How Long Does a Chainsaw Chain Stay Sharp?

[gggGary]

I'm old and work alone or with my wife, I sharpen after I get home and stack my days load of split wood. If I hit a rock or barbed wire in the woods. I use the spare saw for the rest of the day. If I hit something with THAT one, I go home. Mostly 044 24" blade, I carry a spare chain on a bar, but can't remember the last time I changed to one in the woods.
When doing volunteer storm clean up which is often all sawing, all day, I sharpen at lunch also. I use stihl stones in a Dremel. If there are other volunteer "sawyers" I pretend I don't have my sharpening tools with me, cuz sharpening their chains is all I'd be doing. And they'd ruin my Stihl stones faster than they sharpen chains.

 

[farfromiowa]

Forever, or until you use them.

 

[The Shooters Apprentice]

Just like the chain sharpening there is no set answer. I look at the chain every time I go to start the saw. If I see dullness on the cutting edge I will change the chain or file it depending on where I'm at, what I'm doing and how much of a hurry I'm in.

 

[Del_]

Let's say it's a SUNNY day , and you're out in your yard. Your chainsaw chain is sharp and ready to cut off those logs. You start cutting through wood without any BREAK!

Now, here's what I want to know:

How long does your chainsaw chain stay sharp? Or in other words, How often do you usually sharpen your chain? (hours or number of cuts or days)?

Actually, I'm writing an article about chainsaws, so I just wanted to get some insight into how long a chain stay sharp.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers!

I'm writing an article about people who write articles about chainsaws!

But I don't much about writing.

 

[Bob Hedgecutter]

I'm writing an article about people who write articles about chainsaws!

But I don't much about writing.

Don't know much about the subject matter, but want to look important and knowledgeable...... who can I plagiarise!

 

[computeruser]

Why not let someone who actually knows something write about it?

 

[thenne1713]

Let's say it's a SUNNY day , and you're out in your yard. Your chainsaw chain is sharp and ready to cut off those logs. You start cutting through wood without any BREAK!

Now, here's what I want to know:

How long does your chainsaw chain stay sharp? Or in other words, How often do you usually sharpen your chain? (hours or number of cuts or days)?

Actually, I'm writing an article about chainsaws, so I just wanted to get some insight into how long a chain stay sharp.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers!

Bark ON, 12-16" logs, pine/ oak, (MY EXPERIENCE MILLING) says resharpen/ touchup after 12+/-feet with round file= more acute angle. Bench grinder= less acute= stronger, slightly slower maybe, but 20-24-ft. i GENERALLY HAND FILE TOUCH UP 3-4 TIMES, then switch chains. Bench grind all at night. Your mileage may vary. Bark may contain dirt/ sand

 

[Drifter2406]

How longs a piece of string, one thing I have noticed though, I was given some cheap crap chains years ago and after sharpening they lasted about five minutes cutting clean wood.

 

[zzr1200]

Depends on the type of wood and how soon you hit the dirt with the chain. Too many variables to even come up with an average.

Plus nails and fencing wire in trees......

 

[HansFranz]

I wish I could find that YT video (I first saw it here) of the guys using a chainsaw that was so dull that it looked like it was gonna set the wood on fire...it was creating so much smoke just from friction that it looked like it was gonna catch on fire ...that was epic.

 

[Hermio]

Let's say it's a SUNNY day , and you're out in your yard. Your chainsaw chain is sharp and ready to cut off those logs. You start cutting through wood without any BREAK!

Now, here's what I want to know:

How long does your chainsaw chain stay sharp? Or in other words, How often do you usually sharpen your chain? (hours or number of cuts or days)?

Actually, I'm writing an article about chainsaws, so I just wanted to get some insight into how long a chain stay sharp.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers!

Highly variable. But I normally touch up my chain after 2-3 tanks of fuel, or about 1.5 hours. I cut hardwoods such as hickory, oak, cherry, ash, walnut and beech. My logs have some dirt as I drag them out of the woods before cutting.

 

[Hermio]

32 minutes and 17.3 seconds

I thought it was 32 minutes and 17.326 seconds.

 

[Hermio]

Also depends on the type of cutter. Semi-chisel holds up better than full chisel or square ground in dirty wood.
Semi-chisel has a somewhat rounded cutter while full chisel and square ground have a pointed cutter. When the point gets dull, cutting efficiency is greatly reduced.
View attachment 1055014

This is conventional wisdom. But in my experience, a slightly dull full chisel chain still cuts faster than a sharp semi-chisel. Not worth using a semi-chisel for me. It takes me only 5 minutes to hand file a chain in the field. Even if I have to do it twice as often, I still cut more wood per unit time with a full chisel

 

[Hermio]

I have an idea the more dumb questions you answer the more he will ask. Just my opinion but sounds a lot like a troll to me.

Yeah. But it is fun anyway.

 

[buzz sawyer]

This is conventional wisdom. But in my experience, a slightly dull full chisel chain still cuts faster than a sharp semi-chisel. Not worth using a semi-chisel for me. It takes me only 5 minutes to hand file a chain in the field. Even if I have to do it twice as often, I still cut more wood per unit time with a full chisel

To each his own. From personal experience, I stand by my post.

 

[olyman]

I have an idea the more dumb questions you answer the more he will ask. Just my opinion but sounds a lot like a troll to me.

agreed!!!

 

[oldbuzzard]

I run carbide chains and let my dealer sharpen them

 

[user 122190]

I thought it was 32 minutes and 17.326 seconds.

Could be. My extensive testing was done with 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi, etc. Some very tiny error is possible.

 

[JD Guy]

Let’s see, do my own internet searches and research/testing or post a question on a forum to write my paper for me????

 

[Billhook]

Only as long as the operator stays sharp!