max2cam
ArboristSite Guru
I was looking at the RedMax Chainsaw website and they look like really nice high-quality saws.
But like my Jap-made Echo the RedMax has a chrome-lined cylinder. It seems like the Asian brands still use hard-chrome while the Euros have gone over to Nikasil. I wonder why the Asian saws stick to hard-chrome? The Nikasil seems to have advantages.
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"The Nikasil coating used in our cylinders is a nickel and silicon carbide matrix coating about 0.07mm (.0025-.003") thick. The nickel matrix is very hard, but it is comparatively ductile, whereas chrome is brittle. Dispersed through the nickel are particles of silicon carbide less than 4 microns in size. These extremely hard particles make up 4% of the coating and form a multitude of adhesion spots on which oil can collect. Beside providing a very long wearing surface for the piston and rings, the silicon carbide particles also contribute to longer engine life by ensuring good cylinder lubrication".
"This superior process was developed by the German firm Mahle, originally for use in the Mercedes Wankel rotary. Porsche uses Nikasil in their turbocharged 917 - 935 series of race cars. In racing two strokes both Morbidelli and Rotax have had great success with Nikasil and of course it is used in thousands of professional grade chainsaws. The major drawback to chrome plating is the fact that chrome can flake. It is also easily damaged by dirt inducted into the motor."
Reprinted from Graham Bell's book, "Two Stroke Performance Tuning"
http://www.brisonaircraft.com/cylinders.htm
But like my Jap-made Echo the RedMax has a chrome-lined cylinder. It seems like the Asian brands still use hard-chrome while the Euros have gone over to Nikasil. I wonder why the Asian saws stick to hard-chrome? The Nikasil seems to have advantages.
=================
"The Nikasil coating used in our cylinders is a nickel and silicon carbide matrix coating about 0.07mm (.0025-.003") thick. The nickel matrix is very hard, but it is comparatively ductile, whereas chrome is brittle. Dispersed through the nickel are particles of silicon carbide less than 4 microns in size. These extremely hard particles make up 4% of the coating and form a multitude of adhesion spots on which oil can collect. Beside providing a very long wearing surface for the piston and rings, the silicon carbide particles also contribute to longer engine life by ensuring good cylinder lubrication".
"This superior process was developed by the German firm Mahle, originally for use in the Mercedes Wankel rotary. Porsche uses Nikasil in their turbocharged 917 - 935 series of race cars. In racing two strokes both Morbidelli and Rotax have had great success with Nikasil and of course it is used in thousands of professional grade chainsaws. The major drawback to chrome plating is the fact that chrome can flake. It is also easily damaged by dirt inducted into the motor."
Reprinted from Graham Bell's book, "Two Stroke Performance Tuning"
http://www.brisonaircraft.com/cylinders.htm