New Oregon EXL Chain - game changer?

[CutterSy]

I don’t really care about it cutting quicker out of the box. Chains seem to take a couple of sharpens before they start performing good anyway.
What I want to know is, does it hold an edge better? Is it easy to sharpen (hardness)?

[lux]

I don’t really care about it cutting quicker out of the box. Chains seem to take a couple of sharpens before they start performing good anyway.
What I want to know is, does it hold an edge better? Is it easy to sharpen (hardness)?

Isn’t one of the features of the new chain that it comes out of the box more like a chain that’s been sharpened with a round file ? I’m sure that point was in the promo video but it was so dull I can’t be bothered to watch it again

I know what you mean though, for general use I’m buying rotatech atm. I know all the haters comments out there but ive never had one snap or fail. They do perform much better after the first sharpen. Much smoother after a tickle up with the file.

I can’t knock them for value. Sure oregon etc are better chains but not proportional to the extra cost.

I still buy Oregon etc for more specialist chains like skip chains and milling chains. Usually from Rob D or honey bros

I may well get one to see how it fairs up as you say for holding an edge etc. The less I have to sharpen my saws the better.

[Rob D]

13 hours ago, lux said:

Isn’t one of the features of the new chain that it comes out of the box more like a chain that’s been sharpened with a round file ? I’m sure that point was in the promo video but it was so dull I can’t be bothered to watch it again

I know what you mean though, for general use I’m buying rotatech atm. I know all the haters comments out there but ive never had one snap or fail. They do perform much better after the first sharpen. Much smoother after a tickle up with the file.

I can’t knock them for value. Sure oregon etc are better chains but not proportional to the extra cost.

I still buy Oregon etc for more specialist chains like skip chains and milling chains. Usually from Rob D or honey bros

I may well get one to see how it fairs up as you say for holding an edge etc. The less I have to sharpen my saws the better.

 

It's got to be worth a try as we are throwing in an LPX chain as well... I'm hoping that it gives a new standard in chains.

 

It is supposed to keep it's edge better as there is a new chrome process and material. We should soon find out as folk compare one with the other. But would be good to know from someone like yourself - is it that good it makes you want to get one over a Rotatech chain.

 

 

 

[Rob D]

On 11/10/2018 at 14:29, slack ma girdle said:

The general opinion between me and a couple of my subbies, is there is no difference between the EXL and the LPX. We have been ringing up ash all morning with both in a blind test and none of us could tell the difference.

 

Hmmm - well that seems pretty conclusive - blind test should certainly show a difference.

 

Can you keep an eye on the stay sharp as well for me?

 

 

 

[Woodworks]

1 hour ago, Rob D said:

 

It's got to be worth a try as we are throwing in an LPX chain as well... I'm hoping that it gives a new standard in chains.

 

It is supposed to keep it's edge better as there is a new chrome process and material. We should soon find out as folk compare one with the other. But would be good to know from someone like yourself - is it that good it makes you want to get one over a Rotatech chain.

 

 

 

Fingers crossed they do hold their edge for longer. Always looking for the perfect chain for the processor and longevity is what I am after.

[Mark_Skyland]

15 hours ago, lux said:

Isn’t one of the features of the new chain that it comes out of the box more like a chain that’s been sharpened with a round file ? I’m sure that point was in the promo video but it was so dull I can’t be bothered to watch it again

I know what you mean though, for general use I’m buying rotatech atm. I know all the haters comments out there but ive never had one snap or fail. They do perform much better after the first sharpen. Much smoother after a tickle up with the file.

I can’t knock them for value. Sure oregon etc are better chains but not proportional to the extra cost.

I still buy Oregon etc for more specialist chains like skip chains and milling chains. Usually from Rob D or honey bros

I may well get one to see how it fairs up as you say for holding an edge etc. The less I have to sharpen my saws the better.

Surely cost is irrelevant in in this situation especially as it is only a very small cost if you are running a pro saw?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[lux]

Surely cost is irrelevant in in this situation especially as it is only a very small cost if you are running a pro saw?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Cost is always a relevant factor
It may not be the deciding factor but it’s got to be considered. It’s just business to consider it.
On a single saw it’s less of a factor than on say 10 or more saws.
It applies to whatever you buy if it performs well and it’s much cheaper it makes sense.


Rob D - for sure I will try some. If it stays sharper longer then the cost starts to offset straight away. Less down time sharpening etc.
It did look smoother in the cut straight out of the box which the rotatechs def aren’t. Grabby as you like until the first file but fine after that.

[gdh]

12 hours ago, Mark_Skyland said:

Surely cost is irrelevant in in this situation especially as it is only a very small cost if you are running a pro saw?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would say all costs are relevant but in the case of chains it's surprisingly big, for comparison our firewood processor chains without special offers or VAT:

Stihl - £26.04

New oregon - £24.36

Rotatech - £10.90

 

We get through 30+ chains in a year with all the saws so that adds up fast and after all the chains we've tried there's very little realistic difference although I would be tempted to go back to oregon if it lasted significantly longer.

 

Unfortunately I've just got a load of Rotatech otherwise it would be interesting to buy an EXL and try a durability test on different brands, although awkward trying to make it fair.

[SbTVF]

Took up your offer on the chain Rob. For use on our Tajfun 400. Been using Oregon semi chisel on a sugihara bar for the last year because full chisel dulls far too fast. Rotatech does not agree with the sugihara bar for some reason.

The EXL is going through everything like a hot knife through butter so far, oak, ash, elm, lime, sycamore, beech and can barely tell a difference in cutting tone, almost sounds like a circular saw him actually. It leaves very smooth cut surfaces too. Put 9 cube through so far, best I’ve done is 30 cube on fresh from the box with semi chisel but it cuts maybe a 3rd to half as slow per cycle so if I do 15 with full chisel it’ll be a time saver.
Old LPX struggles to do 7cube from a sharpen usually.

Videos to follow.

[Toad]

Hi Rob.

 

How does the offer work on your website, if I order the exl, does the log chain get automatically added in, or do I need to add it separately? Will probably order some tonight/tomorrow. 

 

Cheers.

 

Tom