Carbide chainsaw chains

[Doofy]

Does anyone have experience using carbide chainsaw chains? I am looking to cut willows to ground level and standard chains dull to quickly. I will keep any new shoots pruned off for a couple of years until the trees die and then I will remove the stumps after they begin rotting and at my leisure.

Thanks for any input.

 

[atsah]

I have a Stihl chain. Works good but sharpening requires to be sharpened with a diamond wheel. They don't cut as quickly but don't need sharpening as often..

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/chain-saws/specialty-saw-chains/pd3/

 

[oosik]

Good Morning Doofy . I might be wrong here but the only use I've seen the carbide chains advertised for is fire departments. Where they most likely will run into something metal. Nails, conduit, roofing etc. It would be great if somebody could tell us that under "normal" use - they will stay sharp X times longer. I'm right at the point where I need a new chain for my small Stihl. I'd buy one if I knew the "sharp" would last longer.

I just finished cutting all the small pines on both sides of my driveway. I have a mile long driveway - completely covered in pine chips now.

They get about 15 feet tall and the winter snows cause them to bend inward on both sides.

I was pretty fortunate. Three days of cutting and I only "rocked out" once.

It's a genuine Pain - you spend 30 to 45 minuets sharpening and one rock undoes it all in a second.

Hope you are having a nice spring up there.

 

[oosik]

OK, ATSHA I checked on the link. What is involved with the diamond wheel. I sharpen my chains by hand. Does this mean you have some kind of Dremel like tool with a wheel, of some kind, on it?

Most importantly - do you think the extra cost and labor is worth it?

 

[atsah]

I think it's worth the money, I have cut many dirt filled roots without it dulling it. A lot of the tree length firewood I buy is full of dirt from being dragged. I bought the four inch wheel for my grinder.

 

[atsah]

This chain must be re-sharpened with a formed diamond grinding wheel.

The least expensive way to sharpen them is with a handheld grinder, and a diamond stone.

 

[Doofy]

Hello, oosik
Spring Break-up came early, started in mid March. Snow is almost gone and the lakes are just beginning to thaw here. 50 degree days and 20 degree nights means no mud.

Hope you are doing well.

 

[Doofy]

I think it's worth the money, I have cut many dirt filled roots without it dulling it. A lot of the tree length firewood I buy is full of dirt from being dragged. I bought the four inch wheel for my grinder.

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a carbide chain will suit my needs just fine. They appear to cost 2-3 times more but stay sharp at least 10 times longer. Worth it to me.

 

[Doofy]

Good Morning Doofy . I might be wrong here but the only use I've seen the carbide chains advertised for is fire departments. Where they most likely will run into something metal. Nails, conduit, roofing etc. It would be great if somebody could tell us that under "normal" use - they will stay sharp X times longer. I'm right at the point where I need a new chain for my small Stihl. I'd buy one if I knew the "sharp" would last longer.

I just finished cutting all the small pines on both sides of my driveway. I have a mile long driveway - completely covered in pine chips now.

They get about 15 feet tall and the winter snows cause them to bend inward on both sides.

I was pretty fortunate. Three days of cutting and I only "rocked out" once.

It's a genuine Pain - you spend 30 to 45 minuets sharpening and one rock undoes it all in a second.

Hope you are having a nice spring up there.

Site List - FAA Aviation Weather Cameras
oosik,
I just stumbled on this FAA webcam site and thought you may see some of your old haunts. Scroll down to "Tazlina-Tolsona" and you can see what I see, even time-lapse. We live at the bottom of Tolsona Ridge.

 

[MossRoad]

Thanks for the info. Sounds like a carbide chain will suit my needs just fine. They appear to cost 2-3 times more but stay sharp at least 10 times longer. Worth it to me.

The link to the Stihl literature says up to 4 times longer, not 10.

 

[4570Man]

I have serious doubts about a carbide chain taking a rock or other foreign material without damage. And the upfront cost is a lot more and the sharpening difficulty is a lot more. If it’s taking you 45 minutes to sharpen you should spend the money you were going to spend on a chain on a different sharpening method.

 

[Doofy]

The link to the Stihl literature says up to 4 times longer, not 10.

Sorry. I believed YouTube. Cost seems reasonable even at only 4 times.

 

[MossRoad]

Sorry. I believed YouTube. Cost seems reasonable even at only 4 times.

Yes, I've been thinking about it, too. I cut almost exclusively locust trees. I only have about 10,500 left! :laughing: As I've cut out about 500 over the past 10 years. All about telephone pole size. Great firewood, but stupid hard and dulls the chains quickly, as in about every 2 tanks of gas. I can cut all day on sassafras and cherry and only hand sharpen the chain once or twice. But the locust is ridiculous. Throws sparks when cutting. I have 5-6 chains, I just swap them out as the day goes on, and sharpen them at home when I get to the last one, rather than sharpening with a file in the field.

 

[Doofy]

I would guess that the cost of the diamond sharpening wheel will be my next search. I'd rather sharpen myself rather than ship off to be sharpened. That could get spendy.

 

[Doofy]

Costs about $25 to mail off to get sharpened. Could buy a diamond wheel for my sharpener and one 18" carbide chain for around $200. Still considering the pros and cons.

 

[4570Man]

I found the arbor on my sharpener didn’t run perfect. I tried filling it to no avail. I used some shim stock between the arbor flange and the wheel and got it running right. Swapping wheels for me would be a pain.

 

[ArlyA]

Since we clear trails, we cut everything off at ground level which is very tough on chains. I spied those carbide chains and asked my chain dealer about them being cost effective or not. His response was something to the effect, "We're going charge you X per tooth to resharpen it. Between there extra cost up front, and the cost to sharpen them, they're just not worth it."

 

[fruitcakesa]

You can buy a lot of standard chains for the cost of a diamond wheel and 1 chain. Plus the ease and speed of sharpening.

 

[nyone]

Why are you dulling chains so quickly? Cutting in the dirt? Well dont. Cut flush then cut a checkered pattern in the clean wood of the stump so it holds water. Helps them rot quicker. Willow is hardly a hard wood.

 

[ArlyA]

If those willows are small enough, I'd suggest using loppers for ground level cuts.

Does anyone have experience using carbide chainsaw chains? I am looking to cut willows to ground level and standard chains dull to quickly. I will keep any new shoots pruned off for a couple of years until the trees die and then I will remove the stumps after they begin rotting and at my leisure.