oregon van guard chain

[crd1957]

 any one ever use oregon van guard chain? sharpening this chain takes forever because of the wide depth gauge. this is a saftey feature i can do without. does stihl offer a 3/8  .050 chain with normal depth gauges

[Kevin]

I would never buy vanguard chain.
Use it for stump cutting and hope you hit a rock.

http://www.stihlusa.com/chainsaws/types.html#RSC

[mburrow]

the vanguard chain is not the only chain Oregon makes
http://www.oregonchain.com/pro/products/chain/pro_main_sawchain.htm

[SawTroll]

the vanguard chain is not the only chain Oregon makes
http://www.oregonchain.com/pro/products/chain/pro_main_sawchain.htm

Exactly, the issue is not the brand, it is the exact model! 

[crd1957]

 im aware that oregon makes several types of chain. but around here lowes orchelens tractor supply are the only stores outside of a stihl dealer that sells chain. the box stores all sell vangaurd in 3/8 .050. i dont like to use our locall stihl dealer. i guess ill buy online. i was just venting my anger at a company that would sell such a useless chain. i know its for safety reasons. but chainsaws are dangerous by nature.

[Rocky_J]

never mind, I guess I lack the ability to communicate without being taken the wrong way.

[crd1957]

well rocky j i wasnt looking for sympathy, i was looking for imformation from people with more knowledge of chainsaws  than i have. i have been given some real good info on this site,  without your sarcasm .in the future ill ask my silly questions  on other sites , so as not to offend saw gods like you

[Kevin]

It's a learning curve for everyone, I bought vanguard in the past.
I didn't ask for it but that's what they sold me many moons ago.
The last time I asked for a specific chain in a local saw shop I was offered another design.
I just order exactly what I want from Bailey's now, no more pain and suffering.

On a side note, I don't have time to come in and edit personal comments so lets get back to helping each other and keep this a friendly place for all to enjoy.
Thanks for your co-operation.

[beenthere]

crd1957
Hang in there and don't let the sarcasm thrown at you scare you off to another site. Each site prolly has those on the fringe that like to call others "idiots" and "stupid". Prolly because they can't help it. Some people think being negative of others makes them look smarter, IMO. It doesn't. Just degrades how smart they really are. I can guess they are the ones that need the sympathy. 

My observation, that the chainsaw forum seems to attract the worst of the worst. Sorry, but that is how it seems. Other boards don't have this problem of getting into a peeing contest trying to show who is more right and who else is more wrong.

Many of us look forward to you sticking around, and offering your advice, telling of your experiences, and even asking questions. And we like pics 
We even can give sympathy where it is due. 

So, hang in there with us. 

[sharkey]

Vanguard was actually one of the first safety kickback reducing chains that worked without the bumper links.  I think what your finding is that the box stores wont sell anything but safety chain?  Maybe check with one of the rental places and see what they have.  If your going to order online, make sure you know what the pitch, gauge and drive link count your specific saw uses.  This will help you to avoid shipping returns that eat up the bargains. 

[oldsaw]

I've got two loops of that crap, but the price was right.  Got one in a bar/chain kit at a hardware store that was closing out, actually, got the other one there two.  I paid far less for the bar and two chains than the bar would have cost itself, so, "no harm no foul".

Would I buy that crap?  Nope, but it's not sold for me.  I expect that kind of stuff in a box store, they only care about liability in this crazy world.  However, I ran into a suburban Stihl store and all they sold was safety chain.  Even had a 441 on the shelf in all it's green chain glory.  Kind of like Henry Ford, you could have any size chain you wanted, as long as it was safety chain.  I broke out laughing, the salesman got a bit miffed.  I think he got a bit annoyed when I kept asking "Seriously?  You are really serious?  You have got to be kidding.  Seriously?  I didn't believe him at first, but left before I got thrown out.

So, when it comes to chain, I order pretty much everything.  Not going to pay the price my closest Stihl dealer wants, most everyone else sells safety chain.  Stupid Stihl dealer locally even refused to sell me a yellow tie link for a 36" loop on my 066.  Sold me a triple hump green one and made me grind it off.  Was a real jerk about it

Get it right, order it once, and get cutting.

[Rocky_J]

I've had more than one dealer look me up and down, sizing me up when I ask for chain, determining whether or not they consider me worthy of the 'real' chain or the safety chain. But those days are gone, thankfully, since I began buying rolls of chain and making my own loops a few years ago. I guess they figure if you're buying chain 100' at a time then it just might not be your first day on the job. 

[Al_Smith]

Well you all have to remember the almighty Stihl compnay .Spotless show rooms every thing is just as sanitary as a hospitol room . Lilly white and blameless and that's the way they want it .

What few Stihl chains I have purchased I never had a problem getting good old chisel with no guard or else I'd have done the bootleggers  U-turn and made an exit and they knew it .The one exception is believe it or not none of the three local dealers handle picco for the 200's in anything but safety which I find extremely odd .

Any other brand of chain I usually order from an online supplier .

As far as safety chain ,use it if you so desire .Some folks prefer it and I have no problem with that myself .I however grew up in the era before safety chain or chain brakes for that matter so it doesn't bother me a bit if niether are present on any saw I operate .