Best Chainsaw Chain? NEW Hexa Chain vs Round, Square, and Stock Chain! 

YESS! Jed is back! always a joy to see him !

i miss jed. never met the guy, not one a whole lot of vids but hes mad an impact on my knowledge of things. thank you jed.

I always like to hear Jed's perspective on things.

You and Project Farm are the only 2 people I consistently watch. God bless you, Jake.

The amount of information Jed had was absolutely incredible. He will be missed by many.

Man we’re all going to miss you Jed. R.I.P. to a true legend. I’ve learned a lot from him on your channel and loved listening to his perspective on things! ❤

I'm in my late 60's and and when I was in my early 20's, 2 old loggers showed me the hex method. I've used it ever since, because how well it holds an edge, how fast it cuts and easy it is to sharpen. West Coast

Sounds like it's time to RU-vid a trip to the Stihl factory in Germany!!! Good seeing 'Inbred Jed,' he always seems like such a chill guy and so knowledgeable.

My takeaway from this video is that round file is the best choice overall, because that is what I wanted to hear from the get-go.

16 inch bars are really common in nova scotia canada too, we have trees very similar to what norway has. A 50-60cc saw with a 15 -16 inch bar is the go to set up. All the big spruce trees are gone, the only big trees left are hardwoods close to houses.

I've been grinding Hexa with my Oregon grinder. I had to reprofile the grinding wheel and adjust the angles on the head. It's definitely faster and seems to hold an edge very well. This chain is truly something different in regards to cutter teeth. Basically there hasn't been a change in our "modern" chain in quite a while. Thanks Jacob and Jed!

It's awesome to see Jed in your videos! Awesome friendship you guys have. Great information you put out, and hearing different peoples perspectives in new(old) technology is nice as well.

Skip tooth round file is what i have always used.

I was running this saw for about 2 hours at about a 30-50% duty cycle ru-vid.comUgkxfQm1wmg0ItKDLavxj1nXtQY9HP7EF504 and it did a great job. I used the lever for the built in sharpener to clear chip buildup out more than to actually sharpen the chain. It managed to cut some hardwood stumps much larger than it's size without bothering the neighbors with hours of 2 stroke noise.

You're very blessed to have such good mentors. Between Jed and August you have such a wealth of knowledge that is just a phone call away. Love the videos Jake. Climb high and stay safe.

$100 for a 32 inch loop that’s way too rich for my blood thanks for the video brother much love!

Novice firewood and homestead cutter here. I have been running Oregon and Stihl full chisel and semi. Enjoy the channel and learning quite a few things in the process.

So cool to hear Jed mention Sohner Tree Service. I started there in '77 still climbing. Your a great resource, Really enjoy the videos

Awesome video Jacob!!!! I was really looking forward to this and it did not disappoint. I am working on running some square ground for the first time, otherwise round ground.

Thank you for that video, it proofs, what i just "felt". I just tested the hexa a few days before. It cuts very well. Didn't measure it, but it feels faster than the rounfiled but way slower than the squarefiled (handfiled, can't afford a simington) chain. But it feels very grabby. It easily grabbed some 30cm diameter oak and hornbeam with 60 cm length which i was cutting in half, lifted it and threw it to my knees.. (short bar 45cm on a 362C-M). Borecuts feel smoother than roundground but again not as smooth as square. The same with cuts along the fibres and through knots. When limbing it feels a bit rough in the moment you hit the wood but in the cut it's very fast and smooth. In dirty wood it dulls as fast an the roundground chain. I think it is a nice "in between" for all who want the advantages close to squaredrind without learning to handfile it or buy a simington. Greetings from germany

For the last 15 years i have filed my Flat top chains with a 3 sided file they do really good

Hello Jacob. Florida here😊. I love this post. Ive been professionally sharping chain for years. Did them all. In my opinion, there's nothing better than a square profile. Hexa and standard square have very little difference and its in the gullet. These profiles are the smoothest, longer lasting, and unbiased to grain direction ive ever used. Changing the top plate angle to 10 or 15 degrees allows me rip cut and cross cut with no effort. Concerning your perspective on raker heights, that's critical to performance. The testosterone fueled idea of dropping the rakers to take out more "meat" to speed things up is 😂. It puts unreasonable amounts of stress on the power head and user. Who the heck wants to use a saw that digs, vibrates, binds up constantly and fatigues the operator??? Thats a disater waiting to happen, especially when a controlled surgical cut is needed. Anyhow. Thanks for the great posts. Stay humble and be safe.

