Am looking into a smaller saw such as 346 or other 50cc model, but haven't had good luck with the 325 pitch chains holding an edge like the 3/8. What have you guys found for the best brand? Ooops, did I just start a war?
JMO I like Stihl RS in 325 best. I also have Oregon LG because the price is so much cheaper.
Thanks, cut4fun. I know you always have good, first-hand info. Anybody else? What no one wants to say which chain is best? What? How about the low profile 3/8s chains? As I understand it, the smaller saws run smaller chains to cut narrower kerfs and lessen resistance. How about those other chains?
No one can say which one is best. IMO ;D
That is likely different from the OP question
QuoteWhat have you guys found for the best brand?
I run .325 carlton chain and to me it seems to stay sharp as long as 3/8 so long as I keep it in clean wood. I also run 91 picco low pro 3/8 semi chiesel nk which I think cuts way faster and stays sharp longer than either .325 or .3/8. . I have a 40 cc saw running the 3/8 nk 6 tooth that cuts as fast as a 56cc saw running .325 7 tooth, either that 40 cc saw has power or the nk chain really helps. Steve
i run 50gauge .325 stihl chain dont no the exactmodel number but it holds an edge way longer then anything else i have tried.
Thanks, everybody. Do I understand correctly that picco is a Stihl brand low profile 3/8? It looks like 91vxl is the Oregon low-pro 3/8. Do these run on standard 3/8 50 bars?
No, they need to be matched to the proper bar which has a shallow groove.
I have two 034's here and one is run with 3/8's the other with .325 chain. I really can't see any difference in the two while cutting fire wood other then the 3/8's lasting longer between sharpening. Both have 18" bars with Stihl chisel chains.
So what I am getting at, is, is it an option for you to run that saw with 3/8's chain ???
I have a husky 346 that runs .325, the oregon 95vp chain and narrow kerf bar make a good cutting system, although I think the bars are junk. The sprocket tips (non replaceable) seem to last about two chains before they let go. I also tried an oregon regular kerf chisel chain that cut very nice, I can't remember the model number. I just put a carlton 20" bar and chisel skip chain on my 346, the carlton seems softer to me. Otherwise, I've never noticed my .325 saws dulling faster than 3/8 equipped ones.
i use stihl 23rc and it lasts long time cutting softwoods even in dirty woods
I have found Oregon LP to be slightly faster than Stihl RSC in .325, and hope the new LPX is as good as the LP..... :)
The comparison was done on my 346xp.
Thanks for your comments everybody. Sorry to tell you I haven't made up my mind yet. On another forum, windthrown said there was little difference in kerf between regular 3/8 and 325, and the way to get the narrower kerf was 3/8 low profile. Yet, I haven't seen any good quality bars for that 3/8 low pro, so I will have to think everything over.
There is quite a difference between 3/8 and .325 narrow kerf.
Quote from: quietrangr on April 12, 2011, 08:34:41 PM
On another forum, windthrown said there was little difference in kerf between regular 3/8 and 325, and the way to get the narrower kerf was 3/8 low profile. Yet, I haven't seen any good quality bars for that 3/8 low pro, so I will have to think everything over.
If you re-read that forum you will see old Windy said he "saw no difference between regular 3/8 and .325 kerf width."
Try the Oregon .325 narrow kerf 95VP , this little chain is really aggressive and cuts really well. With its semi-chisel it holds a good edge.
Forget about the 3/8 lo pro chain, you get into a larger log and they plug up , not alot of filing life either, [consumer chain].
Oregon 20 LPX chisel .325 is a good fast cutting chain with a little more beef then the 95VP narrow kerf.
Willard.
I only use Stihl chain and it has always performed well.
All things considered, I'm going to try a 95 vp narrow kerf Oregon chain on my 325 Stihl 025 carry on the skidder saw. If somebody knows the name and number for a Stihl narrow kerf 325, I'll check into that, too. Thanks for your responses, everybody.