chainsaw chains

justjeepin86

justjeepin86

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2005
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
I don't know crap about chains. So, I'm in need of a new bar and chain for my Stihl 029 super that I scored for free. The saw works decent, but cuts crooked as shit. Can I run a full chisel chain on that saw and it handle it? Also, I have never run a full chisel chain and don't know how they behave. Of course, they have the disclaimer about only highly experienced operators should use them. Looking to buy a new 20" oregon bar and chain that's a semi chisel. But, I also wanted to try something more aggressive.
 
Best bet is take it to a Stihl dealer and say i need a bar and chain for this saw and don’t get the green chain get the yellow and you’ll be happy. Don’t buy a chain off amazon or eBay they are crap


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Loganwayne said:
Best bet is take it to a Stihl dealer and say i need a bar and chain for this saw and don’t get the green chain get the yellow and you’ll be happy. Don’t buy a chain off amazon or eBay they are crap


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Only problem I have with that is the bar, by itself, at the dealer is $60. I hate to do that for as much as I cut wood. But, I also understand the difference in quality.
 
justjeepin86 said:
Only problem I have with that is the bar, by itself, at the dealer is $60. I hate to do that for as much as I cut wood. But, I also understand the difference in quality.
Click to expand...

If you don’t use it that much get a Oregon bar and chain from Lowe’s for 60 bucks and use it till it’s dull and get a stihl chain then


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Shouldn’t be IF it comes in the package shown.
I bought a chain off of amazon showed it in a stihl box and it can in a regular brown box, broke within a hour. If it’s in original packaging it should be fine


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Stihl RSC chain is about the best quality chain out there. Most likely it is cutting crooked because of dull teeth on one side, but it could possible be wear or bend on the bar. Replace the chain, and try it. I bet you'll be surprised at how straight and fast it cuts.

Post up some pics of the cutting edge on the chain you currently have and we can critique it. It could probably be sharpened back to proper geometry, but nothing beats a new chain.
 
jeepinmatt said:
Stihl RSC chain is about the best quality chain out there. Most likely it is cutting crooked because of dull teeth on one side, but it could possible be wear or bend on the bar. Replace the chain, and try it. I bet you'll be surprised at how straight and fast it cuts.

Post up some pics of the cutting edge on the chain you currently have and we can critique it. It could probably be sharpened back to proper geometry, but nothing beats a new chain.
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I bought a new stihl chain last year. It still cuts crooked. You can see the wear on the bar where it has worn down. The chain is really sloppy left to right in the bar slot. And they both are .062. I always take my chains to the hardware store to sharpen them. He's gonna do a better job than me for $5. I actually think I may hit the Ace today and get a new Stihl bar and chain. Screw it.
 
I buy all my chains and bars from Bailey’s online. It is a lot more convenient for me to order online and have it waiting at home a few days later. I like their woodland pro chains. It is carlton chain that is repackaged. I like a semi chisel for cutting firewood and a full chisel for cutting standing trees. I have Husqvarna saws and bars, except one 24” carlton bar on a xp372.
 
alot of people cant file a chain correctly. Its hard to get both sides even. One side seems natural when sharpening and the other is just awkward. count your strokes on each tooth keeping them the same on the easy side. When you switch to the awkward side go one or two extra strokes. Ive shown a few people that so they could get an even cut til they get used to sharpening a saw.
 
Pless said:
The chainsaw connoisseurs here may laugh me out for this, but try flipping the bar upside down with a good/new chain. I do this ever so often on my saws to get more use out of a bar.
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I've always thought you were supposed to flip the bar from time to time. I always have.

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New Stihl bar and chain. Cut like a champ. Nice and straight I do think it's more the bar. I bought one of the same chain last year, and it still cut crooked.
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And the saw looks like shit because I got it from my mother in law. Her husband leaves everything sitting outside. Still hard to beat for free. Pulled the carb and cleaned it, then it runs great.

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Having grown up in 2 "saw shops", we regularly dressed bars (where the sides are uneven) by setting the stop on a bench grinder at 90* and going slowly... most will take a couple of clean-ups before the depth is shorter that the drivers on the chain.
Also, have sharpened 1000s of chains that were maintained by folks using files, rotary burrs, etc. that could have easily been done by a 3 year year old!
Spend the $4-5 to have the chains cleaned up on a sharpener that will make the angles all the same and slap anyone that doesn't file the drags!
For those that insist on files, keep in mind that you only need to sharpen the chromium (layered on top of cutter)

Additional info... most of the stock chain uses semi-chisel (rounded corner) cutters... full-chisel (squared cutter) will easily double the performance and reduce the amount of work you do by letting the saw work :flipoff2:

 
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