Rotary Brand Saw Chain?

[Wood Doctor]

Nope, no Stihl saws. Just figured out Stihl chain wears like iron. Cut 7 cords on a loop of full chisel without needing sharpening and I was hooked!

OK, I was just wondering. A few loggers have commented to me that the bona fide Stihl chain is the best, but I never truly believed that. It seems to be the highest priced, that's for sure. On the other hand, I have heard that Carlton will stay right with it -- actual Carlton, not clones.

You cut 7 cords on one loop? That's truly amazing. I've never been able to do that, regardless of brand. Maybe with carbide.

 

[svk]

Found the ads. Looks deceitful with the STIHL package, but pretty common tactic on eBay - surprised to see it on Amazon.

Anyway, Rotary is a large aftermarket parts supplier, like Stens, that usually sells through repair shops. Oregon/Blount also has a large AM parts division for OPE, lawn and garden, and farm equipment.
https://www.rotarycorp.com/
https://www.stens.com/
http://www.blount.com/

The real question is 'who made the chain?' The shapes of the cutters and tie straps look like Oregon chain to me: they do private label chain, and they do manufacture some in China, but that does not mean that Oregon made it. Could just be a copy-cat design?

To be fair, maybe you need to go to that $1Billion farm store and buy a loop of Oregon branded Oregon chain, then try them side-by-side. See how the Rotary chain compares.

Philbert

Spoken, Chain Yoda has.

So, is this LGX or LPX knockoff? I have a loop of at least one of them somewhere in my stuff.

 

[svk]

OK, I was just wondering. A few loggers have commented to me that the bona fide Stihl chain is the best, but I never truly believed that. It seems to be the highest priced, that's for sure. On the other hand, I have heard that Carlton will stay right with it -- actual Carlton, not clones.

You cut 7 cords on one loop? That's truly amazing. I've never been able to do that, regardless of brand. Maybe with carbide.

Yes, couldn't believe it lasted that long. And I eventually rocked it which ended the streak at 7 cords. Never made it past 2.5-3 cords with Oregon or Carlton.

I have some Carlton semi-chisel. It lasts a longer than Oregon but cuts so SLOW compared to Stihl full chisel and doesn't last as long.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Spoken, Chain Yoda has.

So, is this LGX or LPX knockoff? I have a loop of at least one of them somewhere in my stuff.

Its not LG/LGX but hard to see the drive links to tell if its plain LP or LPX

 

[svk]

Its not LG/LGX but hard to see the drive links to tell if its plain LP or LPX

Is LP or LG the one that cuts faster? I always forget.

 

[Philbert]

So, is this LGX or LPX knockoff?

The depth gauges look more like LPX, but it does not have the low kickback bumpers on the drive links.
Plus, we do not know that it is a 'knockoff' - Oregon may private label this for Rotary?

Philbert

 

[Modifiedmark]

Yes, couldn't believe it lasted that long. And I eventually rocked it which ended the streak at 7 cords. Never made it past 2.5-3 cords with Oregon or Carlton.

I have some Carlton semi-chisel. It lasts a longer than Oregon but cuts so SLOW compared to Stihl full chisel and doesn't last as long.

I can never keep it out of the ground so it don't matter anyway.

Carlton SC is alright if you don't get the stuff made on friday with half the cutters heat treated that you cannot touch with a file. I have no use for the crude Carlton chisel chain and especially in .325

 

[Modifiedmark]

The depth gauges look more like LPX, but it does not have the low kickback bumpers on the drive links.
Plus, we do not know that it is a 'knockoff' - Oregon may private label this for Rotary?

Philbert

Seems to me the early Oregon chisel chain was like that, with the LP style cutter and no ramped drive links. It might have been called LP back then too if I remember right. I know I have some of it here.

 

[svk]

The depth gauges look more like LPX, but it does not have the low kickback bumpers on the drive links.
Plus, we do not know that it is a 'knockoff' - Oregon may private label this for Rotary?

Philbert

Honestly I could live happily with Oregon chain at this price. Heck I'd even buy more!

 

[svk]

Seems to me the early Oregon chisel chain was like that, with the LP style cutter and no ramped drive links. It might have been called LP back then too if I remember right. I know I have some of it here.

I think you are right.

