Stihl Picco Chain flavors

[malk315]

Was looking for Stihl Picco usual 3/8 low profile 0.050 gauge chain today and thought I had been using the most aggressive full chisel version of Picco chain but was surprised when the chain I thought was best was ANSI green instead of ANSI yellow at the dealer. I'm much more familiar with Husky and suffering from Stihl Picco "tis confusion" ... hoping you guys can clear things up!

For our 200T and Echo CS211, power pruner and this small 170 thing a friend has they all take Picco 3/8 x 0.050 guage and it's just drive link counts that vary. But -- what is the least anti-kickback / best cutting ?? I've found:

For instance 55 drive link I've seen:

63 PM3 55 -- this seems to be semi chisel green ANSI and not the most aggressive?
63 PM 55 -- the above w/o the "3" in the marketing number - ANSI yellow full chisel?
63 PS3 55 -- Would this be semi chisel but ANSI yellow instead of green like the PM3 ?
63 PS 55 -- I can't even tell if this chain marketing number exists (via google search) and is it ANSI yellow and full chisel thus most aggressive and thus what I would want?

The above have the marketing number but then they also have Stihl part # to make things even more confusing.

I'm looking for picco equivalent of LGX oregon chain where there aren't kickback prevention features, it's full chisel but still round ground filed w/ 5/32" file and cuts the fastest. Not worried about cutting in dirty wood where semi chisel may last longer -- it seems since Stihl chains use harder metal the full chisel will do fine.

Is there some other marketing number not mentioned above I should be looking at?

I'm all consfused -- I found some Stilhl chain charts, but it seems lacking in terms of what various types of Picco are out there... Hoping you guys can school me a bit here! I believe the first 3 numbers above are real, and the final 63 PS 55 might not exist...

Thanks.

 

[Johnmn]

What you want is 63PS and then whatever your DL is. 63PS is full chisel without any bumpers like PS3.

 

[malk315]

@RI Chevy See Jeff -- I'm not just a Husky guy as you expected. We have plenty of stihl stuff and adore Stihl's toys!
On bigger saws that take 3/8 standard chain I just use Oregon LGX or EXL chain... I've dabbled with Stihl RS (Rapid Super) in 3/8" at whatever gauge and found I really do not enjoy filing that stuff... I'd rather use LGX or EXL oregon chain.

Also I guess Oregon has come out with a new chain that is the LGX equivalent in 0.325 pitch for 50 cc saws and such. Excited to eventually try that instead of 21LPX that has bumper guards on it... I can't remember the part # but I think I have that noted somewhere.

For now -- all of our tiny stuff (MS200T, CS355T Echo, Power pruner) will stick with some form of Stihl Picco chain based on what I can learn here.

 

[PA Dan]

63PS55 is full chisel yellow non safety chain. Thats what you want! To make it even better do this to it!

 

[malk315]

What you want is 63PS and then whatever your DL is. 63PS is full chisel without any bumpers like PS3.

Ahh HA ... I THOUGHT a 63PS number without the 3 should exist. Will look for it next time.
Do you know what the "3" does to it? i.e. 63PS3 vs 63PS what is difference exactly? I thought it was semi vs. full chisel.

 

[malk315]

63PS55 is full chisel yellow non safety chain. Thats what you want! To make it even better do this to it!

Bwahahahahaa... Nice. Learning to square file of any sort is on my bucket list... along with too many other things at the moment

 

[PA Dan]

Bwahahahahaa... Nice. Learning to square file of any sort is on my bucket list... along with too many other things at the moment

I cheated and used the grinder!

 

[RI Chevy]

Ahh HA ... I THOUGHT a 63PS number without the 3 should exist. Will look for it next time.
Do you know what the "3" does to it? i.e. 63PS3 vs 63PS what is difference exactly? I thought it was semi vs. full chisel.

Baby bumper chain I think Eric.

 

[ayoungtexan]

Ahh HA ... I THOUGHT a 63PS number without the 3 should exist. Will look for it next time.
Do you know what the "3" does to it? i.e. 63PS3 vs 63PS what is difference exactly? I thought it was semi vs. full chisel.

I’m pretty sure the “3” just means it’s a safety chain

 

[full chizel]

The 3 has the bumper next to the raker. It doesn’t really affect anything other than slightly slower bore cutting. If all you can find is Ps3 buy it.

The Oregon shark fin crap in between the rakers is garbage but I’ve never saw much real world difference between green and yellow Stihl chain.

