Here a old logger trick , when buckin or cutting timber. Soon 🔜 your chain is warm up 🔝 put your hand ✋ file to your chainsaw chain easier to sharpen. If you find stihl are hard chain , warm it up first them but the hand ✋ file to it Richard. Remember STICK on the ICE 🧊, SAW in the WOOD 🪵 and RUBBER on the ROAD . 😊
Richard, I have said it before but I really like those file handles. I went looking for em online and never found them. Then, it appears as if you made them?
Everyone is different but I don't care for chain that's hard to file by hand. I really like C83 Husky, bought 200ft before it went up in price. Oregon LGX was great until it went extinct. Like to file chains every tank right at the stump. Maybe ill try dukes next. Thanks for doing this video ❤😎
I have run the Hipa, 8Ten, and Archer. Just bought some Dukes to try. I have found the 8Ten to be very soft and the Hipa to be a little harder. The Archer in my experience is very hard. All of them are excellent for cutting firewood. Will see how the Dukes works out this year.
I guess Im lucky there is a Amish saw shop by me that sells oregon chain and husqvarna xcut chain the oregon sell for $17.00 for a 20in and $20.00 for a 24in and the xcut is $3.00 more for each
During Covid our local dealer was out of stock on chains and I tried a few Woodland Pro 25” 3/8 pitch. I was not impressed with the first couple cuts so I started looking it over. The raker heights varied quite a bit. Once I set all the rakers to the same height I have been happy with them. I was 4” into a 30” maple the other morning and got into some hardware and made a mess of one of them. Times like that make me appreciate their lower price! Stihl will out cut them (From the box), and outlast them in hickory, locust and hard maple. Thanks for sharing another alternative!
I would love to see a follow up after you hand sharpen some of the less expensive options. Also can you get one of the value chains to one of your pro users and see what they think? As always nice work!!!
I have used a couple 8Ten chains and they seem pretty good for the money. They also have more of the funkier sizes than even Oregon, like skip tooth 24 inch .063 for instance for a Stihl I could not find in Oregon.
Still with you till the end sir. I am certainly on the Dukes bandwagon. I haven’t put a file to it yet but I can tell you, I used it a bit more today and seems to stretch less than some other lesser expensive ones.
I was surprised that Richard said the Due's chain was similar to an Oregon and was a little softer and files up nice and easy because Duke advertises their chain to be hard chrome plating. I've had chrome plated chains in the past that were virtually impossible to hand file. I would chose a somewhat softer plating over an hardened chain that you can't readily sharpen by hand. I was going to stay away from Duke's because they say their chains were hard chrome, but I think I'm going to give them a try after Richard's review.
Definitely good to have some chain thats decent yet cheap for the stuff like old long dead black locust that has the occasional hollow full of dirt or under the bark with embedded small stones and such.. I got a 3pk of the 72dl 3/8 dukes today, looks pretty good and has a profile just like the X-cut. I've run archer and 8ten and even no-name $6-7/chain types before (dont recommend them) and have had issues like broken off cutters and failure to hold an edge and dull out of the box with them and hopefully the dukes holds up cause the price is right and they're pretty local to me in PA
I switched over to Zentop from Amazon a few years a go. A third the cost of OEM and work just fine. And if you hit too much dirt, no big deal tossing a $10 chain.
I was wondering what a experts opinion on ripping logs with a stihl 026 and a granberg ripping chain on a 20 inch bar. Do you think that saw would be ok. Thanks for the off topic question.
Someday I'll get the energy to make my own chain. All drive links will be made from titanium. So that the chain is extremely light and all the teeth will be tool Steel, it would be the ultimate chainsaw chain. Imo
Stihl chain is hands down the best, but I don’t like using them on dirty stuff. Too expensive to waste it! That’s where I like to use some of those cheaper chains. Archer has been ok.
I get a great deal on full comp Stihl chains but on my 400 I run a full skip and those are $20 more at $48. There’s only half a witness mark left and I’m down to using a 3/16 file when I’m done with em. Fun show, thanks.
I bought an Archer chain for my pole saw and one for my MS180C. I gave both a sharpening before use and it felt like really hard steel compared to some other chains I've sharpened.
