Rotary Brand Saw Chain?

[Tenderfoot]

Last week an experienced logger told me that Stihl chain is worth every extra penny that you pay for it. He runs Stihl MS 661 M-Tronics with 30" to 36" bars mounted with chains, all 3/8 063. He's tried Oregon, Carlton, and a few other off-brands. In his book, none of these compare to Stihl chain.

Andy said, "If I lose a day fooling with chain that pulls left, right, or snaps, I lose a $1,000 load of logs. I can't afford that."

Thats why I go out with 5 chains. I have had a day where I rock 4 on things in a tree or mistakes. So far have not had trouble with 5 in a day. I cannot imagine going into the woods with only one.

 

[svk]

Last week an experienced logger told me that Stihl chain is worth every extra penny that you pay for it. He runs Stihl MS 661 M-Tronics with 30" to 36" bars mounted with chains, all 3/8 063. He's tried Oregon, Carlton, and a few other off-brands. In his book, none of these compare to Stihl chain.

Andy said, "If I lose a day fooling with chain that pulls left, right, or snaps, I lose a $1,000 load of logs. I can't afford that."

I agree. If you keep it out of the rocks and dirt, Stihl chain will easily stay sharp twice as long as any other brand I've tried.

I can get good deals on Stihl chain at a local fleet supply so I only buy the other brands if they are really priced to move.

 

[Philbert]

I'm not cutting $1,000 of logs per day, and I don't want to spend $1,000 a year on chains.

I like STIHL chains, but usually happy to use the 'big 3': Oregon STIHL, Carlton.

Since I am a 'scrounger' (er, . . .I mean 'environmental friendly'), I would accept most any chain offered, but I don't see the need to pay $16 a loop for some 3rd party brand chain, when I can get the good stuff for less if I pay attention. I mentioned the Bailey's sale above. Today I saw 2-packs of Oregon 'S56' chain (3/8 low profile, .050 gauge, 56 drive links) on sale for $18.43 (that's $9.22 each for people who struggle with math) at a local retail store. Some people pay more than that to have them sharpened!

Philbert

 

[Little Al]

Yes I agree, deceptive. I will give them feedback either way. But for the price ($11 a loop with free shipping) for 72DL chain I can accept it being ok quality. If it's junk I will send it back

If you only paid $11 to include S&H unless you were getting the deal of the decade it would not be Stihl chain . did they word it as a replacement for Stihl product ie it will fit a Stihl saw being the correct size for what ever saw model. Chinese made chain is a lottery; ranges from not bad to utter crap the only advice I can offer is if you keep it sharpen it before use " I know " but I"ve found it helps & try it, maybe it will be a reasonable one & then again maybe not I've had guys bring Chinese chains in for sharpening both bought at the same time , same size/brand 1 reasonable 1 junk.

 

[Little Al]

I'm not cutting $1,000 of logs per day, and I don't want to spend $1,000 a year on chains.

I like STIHL chains, but usually happy to use the 'big 3': Oregon STIHL, Carlton.

Since I am a 'scrounger' (er, . . .I mean 'environmental friendly'), I would accept most any chain offered, but I don't see the need to pay $16 a loop for some 3rd party brand chain, when I can get the good stuff for less if I pay attention. I mentioned the Bailey's sale above. Today I saw 2-packs of Oregon 'S56' chain (3/8 low profile, .050 gauge, 56 drive links) on sale for $18.43 (that's $9.22 each for people who struggle with math) at a local retail store. Some people pay more than that to have them sharpened!

Philbert

Going off topic a bit, the english description for your scrounging Pilbert would have the description as "Having short arms & deep pockets" not being able to access your $'s easily

 

[Philbert]

That, AND, I hate to see things wasted. So if I can save and re-use a good quality chain I feel good about it. If I can do it for a lot less money than buying new - that's a bonus!

Philbert

 

[Little Al]

That, AND, I hate to see things wasted. So if I can save and re-use a good quality chain I feel good about it. If I can do it for a lot less money than buying new - that's a bonus!

Philbert

Well said & done that man.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Thats why I go out with 5 chains. I have had a day where I rock 4 on things in a tree or mistakes. So far have not had trouble with 5 in a day. I cannot imagine going into the woods with only one.

Andy is a pro and has a dozen chains on his truck the last time I looked. What he refers to here is the time that it takes to change from one lousy chain to a fresh one and the time lost while cutting a huge log with an inferior chain. And, if the chain pulls left or right during the buck cut, he loses log length that the saw mill usually charges against him. A pulling chain can cost him 8" to a foot.

 

[Tenderfoot]

Andy is a pro and has a dozen chains on his truck the last time I looked. What he refers to here is the time that it takes to change from one lousy chain to a fresh one and the time lost while cutting a huge log with an inferior chain. And, if the chain pulls left or right during the buck cut, he loses log length that the saw mill usually charges against him. A pulling chain can cost him 8" to a foot.

