Narrow Kerf Chains

[Lobo]

What is your preference in the narrow kerf offerings out there.

Bailey's Woodsman Pro 20-NK67 chain
Carlton K1NK-BL
Oregons 95VP

Which bar are you matching these up with ?

 

[SWE#Kipp]

the only ones available here in Sweden is is the oregon 95vp / husky pixel chain which are the same i think ,, i run it with husky original bar (made in Norway) one 13" and one 15" works very nice, though i think the bars are a little to soft they wear quite rapidly i think even with the oiler at max.
maybe there are other chains, if so they are not easy to find


saws
133sg
346xpg
372xpg

/Kristoffer

 

[SawTroll]

I use 95VP on my Husky 353, and the same Norwegian bars that Kristoffer mentioned. Husky H30 and Jred S30 is the same chain as 95VP, made by Oregon.
Those chains is the only .325 NK chain with the low-vibe feature, and cuts very fast and smooth.

As for bars, I think the Husky and Jred bars offered in North America are "rebadged" Oregon Micro-lite pro, and Micro-lite pro is availiable for the Stihl saw you probably want it for (I just checked).

Carlton is the only other maker of .325 NK bars that I know of, but Tony Marks has mentioned that He use a bar marked "Arbor Pro" and 95VP on his 026 (or was it MS260?).

 

[Bill G]

I have some narrow kerf .325 Oregon bars here that I have not done anything with. What is different about them and can regular .325 chain be ran on them ?


Bill

 

[SWE#Kipp]

i have run stihl rm 0.50 on my husky bars (nk) and haven't noticed any problems ,,,

/Kristoffer

 

[Lawn Masters]

The difference I believe is that the NK bars are slightly narrower, which the NK chain benifits from. its something I cant explain easily, but I could probably show better, though I'm too lazy to draw a diagram saying what I want to. narrower bar+narrower kerf chain, faster cutting. NK bar+ regular chain, I dont know, but would think slightly faster cutting times due to less drag from the bar.

 

[Lobo]

I have some narrow kerf .325 Oregon bars here that I have not done anything with. What is different about them and can regular .325 chain be ran on them ?


Bill

The idea is, being narrower there is less contact with the wood, therefore less friction giving you more usable net hp.

This means cleaner cuts, less saw chips and faster cutting.

Bare in mind the true Oregon NK has less width than a standard .325 pitch .050 gauge bar.

 

[SawTroll]

I have some narrow kerf .325 Oregon bars here that I have not done anything with. What is different about them and can regular .325 chain be ran on them ?Bill

I have never ran std chain on NK bar, but I would think that the chain will get less than desirable support, which could lead to accelerated wear and a greater risk for crooked cutting.

 

[brent denny]

Sawtroll, your thinking is logical but I have to say that I have ran quite a bit of oregon 20lp on a NK bar with no extra wear or problems with crooked cutting. Mixing NK and standard stuff seems to work OK but of course optimum performance and cutting attachment life will result when using the recommended combinations.

 

[SawTroll]

Good info Brent!
20LP is exactly what I have been thinking on trying!

 

[TimberPig]

Isn't the chassis of narrow kerf pretty close to the same width as standard chain, mostly the cutter tooth is narrower? And the bar is also a tiny bit narrower to reduce the drag in the narrower kerf?

 

[brent denny]

Yes, that is correct.

 

[SWE#Kipp]

Sawtroll can you get 20lp in Norway ???
Here in Sweden i cant get it

/Kristoffer

 

[SawTroll]

Sawtroll can you get 20lp in Norway ???
Here in Sweden i cant get it
/Kristoffer

So far I don't really know.
I have never seen one in a sawshop , so it will have to be spesial order. It really is a PITA to get both Oregon and Stihl chain that isn't standard on new saws here...... :angry2: ......but I will include it in my next Oregon order and see what happens.
I ordered a 75LP chain several months ago to compare it to 36RSC on my 361, and still haven't got it. 73 is standard.......

 

[SWE#Kipp]

i did try to order it here in Sweden but the store i talked to said that oregon didn't do them anymore ,,, figure that one out eayhh ,,,,

/Kristoffer

 

[Tazman1602]

Sawtroll can you get 20lp in Norway ???
Here in Sweden i cant get it

/Kristoffer

Hello,

I'm quite new here, just found this site although I've cut my share of wood over the last 30 years. If you guys have trouble getting these chains can't you either get one of the guys from the States to ship them to you or find a seller on ebay who would ship them to you?

I'm guessing maybe shipping would kill you eh?....................

Had about a ten year layoff of cutting but had to go back to it because gas/propane prices in northern Michigan got so high this year. You guys on this forum have been a WEALTH of information to me.

Art
1980 Pro-Mac 610, 2006 Husky 353

 

[bookerdog]

What is your preference in the narrow kerf offerings out there.

Bailey's Woodsman Pro 20-NK67 chain
Carlton K1NK-BL
Oregons 95VP

Which bar are you matching these up with ?

I think the bailey's and carlton are the same chain. I have used both and like bailey's better it cuts alittle faster. The oregon 95vp is very very smooth.

 

[SawTroll]

I think the bailey's and carlton are the same chain. I have used both and like bailey's better it cuts alittle faster. The oregon 95vp is very very smooth.

Yes, about the 95VP, but the 21LP is just as smooth - and more effective on stronger saws, like the new 50cc 346xp......

 

[Edge & Engine]

Just for the record, regular .325 can be run on a narrow-kerf bar, but like it's been said, do not use narrow-kerf .325 (95VP) on a standard kerf bar.
Oregon specs.

 

[SawTroll]

Just for the record, regular .325 can be run on a narrow-kerf bar, but like it's been said, do not use narrow-kerf .325 (95VP) on a standard kerf bar.
Oregon specs.

Well, it can be done - but only with new chain for test purposes - it is no lasting solution with NK chain on a regular bar.