Awesome buddy . Chainsaw chain can sure be a minefield for sure but in my experience it’s wood specific the type of chain you run . Great stuff Jacob. God bless ya .

They had this chain years and years ago! I remember it well and it never was better than the round cut then either.

I have been cutting and bucking firewood for the past 38 years. 5 years ago I went to the timberline Sharpening system, will never hand file a saw again. I run 7 different saws, stihl, husky, Jonsered and echo, I favor the echo. 5 of my saw friends now sharpen with the timberline system. Chain lasts 4 to 5 times longer along with tooth consistency.

Pretty sure the rakers being slanted to the side are to control not just amount of top depth removed but also side depth removed. Maybe the tooth shape has some tendency to pull the chain sideways, so the side-raker keeps the chain properly straight in the bar groove. Also, as for speed... the round filed chain look decently more filed down which makes it a lighter chain, thus faster to spin. Couldn't tell that well tho. Personally i like to file from the other side of the tooth (opposite direction). It's not easy to do, but i believe it cuts off the chrome more cleanly. Take care ~

I asked my local shop here on the East Coast of Canada about the Hexa chain a few months ago, they looked at me like I had 10 heads, interesting to see how the aggressive tooth holds its edge, it looks far quicker to sharpen / maintain (as you eluded to)

West coast saws, east coast saws…timing is everything!😉 I’m not caught up in 2-5 second differences in cut time so much as I am with cut control. I want straight. And, I prefer hand filing and round was the easiest to learn. I’m still playing with flat files for square grind…but I’ve just always found life more enjoyable with a round file. I don’t worry about time.

Awesome Video Jacob!! It was cool to see that chain!👍🏻 Also good to see Jed on the video!

perhaps one of the reasons we more experienced sawyers have such a negative impression of round chain when it performs so comparably well when sharp is that the concave cutting edge is a slightly less supported edge and therefore doesn't keep sharp as well over time. The first couple cuts are great, but it doesn't stay as well over many cuts, and we are sensitive to that slight reduction in speed, whereas a good square grind has a more supported edge because of geometry and can maintain its sharpness slightly better requiring less frequent sharpening to maintain.

Yeah Jed… great to see you in this one… gotta go back and watch the handfile your square grind video again…

I own a tree service in Beaumont Texas and I have done some testing and I use the Stihl 33 RM which is the round tooth chain and it does cut fraction slower than the square tooth which is 33 RS . But the bad thing about the square tooth chain when it gets slightly dull it cuts curves and dulls faster in dirty wood. The round top will cut nails into and keep cutting and easier to sharpen. Square chain has to make sure any scratch or damaged tooth has to be filed completely out or it still won't cut right.

Love yer love of all the saws and tree work. carpenter from Cali that wanted to be a faller as a kid. I like old orange saws but really like them all and enjoy learning about them. Cheers from Santa Cruz mountains

Jed always has some great input

What works best for your application is up to you to decide. It is nice to see a company come out with a new innovation that seems to work well. Great work on your part to be fair as possible. 👌

Good information! As a homeowner, will probably just stick with round. Love the video!

Really what your testing is the self 'feed' rate. The round chain had a quite aggressive inner top plate angle. Testing chain is very tricky...🤯

That’s awsome can’t wait for the stihl hexa chain. I tried getting at 3 local stihl dealers here in Kentucky none in stock. Said they are having some supply chain issues looks like the hexa maybe a lot easier to sharpen and stay sharp a little longer. Thanks for the post I’ve been watching all your videos and trying to stay current

YESSSSIRRRR JED is back

Maybe that lab testing could be a side channel. I'm always impressed with how in depth you test things. That round can be better if you ain't scared to change pitch and depth on the grind. It can get wild

Love seeing all of Jed’s icons up on his wall.

Interesting to see the difference between the cuts, the speed at which they cut, and the final product being as smooth as it was; especially with a hexa chain it look like the cut was very smooth, leave very little ripple. This would be great for slab cutting.

You've talked me into sticking with what I use; round grind lol If the best advantage to the hexa is .5 seconds on an average log, it's literally a "no brainer." 😂

Round all day ya know. Biggest smoothest bite

We all love seeing Jed on the channel. Of course I appreciate you doing everything you've been doing traveling showing us all these different types of tree companies and people and tools of the trade and the various scales and sizes all around the country/world. Its been awesome to watch and I'm sure such a beautiful exciting thing to experience on your end. You're killing it Jake. Keep it up I tune in for every video. Hopefully you and Jed get to spend some more time together and bring him on the channel to share his wealth of knowledge. Love it. Thanks man

Really awesome seeing and hearing from Jed again! Been a while

Let me like it first… now I’m going to watch it.