Perhaps sawtroll might know?

 

[Modifiedmark]

Is LP or LG the one that cuts faster? I always forget.

Neither, they pretty much cut the same and so dose the Vanguard when filed right. I actually prefer the LP myself, real smooth chain.

 

[Modifiedmark]

I think you are right.

Perhaps sawtroll might know?

I have ways to look it up here, if I cared that much. Not a big deal either way;

 

[svk]

Neither, they pretty much cut the same and so dose the Vanguard when filed right. I actually prefer the LP myself, real smooth chain.

I haven't bought V in years but once my guy sharpened them it seemed to rip pretty well. Out of the box is pretty weak.

Worse chain I ever had was the factory issue 68 DL that came with my 2165. I really thought I made a mistake in buying that saw until my buddy looked at the chain and said it needed work. Rakers were so high it couldn't even throw chips.

 

[Philbert]

I was talking to an Oregon rep once, and got really confused. It became clear that we were talking about totally different chains: I was referring to 'Low-Profile' chain as 3/8 LP, and he was talking about their full-sized 3/8 pitch 'LP' model chain. Now I try to say 3/8 low pro, or something like that.

Philbert

 

[Modifiedmark]

I haven't bought V in years but once my guy sharpened them it seemed to rip pretty well. Out of the box is pretty weak.

Worse chain I ever had was the factory issue 68 DL that came with my 2165. I really thought I made a mistake in buying that saw until my buddy looked at the chain and said it needed work. Rakers were so high it couldn't even throw chips.

Yeah lots of folks who don't know better rip on the Vanguard just because they don't know how to file it. I mostly knock the rakers down with my grinder. If you got to have a safety chain, or have a new saw come with it, that"s the one to have, the Stihl saftey chains seem to be the most worthless cutting chain. That don't mean I'm going out to buy any Vanguard on purpose any time soon but in a pinch and had to go to Menards to get a chain, I wouldn't think twice about it.

And speaking about out of the box, Carlton is the worse at that, they all need tuned up before they will cut decent.

 

[svk]

Yeah lots of folks who don't know better rip on the Vanguard just because they don't know how to file it. I mostly knock the rakers down with my grinder. If you got to have a safety chain, or have a new saw come with it, that"s the one to have, the Stihl saftey chains seem to be the most worthless cutting chain. That don't mean I'm going out to buy any Vanguard on purpose any time soon but in a pinch and had to go to Menards to get a chain, I wouldn't think twice about it.

And speaking about out of the box, Carlton is the worse at that, they all need tuned up before they will cut decent.

Funny you should say that.

I just bought new Oregon bars for my 350 and 2-10 from Mills last week that came with loops of Vanguard. The 2-10 (not currently running and will see only occasional use) has a 60 DL loop which will probably be donated to my 562 and yet to be sourced bar for break-in duties.

 

[jakethesnake]

Just curious why do you guys hate carlton after a touch up they seem to last really long sure not 7 cords but I love the chisel I 3/8 maybe I've struck my head???

 

[jakethesnake]

Getting off topic but I can't sharpen vanguard either I guess? What's the trick I do well usually but I think it's the thick rakers? I've just touched it up again and it's hanging on a nail I will use it up but I sorta hate it

 

[Modifiedmark]

Because I don't like having to take a new chain out of the box, file it, and set the rakers before its fit to use.

I really hate taking a new chain out of the box and finding half the cutters are so hard I can't touch em with a file and have to run it through the grinder and knock the hard surface off it before I can hand file it.

I hate taking a loop out of the box and finding 1/3 of the cutters have not been even sharpend from the factory and are just flat blank cutters.

I can't make the .325 pitch chisel cut worth a damn no matter what I do to it.

Carltons quality control seems to be terrible, there is a reason its so cheap and the crude finish is cheap as well.

Now to be honest, its been some time since I bought any as I had swore I wouldn't but hopefully after being bought by Blount, maybe there quality control has gotten better.

 

[Modifiedmark]

Getting off topic but I can't sharpen vanguard either I guess? What's the trick I do well usually but I think it's the thick rakers? I've just touched it up again and it's hanging on a nail I will use it up but I sorta hate it

Go to the Oregon website and look it up, there is a page on sharpening it there. The rakers are not really the problem if you follow their directions.