Full Chisel Chain.... what exactly are dirty conditions?

[dave_026]

I am a firewood cutter, most of my cuts are bucking logs while they lay flat on the ground. I take as much care as possible not to hit the ground. Inevitably, I do however hit dirt from time to time.

should I be using full chisel or semi-chisel chain?
Are there any techniques to avoid hitting the ground?

Saws: stihl 039 24" Oregon LGX chain , Stihl 026 16" STIHLRSC chain.

 

[c5rulz]

For me the easiest thing to do is buck the log up, cutting 80-85% of the way through and then roll over with a cant and finish up.

 

[firefighter33]

For me the easiest thing to do is buck the log up, cutting 80-85% of the way through and then roll over with a cant and finish up.

I always try that but never works cant seem to get it rolled over:bang: So i just cut 1/2 way threw and put in a wedge and finish trying not to get into the ground. You can see the difference when u get into the bark on the bottom.

 

[c5rulz]

I always try that but never works cant seem to get it rolled over:bang: So i just cut 1/2 way threw and put in a wedge and finish trying not to get into the ground. You can see the difference when u get into the bark on the bottom.

Are you using a cant hook?

 

[firefighter33]

I use some kind of log roller i got it from harbor frieght.

 

[SawTroll]

Using short bars surely helps!

 

[WoodChuck'r]

If the logs were just recently set on grass it's fine to roll them to cut the remaining 10%. But if they're "in" the ground at all ad have any amount of grit in them then the wood is considered dirty by my standards. I almost always use full chizzy as the wood I cut was just standing.

 

[ronT2]

Using short bars surely helps!

:agree2: Especially if you're looking for a sore back.

 

[Slamm]

Use Semi and you won't worry about the dirt or grit near as much.

Chisel chain is a roller coaster of speed. Its the fastest and then shortly there after its the slowest to the point of just plain ole stopping in the cut.

Semi-Chisel isn't the fastest and it isn't the slowest when dull, and it takes a lot longer to get from one extreme to the next with semi, as it has a much longer working life.

With Chisel chain the corners get broke/worn off and then you get to spend the next 5 minutes filing 1/16" of your cutters completely off just to get a fresh edge. You have to hit nails or horseshoes to ever see this with Semi-Chisel.

In my opinion, if you want to think you are really fast and cutting a lot of wood, fool yourself into "feeling that" with Chisel chain.

But if you really want to actually cut a lot more wood at the end of the day or week, then use Semi Chisel, as you can spend a lot more time doing productive cutting and less time fooling around with chain sharpening procedures.

There is a phrase in production and it goes, "Slower is faster" and this is a case where the "slower" semi-chisel chain will out cut/cut more wood than the faster chisel chain, as long you are aren't starting and stopping within seconds or cutting cookies with a stop watch, then you should really like the benefits of Semi Chisel.

I personally will only purchase and use Stihl Full Skip, Semi-Chisel chain. I spend more time cutting and less time sharpening.

Sam

 

[sunfish]

I am a firewood cutter, most of my cuts are bucking logs while they lay flat on the ground. I take as much care as possible not to hit the ground. Inevitably, I do however hit dirt from time to time.

should I be using full chisel or semi-chisel chain?
Are there any techniques to avoid hitting the ground?

Saws: stihl 039 24" Oregon LGX chain , Stihl 026 16" STIHLRSC chain.

I cut firewood and full chisel does not work for me, I have tried it often. Semi-chisel is all I use now. It stays sharper longer, doesn't get damaged as much when I do hit the ground and is easier to sharpen, for me.

And like Sawtroll said, shorter bar helps

 

[TraditionalTool]

Dirty conditions vary from dirt in the bark, to rocks stuck in the wood, to hitting a nail, etc...

If you are cutting trees with bark on them, it is almost impossible to ensure that you will not hit dirt/sand/grit/rock.

You must also be careful when rolling logs, the rocks get embedded in the bark and cause problems.

I will often use square ground chain, and when I do I am especially careful, since even though the logs I'm working with are clean for the most part (no bark, and live edge has been drawknifed), turning them on the ground will cause small rocks to embed in the wood just like turning a log with bark on it will.

