Fastest Chainsaw Chain Ever?! Oregon Speed Cut Nano vs. STIHL - The Ultimate Showdown!
Are you a chainsaw enthusiast always on the lookout for the best and fastest cutting experience? At Main Street Mower, we're constantly testing new products to see if they live up to the hype. In this head-to-head comparison, we pit the new Oregon Speed Cut Nano chainsaw chain against a trusted STIHL chain to see which one comes out on top.
We're STIHL loyalists here. We love STIHL chains for their reliability and workhorse performance. But Oregon is a strong competitor, and they claim their Speed Cut Nano is the "GOAT chain" for climbing saws. So, can the new technology beat the old reliable? Let's find out! You can explore our wide selection of products on the Main Street Mower website.
Meet the Contenders
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the speed test, let's take a closer look at our two contenders: the Oregon Speed Cut Nano and the STIHL 63 PS50.
Oregon Speed Cut Nano
The Oregon Speed Cut Nano isn't just a chain; it's a whole kit. It comes with a new sprocket, chain, and bar, all designed to work together seamlessly. The unique feature of this chain is its .043 skinny gauge and .325 pitch. Now, what does that mean? The gauge refers to the thickness of the drive links that fit into the guide bar groove, and the pitch is the distance between the chain's rivets. In simpler terms, it's a smaller, lighter chain than what you might be used to.
This chain is different from a standard STIHL chain. A comparable STIHL chain would be a 21, whereas this is more like a 63. The Speed Cut Nano is specifically targeted toward climbing saws, and Oregon claims it's the fastest chainsaw chain on the market.
STIHL 63 PS50 (.050 Gauge)
STIHL practically invented the chainsaw chain! They've built a reputation for producing reliable, high-performance chains. The 63 PS50 is a standard .050 gauge chain, making it a good baseline for our comparison. The numbers might seem confusing, but they refer to the chain's specifications, like the gauge and drive link count. This particular chain is known for its reliability and workhorse performance.
The Testing Ground & Equipment
To make this a fair fight, we needed the right testing ground and equipment. Here's what we used:
The Saw: STIHL MS 194T
We used a STIHL MS 194T, a popular climbing saw with a 1.88 horsepower engine. It's a powerful but manageable saw, perfect for this type of test. We took it straight from the showroom floor, brand new. Initially, the saw was equipped with a 6150 chain. We tested that chain and the 63 PS50 before installing the Oregon Speed Cut Nano.
To install the Oregon chain, we needed a new sprocket, bar, and chain. This isn't something you can do without the right tools and some mechanical know-how. A mechanic completed the modifications.
The Wood: 6x6 Pressure-Treated Dock Wood
We used a 6x6 piece of pressure-treated dock wood for our cuts. We got it from a local contact.
Safety is always our top priority. We made sure to wear chaps to protect ourselves during the test. Remember, chainsaw safety is no joke!
The Speed Test: STIHL Chain First!
First up, we tested the STIHL 63 PS50 chain. The cut felt smooth and clean, and the chain ejected nice chips of wood. Our initial time was 4 and 1/2 seconds.
During the test, we pushed the saw to get the best time possible. At one point, the saw bogged down in the wood. We just sat back and let it do its thing, and it still delivered a solid result.
Oregon Speed Cut Nano Installation
To get the Oregon Speed Cut Nano ready for its test, we had a mechanic install the kit. This involved replacing the sprocket, bar, and chain. As STIHL guys, it felt a little weird putting an aftermarket bar and chain on a STIHL saw. But we believe in fair competition!
STIHL invented the chain, but other companies might come up with something even better. We won't know until we try it. So, with an open mind, we prepped the saw for the Oregon chain.
The Speed Test: Oregon Speed Cut Nano
Now, it was time to put the Oregon Speed Cut Nano to the test. The first cut felt slow, which was a surprise. However, subsequent cuts seemed faster. The overall feel was smooth, with very little vibration.
The Results & Analysis
After all the cuts were made, the results were clear: The STIHL chain was faster!
Our initial thought was that the smaller chain of the Oregon Speed Cut Nano would mean less load on the saw, resulting in a faster cut. But that wasn't the case. The STIHL chain, with its larger cutting tooth surface area, produced bigger chips and a faster cut.
The STIHL chain's .050 gauge provided a larger surface area to remove material which resulted in larger chips of wood that were removed. This is just one saw, and other results may vary.
Conclusion
In this head-to-head comparison, the STIHL chain emerged victorious.
We acknowledge the positive aspects of the Oregon Speed Cut Nano. It has cool packaging, a cool name, and a cool design. It feels smooth and has low vibration. But, in this particular test, those qualities didn't translate into faster cutting.
Thanks for following along with our chainsaw chain speed test. If you found this video helpful, please like it and leave us a comment with your video suggestions. Check out Main Street Mower's Facebook page , Instagram and TikTok for more updates.
Products Discussed In The Video
- STIHL MS 194 T Gas Powered Chainsaw
- STIHL Oilomatic Picco Micro 3 | 63 PM3 50 |Chainsaw Chain | 3636 005 005
- Oregon Stihl Conversion Kit for 14IN 325LP Speedcut NANO | 614377
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