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Stupid Question?

Started by Cliniford, December 26, 2008, 10:55:32 PM

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Cliniford

I'm still a rookie, whats the difference if any between .375 and 3/8 pitch?
I tried a search but came up with nothing.
Stihl 034
Homelite super XL

madrone

Not a stupid question, just mathimatical.
3/8 = .375
same thing

Cliniford

Thank you, just wondering, was looking at bars and some were labeled 3/8 and some .375.
Stihl 034
Homelite super XL

sawcollector

There are no stupid questions, usually...
Just stupid answers!
And the chain numbering system can be confusing.
We usually call 1/4" chain 1/4" chain, not .25 chain.
.325 is always .325 because there is no fraction for .325.
3/8" is traditionally 3/8" but then like you saw it, sometimes some dufus will list is as .375 and not follow the accepted practice of always calling it 3/8.
.404 again is always called .404 and I guess again because there is no fractional equivalent for it.
And I recall that Mac had some oddball gauge of chain they marketed back in the '80s that was between .325 and 3/8 I think, but it never really caught on very well.

Cut4fun

Dont forget 3/8LP low pro which is also .375, but people use .365 so to try and not confuse it with 3/8 .375. Like Baileys when ordering chain use .365 to describe 3/8LP.

Al_Smith

Quote from: sawcollector on December 27, 2008, 06:31:48 AM

And I recall that Mac had some oddball gauge of chain they marketed back in the '80s that was between .325 and 3/8 I think, but it never really caught on very well.
.3 something or another.I can't remember either .I've never seen any myself .

If you get into real old stuff you run into all kinds of oddballs like 7/16-5/8 etc . Most people don't get into antiques so that point is almost moot .

sawcollector

Al, I remember putting a new 3/8 chain on a Mac 10-10 or something similar and it had the odd pitch sprocket and roller tip bar on it, and I went nuts trying to figure out what was up before I finally measured the pitch on the old chain!

GASoline71

Quote from: Cut4fun on December 27, 2008, 08:18:41 AM
Dont forget 3/8LP low pro which is also .375, but people use .365 so to try and not confuse it with 3/8 .375. Like Baileys when ordering chain use .365 to describe 3/8LP.

No kiddin'???  I didn't know that.  I learned somethin' new today...  ;D

Gary
\"...if ya mess with the bull... ya gets the horn.\"

slabmaster

I keep 3/8 .050 bar and chains for everything so they are interchangeable with each other.So i don't have to worry about mixing anything up.Much easier for me.I even try to keep the saws that use the same bars as well.I mainly use stihl& husky saws so i have the bar adapter to ues my stihl bars on my huskys if  i want. :)

Cut4fun

Quote from: GASoline71 on December 27, 2008, 12:59:09 PM
Quote from: Cut4fun on December 27, 2008, 08:18:41 AM
Dont forget 3/8LP low pro which is also .375, but people use .365 so to try and not confuse it with 3/8 .375. Like Baileys when ordering chain use .365 to describe 3/8LP.

No kiddin'  I didn't know that.  I learned somethin' new today... 

Gary

Maybe we could get a new guy to start a oil thread so we could learn from the master of oil threads, eh Gary.  :D ;)

zackman1801

what confuses me are the way stihl labels the files, they label them as 3/8 and .404 so stupid me thinks that the 3/8 file goes with 3/8 chain, till i find out that 3/8 is actually 13/64 and not the 7/32 that i needed. then the .404 is actually the 7/32 i need....why oh why.
"Improvise, Adapt, OVERCOME!"
Husky 365sp 20" bar

Engineer

Quote from: zackman1801 on December 28, 2008, 10:10:07 PM
what confuses me are the way stihl labels the files, they label them as 3/8 and .404 so stupid me thinks that the 3/8 file goes with 3/8 chain, till i find out that 3/8 is actually 13/64 and not the 7/32 that i needed. then the .404 is actually the 7/32 i need....why oh why.

Just wait 'til you get a wore-out chain that you'd been using 13/64" on and find that now you DO need that 7/32" file that you use on .404.... 

I filed a brand new Woodsman Pro chain that had only run through two tanks of gas, with a 13/64" file instead of the 3/16" file I should have used.   Talk about stupid.  The larger file worked but the chain dulled FAST and I spent better part of an hour hand-filing that sucker back to spec.

SwampDonkey

Where's the pro thinning saw thread? ;D

:P
"No amount of belief makes something a fact." James Randi

1 Thessalonians 5:21

2020 Polaris Ranger 570 to forward firewood, Husqvarna 555 XT Pro, Stihl FS560 clearing saw and continuously thinning my ground, on the side. Grow them trees. (((o)))

sawcollector

Quote from: zackman1801 on December 28, 2008, 10:10:07 PM
what confuses me are the way stihl labels the files, they label them as 3/8 and .404 so stupid me thinks that the 3/8 file goes with 3/8 chain, till i find out that 3/8 is actually 13/64 and not the 7/32 that i needed. then the .404 is actually the 7/32 i need....why oh why.

