chain saw chains

[20 20]

Okay there has been a lot of talk about safety devices and just good ole companies covering their butts. I went to a sale the other day on stihl chains buy one get one :thumbsup:{came to just over $8.00 per chain } I use a 3/8 on my 310 NOT anti kick back, cuts like crazy, actually hate the anti kick back chains. I had to sign a waver before they'd let me buy the chain. Whats next, are the bureaucrats going to pass another stinkin law ? Maybe we'll have to buy a lic to own a chainsaw??? These cover the butt save yourself laws are really getting to be annoying.




PS oh yeh if ya live in central NY go to the fonda stihl dealer before the 7th of aug. The sale ends then.

 

[Danno1]

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If chainsaws are outlawed, only outlaws will have chainsaws........ Ya, it is getting ridiculous! :smiley_aafz:


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[CharlieS]

safety chain's been around for 20, maybe 25 years. Just like the safety switches on seats, pto's and so on. Because people get hurt with things they dont understand or misuse, lawsuits have happened. some things we just gotta live with.

 

[Monster5601]

It is ashame that people can be rewared by our legal system for being stupid, or because they didn't read the instructions. Yes, some companies have not been responsible and they desirved to pay up but the vast majority of cases are user stupidity. Just look at the number of stickers on something as simple as an extention cord or more complex such as a utility tractor, each sticker the result of a lost court case.

 

[Gator6x4]

Okay there has been a lot of talk about safety devices and just good ole companies covering their butts. I went to a sale the other day on stihl chains buy one get one :thumbsup:{came to just over $8.00 per chain } I use a 3/8 on my 310 NOT anti kick back, cuts like crazy, actually hate the anti kick back chains. I had to sign a waver before they'd let me buy the chain. Whats next, are the bureaucrats going to pass another stinkin law ? Maybe we'll have to buy a lic to own a chainsaw??? These cover the butt save yourself laws are really getting to be annoying.




PS oh yeh if ya live in central NY go to the fonda stihl dealer before the 7th of aug. The sale ends then.

Chisel chains on a chainsaw turns what was a dangerous piece of equipment into one not only dangerous but in all likelihood will cause serious injury in the hands of an occasional user. Professional loggers safely use full chisel chains all the time, day in and day out without a problem. We also live in the USA (Us Sue All). I don't think we will see another law, nor will we have to purchase a license to own a chain saw. The waiver you had to sign protects the merchant in case someone buys a full chisel chain and serious injury occurs. In other words, "Use At Your Own Risk And Understand If Injured You Will Not Be Able To Sue".

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I call the Safety Chain "training wheel chain" It helps a little in preventing kickback. A chainsaw is an accident waiting to happen is how I feel about it. So with due caution and experience your chances of walking away after a long day around a saw is better. I started using chainsaws when I was 10.
40+ years later I still am nervous when I am using them. This is coming from a guy that climbs big tree's to take them down. The safety chain for the novice is not a bad idea matched with the right bar and engine. When you are tired and dehydrated put the saw down and take a break. Or come back later. The tree is not worth dying or losing a body part over.
I don't really want to sign a waiver for a loop of chain. That is getting a bit ridiculous. So is signing for bullets when I have to by them.. Big Brother is watching. So are the lawyers that are out for an easy buck....
Ok I will climb off my stump now and quit preaching.

 

[Storm56]

Okay there has been a lot of talk about safety devices and just good ole companies covering their butts. I went to a sale the other day on stihl chains buy one get one :thumbsup:{came to just over $8.00 per chain } I use a 3/8 on my 310 NOT anti kick back, cuts like crazy, actually hate the anti kick back chains. I had to sign a waver before they'd let me buy the chain. Whats next, are the bureaucrats going to pass another stinkin law ? Maybe we'll have to buy a lic to own a chainsaw??? These cover the butt save yourself laws are really getting to be annoying.

PS oh yeh if ya live in central NY go to the fonda stihl dealer before the 7th of aug. The sale ends then.

