Rapid Micro vs Rapid Super Chain

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Below: what separates the two cutter shapes, when each wins, and two Rapid Super examples ranked. No Rapid Micro chains were provided for this guide, so both examples below are Rapid Super.

Rapid Micro vs Rapid Super: the cutter shape

The difference is the cutter’s corner. Rapid Micro uses a semi-chisel cutter with a rounded working corner; it is the forgiving chain, slower to dull in dirty or frozen wood and easier to sharpen freehand. Rapid Super uses a full-chisel cutter with a sharp square corner; it severs fibers cleanly and cuts faster, but the corner is fragile: dirt, nails and ice knock it dull fast, and it demands precise sharpening angles. Both are professional chains, not low-kickback homeowner chain.

Kickback and safety: rapid micro vs rapid super chain

Both Rapid Micro and Rapid Super are professional chains without the extra guard links of low-kickback homeowner chain, so both demand respect. That said, the full-chisel Super is the more aggressive of the two: its square cutters grab harder, and a grab at the bar’s nose is what kicks the saw back at you. Micro’s rounded cutters are the milder-mannered choice. Whichever you run, keep the chain sharp (a dull chain is the one that grabs), keep the nose out of the cut, and wear chaps, helmet and eye protection. No chain choice replaces technique.

When Rapid Micro wins

Firewood cutting is Micro territory: logs dragged through dirt, frozen rounds, occasional ground contact. The semi-chisel edge survives what would ruin a full-chisel corner, and when it does dull, a few strokes with a file bring it back without fuss. For the cabin owner cutting a winter’s wood, Micro means fewer chain swaps and less time at the bench. It also forgives the occasional rock or nail that every firewood pile hides; Super would need immediate attention after the same hit. It is the lower-maintenance choice.

When Rapid Super wins

Clean wood and speed: Super’s full-chisel cutters take bigger bites and the saw moves through the cut faster. For felling and bucking clean timber, or for a sawyer who sharpens precisely and keeps the chain out of the dirt, Super is the faster chain. The tradeoff is maintenance: it needs sharpening more often and rewards correct technique. File every tooth to the same angle and keep the depth gauges even; a Super chain with uneven teeth cuts crooked and vibrates. Both examples below are Rapid Super chains in 20 in.

Reading the chain code

STIHL chain codes tell you the shape: RS is Rapid Super, RM is Rapid Micro. The numbers after give pitch and gauge: 26RS is .325 pitch, 33RS is 3/8 in pitch, and the gauge (.063 or 0.050 here) is the drive-link thickness that must fit the bar groove. The drive-link count (81 or 72 here) sets the loop length for the bar. When you buy a replacement, match all three numbers to the old chain or the bar’s stamping; the shape (Micro vs Super) is the only choice you get to make freely.

Pitch, gauge and drive links must match

Whichever shape you pick, the chain must match the bar: pitch, gauge and drive-link count. The 26RS 81 is .325 pitch, .063 gauge, 81 drive links for a 20 in bar; the 33RS72 is 3/8 in pitch, 0.050 gauge, 72 drive links for a 20 in bar. These are not interchangeable: check the bar’s markings or the saw’s manual. The 26RS lists compatibility with Stihl models from the 024 through the MS291; the 33RS72 lists Stihl chainsaws generally.

The gear: 2 Rapid Super chains, ranked

1. STIHL 33RS72 Rapid Super, 20 in

Ranked first. The 3/8 in pitch, 0.050 gauge full-chisel chain with 72 drive links for a 20 in bar. The 3/8 in pitch is the aggressive setup for bigger saws; the full-chisel cutters are the fast-cutting choice in clean wood.

Who it is for: sawyers with bigger Stihl saws cutting clean timber fast. Who should skip it: anyone cutting dirty firewood; pick a Micro chain instead.

2. STIHL 26RS 81 Rapid Super, 20 in

Ranked second. The .325 pitch, .063 gauge chain with 81 drive links for a 20 in bar, stated at 11.2 oz. One contradiction: the title says Rapid Super, which is STIHL’s full-chisel line, but the spec table lists Chain Type as Semi-Chisel; trust the title. The .325 pitch suits mid-size saws; the listing names models from the 024 through the MS291. The broad compatibility list is the practical win.

Who it is for: owners of mid-size Stihl saws who want full-chisel cutting. Who should skip it: anyone cutting dirty firewood; pick a Micro chain instead.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is faster, Rapid Micro or Rapid Super?

Rapid Super, in clean wood: the full-chisel cutters bite harder. In dirty wood, Micro keeps cutting while Super dulls, so Micro can be faster over a day of firewood cutting.

Is Rapid Super harder to sharpen?

Yes. The square full-chisel corner needs precise angles; the semi-chisel Micro is more forgiving of freehand filing.

Can I run Rapid Super on any Stihl saw?

No. Match pitch, gauge and drive links to the bar. The 26RS 81 lists models 024 through MS291; the 33RS72 fits 20 in bars with 3/8 in pitch and 0.050 gauge.

Which chain for firewood?

Rapid Micro: it tolerates dirt and frozen wood and is easier to maintain. Both examples in this guide are Rapid Super, so shop the Micro line for firewood duty.

Do these chains come with a warranty?

Neither listing states a warranty term.

Related: the best chainsaw sharpener, our chainsaws hub and our safety notes.