Quote:
Originally Posted by Therrin  Windthrown, how much do you like your RMF chains? What kinda stuff do you prefert to use them with, as opposed to using the normal RM chain? |
I actually do not use my RMF (Rapid Micro, full skip) chains that much. I originally bought the RMF chains becasue that was the only RM I could get at the local Stihl dealer, and that is 80% of what he sells to the local loggers. He does not carry RM chain, and I have to get that in Eugene. I actually prefer RM to RMF (and either above RM2). I did an RM vs RMF comparison using my MS290 and 20" bar and posted the results on AS last year. Overall I found that they cut about the same. While you get higher revs you also have fewer teeth cutting. It is good for clearing chips better when cutting curly fries, or noodling a log lengthwise. Some say that they prefer RMF becasue they can sharpen them 30% faster. I have found that that they get dull 30% faster, and I would rather have a sharper chain longer. They seemingly will also wear out 30% faster, and they cost the same as RM.
A lot of pro fallers here like RMF becasue it helps to keep the revs up while using longer bars in bigger trees and they clear wood chips better. Most sawyers I know use skip (and Stihl) pretty much all the time. They say that they can cut larger diameter trees around here more easilly with longer bars while keeping their saws running at higher revs (higher revs, more power) and that the RMF chains clear chips easier. They are mostly thinning, falling, and bucking logs. I am thinning, falling, limbing, and cutting firewood. I am also mostly cutting smaller diameter wood, typically 8" to 24" in diameter. Though from the trucks of logs I see going out of these parts, they are cutting the same diameter trees that I am. Except that they leave the trash trees whole that I value the most for firewood, like madrone, oak and maple. So I think that skip is not as good in hardwood as softwood (my RM to RMF comparison was made cutting madrone).
BTW: Stihl quit making RM2 a few months ago and have since replaced it with RSC3.
