woodsjunkie
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Hi guys, I'm want to do a small test, I am being told that .325 chain will cut faster than 3/8 chain on a smaller cc power tuned saw. so who makes the best .325 chain? Thanks ahead for the info
What is the best .325 chain ?
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Walt Galer
ArboristSite Operative
Howdy,
In my opinion, Windsor 50JL (.050 chisel in .325 pitch). This is the largest and most aggressive of the .325 chain cutters, designed for Maximum performance. (Of course I'm prejudiced having worked with the design engineer, Gordon Porritt).
Regards,
Walt Galer
In my opinion, Windsor 50JL (.050 chisel in .325 pitch). This is the largest and most aggressive of the .325 chain cutters, designed for Maximum performance. (Of course I'm prejudiced having worked with the design engineer, Gordon Porritt).
Regards,
Walt Galer
woodsjunkie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Thanks Walt, I have never used any .325 pitch chain.
The 50JL dose it have the supper hard crome . Do i need to use supper good files? file size 3/16 ?
The 50JL dose it have the supper hard crome . Do i need to use supper good files? file size 3/16 ?
Walt Galer
ArboristSite Operative
Howdy,
No, It does not need anything special in the files. Of course good files are a good investment. Among commonly available: Vallorbe,(Swiss) or Pherd (German). Carlton brand are Pherd. Viahalla (fin) files would be next. Most off brands may be the Finish file. The country of origin stamp will give it away. The Finish file is quite OK. I'd avoid Oberg (Portugese) or Oregon. Nicholson died years ago in chainsaw files in my opinion, so USA files are out of consideration.
Yes, the Chrome plate is hard. In fact darn hard if they have maintained the quality control like we had on it when I was with the company. Since it has been take over by first Sandvik, then Snap-on, and now Oregon, I haven't a clue!
Regards,
Walt Galer
No, It does not need anything special in the files. Of course good files are a good investment. Among commonly available: Vallorbe,(Swiss) or Pherd (German). Carlton brand are Pherd. Viahalla (fin) files would be next. Most off brands may be the Finish file. The country of origin stamp will give it away. The Finish file is quite OK. I'd avoid Oberg (Portugese) or Oregon. Nicholson died years ago in chainsaw files in my opinion, so USA files are out of consideration.
Yes, the Chrome plate is hard. In fact darn hard if they have maintained the quality control like we had on it when I was with the company. Since it has been take over by first Sandvik, then Snap-on, and now Oregon, I haven't a clue!
Regards,
Walt Galer
tundraotto
Addicted to ArboristSite
walt - whats the reason for the existance of low profile 3/8 vs the .325 chain? the narrower chain doesnt clear the chips as well as the 3/8 does it? what they were after was less drag correct? what about the lo-pro 3/8 - where does this chain stand - it seems to be the chain of choice for the low end saws (re: price).
jokers
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hi Woodsjunkie, here is a pic of a comparison between three Oregon chains. The top one in the pic is 3/8s 73LG, the middle one is 34LG which is touted as an aggressive .325 professional chain. The bottom one is 21LP which is also .325 but it has bumpers. Look closely at the cutter size between the three. The 21LP is very close to the 73LG which are both substantially larger and higher profile than the 34LG, or God forbid, the other garden variety consumer .325 chains. Huskyman turned me onto this difference since I had assumed that LG is LG if you know what I mean. The 21LP is very fast and might be a good basis for a competition chain with some mods to it`s design. Hope the picture is clear enough. Russ
woodsjunkie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Russ, Yes i do see what you mean, Looks like if you wear to do a littel work on the bumper links might work well, thanks for the info. Eric
Dennis
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Oregon Files
Walt you mentioned to avoid the Oregon files....????...Are they not Swiss made by Vallorbe?..Same as the files in the Jonsered boxes....when I was sales rep for Jonsered they were offering trips to the Vallorbe factory if one sold X number of files.
Husqvarna now uses Pferd files in their labelled boxes, which is probably my most popular.....
Walt you mentioned to avoid the Oregon files....????...Are they not Swiss made by Vallorbe?..Same as the files in the Jonsered boxes....when I was sales rep for Jonsered they were offering trips to the Vallorbe factory if one sold X number of files.
Husqvarna now uses Pferd files in their labelled boxes, which is probably my most popular.....
woodsjunkie
Addicted to ArboristSite
Thanks for all the info guys. Leaving on vacation, Wife says i can't pack a saw She dosen't think they need any palm trees cut in Punta Cana, So i suppose I will be lost all week.
A whole week with out a saw !!!! Going to be hell!!!!
A whole week with out a saw !!!! Going to be hell!!!!