The chain is spinning so fast it goes several revolutions in just a blink of an eye, so once you do hit a dirty condition you need to sharpen the chain. My $0.02.

 

[Trigger-Time]

I am a firewood cutter, most of my cuts are bucking logs while they lay flat on the ground. I take as much care as possible not to hit the ground. Inevitably, I do however hit dirt from time to time.

should I be using full chisel or semi-chisel chain?
Are there any techniques to avoid hitting the ground?

Saws: stihl 039 24" Oregon LGX chain , Stihl 026 16" STIHLRSC chain.

Dirty conditions, can be trees that have grown close to dirt roads.
The dirt, sand and grit gets into the bark, same can be said
for trees on edges of fields where crops are grown were the land is worked.


TT

 

[2dogs]

Use Semi and you won't worry about the dirt or grit near as much.

Chisel chain is a roller coaster of speed. Its the fastest and then shortly there after its the slowest to the point of just plain ole stopping in the cut.

Semi-Chisel isn't the fastest and it isn't the slowest when dull, and it takes a lot longer to get from one extreme to the next with semi, as it has a much longer working life.

With Chisel chain the corners get broke/worn off and then you get to spend the next 5 minutes filing 1/16" of your cutters completely off just to get a fresh edge. You have to hit nails or horseshoes to ever see this with Semi-Chisel.

In my opinion, if you want to think you are really fast and cutting a lot of wood, fool yourself into "feeling that" with Chisel chain.

But if you really want to actually cut a lot more wood at the end of the day or week, then use Semi Chisel, as you can spend a lot more time doing productive cutting and less time fooling around with chain sharpening procedures.

There is a phrase in production and it goes, "Slower is faster" and this is a case where the "slower" semi-chisel chain will out cut/cut more wood than the faster chisel chain, as long you are aren't starting and stopping within seconds or cutting cookies with a stop watch, then you should really like the benefits of Semi Chisel.

I personally will only purchase and use Stihl Full Skip, Semi-Chisel chain. I spend more time cutting and less time sharpening.

Sam

Great post. Should be a sticky. (cept I use Oregon chain.)

 

[dave_026]

Thanks everyone (particularly "slamm") for all the input.

confirms much of what I thought... one odd thing is that ebay has almost exclusively full chisel chains on auctions, the semi-chisels are there but it's peculiar that the ratio is so different given the logical advantage of SC chain.

 

[sunfish]

Thanks everyone (particularly "slamm") for all the input.

confirms much of what I thought... one odd thing is that ebay has almost exclusively full chisel chains on auctions, the semi-chisels are there but it's peculiar that the ratio is so different given the logical advantage of SC chain.

I buy my Stihl semi-chisel from my Husky dealer And order Oregon from Bailey's.
Both places much cheaper than Ebay

 

[MillwrightChris]

Use Semi and you won't worry about the dirt or grit near as much.

Chisel chain is a roller coaster of speed. Its the fastest and then shortly there after its the slowest to the point of just plain ole stopping in the cut.

Semi-Chisel isn't the fastest and it isn't the slowest when dull, and it takes a lot longer to get from one extreme to the next with semi, as it has a much longer working life.

With Chisel chain the corners get broke/worn off and then you get to spend the next 5 minutes filing 1/16" of your cutters completely off just to get a fresh edge. You have to hit nails or horseshoes to ever see this with Semi-Chisel.

In my opinion, if you want to think you are really fast and cutting a lot of wood, fool yourself into "feeling that" with Chisel chain.

But if you really want to actually cut a lot more wood at the end of the day or week, then use Semi Chisel, as you can spend a lot more time doing productive cutting and less time fooling around with chain sharpening procedures.

There is a phrase in production and it goes, "Slower is faster" and this is a case where the "slower" semi-chisel chain will out cut/cut more wood than the faster chisel chain, as long you are aren't starting and stopping within seconds or cutting cookies with a stop watch, then you should really like the benefits of Semi Chisel.

I personally will only purchase and use Stihl Full Skip, Semi-Chisel chain. I spend more time cutting and less time sharpening.

