This wood load I got from Chipdrop I am noticing had some black oxidization. Well I just obliterated two chains cutting this crap I am at a loss, where do I go from here and how do you get around this crap. I have a few more logs with oxidization signs in them and had to completely stop cutting. I tried to sharpen one of them best I could but I think she's gone.....
You need a small metal detector to run over the logs, find any metal and mark it with chalk. The ones that look like this aren't bad. You should find one cheaper in the US, maybe on Amazon or AliExpress.
Ah the gift of free tree service wood.... I cut an awful lot of it and there are just some logs that are full of it. Not a whole lot you can do about it unless you really get fed up and can load the whole log in your truck and go dump it in the woods. I know a guy who has done that before
Thats the worst. If you ever want to know where metal is in wood have me cut it with a new chain. All kidding aside that sucks. Happens to me all the time. Was it oak? I mark my next cut and will end up with a double length log (32") or try to split off what I can. Then split it by hand until the metal shows. Haven't had to do that in a while as I'm really good at slicing completely though the metal. Sounds like you did a number on them. If the teeth have ample meat left a good sharpening at your local OPE dealer should revive them. Also depends on the chain brand too. Cheap ones will get destroyed.
mind blowing!!! One chain was cheap and it's annihilated, other is a Stihl and might have life left I'll try. I was beat at is was and still need to roll what I cut which was a decent amount up onto the trailer and around back. Just fascinating that I hit both spots its like the dam thing has a metal rod running vertical in the SOB!! Scary part is I have couple more logs with black showing..............
I don’t own one but one of my sons does and he’s been happy with it. He purchased a diamond wheel to use on my grinder but hasn’t had to use it to date. A downside to the carbide is they are slower in the cut and if you hit something extremely hard there’s a chance you might break off the carbide tip of the cutter and to my knowledge it’s not replaceable. Guess what I’m saying is that the normal stuff we usually find with our chains is usually nails, staples, fence wire, etc. so none of those would be a problem for the carbide tipped chains. Now if it’s case hardened big steel rods I don’t know what the outcome might be.
I had a similar log at my Disney cut. Hit metal in my first 16", hit again at 32". he had put the log aside for a few months and at 48" I hit it again. Has to be a rebar or something. Ive considered carbide chain, but have read its hard/pricey to sharpen when needed and don't cut as fast.
Interesting about the carbide chain, I heard thay don't mind dirt and stones but don't do well with metal. I bit the bullet and bought one, but have not used it yet. Did not know either that they are slower.
Ive never used or owned one so cant say from personal experience. My limited research found that users stated it cut slower. I believe I had posted a thread about it in the chain saws and power equipment section. EDIT: here's my thread. Carbide chain?
Chuck, That REALLY SUCKS!!! In the short story of it all, there isn't much you can do! It's called "poke and Hope", Kinda like "teenage sex"... . A few loads back I had, there was an old steel chain link fence in it and the tree grew around it. Boy did I screw up a few chains also. SimonHS has the right Idea if you can find a cheap metal detector. Harbor freight tools sell them cheap also. I'm sorry buddy, boy do I know the feeling and I'm SURE 99% of us have came across that.
Does anyone have a recommendation for a particular detector that they have had hands-on experience with and found to work well to pick up metal in logs of large (say, 24-30") diameter? I honestly never thought about using them for something like this, but I also know a big field search unit would not be practical.
I have found fence posts, cement, and rebar in trees. Bullets too, but those aren’t near as bad as steel. Found a railroad spike once that was driven to the core of a tree in a tornado. Cut that one right in half. It’s usually with a new chain too….
The problem with cheap metal detectors is they will find metal but only if it is near the surface, like an inch or two. That might not be too helpful.
I went thru a period of time where I was finding metal in wood with too much frequency, AND I was cutting some rather petrified dead standing oak, so I bought extra bar and chains. I still have the extra bar and one of the chains. AT that time I also only had one saw.
One knows less about the trees with drop offs from a tree service. I’m always suspect with the lower 6’ of yard or property line trees. I came very close to cutting into an eyelet for a clothesline a few months ago. The tree blew over, then covered with snow, missed it by 1/4”, later discovered.
Yeah, they definitely wouldn't have found an old metal spade I once found deep in the crotch of an old silver maple. Must have been placed there, forgot about, and then the tree grew around it. You could tell it was very old by the shape of the blade part.
That was my suspicion, as well. If someone has used a handheld that will do better than that, I'd be interested.
