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Duke's saw chain

STOVE

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Anyone got any long term run time on the blue label?

Thinking about another 3 pack of 20”. No issues with the orange. Duke says there is some changes in the geometry but the metal is the same.
 

lehman live edge slab

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My latest sharpening effort. I go at it with 1/4 then a few strokes of a Pferd 2-1. Is there a way to restore that little beak on the stock grind?

View attachment 486494
View attachment 486495
About the only way I could think to do that is to take a new chain and profile a pink wheel to it for a grinder. Only other possible way to kind of do by hand is maybe a smaller round file to just cut the top of the tooth slightly.
 

Colonel 428

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I've mentioned this before...

- The "original" orange label chain is a copy of the Husqvarna xcut with the pronounced lip at the top. Very aggressive and great cutting chain out of the box.
- The "blue" label is a copy of the stihl RS chain. Less aggressive out of the box.

The Duke says the metal is the same for both chains. I much prefer the orange label chain for it's aggressiveness. But, once that lip has been filed away the chains become the same.
 

Nutball

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:couch: Ok, my honest opinion since I saw a Duke's b&c a month ago.

The bar looks great, but the gauge was too wide, not as bad as some cheap bars, but not what it should be. I can't remember the measurements, but, maybe Duke can get the factory to tighten up the specs, if the factory is willing to. This detail is the main problem I have with cheaper bars, so I either plan on going up in chain gauge after a bit of use IF I buy a cheap bar, or I stick with top quality bars.

Cheap out on chain all you want, just not on bars.

As best as I can remember from comparing bars a few years ago, .003"+-.001" larger than the chain gauge is where you want the bar to start, and that without any paint in the groove. Less than .003" larger and the bar will run hot and risk seizing because saw chips have to have room between the drive links and rails; they will get wedged in there some way or another.
 
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