low kickback vs full chisel chain

[Bedlam]

Not sure if this will help anyone but its interesting
Ambidextrous chainsaw filing by Thomas Brewer Issue #57

And now I look at it the hoime page from this looks like it have more interesting stuff.

 

[Richard]

He was using a Stihl 044 with a fairly new safety chain, me with the 460. I was cutting through the trunk before he was half way through. He had a pile of sawdust under him, and mine looked more like a wood chipper. Bigger bite, more speed, less time, less effort. If you know how to use your saw, get a good chain. My opinion.

That was my experience. I've got a 044. I've never been able to cut as fast/easy as the first blade I put on it (not knowing what it was). I later bought a 100' spool from Oregon (I think?) and they cut it into loops for me.

I've never been really happy with how it cuts since it doesn't RIP through the wood like my first blade did... over the years, it's dawned on me that this is probably why.

I get more of what I'd call sawdust when I'm cutting verses chips like the first blade put out.

 

[zbeckerd]

I cut large hazard trees for many years (Many times they were on fire). My interest was to cut and get away from the tree as quickly as possible. I used semi-chisel full skip chain. Full skip has half as many teeth as regular chain. Easier to keep sharp when there are fewer teeth to touch up. My falling saw was 5.0 ci with a 42" bar. Would usually have to buck all the pieces small enough to be rolled by one or two people. I used semi chisel as full chisel works best with green clean wood. Dead or wood with lots of dirt in the bark cuts better with semi chisel in my opinion. Does not take much dirt to foul full chisel.

I would only use low kickback chain on small light weight saws (12"-16") like you would use to prune with. Short bars and light weight is more prone to kickback. Any saw with 3.0 ci or more I would use full skip and semi chisel. Full chisel is for those that cuts lots of green wood and carry three chains for a full days work.

I cut primarily softwood. But I have cut many cords of mountain mahogany which is as hard as any wood in the US and full chisel would be destroyed by it.

One last word. ALWAYS wrap you thumb around the handle. This will help you control the saw if it tries to kick. I have trained many new sawyers over 25 years and about half would leave there thumb parallel with the handle. LOCK that thumb around the handle!

 

[schmism]

I have a 20" loop of full chisel for my 039.
I have a 20" loop of safty chain also.

I can cut twice as much wood with the full chisel as i can the other one.

I grew up running saws on full chisel chain. I laugh at the people that buy the box store saws with skip tooth safty chains and i show up with my old school version and cut 4 times as quick.

 

[2458n]

full chisel lets you know when it is dull. Suddenly it cuts as bad as a low kick back chain.

 

[BlacknTan]

full chisel lets you know when it is dull. Suddenly it cuts as bad as a low kick back chain.

That's funny!

But very true...

 

[mooseracing]

I
I laugh at the people that buy the box store saws with skip tooth safty chains and i show up with my old school version and cut 4 times as quick.

Imagine how much smaller the population could be if they didn't sell the baby chains :laughing:


Granted I get a kick out of people that won't touch a saw that doesn't have a break.

Oh my god that thing is going to kill me. :confused2:


It really wasn't that long ago you could get them without breaks. But there was alot more common sense too.

 

[whistlepig]

If you can handle chains with out low kick back go for it. I had a friend that had a saw kick back on him and it sliced his sternum 1/16" deep by 6" long. It severed all the muscle and tendons attached to his sternum. Nothing the doctors could do but let him heal. He was one miserable puppy for about six months.

 

[Egon]

Tain't very hard to take the brake off.

 

[horse7]

You all haven't lived till you cut down 16" trees with an 8" B&D 18V electric chain saw:mur:... I have a kangaroo vest full of spare batteries and have worn out two of the saws so far (one blown motor, one the connectors wore out), and no not on the same tree!

The original chains were pretty good-- of course they are safety chains, these things are sold to clueless homeowners!-- but the replacement Oregons aren't worth the Chinese steel they are made of.