Carbide Chains

[Wilhelm]

So @Philbert, do you have any input on carbide chains?

Brands?

Any idea who sharpens them when they finally need it and how much that costs?

Thanks in advance

Stihl Rapid/Picco Duro 3 is what You want.
It is expensive, but cuts very well out of the box and holds an edge for a long time as long as You don't trench with it.

Getting it sharpened is still a work in progress for me.

Do not hit stones with it, nor try cutting wood infested with foreign objects.

 

[3browns]

Stihl Rapid/Picco Duro 3 is what You want.
It is expensive, but cuts very well out of the box and holds an edge for a long time as long as You don't trench with it.

Getting it sharpened is still a work in progress for me.

Do not hit stones with it, nor try cutting wood infested with foreign objects.

Hey Wilhelm

When I looked on Baileys the Stihl was actually cheaper than one other brand

I will check it out and weigh the pros and cons

Obviously I’m looking at having to send it somewhere if and when it needs sharpening

Thanks

 

[Wood Chopper]

The Stihl dealer where I bought the chains said $15 dollars to sharpen a loop. The way I see it I will wear the chain links and chassis out before the teeth are spent. I might have to get one sharpened after this weekend we will see.

 

[Wilhelm]

Diamond wheel
Hopefully going to be cutting with it in the next few days, but it’s slightly more blunt than my settings for 375 RM

I’ll sharpen yours, just gotta take care of the shipping

Hey Wilhelm

When I looked on Baileys the Stihl was actually cheaper than one other brand

I will check it out and weigh the pros and cons

Obviously I’m looking at having to send it somewhere if and when it needs sharpening

Thanks

Michael, maybe I can pass on the above generous offer to You?!

@Moparmyway , would You do a free Carbide chain grind for Michael?
You can both later sort out any further grinding services if shipping turns out to be acceptable.

I would love to get my loop ground, but shipping from the US to Croatia is insane.

 

[3browns]

Michael, maybe I can pass on the above generous offer to You?!

@Moparmyway , would You do a free Carbide chain grind for Michael?
You can both later sort out any further grinding services if shipping turns out to be acceptable.

I would love to get my loop ground, but shipping from the US to Croatia is insane.

Wilhelm, thanks for thinking of me and I appreciate the gesture

But, I certainly don't want to put @Moparmyway in any kind of bind as far as thinking I expect a freebie

He doesn't know me from nothing and I don't know him either

I know this band of brothers is giving and generous but the decision is his alone

Plus...

I got's to decide if I am going to buy the chain, then buy the chain, then dull the chain, then whine loudly because my $100 chain is dull...

Then I will most likely be begging someone to sharpen it

lol

 

[Moparmyway]

Sure
PM me Mike

 

[3browns]

Stihl Rapid/Picco Duro 3 is what You want.
It is expensive, but cuts very well out of the box and holds an edge for a long time as long as You don't trench with it.

Getting it sharpened is still a work in progress for me.

Do not hit stones with it, nor try cutting wood infested with foreign objects.

OK I am trying to do my homework and I have a couple of questions

I am currently running 3/8" .050 68dl on an 18" bar

I am thinking that a decent quality but cheaper dedicated bar might not be a bad idea with the abrasive crap I will be cutting

Maybe a Tsumura laminated bar or equivalent

Probably even a dedicated rim sprocket just for the carbide setup

Looks like this is my chain: https://www.baileysonline.com/stihl...x-050-68-drive-links-33rd368-stl-33rd368.html

Thoughts

 

[Wilhelm]

I ran my RD3 on a good condition 10+ years old Dolmar branded Oregon laminate bar, no issues whatsoever.
Just make sure the bar You are going to utilize is maintained/dressed.
I did get a new Oregon PowerMate sprocket for the then new RD3.

I personally never noticed additional excessive wear to my bars when bucking dirt covered logs, if there is higher wear it is negligible.

No idea what that link You posted is showing, I can newer open Baileys links, I think they are blocking Croatian IP addresses.
The info contained within the link seems correct.

 

[3browns]

Well sounds like just the chain is all I need then

If I can wear out a Total/Tsumura bar I guess it just means I am cutting a lot of wood and that's a good thing

I run oilers wide open and have never come close to wearing out a bar

Thanks as always for the advice and info

 

[Wood Chopper]

You will love it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Wilhelm]

I sure miss my RD3.

I may have to chance it and take my RD3 loop to the local to me Stihl dealer.

 

[Wood Chopper]

I sure miss my RD3.

I may have to chance it and take my RD3 loop to the local to me Stihl dealer.

Are you afraid they will screw it up? It's going threw my mind. My feeling is if they have the diamond wheel you would hope they know what they are doing. One stihl dealer had no idea that there was a carbide Stihl chain.

 

[Wilhelm]

From what I have seen over time, someone working at any kind of dealership does not necessarily qualify the person for adequate maintenance and repair of a product.
YES, I am rather reluctant to hand the local Stihl dealer my rather expensive Carbide chain.
Maybe I should let them sharpen one of my regular chains first so that I get an idea of their knowledge.

 

[Wilhelm]

P.S.:
At a local small engines repair shop I have seen an angle grinder cutoff wheel mounted to a chain grinder, I am not getting any chains ground at that shop!

 

[3browns]

Well thanks to @Wilhelm I have started a friendly dialogue with Kevin @Moparmyway about grinding my carbide chain

Always good to “meet” another member of the OPE family

After I get the chain I will report back on my cutting experience

Thanks everyone

 

[Wood Chopper]

I found some information on the carbide chain from Stihl. The good news is, if by chance you the cutters get damaged beyond repair they do sell repair kits that include 5 cutters (all one side I believe, not sure) bad news is in my case it's half the cost of the chain, it's at least an option if only a couple teeth are screwed up. So I will be keeping this chain as a spare or reduce it from 72 dl to 66 for my 18"inch bar..

 

[Wilhelm]

I got two RS loops at my local Stihl dealer today and asked about grinding Carbide loops - they do, about 5$.
I think I will take my RD3 to get ground, doesn't do me any good being dull anyway.

 

[Philbert]

I got two RS loops at my local Stihl dealer today and asked about grinding Carbide loops - they do, about 5$.

$5 would be cheap even for conventional chain around here.

Philbert

 

[Wilhelm]

$5 would be cheap even for conventional chain around here.

Philbert

Conventional chain is 2-3$ in my area.

5$ is more than I make in an hour, it is still less than I feared it would cost and it is much less than a new 72DL RD3 would set me back.

I payed ~30$ for a conventional Stihl RS today.
That hurt my wallet as I got two, one 3/8" and one .325".

 

[Philbert]

'Typical', conventional chain charges 'around here' are $7-$8 per loop, off the saw. Of course, there are always exceptions and extremes. I think my STIHL dealer starts at $20 for carbide chains, due to the special wheels.

Philbert