Best of the "newcomer" chains

[BlacknTan]

I won't call them "off brand" or import chains. I know guys use them, and find a place for them. I'm happy with my chain selections.. C83/85 for 3/8, and LGX for .325, but i'm also curious....

Between Raisman, Archer and others, what is considered the best of the newcomer chains?

 

[Stump Shot]

Been using more of the Raisman of the two, seems pretty consistent and cuts well. As far as out of the box, nothing beats Husqvarna and Stihl, I'll add longevity to that as well. Am buying some new Oregon EXL to see how it plays out. Otherwise for bargain chain I'll be sticking with Raisman for now.

 

[davidwyby]

My only exp is Raisman semi .404 and it is awesome for nasty wood.

 

[davidwyby]

I have a loop of archer full comp full chis .404 I’m anxious to try but also not anxious because it’s brand new only once. Ha!

 

[Czed]

I have tried
Raisman,farmertec/holzforma,archer,longer,8ten
,kingpark
And unbranded ebay chains
All from different sellers
Unless someone can prove different
They are all identical in construction
And components
If there's any difference it's in the bluing process.
All benefit from a handfile
The upstart is different its made like the
Old Stihl lubritech with the dots.
I have had no issue's
With any of them.
Initial stretch just like Oregon
Then it's fine.
But it's not the value it was
Over 20" It's cheaper to buy Oregon than
Almost any china chain
It's raised considerably this past year
upstart 20" and under is what i buy.
Stihl can go f uck itself
With near 40.00 a loop 24" chain.

 

[Stem]

I've used a couple chains from TSC in a pinch but mostly ran Stihl RS/RSF. I got my moneys worth out of them & have since retired those chains. Pretty much all my saws wear Oregon EXJ now, I plan on sticking with that.

 

[Czed]

@p61 western
Wasn't it you that experienced tooth loss
With the new Oregon chain?

 

[Catman]

I have tried
Raisman,farmertec/holzforma,archer,longer,8ten
,kingpark
And unbranded ebay chains
All from different sellers
Unless someone can prove different
They are all identical in construction
And components
If there's any difference it's in the bluing process.
All benefit from a handfile
The upstart is different its made like the
Old Stihl lubritech with the dots.
I have had no issue's
With any of them.
Initial stretch just like Oregon
Then it's fine.
But it's not the value it was
Over 20" It's cheaper to buy Oregon than
Almost any china chain
It's raised considerably this past year
Under 20" upstart is what I'd buy.
Stihl can go f uck itself
With near 40.00 a loop 24" chain.

 

[Woodslasher]

@p61 western
Wasn't it you that experienced tooth loss
With the new Oregon chain?

Tooth loss and chain preferences aren't usually related.....

 

[Czed]

View attachment 318411

I got 8 full chisel 84dl .50 chains for that
With free shipping.

 

[Czed]

Tooth loss and chain preferences aren't usually related.....

Oregon is not what it used to be

 

[Catman]

I got 8 full chisel 84dl .50 chains for that
With free shipping.

Share the website brother, other people might wanna partake!

 

[Czed]

Share the website brother, other people might wanna partake!

I did when they were that price
Nobody bought any apparently.
Now they are 24.00 per chain
Like I said it's cheaper to buy Oregon now.
I'm good I bought about 30
24" last year.

 

[Czed]

We all cut different species
And I don't cut all day everyday
Like I used to
But the bat country stuff
Does me just fine.

If Stihl was affordable like it was 20 year's ago
I'd still run it
But no way will I pay that much for something
That can be destroyed on a yard tree in second's.

 

[Woodslasher]

Oregon is not what it used to be

I meant that as in "P61 Western's losing some of his teeth and his saw chain choices are usually unrelated".

 

[davidwyby]

Some of my guys are missing a lot of teeth and they don’t even saw.

 

[Maintenance Chief]

I like the Oregon EXL quite a bit ,and the Oregon .404 of any kind.
The 2 odd brands I've bought were Archer and FT both 3/8ths . The FT was dimpled and shaped like a stihl chain and cuts nice off the roll.
The Archer was not consistent and had really bad design off the roll , both benefit from a hand filing.
Some guys at work have bought the tri link stuff but after several chains breaking ,we pass it up now.
Honestly I search ebay for nos rolls of what I know was well made. Theres a roll of .404 chipper chain in .050 on ebay thats less then 70.00 ,if your milling your on lumber and have a limited bar selection thats a good buy of American made chain.

 

[whitesnake]

Buying by the roll is nice but not practical if you don't cut much I suppose. I try and buy rolls and sell chain when people need it. Makes my chain cheaper. And it's nice to be able to make up any length you want at any point. It's crazy the difference in stihl prices across the country. My local dealer is $1 per bar inch.

 

[davidwyby]

I just bought two 185 DL loops of Oregon Square skip for $92

 

[huskyboy]

I bought 6 loops of 24” c85 on Black Friday for 16$ a chain. I bought 3 from stahls logging supply and 3 from another different seller on ebay. Cuts good enough to me after a touch up and 2 swipes off the rakers.