Stihl RS, Oregon LPX, Carlton Full Chisel

[toolmaker]

Maybe I have the manufacturers designation wrong, but I am talking about Full Chisel chain for all three.
Which is your favorite?

 

[farmer steve]

I was gifted a Oregon EXL which I haven't tried yet. I think that's their newest chain on the market. I was also given some Oregon RM? safety chain to run on my 261. Seems softer than my usual Stihl chain when hand filing.

 

[stilh036prohog]

I run Oregon exl now because it cuts good and get at cost from buddy

 

[Kyfan]

I like stihl chain but I get Oregon alot cheaper. Plus Oregon sharpens alot easier for me

 

[sundance]

I run mostly Carlton (sales at Bailey's) and some Oregon. Only a few Stihl through the years. All seem to work and I'm not good enough to offer a real value judgement.

 

[Lionsfan]

I tried a couple loops of Carlton last year. It was nice and soft, easy to file like Oregon but it didn't have a witness mark on the top and it was hard for me to get it sharpened right. I also tried some Forester stuff last year. It really seemed to hold an edge, but it was tough to file once it was dull. Guys are saying the C83/C85 Husqvarna stuff is nice for the money, but I've yet to try it. Running EXL Oregon at the moment. Similar hardness to LGX, which I like since it's easy to file free-hand, but it doesn't seem to stretch quite so much.

 

[svk]

Stihl chain will hold an edge longer but costs significantly more. I tried some Carlton and it did not seem to cut as fast as Stihl or Oregon. I have mostly Oregon LGX and Trilink full chisel now as well as a couple loops of EXL that I have not yet used.

The only knock on Stihl other than the price is that it is a bear to hand sharpen if it has been rocked.

 

[peak-industry]

Stihl best, not mention costs