When is a Chain at End of Life

[Val Padana]

Back in "ye olde days" chainsaw chains were cheap and many folk who didn't know how to sharpen a chain or couldn't be bothered would just buy a new one when they got blunt.

These days decent chains aren't cheap.

I'm no pro or expert but cut a fair bit of firewood from fallen trees mainly and they are mostly quite dirty so sharpen my chains after every tank and do the maintenance on my dozen or so collection of old saws.

There's a lot of info (good and bad) about sharpening chains on the internet. I just use files in a holder to do the cutters and do the rakers with a burr in a Dremel by eye, no guides or gauges or 2 in 1s. The experts say each cutter should only get a certain number of strokes with the file and each cutter must be kept at the same length but when my chains hit a rock or some dirt any damaged cutters get filed just as much as needed.

Anyhows often friends and neighbours ask when has a chain got to a stage that isn't worth sharpening so thought to show one of my chains which was still chomping nicely through hardwood but is now ready to throw into the metal scrap bin. I reckon I got my money's worth.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

You're better than I, I guess. I would never use a chain close to that level.

 

[xyz123]

Lot a good hand filing left there IMO.

I take them back till they breaking off.

Thats when they become root crap cutting chains.

 

[xyz123]

This one come in a farmer was using.

File till they break off in cut.

 

[EddieWalker]

I buy three packs of chains for my Echo chainsaw from Amazon for a good price.

I file the chain to keep it sharp until the chain stretches to the point it won't stay tight anymore. Then I toss it and put on a new one.

I just cut firewood and burn about two chords a year. Winter in East Texas isn't very long, and we only get a few days when it's really cold out.

 

[xyz123]

I file the chain to keep it sharp until the chain stretches to the point it won't stay tight anymore. Then I toss it and put on a new one.

I have firewood guy that actually brings in his stretched chain and I cut and mend taken one drive link out for him.

After I inspect chain and make sure it is still safe and no worn areas that might break.

Case in point one that come in for sharpening.
Wasnt even his chain another guys. Cut and mended back up as rest was good to go.

 

[not2old]

I bought my first chain saw mainly to cut roots that damaged a driveway while I was installing forms for new concrete and to occasionally clean up branches after a storm. This was in multiple locations in a very large condo complex. I went through about five or six chains using the first gallon of gas. I sharpened them with a dremel tool by hand and by eye. I didn't throw a chain away until there was less than a sixteenth of an inch of cutter left and ignored trying to keep them the same length. I never had anything break and never ran out of chain adjustment. I did replace the bar a couple of times, but before I had any problems. I only had problems keeping the brake working and learned how to disassemble and reassemble it after being told it was non-serviceable by the local shop. I'm guessing it was getting plugged with dirt when I was pushing the bar into the ground.

 

[MattB4]

My experience is opposite the OP. Back in the old days saw chains were expensive and difficult to get. You used them until pretty worn out. Nowadays they are cheap and easy to buy online. I sharpen them until 1/2 worn down and toss them.

No sense in being penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[stucknutz]

I'd still run what's in your picture. But i would certainly have a brand new one sitting on the shelf!

 

[Newtocvt]

I run them til they start breaking off.