 

[malk315]

Thanks a bunch guys! That clears it up well.
Here are the notes I made to myself and stashed away in my saw info folder for the next time I need to pickup chains and have some clue as to what I need:

All of it is 3/8 Picco low profile 0.050 gauge -- varies only by drive link.
Avoid 63PM or 63PM3. Plain 63PS is what you want:

63PS

63PS44 -- for 12" bar Power Pruner
63PS50 -- for 14" bar MS200T
63PS52 -- for 14" bar Echo CS355T saw
63PS55 -- for 16" bar on Steph's saw

3617 005 0044 is the Stihl part # for the 44 drive link version
3617 005 0055 is the Stihl Part # for the 55 drive link version

When 63PS is not available 63PS3 is an OK substitute it is the same w/ the bumper guards next to depth gauges.

The "3" added on indicates a green safety chain.

 

[PA Dan]

Thanks a bunch guys! That clears it up well.
Here are the notes I made to myself and stashed away in my saw info folder for the next time I need to pickup chains and have some clue as to what I need:

All of it is 3/8 Picco low profile 0.050 gauge -- varies only by drive link.
Avoid 63PM or 63PM3. Plain 63PS is what you want:

63PS

63PS44 -- for 12" bar Power Pruner
63PS50 -- for 14" bar MS200T
63PS52 -- for 14" bar Echo CS355T saw
63PS55 -- for 16" bar on Steph's saw

3617 005 0044 is the Stihl part # for the 44 drive link version
3617 005 0055 is the Stihl Part # for the 55 drive link version

When 63PS is not available 63PS3 is an OK substitute it is the same w/ the bumper guards next to depth gauges.

The "3" added on indicates a green safety chain.

I think you got it!

 

[Lightning Performance]

He has got it.

63PS55 is full chisel yellow non safety chain. Thats what you want! To make it even better do this to it!

This is the best thing you can do to the full chisel on a pole saw or 200T for hardwood removals. That said tread lightly on limbs if your saw is modified. The round ground Raisman with the bumper link and full chisel cutter is softer but fine to use on 50 - 55 dl 050 bars in wet or green softwood. I use the bumper link 50 dl 0.043 on the pole saw only with a mini single rivet tip bar. The 200T will trash the single rivet bar tip in short order. Use the Stihl or the Total 14" on those in 0.050 is best imo. You can run the 16" but let it sing and make it square filled. Easiest chain to convert imo.
Ground saws get semi chisel in dirty wood.
Just bought some 18"lp 61dl bars
Trying a square filed scratcher chain on the mill soon. 84, 91 and possibly 114dl lp.

 

[huskyboy]

I’ve never saw much real world difference between green and yellow Stihl chain.

Bore cutting, self feeding and back barring is painfully slow on safety chain. No thanks. You can keep that stuff lol. However it is good stuff for people learning to use a chainsaw or situations where you might want a less grabby chain like carving/making stuff out of wood for example, not everyone benefits from a aggressive fast cutting chain...

 

[SawNut]

Bore cutting, self feeding and back barring is painfully slow on safety chain. No thanks. You can keep that stuff lol. However it is good stuff for people learning to use a chainsaw or situations where you might want a less grabby chain like carving/making stuff out of wood for example, not everyone benefits from a aggressive fast cutting chain...

I always buy yellow chain, but I do have a few loops of RS3/RM3/PS3 green stuff...mainly from new saw purchases. I for the life of me, cannot tell the difference in cutting, other than when bore cutting. Now, the old "bumper link" shark fin stuff, I won't use. I believe that was RS2/RM2. My biggest issue with the Stihl series 3 green chain is the additional effort it takes to lower the depth gauges with a file, since you're filing twice as much metal.

 

[Al Smith]

A lot of hoopla about small chain .Probably the fastest is rapid super ( chisel ) .If it has enough power .modified, change the drive from 6 to 7 tooth on a Stihl 020T or Ms 200T . A little trim saw is designed for cutting in a tree which normally is clean wood .You usually don't experience metal,stones etc that would cause problems on chisel style chain .
Funny part about that is on another web forum we had a little chain filing contest on mini chain .Myself and Adam Clark in California who we both know how to file submitted square filed .We were both near the bottom on cut speeds .Slightly faster than untouched from out of the box Stihl chain but not worth the effort it took .Square itself on normal chain is a pain in the buttocks but this itty bitty stuff really tries ones patience not to mention sore fingers .