I have a Stihl 025 that originally had a 16 inch bar and chain that is .063 gauge. It was used when i got it but instead of having the 3/8 pitch it has .325 pitch and i put a 18 inch bar and skip tooth chain on it. Great little saw and has great power and torque for only being 45cc. I also have an old homelite super XL 925 with a 34 inch bar and chain

Great video with the crew. If you’re after more concrete evidence of chain performance advantages across grind types, you’re off to a solid start. All you need to add is repeated measurements provided you stage enough wood at first. You could repeat the process of cutting and timing each day, or once a week. Probably 4 observations of cutting with each chain should do it. Indoors in a controlled setting might remove more extraneous variables but going outdoors as you have would be more informative for real world differences you could expect. Also, that Norway forestry video was cooler than cool.

Happy to see Jed again. Great video.

Sweet. Made my day, sitting at my desk. Appreciate it.

so happy to see Jed again! great video i was hoping to see a good video on the hexa Chian

Was excited to see this chain run. Adding Jed in is just cherry on the top.

Like the boots! I’ve been wearing the fugitive from Asolo for almost 20 years since the green red yellow hippi colored version was around! Just bought my 3rd pair! My brother and I do a lot of blue spruce slabbing up here in north Idaho with his 462R so had to check the video out!

Great to see Jed back!👍🏻

Nice job, Thanks for sharing, you guys rock, always fun...

I been waiting for someone to do a proper test💪

Very interesting, glad I hot to see your comparison !

That’s a fantastic video buddy!!!! Can’t wait to get a loop and get to play too!!!

Thanks for taking time to compare- I'll just stay w/ old round filing be doing long long time- My problem is Carpal tunnel hands go numb So trying to research some sort jig-

I think where the square shines over round is in green wood. Good test and interesting results

I have a chain tool for fitting motorcycle chains. There are a few styles. They tend to work on the principle of mushrooming the link pin after it's intserted. Pins for bike chains have taperd shoulders, though, not straight.

Sweet shootout! It'd be interesting to see how the Stihl Hexa compares to my Homemade Hexa using the 3 sided file.

Great comparison, FYI you can grind hexa with a standard grinder just reshaping the wheel.

Great video Jacob! Good to see Jed again.

Awesome I e been debating this myself Thanks !

Great to see Jed!!!!

Also, I feel like the curved rakers account for the older straight-style disadvantages. Whenever someone files the raker, anyone should account for 1-2% of error: because we aren't computers. So if they're winged-out to the side, my guess is that when filed: They counter-act cutting left or right just as much as a mushrooming bar would/over-filing on a straight raker? Minimalizing user-error, keeping a straighter cut, at the sacrifice of more drag? You paid more for "dummy-proof metal?" An old man said: Huskys been around for 300 years now. They've gotta have made the stuff to be dummy proof by now? (anyone can break a husky in 5 minutes doing the wrong thing, lots of external parts exposed; Lawn Mower Spindles that cant get the grease to the bearings? come on guys.) IMO: HusQ has generalized products, with alot of collaborative design (545) STIHL: Been around for a hundred years, has 2x more safety features, but expects the operator to be on their A-Game if you want to perform. The moment you stop paying attention, you'll screw up. Stihl has a little more leeway with mistakes. HusQ doesn't. Hit your chain brake once and you might see clutch-drum-shrapnel go flying. IMO: STIHL focuses on one thing: Small Engines and user-comfort. Design-Worthy stuff. Argument: Old Remingtons (STIHL) vs. Newer Mossbergs (HusQ)

Cool test! But I’ll stick with my round filed chain! Especially up here Yukon Canada, we don’t have lots of choices or availability on stuff like that!! Good video!! Cheers

Of course they like short bars....see the Tekos they cut...small diameter reprod...great video thank you!!!.....think I'll stay with my Simington swing arm....get a great square grind cuts great....Shoe in SW Oregon ...Good to see Jed is back.

Really interesting. Also shows the difference vs stock. Cool.

The square ground chain cuts straight but it creates a larger kerf because the sharp side plate acts like side planer in a way and removes more material side to side.

You and Jed are like peanut butter and jelly. Miss the old videos sometimes so nice to see collabs

Think of it this way; the hex cut is the same effect a a tanto style knife blade tip and the round file is liek a standard drop point knife blade tip. The tanto is popular for its much higher durability since the tip angle is not nearly as sharp or pointy. It may only cut the same, but it should last a lot longer b/w filings.

