Chain saw, blade blunt, hardly used

Joined
15 Jun 2004
Messages
7,349
Reaction score
329
Location
Norwich
Country
United Kingdom
Chain saw blade, only cut about 50 3" logs, its gone blunt.
I have made 3 cuts on old sleepers.
How long should they last, or is it all about what you are cutting.
Its a 16" blade
 
Sponsored Links
Was that a new chain? What type of logs were they? Where did they come from?
I ask that because trees that have grown near houses, i.e. especially gardens but sometimes parks, will have nails in them. Logs from counrt trees usuall don't have anything in them.
I can cut logs for hours with a good sharp chain but, some logs are as hard as a hoors heart and will blunt the saw quicker than normal.
If your logs are dirty, that put make the chain go off quick too.
 
Just logs/trees I pick up when Im out & about.
It was a new blade.
 
Probably the cuts on the old sleepers. As soon as you feel the chain start to lose it's edge you should stop and resharpen it.
 
Sponsored Links
If your logs are dirty, that put make the chain go off quick too.
I'd say that probably means sleepsrs - spent 40 to 50 years buried up to the top face in ballast, all sorts dropped om them by passing trains from coal dust to poo and pee. Yep, pretty dirty

Some of the species they use, like pitch pine and some of the tropical hardwoods, have resins in the wood which harden and really blunt conventional saw teeth, especially after 50 years
 
reclaimed sleeper will knacker a chain very quickly. Sometimes in an hour sometimes 10 mins. You need to keep a file on you and keep sharpening as you go.



Cutting very wet rotten wood is not great for it either.
 
Agree with the guys, experienced chainsaw operators are forever sharpening their saws.

A friend of mine attacked a stump for me and barely touched a stone whilst cutting. He stopped and sharpened immediately then fetched his stump grinder!
 
Just bought a new chain & sent the old one back to be re sharpened.
 
Anytime i cut reclaimed sleepers or a stump i charge for a new chain as your bound to really knacker it. Sharpening by hand is good to keep things ticking over but getting chains sharpened on a grinder is so much more effective and cheap too, only a fiver at my local and they will do it while you wait.

I revolve 3 chains at any one time usually have 1 sharpened and two in use, well thats the theory anyway.... more often than not its one struggling and two that burn through wood rather than cut.

Beware trying to cut with blunt chains as it can really overheat the saw and bar which will quickly damage it.
 
oil helps to keep chain cool through lubrication so chain will stay sharp longer
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top