That was cool to see out of the box. That Dukes looks just like old lgx, which is a little soft, but I used it for 20 years before switching to exl/C83/Stihl RS. I might try some of the Dukes, as I don't mind sharpening or at least touching up every time I cut, and I'm only cutting pine/Red Fir/Tamarack usually anyway. I just bought a 100' loop of x-cut, so I won't be needing any 3/8 for a while (it was $330 delivered I think, or about that, which I thought was really cheap, as the Oregon EXL is almost 500 bucks now, and the Stihl RS way higher, in Idaho anyway). I want to get some 325 and low pro chains, but don't go through enough of the little stuff to buy a roll. I usually just cough up the dough on the low pro/pico and buy Stihl as it cuts so good, and the metal stays sharp for a long time. But, maybe I'll try some Dukes .325 and see how that goes. Thanks!
BTW I have two chainsaws. They are MS230 and MS311 and I only buy Stihl Oilomatic RS3 chains. They cut great and I sharpen them with Stihl 2in1 chain sharpeners. Your experience with MS230 and 311?? Besides these two chainsaws, I have a brushcutter FS120.
Im in canada, it's hard to beat Oregon price wise here. The cheap chains in the US are about the same price as oregon from the local dealer after shipping.
The duke is right down the street from me and a friend of mine. I have a production tree service so its a no brainer for me. Its definitely good chain tho!
I buy a 100’ roll stihl chain for a good price , but my 105 cc husqvarna keep break it . Can’t take heat and speed . Go back to my Oregon for my husqvarna. It’s a strong chainsaw chain for sure . That my 2 cents worth on chain . You pay a lot for Oregon chain $24.11 mark on box , see you coming buddy . Buy in 100’ foot 🦶 roll save you more Benjamin for sure . 😊
Also I was really contemplating hardening some teeth on a chainsaw chain and see how they fare. I feel they make the teeth too soft. For most of these chains, a good tool Steel chain would be harder to sharpen, but would stay sharper twice as long. Why is nobody making tool steel chain teeth?
I was just looking at saw chain this morning and I like to shit for what the Stihl dealer wanted. I have Husky saws but have always used Stihl or Carlton chain. My uncle was a small time logger so I always bought from him because he had bulk roles. I am going to try some Duke's for that cheap even if its crap it will get me by until these prices at least come back to earth. by the way I really like your content. I just subscribed.
Seems most like the Dukes chains for a cheaper alternative. I'll stick with C83 spendy yes but all I have to do is stop at my dealer and wham you have a chain!
I personally like being able to just order something and not have to drive to a dealer and waste time/$/fuel, but paying $33 for stihl and $25 for Husqvarna/Oregon sucks when you know you're gonna be going into some locust that's got embedded rocks and dirt.. at $15? I can feel alot better bout that
I made it on the lathe. One of these days I'll make some to sell. They are pretty time consuming with all the processes. I asked a local machine shop and they will CNC them, but a little more than I'd like per handle to be profitable to sell.
@@richardflagg3084 I’d be interested in a couple of those file handles too. Thanks for another awesome video, I’m going to try a couple of the Hipa loops, keep the informative videos coming.
Really enjoy your videos. Very informative. Enjoyed the oil videos. Thinking about changing to the Honda 2 stroke oil from the Stihl ultra. Thanks again 👍
@@richardflagg3084 I looked and do not see your email listed. Looking on my iPhone though, might try a regular computer to see if more options are available.
@@richardflagg3084 thanks also I asked you about a 661cm coil mine has 2 prongs 1144 4702 b do I need to have dealer reprogram solenoid or just swap coils and wich coil dealer sold me wrong one and wint return it..not sure year of the saw got it used from youtuber. It's about 2 maybe 3 years old but low hour ran great cleaned it put ot away empty then no spark..tested coil and put new plug no start???????plz help
They still have an address in Newport News, VA. There is a website with smaller chainsaws, sprayers etc. displayed. I don‘t think they market the saws in the US.
Made in Germany. They pulled out of the US market about 10 years ago. They don't come up for sale that often anymore. This series is 665, 675 and 681. Some of the best saws made IMHO.
