So...for fast cutting in Hard Maple, Cherry, Ash, and Beech whats the best, Stihl Chisel or Oregon? (Or something else). What this for my Bigger J-reds. Looking for speed and durability of course!
Stihl Chain vs. Oregon
- Thread starter weimedog
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Anthony_Va.
XPW Fan Club
I give durability to Stihl chain. Oregon is easier to sharpen though. Softer metal in Oregon chain.
Speed, not sure never compared side by side. Stihl is fat enough for me though and holds the edge better. Oregon may be a little cheaper.
Speed, not sure never compared side by side. Stihl is fat enough for me though and holds the edge better. Oregon may be a little cheaper.
SawTroll
Information Collector
The Oregon can get sharper, the Stihl will keep the sharpness a tad longer - if you touch up the chain pretty often, like you should, it doesn't matter much. 
My personal favourites are Oregon LP in .325 (it is definately faster than Stihl RSC), and Stihl RSC in 3/8".
I have no love for Carlton chain, but the chisel 3/8" ones aren't really bad, except that they lack the low-vibe feature.
My personal favourites are Oregon LP in .325 (it is definately faster than Stihl RSC), and Stihl RSC in 3/8".
I have no love for Carlton chain, but the chisel 3/8" ones aren't really bad, except that they lack the low-vibe feature.
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dingeryote
Blueberry Baron
RSC and LGX are about even out of the box IMO.
Give it half a tank of cutting though, and the RSC will be noticeably ahead.
I really LIKE the way LGX cuts and sharpens, and it's smooth as glass, but it just wont hold a dadgum edge for me, and even if I have someone else file or grind it.
Too bad cuz, it's CHEAP!!
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
Give it half a tank of cutting though, and the RSC will be noticeably ahead.
I really LIKE the way LGX cuts and sharpens, and it's smooth as glass, but it just wont hold a dadgum edge for me, and even if I have someone else file or grind it.
Too bad cuz, it's CHEAP!!
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
Zombiechopper
Addicted to ArboristSite
Stihl chain is the best there is for 3/8. Woodland Pro Carlton is almost as good. Oregon is a distant third at least for reg 3/8 chisel because its too soft. I am waiting to receive an order with some semi chisel 3/8 low pro 91VXL and I will do a comparison with Stihl and WP lo pro.
SawTroll
Information Collector
I don't like LGX much (but have no problem using it), either in the cut or how it sharpens - but that is just an opinion. It is neither as fast or as smooth as the ol' LP + harder to sharpen. Maybe it will last longer, but I don't really care, at that cost!
mikefunaro
Addicted to ArboristSite
I *love* the way LGX sharpens. That's the one chain I look forward to touching up. It cleans up so much faster and easier than other chains IME. That said, you definitely dont have to touch up as much with stihl. it's a trade off. I can now get stihl for about the same price as I can get the oregon, so I'm running Stihl.
Stihl lasts longer, LGX sharpens easier. If you're going to hit stuff that's going to dull regardless, might as well use LGX imo. A lot of the time I'm lazy and kinda risk hitting a little bit of dirt on the forest floor rather than spending lots of time to jack stuff up. Especially if there are some leaves and other decaying but relatively clean organic matter. Given this practice, if I do some digging, I'm going to have to sharpen regardless.
Mike
Stihl lasts longer, LGX sharpens easier. If you're going to hit stuff that's going to dull regardless, might as well use LGX imo. A lot of the time I'm lazy and kinda risk hitting a little bit of dirt on the forest floor rather than spending lots of time to jack stuff up. Especially if there are some leaves and other decaying but relatively clean organic matter. Given this practice, if I do some digging, I'm going to have to sharpen regardless.
Mike
I don't think stihl chain is worth what they ask of it. I use oregon mostly but have one stihl chain. It doesn't seem to hold an edge much better than the oregon. I use quite a bit of square ground chain and file some of it round. I don't know if the teeth are different from the LGX to the CK and CKX but it seems to hold an edge right with the stihl chain I've got.
2000ssm6
Stihl User
You won't find a better work chain than Stihl. I've used all the other guys stuff and the edge just doesn't keep up. I guess it depends on how often you want to stop and sharpen.
troutfisher
Addicted to ArboristSite
I would buy a loop of each and decide for yourself. There are lots of opinions here, and some plain bad information.
BloodOnTheIce
Addicted to ArboristSite
I'll bring some loops with me next time I come down and we can see what works best.
outdoortype
ArboristSite Guru
I agree with Mikefunaro......
