short bar testing .325 vs 3/8th

[Redbull661]

Tree Monkey 064/650 hybrid

stihl .050 81dl .325 RS chain - we ran the chain stock, then lowered the rakers 5 or 6 times before it felt right in the cut. Then cut it square on the silvey

stihl .050 72dl 3/8 RS chain - lowered the rakers and cut it square on the silvey.


pine log #1
.325 9pin 3.14 3.28

3/8 8pin 3.28 3.07

pine log #2
.325 9pin 5.1 up, 4.5 dwn

3/8 8pin 4.5 up, 4.2 dwn

maple log #1

.325 9pin 7.9 dwn

3/8 8pin 7.5 dwn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8NyRWEABQ

 

[Redbull661]

trying it on Tree Monkey 661...

.325 9pin pine #1 3.09 (then cut few 6" off to get out of some knots) 2.92 2.79

3/8 8pin pine #1 2.65 2.51

.325 9pin pine #2 - 4.4 up cut, 4.1 dwn cut

3/8 8pin pine #2 - 4.6 up cut, 4.9 dwn cut

.325 9pin maple #1 - 7.2

3/8 pin maple #1 - 7.2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xuv0oDzRUk


so then I added 2 other chains and 2 more logs to the mix...

stihl 72dl .050 3/8 RSK - K for "klassic" which has a not as wide raker as regular or the current "RS". Might be some other differences maybe someone can chime in on those? Anyway this chain was cut just like the above tested "RS". Rakers lowered and then cut square on the silvey

Stihl 72dl .050 3/8 RSLH - rakers lowered and recut on the silvey.


661 8pin 3/8ths RSK - pine #1 2.44 2.44
https://youtu.be/edKTwYvj1E4

661 9pin 3/8 RSLH - pine #1 2.58 2.58
https://youtu.be/Se1fbU0U2yQ


661 8pin 3/8ths RSK - Maple #1 6.9
https://youtu.be/JklRty75rss


661 9pin 3/8ths RSLH - maple #1 7.5
https://youtu.be/4Po_M7z-bHM



switched to 7pin on the RSK - maple #1 7.1 (got 6.9 with 8pin above) also did some up cuts on "maple #2" 7.0 7.0
https://youtu.be/B9iTj4jj39A


here is the RS 8pin on maple #2 up cuts 7.7sec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf6ROTETRv8

here is RSK 8pin on maple #2 up cuts 7.3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bjP6oCC6yI

here is 9pin RSLH on maple #2 up cuts - 7.4 7.5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX041ON4Tz0

here is 8pin RSLH on maple #2 up cuts - 7.4 7.4 (starts out with some down cuts first)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M5q095paSw


conclusions for me would be..

1. the tree monkey 64/650 hybrid is pretty dang fast

2. 325 can be made fast on the big saw. But I think 3/8ths is easier to make fast and eventually if you developed both to the nth degree the 3/8ths would edge out 325 but only slightly.

3. the full comp seemed to outshine the semi skip

4. the smaller not as wide raker on the RSK chain seems to help.

5. the 2 yellow highlights pretty much sum it up for me. 7pin RSK had advantage in upcut. while the 8pin had the advantage in the down cut. Since we usually race, doing 2 down cuts and 1 up cut I'd take the 8pin.

 

[sunfish]

Interesting, pretty close. Would like to see this on a ported 50cc saw.

 

[RyeThomas]

I can’t keep up with all the data but goodness all the videos make me want a 661 again!!!

 

[Dub11]

@Redbull661 how do you think a 10 pin .325 would run?

 

[cobey]

I don't dig sharpening all them little
.325 teeth, but 50cc and under saws really
Seem to like it

 

[Keith Gandy]

@Redbull661 how do you think a 10 pin .325 would run?

I ran a ported 361 with 9 pin 325. Slowed it down considerably. No torque

 

[Dub11]

I ran a ported 361 with 9 pin 325. Slowed it down considerably. No torque

I believe it but I'm talking about monkey saw pulling it.

 

[ferris]

@Redbull661
Can u make some pics too show us the different between the RS and the RSK

 

[Wolverine]

Interesting, pretty close. Would like to see this on a ported 50cc saw.

I posted it a while back with pretty much the same results. 3/8 a tad faster, .325 a bit smoother.

 

[mdavlee]

Stihl RS/C chain sucks compared to Rsk

 

[Wood Doctor]

One of these days, I'd like to see tests run on semi-chisel and full chisel for noodle cutting. My gut feeling is that 3/8" semi-chisel works the best, but I've never seen proof of that, one way or the other. Most tests are always done on buck cuts as shown here and seldom on noodle cuts. Longevity (holding a sharp edge) might be more important than speed.

Regardless, there was lots of work shown here and I appreciate the results. My hat's off to RedBull and his chug-a-lug barmaid avatar.

 

[mdavlee]

Noodling is easier on the cutters. It's hard to gave equal size wood to test noodle cuts since they go long ways too.

 

[Wood Doctor]

Noodling is easier on the cutters. It's hard to gave equal size wood to test noodle cuts since they go long ways too.

I agree and noodle cuts always go "long ways". I have to noodle cut most of my big rounds in half or in quarters to process the big ones into firewood (occasionally sixths). Lifting 250 pound rounds is not very easy these days fot me. So, I noodle cut them down. It saves my back:

So, I still say that we need to test for the best chain for noodle cutting. In my case, multiply this Pic times 100 or more per year.

 

[mdavlee]

I agree and noodle cuts always go "long ways". I have to noodle cut most of my big rounds in half or in quarters to process the big ones into firewood (occasionally sixths). Lifting 250 pound rounds is not very easy these days fot me. So, I noodle cut them down. It saves my back:
View attachment 93319
So, I still say that we need to test for the best chain for noodle cutting. In my case, multiply this Pic times 100 or more per year.

404 skip chisel. Very durable and a wider kerf.

 

[Wood Doctor]

404 skip chisel. Very durable and a wider kerf.

404 chain? Hard to believe that monster is needed. I've used 3/8" pitch chain for all noodle cutting for the last 20 years. But, should it be semi-chisel, full chisel, or (gasp!) skip tooth?

 

[mdavlee]

404 chain? Hard to believe that monster is needed. I've used 3/8" pitch chain for all noodle cutting for the last 20 years. But, should it be semi-chisel, full chisel, or (gasp!) skip tooth?

The wider kwrf clears better and doesn't clog as easy. Only thing I prefer 404 for. I went back to 3/8" on everything since I haven't been cutting any firewood all year

 

[Keith Gandy]

I agree and noodle cuts always go "long ways". I have to noodle cut most of my big rounds in half or in quarters to process the big ones into firewood (occasionally sixths). Lifting 250 pound rounds is not very easy these days fot me. So, I noodle cut them down. It saves my back:
View attachment 93319
So, I still say that we need to test for the best chain for noodle cutting. In my case, multiply this Pic times 100 or more per year.

404 skip for me. Takes a big bite and clears noodles well and stays sharper longer

 

[Wood Doctor]

404 skip for me. Takes a big bite and clears noodles well and stays sharper longer

I guess I'm going to have to remember this. Sad thing is that I would have to bring in a special 404 bar for noodle cutting. I sold all my 404 bars with my Stihl 084 and 088 saws that went out the door with them. So, I guess I'm stuck with 3/8" pitch.

 

[smokey7]

3/8 home made skip for me. Round ground gullets cleaned and every other cutter and raker ground off. Rakers set at .035 and i love it. I do run a bit more hook on my noodle and amature race type chains too. It works well for me up to 32" is as big as i got.