Skil 14 IN. Chain Saw Bar

First impressions and fitment

A chainsaw bar can quietly make or break the way a saw handles, cuts, and wears. I installed the 14-inch bar on a PWRCore 40 brushless saw that normally runs the same size, and the swap was straightforward. The stud spacing, tensioner holes, and oiler ports aligned cleanly with the saw’s hardware. Chain pairing is the key detail here: this bar is designed for 3/8 in. low-profile chain, 0.043 in. gauge, with 52 drive links. I ran a fresh 52DL LP chain and had no issues setting tension or tracking.

On the bench, the first thing I noticed was the weight—or lack of it. For a homeowner or property user who spends a lot of time limbing overhead, a lighter bar helps with accuracy and fatigue. The finish out of the package was clean, the rails were square and even, and the nose radius telegraphed its low-kickback intent.

Design and specs that matter

Specs only help if they translate into real-world behavior. Here’s what stood out for this bar:

• Length: 14 inches. A practical sweet spot for limbing and small-diameter felling without overloading a 40V saw.
• Pitch and gauge: 3/8 in. LP, 0.043 in. gauge, 52 drive links. That narrow kerf reduces cutting load, which pairs well with the PWRCore 40’s available torque.
• Low-kickback nose: A smaller nose radius that’s more forgiving when you accidentally contact the upper quadrant.
• Reversible: You can flip the bar to even out rail wear and extend service life.
• Maintenance note: The matching chain typically uses a 4.0 mm (5/32 in.) file.

None of these are exotic, but together they hit the right balance for yard work, storm cleanup, and general pruning.

In the field

I put the 14-inch bar through a mix of tasks: limbing oak and maple branches, felling a couple of small poplars in the 8–10 inch range, and bucking windfall into stove-length pieces. With a sharp 0.043 in. LP chain, the bar tracked straight without hunting, and I didn’t have to fight the nose wandering during plunge starts into branch crotches. The narrow kerf was noticeable on the 40V saw—cuts initiated quickly and sustained chain speed better than a heavier, wider setup.

Heat management was good. After longer limbing sessions, I checked for bluing on the rails and found none. Oil distribution looked even; the oiling holes matched the saw’s output, and the groove carried oil to the nose without starving. I periodically wiped the bar and cleaned the groove with a thin scraper, and chips never packed up enough to bind the chain.

Where the design pays off most is on awkward, shoulder-height cuts. The lighter bar makes top-hand control easier, and the low-kickback nose is reassuring when you’re working at odd angles. I still treat the upper quadrant like it’s live—because it is—but the bar’s behavior when it brushes that zone is calmer than a more aggressive tip.

Kickback behavior and control

Low-kickback bars intentionally soften the saw’s reaction in the kickback zone. In practice, that showed up as a gentler nudge instead of a violent jerk when I made a clumsy contact during limbing. It’s not a license to get sloppy—technique matters, and the chain profile plays a big role—but the bar contributes real margin. One tradeoff: nose-boring into a log is slower and less crisp than with a larger-radius or pro-safety tip. For most users of a 14-inch setup, that’s a fair compromise.

Durability and longevity

The reversible design is the headline for service life. I flipped the bar after a few sharpenings, and rail wear stayed symmetrical. Burrs at the rail edges were minimal; a couple of light passes with a flat file cleaned them up. The rails stayed tight enough that chain lean wasn’t a problem even with moderate side loads while limbing.

That said, this is a 0.043 in. gauge bar. The benefit is a narrow kerf and faster feed on a modestly powered saw. The downside is that, if you routinely pry with the bar, pinch it in heavy bore cuts, or run dull chain in gritty wood, a thin-gauge bar will show wear sooner than a 0.050 in. workhorse. Used as intended—clean wood, sharp chain, letting the saw do the work—it holds up well.

Maintenance notes

A few habits will get the most out of this bar:

• Flip the bar every time you sharpen the chain. It evens rail wear and extends life.
• Keep the chain correctly matched: 3/8 in. LP, 0.043 in. gauge, 52 drive links.
• Sharpen with a 4.0 mm (5/32 in.) file and maintain consistent top-plate angles so the bar doesn’t have to fight a pulling chain.
• Clean the oil holes and bar groove regularly; a thin scraper or dedicated groove cleaner works well.
• Check chain tension every tank. A too-loose chain hammers the rails; too tight builds heat and accelerates wear.
• Dress the rails lightly if you notice burrs or the chain leaning.

These are standard practices, but the reversible feature rewards that routine with noticeably longer service life.

Limitations

A 14-inch setup is not a do-everything solution. The reach is modest for felling, and you’ll need careful technique to sever anything much larger than about a foot in diameter. The nose radius tempers kickback but isn’t optimized for fast boring, so wedge placement and planning your cuts ahead of time become more important.

The 0.043 in. gauge is excellent for efficiency but less tolerant of abuse. If your routine includes cutting muddy logs, pushing the bar through soil at ground level, or frequent contact with rocks, expect faster wear. That’s more a reality of the gauge than this particular bar, but it’s worth stating plainly.

Lastly, compatibility is specific. This bar is intended for PWRCore 40 brushless chain saws that accept a 14-inch, 3/8 LP, .043, 52DL configuration. Don’t assume it will fit other platforms; check your saw’s mount pattern and specs before you order a spare chain to match.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners and property managers who prioritize safe handling and low fatigue for limbing, pruning, and small felling.
• Users of PWRCore 40 brushless saws who want a narrow-kerf setup that keeps chain speed up on battery power.
• Anyone who values a reversible bar and is willing to flip it and maintain it to maximize lifespan.

If your work leans toward heavier hardwood bucking, frequent bore cutting, or you want a thicker-gauge bar for rough conditions, you may want a different configuration. But for everyday yard work and firewood up to small diameters, this hits the mark.

The bottom line

After multiple sessions cutting clean and moderately dirty wood, the 14-inch bar proved predictable, efficient, and easy to live with. It complements the PWRCore 40 platform nicely: the narrow kerf keeps the saw lively, the low-kickback nose adds a margin of safety, and the reversible design stretches your maintenance intervals. I experienced even wear, reliable oiling, and steady tracking—exactly what I want out of a bar in this size class.

Recommendation: I recommend this bar to PWRCore 40 users who primarily do pruning, limbing, storm cleanup, and small-diameter felling. Its lightweight feel, compatibility with 3/8 in. LP 0.043 in. x 52DL chains, and reversible design make it a practical, low-hassle choice. The only caveats are the inherent limits of a 14-inch, thin-gauge setup—avoid abusive cuts, keep the chain sharp with a 4.0 mm file, and flip the bar regularly—and it will serve you well.