I've been using both LGX, RS, and RSC the past couple years and they're all awesome chains. I used to say that Stihl held an edge way longer than Oregon but it seems like I have to touch up reguardless. I'm like Mikefunaro in that I'm cutting firewood on the ground and sometimes dirty.
I've been using both LGX, RS, and RSC the past couple years and they're all awesome chains. I used to say that Stihl held an edge way longer than Oregon but it seems like I have to touch up reguardless. I'm like Mikefunaro in that I'm cutting firewood on the ground and sometimes dirty.
SawTroll
Information Collector
You won't find a better work chain than Stihl. I've used all the other guys stuff and the edge just doesn't keep up. I guess it depends on how often you want to stop and sharpen.
I like both RSC and RM in 3/8", but not so well in .325 - Oregon has better options in that pitch!
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Another Stihl vs. Oregon chain merry-go-round, hold up, I want on. Oregon LPX in .325 and LGX in 3/8ths for me. Truthfully the hackberry I cut aint the hardest hardwood out there so there may be better choices in the woods you mentioned. The biggest difference I notice is not in cutting performance but in price. REJ2
Zombiechopper
Addicted to ArboristSite
Price is definitely a factor for me as well. In that category the Baileys WoodlandPro made by Carlton really shines. Its hardened like Stihl chain and cheaper than Oregon. Really good stuff. It was actually a rant about Oregon that I started where it was suggested I try it so some good can come from these threads!
Sprintcar
Chainsaw Slut
+1. Asking what chain is better is like asking who's got the better truck, Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Worse than that who's got the ugliest kid? Or heaven forbid on this joint, Stihl vs Husky.
Both the Oregon and Stihl chain have good points, and bad points. The best way to decide which is best is do like I did, buy two or more identical loops and run them on the saw you like the best. After comparing the both of them it comes down to what you really need in a chain. I'm at the point to whatever comes out of the coffee can or bucket full of chains and oil, 325 or 3/8 and goes on the saw, I really don't care who made it. Both are good, and maybe I'm too ignorant to tell the difference anymore.
Buy what you like, you won't feel bad at all.
J.W Younger
ass kissing impaired
good advise+1. Asking what chain is better is like asking who's got the better truck, Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Worse than that who's got the ugliest kid? Or heaven forbid on this joint, Stihl vs Husky.
Both the Oregon and Stihl chain have good points, and bad points. The best way to decide which is best is do like I did, buy two or more identical loops and run them on the saw you like the best. After comparing the both of them it comes down to what you really need in a chain. I'm at the point to whatever comes out of the coffee can or bucket full of chains and oil, 325 or 3/8 and goes on the saw, I really don't care who made it. Both are good, and maybe I'm too ignorant to tell the difference anymore.
Buy what you like, you won't feel bad at all.
I prefer the orgeon lp over the lg but thats just me.
Also in .325 the lp is my favorite,I run all .050 guage on all my saws and the oregon is built on a .058 drive link unless you run .063, this gives a little narrower kerf.
Zombiechopper
Addicted to ArboristSite
+1. Asking what chain is better is like asking who's got the better truck, Ford, Chevy or Dodge. Worse than that who's got the ugliest kid? Or heaven forbid on this joint, Stihl vs Husky.
Both the Oregon and Stihl chain have good points, and bad points. The best way to decide which is best is do like I did, buy two or more identical loops and run them on the saw you like the best. After comparing the both of them it comes down to what you really need in a chain. I'm at the point to whatever comes out of the coffee can or bucket full of chains and oil, 325 or 3/8 and goes on the saw, I really don't care who made it. Both are good, and maybe I'm too ignorant to tell the difference anymore.
Buy what you like, you won't feel bad at all.
And yet they are different
If one doesn't have a magic coffee can full of chains and has to buy a new one then you need to choose somehow. Threads like this provide the info to choose without buying something you don't want
dingeryote
Blueberry Baron
Yeah.
I used to run ONLY Stihl RM untill I got talked into the WP SC here.
I never noticed vibes from a chain either. LOL!!!
Cheap is cheap, and I'll run whatever I have on hand that I got on sale, but tend to run ugly chain and cheap LGX on fence rows with wire. LOL!!!
Got some clean Oak and Cherry to drop this fall, and may just see how far LGX goes without sand and wire in the bark.
It's CHEAP!!!!!!
Stay safe!
Dingeryote
Sprintcar
Chainsaw Slut
And yet they are different
Not a truer statement has ever been made on this joint. For keeping things simple 20 LP and 72 LP are hard to beat. I just wish that magical coffee can was full of money, instead of oily chains.
