So I’m definitely guilty of being one I only use two chains at a time, alternating between the two. When I get home from cutting, I blow off the saw, reverse the bar, and sharpen the chains if needed. This season, I started with 2 new chains, and today, I finally wore out the second one. Estimating I cut about 35 cords off those two chains. They definitely paid for themselves in my book. Anybody else a cheap azz who has tracked how much wood they get out of a chain?
Nope, just run em till they need sharpening, swap & go again. I've 40 or 50 chains kicking around for 13 different saws so keeping track is not worth the time.
I've sharpened teeth to splinters. You're not cheap you're making the most of what you paid good money for.
Never kept track before this, but was pretty surprised at how much a single chain can yield! So by my math, you should be able to cut 700-875 cord with the chains you have! You got your work cut out for ya! Do you regularly use all of your saws, or do you have your go tow that you rely on the most?
I run em all, just depends on what I need for any given job. I carry 4 in the truck at any given time. I'll swap saws right on a job between felling limbing & bucking. If we're skidding there's one in the woods & one on the deck. I sharpen chains till the cutters start breaking off.
I’ve never kept track, but it sure is good to know about how many cords you can get out of a chain. There’s plenty of variables for chain life, but I like your estimate. At that rate I shouldn’t need any new chains for a while! of course unless I buy a new chain that just so hdd as happen to be attached to a new saw!
I used to do that years back when i only ran my MS 290. Id alternate two chains. Now with multiple saws and bar lengths it would confuse me. Kind of a good system IMO. I should go back to being that cheap...uh i mean smart! How goes that score HTC? Get snowed out?
Still working on it. I was out there for a few hours today. I finished removing all the trees in the fencerow. The other day, the farmer stopped while I was working and said he had another fencerow for me when I’m ready He said that I could also go around the field I removed the fencerow in and have any tree that is either leaning towards the field or shading the field. For now, I’m gonna work my way around this field, and this should yield me more than enough for this year. I think I’ll tackle the fencerow next year.
I was a one saw man for years with no problem. I also used only one chain. Would never buy another chain until the old one was completely worn out. Never could see the sense in tying up those dollars for saws, bars and chains. I have no idea how many cord gets cut before wearing out chain or bar. I do though now have a small saw for easy cuts, limbing or trimming.
I probably waste too much money. Now that I have them I like to take a minimum of 3 saws with me when I go cut. And they have different bar lengths from 20" to 28" and sometimes I kind of wish I had a 32". If I am cutting for 3 to 5 hrs which is often my normal time slot, I will often use all three before I am done for the day. But I don't like sharpening a saw in the field, as a matter of fact, I hate sharpening a saw in the field. And I hate changing out a chain almost as bad. Adjusting chain tension is about a far as I want to go in the field. So, If I dull a saw, and I cut a lot of crappy stuff, and low stump removal, etc. because I run farm equipment over my farm and I will cut stuff really low, even knowing that I will probably dull my saw before I get done. I just prefer to grab another saw and take advantage of all of the daylight I have, with a saw in the wood. And I would rather sharpen my saws of a night in the shop, or of a morning when I am just needing to get out of the house and piddle around. I do need to be more frugal in the future, since I am retired now.
I was a one saw operation for many years. Several years ago i started using two chains and would swap out in the field I'm like you and hate doing anything to the saw in the field. Now having multiple saws i bring at least two the cutting site, usually three and usually have extra chains too. The last scrounge was two with an extra bar and chain to change over to. You have three excellent saws that should last for many, many years. My 261 was my go to, but lately its been my 361 (which evolved into the 362.) Hoard on and work safe!