I figured he started the mess many small business forced to shut down because of"his baby" (his own words) CV was a scam and everyone should know it and he shut down the nation, doesn't matter who They put in it's bad, and it doesn't matter how charismatic a guy can talk there just middle men working for different entities.
Thanks for sharing the video.Using a file to sharpen the chain is indeed a good method to understand the hardness of the material. If you guys are interested in our chainsaw chain, search hipa parts and you will find us.
Here a old logger trick , when buckin or cutting timber. Soon 🔜 your chain is warm up 🔝 put your hand ✋ file to your chainsaw chain easier to sharpen. If you find stihl are hard chain , warm it up first them but the hand ✋ file to it Richard. Remember STICK on the ICE 🧊, SAW in the WOOD 🪵 and RUBBER on the ROAD . 😊
Amazing Solo 665 😮! I have two Solo 681 Ported… love these saws … greetings from Germany
Yes, and thank you!
Richard, I have said it before but I really like those file handles. I went looking for em online and never found them. Then, it appears as if you made them?
Everyone is different but I don't care for chain that's hard to file by hand. I really like C83 Husky, bought 200ft before it went up in price. Oregon LGX was great until it went extinct. Like to file chains every tank right at the stump. Maybe ill try dukes next.
Thanks for doing this video ❤😎
You can't go wrong using Dukes chain. Used archer in the past but Dukes is my go to .
I have run the Hipa, 8Ten, and Archer. Just bought some Dukes to try. I have found the 8Ten to be very soft and the Hipa to be a little harder. The Archer in my experience is very hard. All of them are excellent for cutting firewood. Will see how the Dukes works out this year.
I guess Im lucky there is a Amish saw shop by me that sells oregon chain and husqvarna xcut chain the oregon sell for $17.00 for a 20in and $20.00 for a 24in and the xcut is $3.00 more for each
Prices are all going up but that Duke's chain sure does seem like a very decent option! Thanks for sharing👍🏻
My most used chains are Stihl 3/8 .063” 114DL full chisel full house. I have a bunch of them with like 1 sharpening left lol
During Covid our local dealer was out of stock on chains and I tried a few Woodland Pro 25” 3/8 pitch. I was not impressed with the first couple cuts so I started looking it over. The raker heights varied quite a bit. Once I set all the rakers to the same height I have been happy with them. I was 4” into a 30” maple the other morning and got into some hardware and made a mess of one of them. Times like that make me appreciate their lower price! Stihl will out cut them (From the box), and outlast them in hickory, locust and hard maple. Thanks for sharing another alternative!
$14.96 for dukes 24” shipped to my door
I would love to see a follow up after you hand sharpen some of the less expensive options.
Also can you get one of the value chains to one of your pro users and see what they think?
As always nice work!!!
Aight!
Good point on the factory edge only lasts for that moment.
Cool video. Good job.
Rich nice comparison ❤❤❤
Watching your premiere for the first time. Greetings from Croatia bro!!
The file handle? I'm interested in that. Love to know where you get that.
I have used a couple 8Ten chains and they seem pretty good for the money. They also have more of the funkier sizes than even Oregon, like skip tooth 24 inch .063 for instance for a Stihl I could not find in Oregon.
Interesting video, it's worth noting that the Hipa chain was the only one that was so-called safety chain.
That solo was rippin brother 🤘🏼🤘🏼 next test -- holzforma,8ten, archer, dukes, hipa
Thanks for the comparisons buddy
Still with you till the end sir. I am certainly on the Dukes bandwagon. I haven’t put a file to it yet but I can tell you, I used it a bit more today and seems to stretch less than some other lesser expensive ones.
I was surprised that Richard said the Due's chain was similar to an Oregon and was a little softer and files up nice and easy because Duke advertises their chain to be hard chrome plating. I've had chrome plated chains in the past that were virtually impossible to hand file. I would chose a somewhat softer plating over an hardened chain that you can't readily sharpen by hand. I was going to stay away from Duke's because they say their chains were hard chrome, but I think I'm going to give them a try after Richard's review.
Richard thank for the unbias and informative videos. If you get a chance, can you try the 8ten chains?
I’m testing dukes for durability in dry hard desert wood and it’s doing well, somewhere around Xcut/oregon.
