic maintenance and disciplined technique, it will serve well for normal pruning, storm cleanup, and property maintenance.

If your work routinely puts the bar in pinch-prone cuts, or you tend to use a pole saw like a pry bar, you’ll stress a laminated bar of this size—any brand. In that case, keep a spare on hand and plan on more frequent replacements, or rethink cut strategy to reduce side loading.

The bottom line

This 8-inch replacement bar does exactly what I expect from an OEM option for a cordless pole saw: it fits properly, oils consistently, keeps the head light, and cuts predictably with a low-kickback profile. The trade-off is durability under abuse; laminated, lightweight construction isn’t forgiving of twisting or nose impacts. Treat it like a cutting guide rather than a lever, keep your chain sharp, and flip it regularly, and it holds up well.

Recommendation: I recommend this bar for PWR CORE 20 8-inch pole saw owners who value clean fit, light weight, and predictable handling for routine pruning. Pair it with sound cutting technique and basic maintenance, and it’s a dependable, easy-to-replace wear part. If you need a bar that shrugs off frequent side loads and rough handling, this isn’t it—carry a spare or adjust your approach.