Maybe this will help:

9/64"   (3.5mm)   *                                  5605 773 3505, 12-3 pack sleeves/box
5/32"   (4.0mm)   ¼", PM, PMN          5605 773 4012, 12/box
5/32"   (4.0mm)   ¼", PM, PMN          5605 773 4003, 12-3 pack sleeves/box
11/64" (4.5mm)   **                          5605 773 4512, 12/box
3/16"   (4.8mm)   .325"                          5605 773 4812, 12/box
3/16"   (4.8mm)   .325"                          5605 773 4803, 12-3 pack sleeves/box
13/64" (5.2mm)   3/8"                          5605 773 5212, 12/box
13/64" (5.2mm)   3/8"                          5605 773 5203, 12-3 pack sleeves/box
7/32"   (5.5mm)   .404"                          5605 773 5512, 12/box
7/32"   (5.5mm)   .404"                          5605 773 5503, 12-3 pack sleeves/box
Flat File with Safe Edge for Depth Gauge   7010 871 0007, 12/box
File for Square Ground Chain                    7010 871 0132, 12/box   ***

   * 9/64" size file was originally for STIHL Picco™ and ¼" pitch chain
** 11/64" size file was originally for 3/8 Topic Super
*** was part number 7010 871 0006

I always use the file holder to correctly place the file part way up out of the gullet, and to give me the reference lines to get the angle close.
Here are the part numbers for the complete kit:
Complete Filing Kits Include File Guide, Depth Gauge Tool, Flat File, File Handle, Pouch
PMN           5605 007 1026
¼", PM   5605 007 1027
.325"   5605 007 1028
3/8"           5605 007 1029
.404"   5605 007 1030



woodburner

If you are new to wood cutting like me, a good place to start to learn about chain is the Carlton web site. They have a down loadable manual that shows just about all you need except experiance.  Hope that helps.

GASoline71

So does Oregon and Stihl...

Stihl has a downloadable manual with all the tips and tricks you need to sharpen chain.  It has a file size chart... bar and sprocket maintenance, and other things that most rookie saw owners overlook...  Its the last at the bottom of the page listed below... 

http://www.stihlusa.com/information/info_tips.html

Gary
\"...if ya mess with the bull... ya gets the horn.\"

John Mc

SawCollector:

I assume all those file diameters and the chain pitches they go with are for Stihl Chains?

For Oregon and WoodlandPro chains, they recommend 7/32" files for the 3/8" pitch chains. Stihl is the only one I know of which uses a 13/64" file for their 3/8" chains.

Seems as though everyone recommends 3/16" for their .325" pitch chains.
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.   - Abraham Maslow

Rocky_J

I've never used the oddball sized files recommended by Stihl. Only 3/16 for the .325 chain and the 7/32 for the 3/8" chain. The 13/64 file would only cause me lots of frustration because it's too small to get a deep enough gullet on the tooth, or I'd end up filing a duck's beak which would dull too quickly. It's also too easy to confuse it with the 3/16" file.

I've never actually met anybody who has used the 13/64" file for any period of time. Everybody tries them at least once and everybody ends up using the 7/32" instead.

beenthere

I use the 13/64 file on the last few filings of the 3/8 chain. I find it is less invasive on the connecting links and fits the tooth profile better as the tooth is smaller. But I use the 7/32 file for the first 2/3 of the tooth length.

Works for me.  :)
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

SawTroll

Quote from: Cut4fun on December 27, 2008, 08:18:41 AM
Dont forget 3/8LP low pro which is also .375, but people use .365 so to try and not confuse it with 3/8 .375. Like Baileys when ordering chain use .365 to describe 3/8LP.

Yes, and both types of 3/8" chain actually are .367, not .375........ :) :D :D
Information collector.

SawTroll

Quote from: zackman1801 on December 28, 2008, 10:10:07 PM
what confuses me are the way stihl labels the files, they label them as 3/8 and .404 so stupid me thinks that the 3/8 file goes with 3/8 chain, till i find out that 3/8 is actually 13/64 and not the 7/32 that i needed. then the .404 is actually the 7/32 i need....why oh why.

That is because Stihl recommends a 13/64 file for their regular 3/8" chains........ :P

Quote from: beenthere on January 01, 2009, 04:08:07 PM
I use the 13/64 file on the last few filings of the 3/8 chain. I find it is less invasive on the connecting links and fits the tooth profile better as the tooth is smaller. But I use the 7/32 file for the first 2/3 of the tooth length.

Works for me.  :)

About the same with me, but I use the 13/64 the first few strokes as well on RSC, as it is easier to get started correctly.
Information collector.

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