Great price on chain. Read over on arborist site about a guy buying a chain in PA and had to sign a waiver. If memory serves me right I think it was also a Stihl dealer. Sounds like a lawyer somewhere found a new angle and the companies are trying to head it off at the pass. I just bought some full chislel from Baileys online. There is a warning about the safety issue but that was all.

 

[mattellis2]

mind listing your dealer's contact info? i'd love to order a few chains @ $8-9 each. my local guy wants $25.

-matt

 

[schmism]

AFAIK you can still order "pro loops" from bailey's

Husqvarna Chainsaws, Outdoor Power Equipment and Tree Care Supplies from Bailey's

 

[jimmyj]

I did not know there was such a thing as an anti kickback chain. Can somebody explain to me the difference please?

 

[LD1]

This is the first I have heard of that. I agree with others, I HATE saftey chain. Especially if you felling and need to do plunge cuts. I am curious though as to how exactally it is worded??? Does anyone have a copy??

A few of my concerns would be, does it make stihl/dealer not liable for anything??or only not liable for injury due to misuse??
And does it make me liable if say, someone else is using my chainsaw and gets injured???since they arent the ones who signed??

Im not a fan of their saws but I do find their chain to be top notch. Its a shame. About as bad as the last time I was at walmart. I bought a gallon of black rustoleum and a gallon of acetone (had a project to spray). I also bought some other stuff including a pack of sharpies. I got carded for the sharpeis and nothing else:confused2:

WHat is the world comming to?? I'd say forget the waiver. And all the big boxstores that card for common items like sharpies, glue, epoxies, spray cans, etc. should stop carding too. Natural selection is a wonderful thing:laughing:

 

[schmism]

I did not know there was such a thing as an anti kickback chain. Can somebody explain to me the difference please?

thats kinda an ok pic to describe it.

The point on the bottom chain (a pro chain or full chisel chain) is really what does a LOT of cutting on a chain. But because its so aggressive when sharp it can cause the bar to quickly rise up out of the cut when the chain makes the turn around the nose of the bar. (aka kickback)

at some point along the line someone figured out that if they round off the back edge from were the tooth makes the change from horizontal to vertical (see the top chain in the pic) you wouldn't wind up with a nice sharp point on the end... .with no sharp point on the end the tendency to kickback was greatly reduced. (mostly from the reduction in cutting performance overall) aka safety chain.

the problem lies in how much that little point on the end of the tooth affects the ability of the chain to cut through wood. Turns out, its a lot. (least in my experience it is) But manufactures of DIY/homeowner saws marketed at big box stores saw 2 problems.
1) power requirement. takes a lot more power for a saw to make use of those nice sharp points. Thus low power cheep saws sold at big box stores benefit from the reduced cutting performance of "safety chain" in that they dont bog down as bad with safety chain due to lack of power.
2) Safety. manufacturers are more concerned about some stupid home owner picking up a new chainsaw after a big storm and going out and cutting a leg off due to zero ability to use the saw... no training, no prior experience... so whatever they could do to make the saw safer, at the expense of performance was ok with them.... after all joe schmo is thrilled that even the chitty chainsaw he just bought at the big box store still cuts quicker than the rusty bow saw he had. (at least for little while)

in the last 10 years the safety chain has gotten worse on the cheapest chainsaws at big box stores. including oversize raker teeth and skip tooth chain that remove every other tooth.... (see power requirements and overall safety vs performance of above)

 

[nap61]

This may be off topic but still concerns chainsaw safety. This morning, I was triming branches away from my daughter's roof. First with a B&D pole saw (good tool - I'll post on that in another thread) on the roof. No problems. Then I had to cut a large branch at big oak trunk with a chainsaw. I set the ladder at the right angel away from the fall line. Ladder was solid and stable. I climbed the ladder and cut the branch as planned. It fell perfectly. Then, while comming down with the saw, I missed the last step and fell right on my, errrrrr, back. Luckily the saw was light enough that I could hold it out of the line of my fall. No injury but I'm sure I will be sore later today. Not all chainsaw injuries are caused by the saw/chain. Be careful out there.

