Maneuvering a radial chain saw is no easy task; it takes years of experience and some great skills to become an expert in using that. While that is a difficult task, properly maintaining the chain saw is a different skill set on its own. The problem comes when you it comes to choosing the lubrication that you want to use for your radial chain saw. Since there are no designated lubricants that are not available specifically for this purpose you are forced to use lubricants that are meant for other industries.
If you are one of those people who is looking for a suitable radial chain saw lubricant that will not leave you with more work than it already is. With that said here are the top 5 radial chain saw lubricants that you might want to get your hands on.
5 Best Lube for Radial Arm Saw
This is a lithium based lube like the name suggests and is made specifically for instruments and apparatus that has a hard reach area. With this lubrication it will be easy for you apple in crevices that are hard to reach inside your chain saw as it has two advantages. One it is white in color so it's easy to see where you have applied and how much is applied. Two is its viscosity, it flows into a place that you want to all you have to do is place it in the angle that you want it to flow. Things will take care of themselves.
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Primarily being an off road bike chain lubrication it is one of the best products that you can use on a rigid chain saw. As it is made for bikes that are set-to experience a lot of friction, slip and other aggressive movements it's most likely to keep your chain saw intact for a long time. It is great against climatic changes and can hold onto its characteristics against harsh changes. To add on, it does not absorb any dust or other impurities from air. Keeping your saw clear like the way you want it to be.
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This is one lubricant that is manufactured for the purpose of a chain saw. So you know it's going to do god for you and the chainsaw. This one is a loaded gun with a steel nozzle to pour out the lube only in the places that you want. It also has the perfect consistency that you would want for a chainsaw. Not so runny or not too firm, it has the right amount of viscosity and world well with all types of chain saw components. The tube it comes in is also transparent so you know exactly how much you apply on to the chain saw. All this goodness also makes the life of the chainsaw prolong a bit longer.
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4. Oregon 54-026 Bar and Chain Oil

Oregon is a brand that specializes in producing lubricants for chain saws. They believe motor oil and grease are not meant to be used for chains as chain saws require a more viscous fluid that takes care of all the traction and friction that is involved with a chainsaw. So this product, Oregon 54-026 is a lubricant that specializes in preventing chainsaws from experiencing any wear and tear. Also they provide great protection against throw off. Since its viscosity is perfect for a chain saw it's not so hard to reach spots that you might otherwise find difficult with other lubricants.
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This lubricant is more like a doctor for your chainsaw than just a lubricant. This will help clean and make sure there is less friction in the chain saw. Since this has low viscosity it's easy for this lube to reach every little area in tha chain saw and make sure that the entire system is fully lubricated. It can also work exponentially well under a wide temperature unlike some normal chainsaw lubricants. This is because, itis made from petroleum oil which gives it the necessary characteristics to function under various temperatures.
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Things to Consider when buying the lube for radial arm saw
Since there is a lot of confusion over the perfect lubricant for a chain saw many factors have to be taken into consideration while choosing one for you. Here are some things that you have to look for while buying a chain saw lubricant.
Depending on the hours and the nature of work that the chain saw will undergo you have to choose a proper one. Choosing something without considering this may affect the efficiency of the saw and in some cases damage the chains completely.
The viscosity and the adaptability of the oil plays a major role with how it affects the chain saw. So knowing the nature of the lubricant can help determine its efficiency towards the work nature and the typeof chainsaw you use.
This can never not be a consideration while buying anything. Anything that you buy should be worth the money that you pay for it. Buying a product that is of low quality and quantity for a huge price is loss for you. So think twice about the quality and quantity of the product before you buy it.
FAQ’s
Place the chain saw levelled on a flat surface. Remove the cap to the oil chamber and fill it till the top. Be careful not to over pour into the chamber. Wipe out any excess oil that might have filled on the chainsaw. You can also use some oil on the chains and rotate it manually in a slow manner. Remember to unplug your saw whenever you lubricate it.
There are three major chainsaw lubricants available in the market.
- Generic oil: this is the costliest of them all and is likely the most effective: it is capable of running your machine for a longer period of time without any issues.
- Vegetable oil: this is for when you do not want to do simple mid level tasks that do not require the chainsaw to run at its full potential for a long period of time. Also it prevents the wood from experiencing any damage.
- Motor oil: this is not the most recommended option. But is still a good substitution when it comes if the saw has to undergo light word load.
Wax tends to pick up a lot of dirt and other impurities so it's not recommended to use wax as a chainsaw lubricant. They are also athich lubricant, meaning not the best option for a saw that is running at high speed.
Conclusion
Chainsaw like any other power tool is a delicate instrument and requires a lot of care. A simple mistake even while cleaning the tool could lead to a serious injury or resulting in you damaging the tool itself. So it's only right that you give the best of the treatment when it comes to maintaining the device. It is also advisable to know what your tool requires and choose a lubricant that goes well with your tool.
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