How long do you run your chains?

I have quite a few older chains, say 10 to 15 years old. As I was sharpening some today I noticed a few were getting a bit of slack in the links. I have enough to keep swapping out so each one only gets sharpened 2 or 3 times a year. They still have quite a bit of tooth left.

 

Well when the cutters are little bitty triangles, they are shot.

 

Never had any get like that. I use them until I can't get a good sharpening. Usually when there is 1/3 to a 1/4 tooth left, I've messed up the angles enough I can't get it sharp. Could use a guide, but it is easier to just put a new chain on-it means I go through 3-4 chains a year, and I'm ok with that.

 

I scrap a couple a year. I probably get one winter's worth of wood out of a chain...less if I try to cut through metal or rocks.

 

Are you guys cutting through nails or just cut a massive amount of wood? I've yet to go through a single chain in 8 years, that's 2 of the safety chains that came with the saw and 1 more aggressive one I bought and mainly use the last few years. They all look pretty much like new as well, except I broke a tooth on the newer one but it still cuts good so I keep using it. I may not cut as much but still probably 3-4 cords / year up until last year.

 

You got me thinking so I checked my chain box. I went through 2 20" chains and 2 16" chains last year. That was cutting around 15 or so cords, as well as odd jobs with the saws.

 

I think I killed my first chain in about 8-10 cords. That was near the end of my second year cutting if I recall.

 

I grind so it takes more than hand fileing.

BUT I don't use several chains a year. and I cut around 2 to 4 cords a year.

I use them till teeth start breaking off in small triangles.

If rivets are loose I would scrap the chain. I would not want any busted chains flying off.

 

My experience has been that frequent very light filing with guided file helps make chains last a verrrrrry long time. I'd hate to even guess at the numbers. Properly-kept chains seriously boost longevity of bars too.
When a chain has spit enough teeth so it doesn't cut any more, it gets recycled and thanked for a lifetime of work. On occasion, before it gets to that point, a chain may be designated a "stumper" for its last assignment or two. Only a couple chains have gone these routes in the last five years.

 

I use my older ones for stumpers & trail work.
I put an old bar on then too.

 

For sure a constant sharp chain keeps the bar cooler.

 

Until I can't lol

 

I only run them till there about 60% worn out. Then i sell them to a friend who cuts alot of juniper. He also has a nice grinder so he gets em straightend out real nice.

 

I run mine until they have little bibits of triangles left of the top plate. I have done so for decades and thousands of trees.

Generally when a couple teeth break off the chain is junk. Look at a race chain sometime and you will see just how far a chain can be pushed!

 

Well said sir....I also feel like I am constantly touching up chains....but I when I hit the woods I like to get to cutting and know my chain is a good as it can be... just seems easier in the saw in general to have a sharp chain!!!

 

I'm pretty close to using up my first chain with my small Dolmar. I have probably cut close to 100 cords of wood with the chain that's on it, including quite a bit of black locust. I hand file with a guide so not a lot gets taken off the chain each time, and I am pretty diligent about sharpening after every two tanks of gas no matter what I am cutting. Sometimes only one tank if in dirty or abrasive conditions, but never more than two. Even two or three light strokes on each tooth makes a world of difference and it only takes a few minutes. I do keep spare chains for any combo of bar and saw I use, but I'd rather sharpen in the field than swap chains. After a weekend worth of cutting I'll usually pull the bar and chain anyway and give the saw a cleaning, get all the accumulated crud out of the nooks and crannies.

 

Yep I just tossed one today because the cutters have become so short that the teeth were braking off. I did use for stumping a couple of small trees which did not help.

 

Well Travis, my rivets are all slack but I'm getting pretty short in the tooth department so I guess I aint gonna get no sharper. Did you find a home for that calf?