Cheap Chains Any Good?

[diver64]

I was on Amazon looking for a ripping chain and noticed a ton of off brand Chinese chains for very good money. Are any of these any good?
$20-$25 for a pack of 3 is tempting to try out.just for kicks

 

[Lionsfan]

No experience with it myself, but a couple well respected members were vouching for The Duke's saw chain on the other forum

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

Great stuff if you want to practice hand filing- you will be doing plenty- especially if ripping with them.
Softer- not as hard wearing- tend to fold the cutting edge and rivet holes tend to elongate under load.
Old saying still rings true- generally you get what you pay for.

 

[NSEric]

I run the holtzforma/farmertec and 8ten chain.
It's alright, I like the farmertec better than 8ten, it comes sharper out of the box and is cheaper. They are about as hard as oregon chain, I cant tell them apart once I sharpen them.
I cant get the dukes chain in canada, it looks idential to farmertec chain but is cheaper in the states.

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

If you like snapped chains get into it. Seen two snapped E&S Chinese wonder chains snap on a 288. Not to mention constantly stretching like Bob says oval holes in no time and not holding an edge for long. Just not worth it. False economy like cheap tyres or cheap engine oil. Just buy stihl chain n be done with it. Not even a stihl guy either.

Edit the snapped chains were cutting soft ish green eucalyptus and the cutters were perhaps a generous 3rd warn if that

I've also had cheap presets from aliexpress snap in like the first tank. It's very lucky dip with chang stuff and not worth it for stuff like that. A top cover or air cleaner yeah fine.

Very lucky dip from wing wong man. Cheap for a reason

 

[Michael E]

The problem is probably not the lack of quality but the lack of consistency. I've had cheap chains that worked very well, but the next lot might be completely different.

Not chain-related: I replaced the chain tensioner bolt on my Husqvarna 288xp with a chinese part, bought a cheap set of three. I thought, what could possibly go wrong? Well, two of the bolts broke in half while running, both times the chain came off the bar and sprocket. Before I noticed the loosening chain, the 36" bar and Stihl chain were damaged. I said some nasty words while I carefully straightened the drive links with a hammer...

 

[Stubby]

I'm not an arborist, but I've had good results with these chains...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MFXAG3I?ref=fed_asin_title

Rich

 

[RedneckChainsawRepair]

For the money their not bad. Have a lot of them out there with firewood cutters.

Their not stihl or newer husky, but a 1/3 of cost.

Just made some off a 100' roll in 84DL.

 

[ammoaddict]

I have a bunch of the Hipa brand chinese chains. they were 5 and 6 bucks apiece when i got them. They are good chains.