Carbide chain?

Anyone ever use it? I know its used by fire departments on rescue saws.
I was bucking blown over black locust today with the rootballs still attached. Some were high enough where i could cut all the way down to the bottom.
Couple others no. Several rounds could be had too.

Would carbide chain be worth it for instances like this? Once in a while i have an old chain to sacrifice, but none around. Ground was frozen too so when thawed ill see if i can move some dirt to make it easier and less detrimental to the chain. Second pic trunk is really buried. Thoughts/input FHC?

 

Carbide chain is pretty expensive and how will you resharpen it when the time comes. I think I like your idea of having a sacrificial chain for those situations.

 

For the buried one, You could cut from the top using the tip to hollow out the inside of the log without breaking through the outside edge and into the dirt. Then put a chain around the other end if you can get under it and give it a tug with the truck. I’ve considered using a pressure washer prior to cutting some wood just to preserve my chain…

 

Maybe 100' off the road and cant get vehicle in there. Its an area ive cut in the past couple years and will do so in the future. Seems more trees have come down too. Ill make a point to clear dirt and let mother nature wash it off. I hate to leave wood behind, especially primo barkless BL.

 

If i made the investment, id get a diamond file for it too.
Problem is my good chains unintentionally become sacrificial as i try to do it anyway!

 

Dig it out when the ground is dig-able. Once you have air under it, cut and move the log for further cuts.

 

I’ve never used carbide chain but I know of a few guys in my town that do. They admit it doesn’t typically cut as fast but they dont Worry about dirt anymore with carbide. I think our little saw shop sharpens it but I haven’t seen a sharpener setup for it so not sure.
I agree about sacrificial chains and keep a few around for each bar that are mostly shot, maybe missing a tooth but sharpen them the best I can for stumping and dirty wood. I hate dull chains

 

Don't think I'd mess w/ carbide. As mentioned, the costs involved for buy in and sharpening would be an expense I have no interest in. Get some semi-chisel sacrificial chain, brush off as much debris as possible and tread lightly. Any wood below ground level give a tug with something mechanical.

 

More or less my plan but the carbide idea popped into my head while working.
I do some good thinking while wooding!

 

Well if you do not mind spending the money for the chain and file then it would make things more convenient, and you would not have to worry about the dirt.

 

True, just what size would i get? 20" .375 probably. Dont know the sizes it comes in. Knowing me i wont, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Makes for interesting topic though.

 

buZZsaw BRAD Is the trunk in a position you could put a rope and use a Maasdam puller to try to get the trunk to stand back up just enough to get rounds under it to keep your chains out of the dirt when cutting? I have thought of doing that and it would be easier if you had another body around to help out.

 

I thought of using a big steel bar/long round etc and "teeter totter" it up. Too frozen in and ill be going back so ill try something. They are not that big so maybe they will move???

 

All the carbide chain I have seen was when I was working part time repairing saws for a shop and the fire department would bring in their saws for inspection. They used a .375 carbide chain on a MS 460.

 

T

Try to be patient the ground will thaw eventually. Then you can cut off the stuff that is clear of the dirt so it will be light enough to get up out of the dirt. Or….. you could go buy a tracked skid steer with a grapple and have the locust out of there by the weekend. Probably only cost 5-6$s more than 2 carbide chains

 

In shops that will sharpen them around here it runs a $1.00, or more, per tooth to sharpen carbide.

 

Ill be back to cut another load there and working right near those stumps. Ill clean the dirt and see what it looks like. Worst case scenario i cut them next year or they get left as is.

 

Clean off the bulk of the dirt and let Mother Nature do the rest.. I chased down some red oak, ash and hickory a few weeks ago. Had to roll the logs over to finish some cuts. Chain started throwing sparks…. Turns out there was crushed stone that was frozen into the snow and ice on the bottom of the logs.

 

Cutting in the cold the last few weeks ive been trying to be mind full of that. Luckily most has been resting on leaves etc and not in dirt. Still PITA when you do cut it...unintentionally!

 

Have you priced out a carbide chain?
That might be the deal maker or breaker.
Sca