Stihl Hexa chain

[bradb123]

I use a 25 degree top plate angle , 45 degree down angle , and zero tilt on the grinder. If you look at the picture you can see how deep I cut into the chain.

 

[bradb123]

I just got done converting a Oregon 68lx 404 chain to hexa grind . I'm hoping to test it after work on Monday .

 

[Wilhelm]

No Hexa anything at my local Stihl dealer yet, just got back from town.

 

[bradb123]

I wanted to try the hexa grind on 325 chain . I ordered a 1/8" wheel and profiled it . I used some Oregon 20 lpx 325 chain .

 

[bradb123]

I got a chance to test it out at my cabin yesterday . I used my xs 550xp . I cut 40 cookies in popple and then 40 cookies in oak . I'm really liking this grind . It seems durable and pretty fast .

 

[Wilhelm]

You are not supposed to make Your own "Hexa" out of a random non-Stihl sub 20$ chain and a profiled/dressed 10$ pink grinding wheel!
You are supposed to buy the original Stihl Hexa chain because it it a specially designed chain, and the original unique Stihl Hexa file - it will probably cost You only 50$ or more and be totally worth it!

Also, watch it - You might face copyright charges by making Your own "Hexa" the way Stihl doesn't want You too!

 

[Eduardo K]

I use a 25 degree top plate angle , 45 degree down angle , and zero tilt on the grinder. If you look at the picture you can see how deep I cut into the chain.

I’m digging this. I just picked up a super jolly to tweek milling chain. I’m going to have to try this. Thanks!

 

[blades]

hex kinda goes against all the common wisdom about side plates, and my oh my what a bird's beak on the top plate. I would guess that keeping the depth gauges fairy high keeps it from stalling the saw. Having only
seen this on the net i will reserve judgement. my .0002 cents worth

 

[Maintenance Chief]

 

[Evansaw]

Well actually you can't duplicate a HEXA chain
Cause everyone is looking at the tooth and missing the whole study. The depth gauges are curved and way out. Thats a first on a Chain and it's part of the combo. HEXA cuts really really well, it's easy for everyone to file and after decades a step further to the future of chains

 

[AlexStromberg]

Well actually you can't duplicate a HEXA chain
Cause everyone is looking at the tooth and missing the whole study. The depth gauges are curved and way out. Thats a first on a Chain and it's part of the combo. HEXA cuts really really well, it's easy for everyone to file and after decades a step further to the future of chains

Except it doesnt clean a dutchman at all. Does not like the side cutting. Nothing happens.
Round filing takes 15min to get down. Worth the Mega expensive files? Idk.

 

[Evansaw]

And the disks for Hexa chain

 

[isaaccarlson]

The point doesn't look quite as fragile, and the side plate looks like it shears the wood off rather than slicing it.

 

[FederalQ]

I tried new hexa out for several cuts at the log pile this afternoon. MS361 with 20” Sugihara bar. It does cut fast in red oak and sugar maple and absolutely mows through paper birch. Yes, those depth gauges are shaped differently than RS, RM, or RSK. The thing I noticed is that it seems to make the bar nose happy in the kickback department. Something I haven’t experienced with the other Stihl RS or RM yellow chains on this saw. I received freshly sharpened square ground from Farmin Karman this afternoon and tried to duplicate the kicking back I was experiencing with Husky skip square on a 28” Tsumura bar with the 7910. It did not kick like that at all. It could be that the Dolmar simply has more power to avert a kickback situation. This chain ate through the oak and maple as if it were paper birch with the hexa!

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

How many have done back to back testing the hexa chain against the other grinds?

How does it do in softwood and how long does it hold an edge? Does it dull faster than other grinds with high chain speed?

To those that have tested the hexa chain out. Have you came to the same conclusions is these guys?

Thanks!

 

[isaaccarlson]

I have seen a LOT of variation in chain sharpening. Enough to tell me that my round ground chains are faster than most of the chains out there, whether round, square, hexa, or goofy. I have tried square and it wasn't any faster than my round ground. It looks to me like hexa has a beak profile halfway between round and square. It may stay sharp longer, or it might not. The way I grind, the beak is pretty much the same as hexa anyway. Maybe that's why my chains are so fast. The "hexa" part doesn't matter, it just a sales gimmick that gives people a better beak profile IMO.

 

[KS Plainsman]

I have seen a LOT of variation in chain sharpening. Enough to tell me that my round ground chains are faster than most of the chains out there, whether round, square, hexa, or goofy. I have tried square and it wasn't any faster than my round ground. It looks to me like hexa has a beak profile halfway between round and square. It may stay sharp longer, or it might not. The way I grind, the beak is pretty much the same as hexa anyway. Maybe that's why my chains are so fast. The "hexa" part doesn't matter, it just a sales gimmick that gives people a better beak profile IMO.

Do you happen to have any pictures of your cutters after grinding?

 

[davidwyby]

Do you happen to have any pictures of your cutters after grinding?

Yeah, I been thinking about doing a chain build off just to see what others are doing…completely confidential you know ;-)

 

[Powerstroke Cowboy]

All I have used is round ground cutters. I would like to see all the other options in one place.

 

[isaaccarlson]

Here is a "used but new to me" chain I ground a few days ago to clean it up and see how it runs.
I don't use any fancy grinds, just plain old sharp. I do like to grind rivets, thin rakers, and open up the cutters a little.