I can understand the logic behind that. I just do not agree that Stihl chain is worth the premium. After I file it the stuff acts the same as any other chain and does not last as long. I don't seem to get as many filings out of it as I can with Carlton or Oregon. It seems to be a little better out of the box though. My local shops charge the same for Oregon as they do for Stihl and people still buy the Oregon chain over Stihl.

Have to admit, every time I have had a chain pull it is something I screwed up at some point. Never had a new B & C do that to me. Not saying it does not happen, but Ive yet to see it.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I can understand the logic behind that. I just do not agree that Stihl chain is worth the premium. After I file it the stuff acts the same as any other chain and does not last as long. I don't seem to get as many filings out of it as I can with Carlton or Oregon. It seems to be a little better out of the box though. My local shops charge the same for Oregon as they do for Stihl and people still buy the Oregon chain over Stihl.

Have to admit, every time I have had a chain pull it is something I screwed up at some point. Never had a new B & C do that to me. Not saying it does not happen, but Ive yet to see it.

It happened to us about three years ago. A brand new 100' reel of of Oregon 75LGX would pull to the right about 8" on a 24" log. We actually had two reels do the same thing. Both were replaced by Oregon, but it shut us down for two or three days. The depth gauges (rakers) on one side were all too high. It doesn't take much.

 

[svk]

If you only paid $11 to include S&H unless you were getting the deal of the decade it would not be Stihl chain . did they word it as a replacement for Stihl product ie it will fit a Stihl saw being the correct size for what ever saw model. Chinese made chain is a lottery; ranges from not bad to utter crap the only advice I can offer is if you keep it sharpen it before use " I know " but I"ve found it helps & try it, maybe it will be a reasonable one & then again maybe not I've had guys bring Chinese chains in for sharpening both bought at the same time , same size/brand 1 reasonable 1 junk.

I know, I took a chance they were clearancing out. Regardless the Rotary stuff is decent. I think over the past year I have four loops that were sharpened once and one still NIB. At that rate I'll have spent 55 bucks and have 5-6 years worth of chains.

 

[Tenderfoot]

It happened to us about three years ago. A brand new 100' reel of of Oregon 75LGX would pull to the right about 8" on a 24" log. We actually had two reels do the same thing. Both were replaced by Oregon, but it shut us down for two or three days. The depth gauges (rakers) on one side were all too high. It doesn't take much.

Your the only person I have heard of having that issue. I have heard a lot more folks say that they got a too soft reel of Oregon or it was not sharpened properly. Haven't heard any horror stories about Stihl chain, but nobody I know uses a lot of it.

Nobody here buys reels either. They don't typically have spare chains either. But they have 6 spare saws for the day and no screnches or files.

 

[svk]

Your the only person I have heard of having that issue. I have heard a lot more folks say that they got a too soft reel of Oregon or it was not sharpened properly. Haven't heard any horror stories about Stihl chain, but nobody I know uses a lot of it.

Nobody here buys reels either. They don't typically have spare chains either. But they have 6 spare saws for the day and no screnches or files.

Only 6 spares? Must be 1st stage CAD rookies

 

[Tenderfoot]

Only 6 saws? Must be 1st stage CAD rookies

My new boss, by his words, has about 180 saws and 12 run. Instead of fixing them he just buys another. Im going to try and get a couple off him to fix up as a project. Last I checked he had a few 372s and two 395s sitting around.

 

[svk]

My new boss, by his words, has about 180 saws and 12 run. Instead of fixing them he just buys another. Im going to try and get a couple off him to fix up as a project.

Gasp!

 

[Tenderfoot]

Gasp!

It makes him happy. I dont mind. Id love to get ahold of his 395s and his old style 372s. Between all of them I am sure I can get a couple good running saws.

 

[svk]

I'd bet 3/4 of those just need fuel lines and/or carb kits.

 

[Tenderfoot]

I'd bet 3/4 of those just need fuel lines and/or carb kits.

Honestly, the air filter being blown out is the first thing Id check. I 'fixed' 3 372s for him in August by popping the top covers off and popping the choke lever back in and cleaning the air filters.

 

[Philbert]

(Send me one!)

In business accounting, saws and chains get written off / depreciated, while labor costs . . .

Philbert

 

[Tenderfoot]

(Send me one!)

In business accounting, saws and chains get written off / depreciated, while labor costs . . .

Philbert

If you eat shipping and whatever I pay for it. A number of them have been crushed and complete write offs. I want to get ALL his 372s and 395s and build something good. He has a boat load of Stihl 440s too. Couple 046s I saw. I owe a friend a favor and he is getting a running 372 If I can.