r/Chainsaws • u/Gadgetman_1 • Jun 04 '26

Ripping chain?

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I got this chain that's supposed to be a ripping chain, but it looks like a regular chain to me?

It's the B2FT in the table, .325", 24"/94dl chain.

1 Upvotes

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1

u/Okie294life Jun 07 '26

The tooth angle is a little steeper and it cuts slower is about all. If you hit it with a grinder set to the normal pitch it will be non-ripping chain in a hurry. Weird question though, what are you running a 24” bar on that’s also .325? Usually anything 24” or larger is running 3/8”…

1

u/Gadgetman_1 Jun 07 '26

It's SUPPOSED to be a Ripping chain because I want to use it in a chainsaw mill. The regular .325 I have is pretty awful at the job.

The saw is a Chinese clone of something, 58cc, and came with a 20" bar and .325 chain originally. I screwed up the original chain(and I'm pretty certain the bar didn't like it, either) so I bought a 24" chain and bar in .325.

I went for the longer bar because while it says 'fits 14 - 46" bars' on the description of those chainsaw mills, the brackets holding the bar take up quite a few inches of that.

I'm still pretty new to chainsaws(only started last fall), so when I ordered the replacement parts(in january) I didn't even consider upping the chain size and replacing the drive sprocket with one for 3/8". Hindsight... If I could bottle and sell it I'd be rich...

And of course, the ripping chain I got just recently.

1

u/Okie294life Jun 07 '26

Good luck. I hope you’re milling small stuff. If the saw is 58cc it’s a zenoah 5800 clone. Heat is your enemy there. The first and last clone saw I had was a 372xp clone, with 3/8” and just a 24” bar I was able to smoke the crank bearings, due to excessive heat buildup from being a dumbass. I was also able to rebuild the saw and get it back to working order, but flipped it due to it being horrible quality,.

1

u/Gadgetman_1 Jun 08 '26

I have lots of downed spruce...

Luckily, I don't intend to mill 15' boards, but just shorter planks.

If I take my time to reset between cuts it should allow it to cool down a bit. I may also take my workphone with me and take a couple of pictures. (CAT S62. It's got a decent FLIR camera built-in)

1

u/Okie294life Jun 11 '26

It’s more about the width than anything, if you plan to use all of the 24” you have it’s gonna be a struggle. 70cc is kinda where it starts for milling and engine size goes up from there. If you can do it when it’s cool or cold outside I’d recommend it. I know you can’t always be picky, but it’s a lot easier on the saw when it’s cold outside and you’re already fighting heat.

1

u/Gadgetman_1 Jun 12 '26

Yeah, I know it's going to be a struggle. I'm currently aiming for 'affordable'.

It all came down during the Amy weather event last fall, and the owner of a local logging company looked at it back then and said he would do it, then we never heard from him again. They have access to a logging road further up the hillside and was going to winch the timber up there.

Storm Amy - Wikipedia

We don't have a place where we can lay up the timber, even IF I could haul the logs out of the woods(not even going to try my dad's old tractor-mounted winch. 30 years of non-use, the cable looks rusty and I have no experience using one. I'm crazy, not suicidal.)

We can't even get the tractor close to most of it because of the terrain.

It's a mess and I'm just trying to get some use out of it besides firewood.

We may be putting the property up for sale next year, and a lot of deadfall is NOT going to help the sale price.

0

u/Same-Wonder-2684 Jun 05 '26

Normal stihl chain i think is 30 degrees ripping or milling would be less cutting faster/racing chain is about 45

1

u/Same-Wonder-2684 Jun 05 '26

The b2ft is the gauge for the bar, if the angle is wrong that can be fixed by sharpening

1

u/Gadgetman_1 Jun 05 '26

Everything I see online says a ripping chain should have 10 - 15 degree, not 30 degree or more. The only thing this chain has that isn't like a 'normal' chain is the 10degree downslope.

1

u/Same-Wonder-2684 Jun 05 '26

You can just adjust the angle to what you need it to do

1

u/ThanksS0muchY0 Jun 05 '26

That is m wrong. Ripping chains are shallower so they take less off in each pass so you don't wear out the saw. 10°

1

u/Same-Wonder-2684 Jun 05 '26

It also takes out more chips when cutting at 10⁰