How To Get Chainsaw Parts 7 Days To Die: Fast 2026 Guide

Getting a working chainsaw in 7 Days to Die comes down to one thing: Motor Tool Parts. That’s the name of the game in the current versions (A21 and the 1.0+ releases still rolling into 2026). If you’ve played older alphas and remember hunting for a unique “chainsaw part,” forget that—the system has changed. Now you craft a chainsaw at a workbench using Motor Tool Parts alongside Forged Steel, Duct Tape, Oil, Scrap Polymers, and Short Iron Pipes.

Here’s the plan: loot targeted containers, scrap spare power tools, buy smart from traders, and stack perks that boost your luck. I’ve spent countless playthroughs fine-tuning these routes—some worked, some ended with me rage-quitting after a zombie horde interrupted a crate run. This guide covers what actually works now, so you’re not wasting daylight. You can also read our guide on how to fix a leaf blower that won t start.

Motor Tool Parts are the key ingredient for most tool crafting recipes.

Source: corrosionhour.com

Decoding “Chainsaw Parts” in the Current Meta

Before you start looting, understand the terminology. There isn’t a single item called a “chainsaw part” anymore. The chainsaw recipe depends on Motor Tool Parts, a shared component used across several powered tools. Check your in-game recipe book each playthrough, because the exact quantities shift between versions.

What changed:

• Old alphas: Unique “chainsaw parts” scattered across specific loot pools.
• A21 and 1.0+ (current): Motor Tool Parts drop from loot, trader stock, quest rewards, and scrapping other power tools.
• Full chainsaws still spawn in high-tier loot, sometimes in working condition. Finding one beats crafting it.

A common mistake is scrapping every auger and chainsaw you find. Keep your highest-quality one for actual use, and scrap the duplicates. That practice alone is the fastest path to a solid Motor Tool Parts stash. For more on this, see our guide on how to get chainsaw in silent hill 2.

A loot run through a Working Stiffs store yields plenty of crates to search.

Source: youtube.com

Top Locations to Farm Motor Tool Parts Fast

Target the right containers and you’ll cut your grinding time in half. These spots consistently produce Motor Tool Parts and other crafting essentials.

• Working Stiffs tool stores: The best location by far. Check all shelves, counters, and storage crates, plus the rooftop and back rooms.
• Pass-N-Gas gas stations: Good for oil, tools, and a decent Motor Tool Parts drop chance. Don’t skip the back office or storage closets.
• Construction sites and hardware stores: Toolboxes and crates are scattered everywhere. These are quick clears if you time them between quests.
• Garage POIs and residential sheds: Tool chests and cabinets in garages often hold parts. Household garages are easier to clear than big stores.

Looting tips from my runs:

• Pop Eye Kandy before opening crates, not after. The buff affects loot quality the moment the container spawns its contents.
• Bring lockpicks for sealed crates. Spending 10 seconds picking is faster than a failed forced-open attempt that damages the contents.
• Prioritize a town with multiple tool-heavy POIs so you can hit several locations without traveling far.

Trader Strategies: The Reliable Shortcut

When RNG isn’t on your side, traders pick up the slack. Buying Motor Tool Parts directly from traders is the most consistent method I’ve found across versions. For more on this, see our guide on how long does a chainsaw chain last.

What to do at every trader:

• Check each reset. Trader stock refreshes on a timer, and Motor Tool Parts, schematics, or even full chainsaws show up regularly.
• Stack Better Barter and Sugar Butts. These lower prices and expand the high-tier item pool, giving you more chances to see good tools.
• Wear Nerdy Glasses. They boost Intellect, which feeds into Better Barter and crafting perks. More XP gain is a bonus.
• Accept quests alongside shopping runs. Completing jobs near tool-heavy POIs earns dukes, and the reward pool often includes parts or tools.

My rule of thumb:

• Buy any cheap low-quality chainsaw early on. Even if it’s worn down, it’s far cheaper than the parts to craft one from scratch.
• If parts are plentiful but oil and duct tape are scarce, buy those instead. They’re common trader items and always worth grabbing.

Traders frequently stock Motor Tool Parts and complete chainsaws.

Source: rasytojai.lt

The Scrapping and Crafting Loop

Crafting chainsaws requires a workbench, and the parts to build one aren’t cheap. Scrapping spare power tools is the most efficient way to feed this cycle.

Here’s the loop:

1. Scrap augers and chainsaws you’re not using. Lower-quality items are essentially “piggy banks” for Motor Tool Parts.
2. Save all Duct Tape, Oil, Scrap Polymers, and Short Iron Pipes. They’ll be needed for the chainsaw recipe.
3. Build a workbench early. It requires mechanical parts, forged iron, and other basics. Invest in Advanced Engineering to unlock it.
4. Find or buy the Chainsaw Schematic. Depending on your version, you can also unlock crafting via perks.

Practical notes:

• Scrapping quality matters. A T6 chainsaw yields more parts than a T1. Compare what you find and always keep the best quality one.
• Don’t scrap your wrenches or claw hammers until you have spares. You still need them for salvaging and workbench construction.
• Craft duct tape from murky water and bones (glue) plus cloth. Costs almost nothing if you’re near water.

Workbenches are essential for crafting and repairing tools.

Source: youtube.com

Loot Stage, Game Stage, and Quest Rewards

Your game stage and quest tier influence what loot you find. This system runs behind the scenes, but understanding it helps you plan when and where to grind. For more on this, see our guide on how long do chainsaw chains last.