Definitely good to have some chain thats decent yet cheap for the stuff like old long dead black locust that has the occasional hollow full of dirt or under the bark with embedded small stones and such.. I got a 3pk of the 72dl 3/8 dukes today, looks pretty good and has a profile just like the X-cut. I've run archer and 8ten and even no-name $6-7/chain types before (dont recommend them) and have had issues like broken off cutters and failure to hold an edge and dull out of the box with them and hopefully the dukes holds up cause the price is right and they're pretty local to me in PA
I switched over to Zentop from Amazon a few years a go. A third the cost of OEM and work just fine. And if you hit too much dirt, no big deal tossing a $10 chain.
I was wondering what a experts opinion on ripping logs with a stihl 026 and a granberg ripping chain on a 20 inch bar. Do you think that saw would be ok. Thanks for the off topic question.
Excellent comparison. But, I must say to myself: Thou shall not covet thy solo Motorsäge.😊
They are great saws. Unfortunately they don't come up for sale that often.
Someday I'll get the energy to make my own chain. All drive links will be made from titanium. So that the chain is extremely light and all the teeth will be tool Steel, it would be the ultimate chainsaw chain. Imo
Stihl chain is hands down the best, but I don’t like using them on dirty stuff. Too expensive to waste it! That’s where I like to use some of those cheaper chains. Archer has been ok.
I need to try the Archer chain.
The sound of that REVLIMITER THOUGH... XD
I think you can swap a Husqvarna coil in them.
@@kbittorf335 I love the sound of revlimiters...
Dukes definitely did a good thing by offering the 3pk. Great price and seems like very decent chain. 👍🏻
Yes!!
I get a great deal on full comp Stihl chains but on my 400 I run a full skip and those are $20 more at $48. There’s only half a witness mark left and I’m down to using a 3/16 file when I’m done with em. Fun show, thanks.
Archer is a good “bargain” brand from my experience.
I bought an Archer chain for my pole saw and one for my MS180C. I gave both a sharpening before use and it felt like really hard steel compared to some other chains I've sharpened.
Archer is the best chain I have used for milling. Definitely not cheep though. I buy it in long rolls and make up the lengths I need.
That was cool to see out of the box. That Dukes looks just like old lgx, which is a little soft, but I used it for 20 years before switching to exl/C83/Stihl RS. I might try some of the Dukes, as I don't mind sharpening or at least touching up every time I cut, and I'm only cutting pine/Red Fir/Tamarack usually anyway. I just bought a 100' loop of x-cut, so I won't be needing any 3/8 for a while (it was $330 delivered I think, or about that, which I thought was really cheap, as the Oregon EXL is almost 500 bucks now, and the Stihl RS way higher, in Idaho anyway). I want to get some 325 and low pro chains, but don't go through enough of the little stuff to buy a roll. I usually just cough up the dough on the low pro/pico and buy Stihl as it cuts so good, and the metal stays sharp for a long time. But, maybe I'll try some Dukes .325 and see how that goes. Thanks!
Awesome price on the C83!!
BTW I have two chainsaws. They are MS230 and MS311 and I only buy Stihl Oilomatic RS3 chains. They cut great and I sharpen them with Stihl 2in1 chain sharpeners.
Your experience with MS230 and 311??
Besides these two chainsaws, I have a brushcutter FS120.
Hi I never thought to put a STIHL muffler on a solo that is pretty trick. that is a angry little saw.........
Im in canada, it's hard to beat Oregon price wise here. The cheap chains in the US are about the same price as oregon from the local dealer after shipping.
The duke is right down the street from me and a friend of mine. I have a production tree service so its a no brainer for me. Its definitely good chain tho!
Thanks for showing alternatives. The old saying …everything is up but my wages. Lol. Maybe it will make the big boys thinnk
My local stihl dealer charges 40$ for a single .050 78DL .325 loop. I got charged 66$ for a 30 inch 3/8 before too.
Ooooffff!