Good vid Jacob. I have been working with the round chain so far. No complaints yet

Running a ms261 cm with stihl light 04 bar 16". The light 04 bar and chain really transform this saw, very smooth in the cut compared with the "grabby" standard .063 chain. cutting hardwood.

I’m just back here appreciating Jed’s knowledge transfer.

I filed with a mill bastard file for awhile and was pleased with the results. I hope this becomes available in the states soon

nice! id like to see you do a full how-to on climbing. like tips and tricks/ dont do's

I always think of Jed whenever I sharpen my chains - He will definitely be remembered

You know, files can be cleaned... right.

JEDD!!!! HELL YEAH! So glad to see that guy on camera!

Good video. Interesting in the depth gauge. The HEXA I have had a more stock depth gauge. The Norway depth gauge was definitely angles different. The file wears a long time. The face of the tooth goes to a different level on the file as you file back.

It's real nice to see Jed back again!!!! All different types of chain have to be used on the same saw, with the same operator over long periods of time in order to get an accurate over view of all the testing of the individual Chains!!!! And you will still get different opinions from various individuals!!! Its going to be hard to get a general consensus on all the chains ... I know everyone was smiling when they saw how fast Jeds hand filed chain was cutting!!! It's hard to beat hand sharpening, if you do a good job like Jed does!!!!!! Hand filing Is always sharper, but it loses that extra touch quicker.

Here in Spain and Portugal is very common the Sthil Smi-chizel chains. Also 16" bars are common to, in fact 6 months ago I buy the Stihl MSA300 and it comes with a 16"bar later I buy the 18" extra.

Thanks, very interesting. I'm going to give the hexa chain a try, if I can find it.

There's an easy way to test chainsaw chain and remove almost all other variables so you get clear results. What you do is get a bunch of 4x4 or 6x6 lumber from the store, and stack them up either in a 3x3, 4x4, or 5x5 configuration (depending on what log diameter you're trying to simulate and what bar you're using). Then ratchet strap them together in at least two spots. Now you have a very consistent "log" of wood that you can test your chain cut speed on. Then either drill a hole through the end of the bar behind the sprocket, or maybe knock a rivet out and stick a pin through the bar. Then you get a known weight around 5-10 pounds and use some chain to hang it off the pin at the end of the bar. This will allow you to just one hand support the back of the saw, while the weight at the nose of the bar applies consistent pressure through each cut. Then I would make at least 10 full cuts per chain, giving you nice consistent data sets for all the chains. There you go, as close as you can get to a perfect experiment with all variables completely controlled for, isolating just the differences in chain performance. Props to Project Farm for giving us some of his ideas for testing methodology.

Excellent comparison!

Everything taken in consideration, my takeaway is that the round chain is the way to go.

I have always used drizzle bit skip chain and have had great results

Its is really common here in Europe to come across shorter bars in combination with thick chain (1,6mm = 0.63 in), mainly for the reason that there is a lot of hard tree species. Second factor would be that there is not an option of getting half/full skip chains over here, therefore you would need powerful (and heavy) powerhead for bar lengths over 60cm (24 inch). After all, you either won´t come across such a big tree, or the tree would be protected as a national/memorable tree, to need such length very often ,so you would just end up calling a guy with 084 to send it down for you

Yep great vid. Hex looks great i love bein able to just give it a touch up on the job. An hex does look simple. Cheers fullas

Great video. Jed is a legend

It “wood” be interesting to use the hexa-file to convert a round chain with the standard rakers vs the “offset” rakers of the factory hexa

That's damn interesting. I too thought that the round would be the slowest. My thoughts on the Hex grind.. It's like its a combo of square and round. You get the best of both grinds/performance. Maybe reach out to your contact and see when this chain is going to hit the market

Another great video thanks for the comparison Jake! I always wondered what the time difference would be… Have you seen the new files with the built-in flat file for rakers? They actually work pretty slick from an efficiency standpoint because you can both file the chain and the Rakers at the same time. Look forward to the next one!

STHIL full chisel round filled 45 years experience says it's the dogs bolloks . Mostly European hard wood ,

Thanks for the video it was good. Hope we get that chain in the US sometime soon.

I was accidentally shipped a hexa for my 291 with 20" bar. They did not accidentally ship the file, as they have none in Canada . I was impressed with the chain as my RPM held better than a Stihl RS chain. I am waiting to get a file to try it again on my new 261. PS: I blew up my 500i, broke the connecting rod. I was the first in Canada to get a 500i and probably the first to blow it up. BTW, I did get it ported, muffler mod and MaxFlow filter mod. Maybe, I pushed it a little to hard???

Nice to Jed again! Interesting video Jacob 👍