Thoughts on new stihl rapid duro chain?

[agg221]

You can sharpen carbide tools with diamond files reasonably fast, but you need a coarse file as well as a fine honing one. I have an old set of diamond plates from a polishing room, the coarsest of which is about 120 grit equivalent and will take material off pretty fast. I've not seen a coarse file to suit saw chain, but then I haven't been looking.

 

I've got some round diamond stones for the Oregon grinder which came from the US. What I'd really like is some to suit Rob D's grinder and a carbide tipped ripping chain for milling as that's where it would come into its own.

 

Alec

[treequip]

You can sharpen carbide tools with diamond files reasonably fast, but you need a coarse file as well as a fine honing one. I have an old set of diamond plates from a polishing room, the coarsest of which is about 120 grit equivalent and will take material off pretty fast. I've not seen a coarse file to suit saw chain, but then I haven't been looking.

 

I've got some round diamond stones for the Oregon grinder which came from the US. What I'd really like is some to suit Rob D's grinder and a carbide tipped ripping chain for milling as that's where it would come into its own.

 

Alec

 

I think if it were at all practical the chain manufacturers would be offering suitable files, the fact that they only offer grinding discs speaks volumes

[agg221]

It's practical:

 

Diamond Chainsaw Files

 

Whether there's the demand to support it may be more the issue. There's probably not that much carbide chain sold, and diamond files can't be made the same way as conventional files so it's a different manufacturing proposition which probably isn't justified.

 

Alec

 

I think if it were at all practical the chain manufacturers would be offering suitable files, the fact that they only offer grinding discs speaks volumes

[treequip]

It's practical:

 

Diamond Chainsaw Files

 

Whether there's the demand to support it may be more the issue. There's probably not that much carbide chain sold, and diamond files can't be made the same way as conventional files so it's a different manufacturing proposition which probably isn't justified.

 

Alec

 

Is it though?

 

That advert (couldn't you find one in the uk) doesn't say its for carbide chains. Do any of the mainstream saw manufacturers even offer a diamond file? I have never seen one.

[agg221]

Is it though?

 

That advert (couldn't you find one in the uk) doesn't say its for carbide chains. Do any of the mainstream saw manufacturers even offer a diamond file? I have never seen one.

 

Yes, I could find them in the UK but the pictures were better from the US one, and it was whether it worked or not, rather than whether it was available. If you look at the King Arthur tools site, you'll see that they recommend the 150grit diamond file for carbide chainsaw teeth. Not quick I'll grant you, but then the running time between sharpenings is a lot longer anyway.

 

Physically possible, yes. Worth it for general use, probably not. I would imagine that the infrequent and specialist use which these chains are designed for makes workshop sharpening the norm, hence by grinder the most cost-effective route in pretty much all cases.

 

Still fancy a go for a milling chain though

 

Alec

[Pinkfoot]

So has any one used one of these ?

I have a lot of dirty wood to cut up , and was contemplating getting one .

[Daythe trees]

My mate who I see every six months as he does my loler changed to these chains on everything and invested in the green grit wheel for his bench chain sharpening grinder. He swears by them. Keep meaning to ask if he still buys the cheapest chain possible for stump cutting!

[Pinkfoot]

There are only a few vids on you tube ,but from what I can gather ,if you only cut wood , dirty or clean , they last a long time.

I have a grinder , so really only need the wheel.

If I get one ,I will post my findings.

[sawsaw]

I have used the rapid duro chain quite extensively, but as previous posts the issue is with the sharpening. All chains (including TC ones) start to dull from the first time you use them and because of the cost of replacement I found my self hanging on to them longer than I should with the net result I was cutting with a chain that although acceptably sharp does not match in any way a newly sharpened conventional chain. The net result I stopped using them and have gone back to using ordinary chains which I sharpen 'little and often'. It may be my imagination but I never felt that the TC chain even when new was as sharp as the conventional chain. The other issue with them was that if you cut into a hidden nail or whatever I found the teeth have a tendancy to chip which can wreck the chain. I probably need to get out more but I find chain sharpening quite therapeutic !!

[Pinkfoot]

Thank you for that mate.

What did you use to sharpen them?