Sam

Good post. I would add that although I haven't found a huge difference in performance between the major brands in full chisel chain, when it come to semi chisel I've found the stihl RMC and to my suprise even the green link RMC3 (.325 pitch) to be well worth the extra $$.

 

[Zombiechopper]

Use Semi and you won't worry about the dirt or grit near as much.

Chisel chain is a roller coaster of speed. Its the fastest and then shortly there after its the slowest to the point of just plain ole stopping in the cut.

Semi-Chisel isn't the fastest and it isn't the slowest when dull, and it takes a lot longer to get from one extreme to the next with semi, as it has a much longer working life.

With Chisel chain the corners get broke/worn off and then you get to spend the next 5 minutes filing 1/16" of your cutters completely off just to get a fresh edge. You have to hit nails or horseshoes to ever see this with Semi-Chisel.

In my opinion, if you want to think you are really fast and cutting a lot of wood, fool yourself into "feeling that" with Chisel chain.

But if you really want to actually cut a lot more wood at the end of the day or week, then use Semi Chisel, as you can spend a lot more time doing productive cutting and less time fooling around with chain sharpening procedures.

There is a phrase in production and it goes, "Slower is faster" and this is a case where the "slower" semi-chisel chain will out cut/cut more wood than the faster chisel chain, as long you are aren't starting and stopping within seconds or cutting cookies with a stop watch, then you should really like the benefits of Semi Chisel.

I personally will only purchase and use Stihl Full Skip, Semi-Chisel chain. I spend more time cutting and less time sharpening.

Sam

Exactly.

I am confirmed semi chisel guy now as well. Not faster, but in the end it is faster.

 

[SawTroll]

:agree2: Especially if you're looking for a sore back.

Rather the opposite imo, but I guess it depends on conditions and how you do things.....

 

[SawTroll]

Exactly.

I am confirmed semi chisel guy now as well. Not faster, but in the end it is faster.

I use regular semi-chisel only for an odd stump, but then I mostly cut green and clean birch in the woods, not along roads.

 

[redprospector]

Use Semi and you won't worry about the dirt or grit near as much.

Chisel chain is a roller coaster of speed. Its the fastest and then shortly there after its the slowest to the point of just plain ole stopping in the cut.

Semi-Chisel isn't the fastest and it isn't the slowest when dull, and it takes a lot longer to get from one extreme to the next with semi, as it has a much longer working life.

With Chisel chain the corners get broke/worn off and then you get to spend the next 5 minutes filing 1/16" of your cutters completely off just to get a fresh edge. You have to hit nails or horseshoes to ever see this with Semi-Chisel.

In my opinion, if you want to think you are really fast and cutting a lot of wood, fool yourself into "feeling that" with Chisel chain.

But if you really want to actually cut a lot more wood at the end of the day or week, then use Semi Chisel, as you can spend a lot more time doing productive cutting and less time fooling around with chain sharpening procedures.

There is a phrase in production and it goes, "Slower is faster" and this is a case where the "slower" semi-chisel chain will out cut/cut more wood than the faster chisel chain, as long you are aren't starting and stopping within seconds or cutting cookies with a stop watch, then you should really like the benefits of Semi Chisel.

I personally will only purchase and use Stihl Full Skip, Semi-Chisel chain. I spend more time cutting and less time sharpening.

Sam

Sam, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
If a person will keep cutting with a chisel chain until it just stops cutting............well..........they'll do the same thing with a semi chisel, and probably shouldn't be using a saw at all.
The term slower is faster would be better used as intended. A person who runs around like a jack rabbit, going wideassed open, but has to rest every 15 minutes will be out produced by a good steady worker that can put in several hours without taking a break. Put a chisel chain on that good steady workers saw, and teach him how to maintain and use it, and he'll out produce the jack rabbit by even more. If slower is faster is taken in every context we'd all be using Wild Things for production cutting.
Don't get me wrong. Semi chisel has it's place. But I think your annalogy is a little off. Cutting firewood it's probably the stuff. But I don't think it will out produce chisel (especially square chisel) on an experienced fallers saw. Just my opinion.

Andy