Dead black locust tough on a used chain

Sharpened a 16" chain on the 261 yesterday and counted six missing teeth. Dead black locust the last time it was used. Plenty of meat left on them. Ill sharpen until very little metal left.
Guess i should demote this chain.

 

That 261 be makin big power. She just rips the cutters right off the chain!

 

Hang it on the rear view mirror in your truck.
80's flashback right there!

 

I think i mightve lowered the rakers a bit too much! It is some dense wood. You ever cut any?

 

Too much crap already hanging from the mirror including hearing protection. Maybe I could wrap the steering wheel? Better yet get a few and make a steering wheel.

 

I about spit out my drink all over my keyboard!



buZZsaw BRAD was this the loop that had over heated cutters that wouldn't file right?

 

No.

That was a loop of 25", .375, (7/32") file chain. That one i last used it cutting dead ash. (i did run it cutting that TP too) I sharpened it with the normal file yesterday and had to hit some of the teeth with the diamond file. I did freehand it with the diamond file first. That one has maybe 2/3 meat left. Dont run the longer bars that often.

 

For sure but only about a handful of times or so. Took down a couple at a buddies years ago. I make sure to stack it all in one pile and save it for cold overnights. Wouldn't mind stumbling across some soon seeing as I'm almost out.

 

I was cutting a yard maple, couple years back, and found a clump of metal.....barbed wire, nails, fence staples.....took 8 teeth off an 18" chain. I sharpend the rest, and ran it the next day. The chain made a nice fine powder, and I held the saw with one hand....zero pull, zero cutting. Even pushing it to cut, it just made more powder.

Sca

 

I’ve hit rocks cutting in the dark before but didn’t break any teeth off doing it. The only time I can remember knocking teeth clear off a chain was cutting dead BL. I imagine if we had Osage orange to cut around here it would produce similar results.

 

Now that you mention it, I’ve only ever broke off cutters in locust as well. HL.

 

I must not be trying hard enough. Haven't broken off any teeth.....yet.

 

X2

 

I've only ever broke cutters off in HL, but to be fair, my cutters were small enough, my file was on the back corner of the cutter when I filed it. Any more and I'd have been filing the back edge of the cutter. The chain was done for.

Edit: Spelling

 

I've cut tons of locust with all ages of chain and don't remember breaking off that many teeth. I know it's harder than some other wood, but I didn't think it was that hard.
Here is some really dry stuff. You can see the huge checks in the end. It was sitting in a pile for years. The rakers are .030-.035" and all the teeth are still there. What chain are you using?

 

I’ve seen it a few times with chains at the end of their life.

 

I don't remember ever losing any teeth cutting dead black locust, but already have had a newly sharpened or new chain go dull with just a few cuts. Black locust can make for a long day.

 

I believe the affected loop is a Stihl chain. I dont normally guage how low the rakers are. When its not biting as good ill give them a couple strokes with the file.

Like Chud stated ive broken plenty of teeth off well filed chains with minimal meat left.

 

I have cut a lot of locust, hickory, and ironwood. Never lost a tooth. You blast a rock or chunk of steel in a round?

 

No metal or rocks hit. Very little meat left on the affected chain (see pics in OP) and i was a bit agressive in lowering the rakers. Plus im not shy about leaning on the saw sometimes. The BL i cut had to be 4-5 years on the ground with the bark gone. Big difference between green BL and dead/down barkless.