Sharp top chain
Tooth-profiled plates grip the timber so the chain carries the board. No slip, no skew, no product riding over the top.
Positive grip for timber and board
Flat chain relies on friction, and timber lines defeat friction: wet bark, sawdust, frost and resin all turn a carrying surface into a slide. Sharp top chain replaces friction with geometry: hardened, tooth-profiled top plates bite into the underside of the workpiece, so boards feed square and stay put on inclines.
It is the chain on butt reducers, canters and optimisers, infeed and outfeed decks, and board-handling transfers throughout the sawmill. It is part of the wider sawmill and timber range.
Sizes & strand counts
Multi-strand versions put teeth across the full board width, and the strand count multiplies the strength.
| Chain | Pitch | Pitch (mm) | Construction | Ultimate strength (kgf, ave.) | Weight (kg/m) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80F_ST4 | 1" | 25.40 | Simplex | 7,800 | 3.61 |
| 80F-2_ST4 | 1" | 25.40 | Duplex | 15,600 | 6.96 |
| 80F-3_ST4 | 1" | 25.40 | Triplex | 23,400 | 9.51 |
| 80F-4_ST4 | 1" | 25.40 | Quad | 31,200 | 12.37 |
| 80F-2_ST4(HD) | 1" | 25.40 | Duplex, heavy plates | 15,600 | 7.12 |
| 80FH-2_ST4(H) | 1" | 25.40 | Duplex, heavy series | 15,600 | 6.89 |
| 100F_ST3 | 1-1/4" | 31.75 | Simplex | 11,600 | 7.05 |
| 100F-2_ST3 | 1-1/4" | 31.75 | Duplex | 23,200 | 12.80 |
| 100F-2_ST3-EL | 1-1/4" | 31.75 | Duplex, extra height | 23,200 | 13.62 |
| 32B_SL | 2" | 50.80 | Simplex | 27,500 | 13.45 |
| 32B_TSL | 2" | 50.80 | Simplex, narrow | 27,500 | 12.14 |
| 32B_SLF | 2" | 50.80 | Simplex, tall profile | 27,500 | 15.58 |
Quad-staked pins and machine-bottomed sideplates available when required; plate height can be ground to your requested dimension.
Held in UK stock in Malvern: quad saw-tooth and rounded quad saw-tooth profiles in 1″ pitch (16B), twin-spike in 1″ pitch, double sharp top in 1½″ pitch (24B), and a straight-edge inverted deep-link sharp top in 2″ pitch — a chain rarely found ex-stock in the UK. Other profiles supplied to order — contact us for current lead time.
What we need to know
- The machine and where the chain runs on it
- Pitch and strand count, or a photo of the old chain
- Required plate height, if the bed height is fixed
- Whether the chain runs on steel guides (machined bottoms help)
- Length as a pitch count, or the worn chain to measure from
Deck and transfer chain, debarker chain, Double Flex and waste conveyor chain all live on the sawmill page.
Straight answers
What is sharp top chain?
A roller chain with pointed, tooth-profiled top plates that bite into the underside of timber, boards and panels, so the product is carried positively instead of relying on friction. It is the standard chain on butt reducers, canters, optimisers and board-handling decks.
What sizes of sharp top chain are available?
Three families: 80-series (1 inch pitch, ST4 tooth profile) from simplex to quad strand, 100-series (1-1/4 inch, ST3 profile) in simplex and duplex, and 32B (2 inch) in three plate profiles. Quad-staked pins and machine-bottomed sideplates are available where the chain runs on flat guides.
Can the tooth height be adjusted?
Yes. Plate height can be ground to your requested dimension, which matters where the chain must match an existing machine bed. Tell us the machine and the finished height you need.
Boards slipping on the deck?
Send the machine, the pitch and a photo of the old chain, and we will match the profile and quote.