Is there any advantages to a .325 chain over a 3/8 or .050 vs .058?

[Freakingstang]

Just wondered if there were any advantages with one another. My husky's have 3/8 .058 chain on them, yet I see a bunch of bars and chains for 3/8 050 chain on ebay. Whats the main difference performance wise (other than gauge thickness)? Is one more durable? One lighter therfore faster cutting?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Gypo Logger]

The 325 is ok when new, but nothing beats the durability of the 3/8 chisel chain. It simply lasts longer and cuts faster on all 50cc and up saws.
There's a guy on Used Equip forum selling 100' reels of 3/8 chisel real cheap.
John

 

[Diesel JD]

I use .325 on my Stihl 025. It's a little bit lighter than the 3/8" but still has enough balls to work a lot harder than 3/8"Picco or Low Profile. The 3/8 is beter though. The teeth are bigger and teh chain is heavier duty. If you have enough power to haul it the 3/8" is probably the best choice.

 

[TreeChopper1]

i ran a stihl dealership for seven years and the best chain out there is stihl chain on them huskys no joke. the last twice as long. huskys have an oregon chain who makes their bars as well. Dont get me wrong i love husky as much as stihl equip. As far as 325 or 3/8 they are both good. Chisel chain goes duller quicker than a standard non safety chain because of cutter design and pitch. my gauge of choice is .050 gauge on 3/8 and .063 gauge on 325 pitch chains.try the stihl 325 chain as a 26rm--.the 3/8 as a 33rm--.let me know how you like em.trust me.

 

[pbtree]

On smaller saws that turn high RPM, the .325 tends to have less drag and help keep the RPM's up.

On bigger saws, the .325 does not hold up so well.

Unless you are really into big stuff, the .50 guage should do just fine...

 

[woodfarmer]

chain

.050 is narrower in the bar groove used by stihl, husky uses .058 guage, therefore you have to change bars when switching chain brands.

 

[jokers]

.050 is narrower in the bar groove used by stihl, husky uses .058 guage, therefore you have to change bars when switching chain brands.

That`s a bit of an oversimplification but essentially true.

Husky in the US uses .050 or .058, or .063 on the longer bars. You have to know what gauge you have now before buying replacement chain.

Russ

 

[Freakingstang]

I know what chain mine takes, I posted in in the first thread, it is 3/8 and .058. My bars on both saws are getting a little wore in the groove and it is time to by some new ones, and was wondering if i should stick with 3/8 or try .325. The 050 chain seems more readily availble in my area. I have a stihl dealer half hour from me, other than that my nearest husky dealer is lowes .

From what I have found anything smaller than a 61 uses 050 and anything bigger uses 058. I don't really think I need 063 for what I cut with. I'd probably need a bigger saw to be able to keep the bigger, wider chain up in the R's

Looks like I'll stick with what I got. The reason for asking is I found a bunch of 050 bars cheaper than the 058's I currently run. But would give up the stock up chains I have now.....

 

[pinus]

The contact surface area chain/rim(spur) of wider gauge is larger and should stay better to the wearing and last somewhat longer.
Link materials can differ from tooth material, so variations possible.
Tooths seem being from a little different steel in the boundaries of the same brand. RS chain tooths seem being from a littlebit harder steel than RM chain tooths or this is variation of the overall material guality.

 

[TreeChopper1]

just because you switch chain brands does not mean to switch bars too. stihl makes different width chains to match bars of different brands.

 

[toolfreak]

I would stay with the 3/8-.050. I run this stuff on my husky, J-Red, and Mac.
As long as things are maintained properly It really doesn't make any difference. Its just a matter of personal preference and availability. I buy Total brand chain, simply because I can get it 1/4 mile from my house.

 

[cord arrow]

i put the arbor-pro / woodsman narrow kerf combination on a husky special 50.
bar has the profile of a butter-knife. flexes quite a bit.

absolutely flies when limbing and such.

one curious note: when bucking, little chain gets hot and stretches to the point it's REALLY hanging off the bottom of the bar.
put it down a minute, it's tight again.
it's getting plenty of oil, BTW.

therefore, don't know if i'd recommend it for continuous bucking.

but, i really like it for limbing and "splitless work".