I buy a 100’ roll stihl chain for a good price , but my 105 cc husqvarna keep break it . Can’t take heat and speed . Go back to my Oregon for my husqvarna. It’s a strong chainsaw chain for sure . That my 2 cents worth on chain . You pay a lot for Oregon chain $24.11 mark on box , see you coming buddy . Buy in 100’ foot 🦶 roll save you more Benjamin for sure . 😊
Also I was really contemplating hardening some teeth on a chainsaw chain and see how they fare. I feel they make the teeth too soft. For most of these chains, a good tool Steel chain would be harder to sharpen, but would stay sharper twice as long. Why is nobody making tool steel chain teeth?
I got some cutters hard with a fine grinder wheel the other day. Didn’t seem to stay sharp longer but were a booger to file.
I was just looking at saw chain this morning and I like to shit for what the Stihl dealer wanted. I have Husky saws but have always used Stihl or Carlton chain. My uncle was a small time logger so I always bought from him because he had bulk roles. I am going to try some Duke's for that cheap even if its crap it will get me by until these prices at least come back to earth. by the way I really like your content. I just subscribed.
Thank you! I think you'll like it.
Seems most like the Dukes chains for a cheaper alternative. I'll stick with C83 spendy yes but all I have to do is stop at my dealer and wham you have a chain!
Nice video Richard! I use mostly cheaper chains for myself. I just cut firewood for myself. I use an Oregon electric sharpener .
I personally like being able to just order something and not have to drive to a dealer and waste time/$/fuel, but paying $33 for stihl and $25 for Husqvarna/Oregon sucks when you know you're gonna be going into some locust that's got embedded rocks and dirt.. at $15? I can feel alot better bout that
@@JoshNoss I like to support my dealer he's great! I never order anything! I have to go to town to check my mail anyway so no big deal!
Hipa and Duke's seem bargains. Hipa chains ⛓ are harder than rooster 🐓 lips 👍😎 files are still cheap 😉 considering
Damn that saw runs nice
Where did you get that metal file handle??
I made it on the lathe. One of these days I'll make some to sell. They are pretty time consuming with all the processes. I asked a local machine shop and they will CNC them, but a little more than I'd like per handle to be profitable to sell.
@@richardflagg3084
I’d be interested in a couple of those file handles too.
Thanks for another awesome video, I’m going to try a couple of the Hipa loops, keep the informative videos coming.
@@darrellpeak2914 Email me (address in the "more about" tab on my home page) and when I make another batch, I'll get in touch.
Really enjoy your videos. Very informative. Enjoyed the oil videos. Thinking about changing to the Honda 2 stroke oil from the Stihl ultra. Thanks again 👍
@@richardflagg3084
I looked and do not see your email listed. Looking on my iPhone though, might try a regular computer to see if more options are available.
I will pay whateverfor file handle...been useing golf balls
Email me. Address is in the "more about this channel". When I get around to it I'll reach out.
@@richardflagg3084 thanks also I asked you about a 661cm coil mine has 2 prongs 1144 4702 b do I need to have dealer reprogram solenoid or just swap coils and wich coil dealer sold me wrong one and wint return it..not sure year of the saw got it used from youtuber. It's about 2 maybe 3 years old but low hour ran great cleaned it put ot away empty then no spark..tested coil and put new plug no start???????plz help
Solo? I think they made sprayers they been out of business for years?
They still have an address in Newport News, VA. There is a website with smaller chainsaws, sprayers etc. displayed. I don‘t think they market the saws in the US.
Made in Germany. They pulled out of the US market about 10 years ago. They don't come up for sale that often anymore. This series is 665, 675 and 681. Some of the best saws made IMHO.
Nice to know that 🙂
Richard...Good expose. The one ding against the Hipa is that stupid safety link. Pro guys are going to look at that and say "NO THANKS."
Yup....
Trump ends all this bull shit
Now that is funny!
We can only pray!!
Drill baby drill!!
Drill baby drill $1.87 gas not $4.00
I figured he started the mess many small business forced to shut down because of"his baby" (his own words) CV was a scam and everyone should know it and he shut down the nation, doesn't matter who They put in it's bad, and it doesn't matter how charismatic a guy can talk there just middle men working for different entities.
Thanks for sharing the video.Using a file to sharpen the chain is indeed a good method to understand the hardness of the material. If you guys are interested in our chainsaw chain, search hipa parts and you will find us.