Walt Galer
ArboristSite Operative
Howdy Dennis,
If it is Vallorbe, it will say made in Switzerland on the box. Oregon tried to make their own file, using a knurl for the first cut, and fewer teeth per inch. They may have given up on it.
If it is Vallorbe, it will say made in Switzerland on the box. Oregon tried to make their own file, using a knurl for the first cut, and fewer teeth per inch. They may have given up on it.
Walt Galer
ArboristSite Operative
Howdy Tundraotto,
The 3/8 low profile (91 series) chains were made for the purpose of having fewer parts per inch, (compared to 1/4 pitch which it replaced) and to use plain carbon steel alloy. In otherwords a birdy chain: Cheap - Cheap.
The 3/8 low profile (91 series) chains were made for the purpose of having fewer parts per inch, (compared to 1/4 pitch which it replaced) and to use plain carbon steel alloy. In otherwords a birdy chain: Cheap - Cheap.
Dennis
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Walt, ok, they are still made by Vallorbe then...had me wondering there for a minute...
tundraotto
Addicted to ArboristSite
thats a nice pic of the chains side by side Russ - they dont look all that different until you have them side-by-side...
walt- thanks, this could explain how my 136 (3/8 lopro) seems to wear the cutters much quicker than the 372. bad steel huh! . well i dont really use it that much anymore...
walt- thanks, this could explain how my 136 (3/8 lopro) seems to wear the cutters much quicker than the 372. bad steel huh! . well i dont really use it that much anymore...
jokers
Addicted to ArboristSite
3/8 Lo Pro Alternatives
Hi Walt, or anyone else who can answer this, is there any alternative to the 91 chains, ie:91VS that the Stihl 019T uses, other than the Stihl version? Russ
Hi Walt, or anyone else who can answer this, is there any alternative to the 91 chains, ie:91VS that the Stihl 019T uses, other than the Stihl version? Russ
Walt Galer
ArboristSite Operative
Howdy Jokers,
The better chain of this type would be Carlton N1C (without guardlinks) if you can get it. Otherwise you are somewhat stuck. You might take a good look at the Stihl. Recently they changed the cutter design to one that you can actually get a file into for at least most of it's life! Problem now is they all seem to have the guardlink.
Radical guardlinks such as used in these chains are great for reducing kickback, but they detract from the cutting performance alarmingly. For someone not experienced with the saws, It is best to go with the guardlink. The Oregon design is the easiest to maintain, in my opinion. The others get in the way of the depthgauge, and are difficult to file correctly since they are over on the otherside of the chain and with a tail that flexes and is inline with the depthgauge.
Regards,
Walt Galer
The better chain of this type would be Carlton N1C (without guardlinks) if you can get it. Otherwise you are somewhat stuck. You might take a good look at the Stihl. Recently they changed the cutter design to one that you can actually get a file into for at least most of it's life! Problem now is they all seem to have the guardlink.
Radical guardlinks such as used in these chains are great for reducing kickback, but they detract from the cutting performance alarmingly. For someone not experienced with the saws, It is best to go with the guardlink. The Oregon design is the easiest to maintain, in my opinion. The others get in the way of the depthgauge, and are difficult to file correctly since they are over on the otherside of the chain and with a tail that flexes and is inline with the depthgauge.
Regards,
Walt Galer
Walt Galer
ArboristSite Operative
Howdy Tundraotto,
Yes, the 91 series chains were always on 1050 or 1055 plain carbon steel. This means that there should be more wear under exactly even conditions due to the near absense of any chrome or nickle in the alloy, even if the parts are at the same hardness.
My information on this is a bit old, but I believe it is still the same story. I'm going to start a new thread on the various alloys, if I can get this format to do columns!
Regards,
Walt Galer
Yes, the 91 series chains were always on 1050 or 1055 plain carbon steel. This means that there should be more wear under exactly even conditions due to the near absense of any chrome or nickle in the alloy, even if the parts are at the same hardness.
My information on this is a bit old, but I believe it is still the same story. I'm going to start a new thread on the various alloys, if I can get this format to do columns!
Regards,
Walt Galer
thacket
ArboristSite Lurker
Sabre brand chain
Hi All,
Does anyone run Sabre .325 chain? Is it good, bad or indifferent? Thanks.
All the Best,
John
Hi All,
Does anyone run Sabre .325 chain? Is it good, bad or indifferent? Thanks.
All the Best,
John
jokers
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hey Woodsjunkie!
Check out the pics of the three chains in my earlier reply to this post. Russ
Check out the pics of the three chains in my earlier reply to this post. Russ
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