Norm

 

[Redbug]

Norm...I have done the same thing and learned from it. Get a good pole saw. I do arborist work now and again and I recommend you get a set of Jameson poles and head. Don't mess with the telescopic poles. The blades on these poles will cut the smaller limbs almost as fast as a chain saw and you will be safe and on the ground. A good set of poles and a few blades will last a lifetime and you will wonder how you got along without them. I can cut limbs 20 some feet up with these poles.
Product Categories
FG Series Hollow Poles
The arborist catalogs carry them, such as Bailey's or Sherrill Tree.

 

[LD1]

at some point along the line someone figured out that if they round off the back edge from were the tooth makes the change from horizontal to vertical (see the top chain in the pic) you wouldn't wind up with a nice sharp point on the end... .with no sharp point on the end the tendency to kickback was greatly reduced. (mostly from the reduction in cutting performance overall) aka safety chain.WRONG


1) power requirement. takes a lot more power for a saw to make use of those nice sharp points. Thus low power cheep saws sold at big box stores benefit from the reduced cutting performance of "safety chain" in that they dont bog down as bad with safety chain due to lack of power.
little while)Wrong

in the last 10 years the safety chain has gotten worse on the cheapest chainsaws at big box stores. including oversize raker teeth and skip tooth chain that remove every other toothAnd Wrong

Just bad information here. No offense. But I dont want someone getting a round-back (chipper) chain and think it is a "saftey chain"

1. What makes a saftey chain is NOT the rounded cutters. That is known as chipper chain or round back chain. This chain is recomended for dirty or very hard wood as it doesnt dull as quickly. Full chisel (with the sharp point) does cut quicker, but it dulls much quicker. What makes a "saftey chain" or "low kickback" chain is the design of an added sideplate in the links between each teeth that "pop-up" when rounding over the nose of the bar. See this link Tree Stuff - 14" Oregon Chain Loop (90SG - 52 Drive Links)
That is what low kickback chain looks like. Notice that it also has the "chisel" pointed cutters and is STILL low kickback.

2. It actually takes less power to run full chisel. Cutting with a sharp knife is always easier than a less sharp knife. (notice I didn't say dull). Cause round back chain is not dull, it just doesn't have the sharp point of a chisel chain.

3. Skip, or semi skip chain does NOT remove every other cutter. Every other cutter is on opposite sides. So that would remove all the teeth on one side and none on the other. Skip chain just skips a link before the next tooth. Or in other words, add a link between each. But the teeth still alternate sides. And this is also NOT saftey chain. This chain is designed for BIG saws with long bars. They do this for two reasons. 1. It takes less power to run, which 28"+ bars take a lot of. So they arent as hard on the saw. 2. When tunning longer bars, the tooth when in the cut piles the chips up in front of it. When it comes out of the wood, they are dropped. Once the area infront of the tooth is full of chips(the area between cutters), the tooth quits cutting cause the chips hold it out of the wood. Skip chains have more area, allowing the teeth to continue cutting. On longer bars, skip is usually faster. Full comp chain usually fills and quits cutting half way and then you are wasting power dragging a cutter full of chips that aint cutting anymore.

sorry for the long post but I hope this clears some things up.

 

[whitedogone]

 

[nap61]

Redbug,
Thanks. I posted in the "lawncare and landscaping" section about the B&D pole saw that I just bought and got a chance to use today. I will take a look at the ones you recomended.

Norm

 

[20 20]

mind listing your dealer's contact info? i'd love to order a few chains @ $8-9 each. my local guy wants $25.

-matt

Sorry been busy, the sale ended sat the 7th

 

[jimmyj]

Thanks for the explanations. I understand now. Never seen one of those chains I must say.

 

[20 20]

Thanks folks for all the post, I understand the importance of safety, I'm just getting sick of laws and sue happy ______!!!!! Folks will say "aaah don't worry about any new law comming, it'll never happen!" Of course that is what a lot of folks said about anti smoking seatbelts helmet laws etc.... If the powers to be can figure away to write a new law and make money you can bet your last $ it'll happen!