How to boost your loot drops:

• Clear higher-tier POIs in larger cities. Loot quality scales with the area’s difficulty.
• Complete Tier 3+ quests. The reward pool for these explicitly includes tool parts, kits, and sometimes full power tools.
• Night looting in tougher zones can pay off if you’re geared. Risk is higher, but crates tend to spawn better items.

Small wins that add up:

• Wear Lucky Looter goggles while opening containers. The bonus is tied to the moment the container spawns loot.
• Combine Eye Kandy with Lucky Looter for double the boost on key runs.
• Higher game stage means better loot tables, so surviving and leveling naturally improves your odds.

Quest rewards scale with your current tier and game stage.

Source: 7daystodie.com

Perks, Buffs, and Gear That Actually Help

You can play without perks, but why make it harder? The right perks and consumables dramatically cut down the time to a working chainsaw.

Best perks:

• Lucky Looter: Increases loot quality across all containers. Non-negotiable for farming parts.
• Better Barter: Unlocks better trader stock and reduces prices. Essential for the buy route.
• Advanced Engineering: Unlocks the workbench and higher-tier crafting. Required for the chainsaw recipe.
• Salvage Operations: Not for Motor Tool Parts directly, but it lets you harvest more components from cars and machines—components which are used to craft and repair tools.

Best consumables and gear:

• Eye Kandy: Pop before opening crates.
• Sugar Butts: Pop before buying from traders.
• Nerdy Glasses: Boosts Intellect for better barter prices and XP gain.
• Lucky Looter goggles: Same effect as the perk, stackable on top of the rank.

One thing I wish I’d known earlier: these buffs have a duration, so time them strategically. Don’t walk into a town, pop Eye Kandy, and then spend 10 minutes clearing zombies. Move fast, pop crates, and let the buff work. For more on this, see our guide on battery vs gas chainsaw.

Eye Kandy and Lucky Looter stack to improve crate loot.

Source: youtube.com

Materials Checklist and Recipe Planning

The chainsaw recipe varies by version, but this core material list is consistent. Keep these items stocked at your base:

Supply tips:

• Farm oil from cars and barrels during any scavenging run. A wrench makes this far faster.
• Craft duct tape by melting bones into glue, then combining with cloth. Costs almost nothing if you’re near water.
• Forge steel at your base once you’ve built a forge and furnace. Buying it on discount days at traders is a decent alternative.

Early, Mid, and Late Game Routes

The strategy shifts depending on how far into the game you are. Here’s how I structure my runs by day count.

Early game (days 1–4):

• Focus on a town with a Working Stiffs and a big gas station.
• Do fetch quests near tool-heavy POIs.
• Wear Lucky Looter and pop Eye Kandy for sealed crates.

Mid game (days 5–14):

• Push Tier 3–4 quests in city hubs.
• Hit construction sites and hardware stores between quests.
• Check traders on every reset and buy Motor Tool Parts on sight.

Late game (days 15+):

• Focus on Tier 4–5 POIs and high-radiation city areas if geared.
• Farm quest rewards for full chainsaws and schematics.
• Stockpile Oil and Forged Steel to craft extra saws for friends or sell for dukes.

A construction site offers plenty of lootable containers.

Source: youtube.com

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve made every mistake on this list so you don’t have to.

• Ignoring traders. You miss easy Motor Tool Parts and schematics. A quick trade run takes two minutes.
• Scrapping your only working chainsaw too early. Keep one in good shape for wood farms. You’ll want the wood income.
• Hoarding materials without crafting. If you have enough parts, craft the saw. It pays for itself fast with wood gains.
• Looting random houses for hours. Target tool-heavy POIs instead. Random houses have poor drop rates for tool parts.
• Selling Motor Tool Parts to traders. You’ll regret it later. There’s no way to reliably farm these in the late game.

Advanced Tips for Every Run

These smaller tricks jot a few extra parts out of every session.

• Run a “crate triangle” route: Working Stiffs → Pass-N-Gas → Construction site. Repeat after resets.
• In co-op, designate one barter mule. Have them buy Motor Tool Parts with Better Barter and Sugar Butts active.
• Time your looting with buff activation. Pop Eye Kandy right before opening a high-tier sealed crate, not five minutes earlier.
• Use your map markers to tag every tool container you find. Revisit them after trader resets for double the value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are “chainsaw parts” in current versions?

They’re Motor Tool Parts used to craft the chainsaw at a workbench. You’ll also need Oil, Duct Tape, Forged Steel, Scrap Polymers, and Short Iron Pipes.

Where do I find Motor Tool Parts the fastest?

Hit Working Stiffs and Pass-N-Gas crates first, then check traders every reset. Tiered quest rewards also help a lot.

Can I scrap items to get Motor Tool Parts?

Yes. Scrapping extra chainsaws and augers yields Motor Tool Parts. Keep your best quality one and scrap the rest.

Do perks affect how to get chainsaw parts 7 days to die?

Lucky Looter and Better Barter help most. Eye Kandy boosts crate loot quality, and Nerdy Glasses support your perk path.

Do I need a schematic to craft the chainsaw?

Usually yes, unless your perk path unlocks it. Check your recipe book because versions differ on unlock rules.

Conclusion

Victory comes from the smart combination of loot routes, trader shopping, and scrapping spares. Target tool-heavy POIs, hit traders on reset, and keep your material stockpile full. Follow the working routine, and you’ll have a working chainsaw with plenty of wood production before the 14-day horde arrives.

Stuck on another aspect of your 7 Days to Die playthrough or thinking about the real-life counterpart? Check out our guide on extending the life of your actual equipment with proper blade care and maintenance. And if you’re dealing with a gas-powered saw that won’t start, that’s a different problem entirely.