In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

chisel vs. semi-chisel?

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by buZZsaw BRAD, May 2, 2019.

  1. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    32,634
    Likes Received:
    199,529
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    Never knew there was a difference in chains til last year. What are the advantages disadvantages of using either? When should i use one over the other?
     
    Chaz, amateur cutter, Stlshrk and 2 others like this.
  2. Screwloose

    Screwloose

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2017
    Messages:
    5,357
    Likes Received:
    31,287
    Location:
    SE Wisconsin
    Full chisel cuts faster but dulls faster. The little corner point is fragile. Best used on clean wood. Semi chisel is more tolerant to contamination but cuts a little slower and takes a little more power to run. In my opinion semi chisel puts more wood in the truck.
     
    M2theB, Chaz, dougand3 and 4 others like this.
  3. Canadian border VT

    Canadian border VT

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2015
    Messages:
    18,254
    Likes Received:
    119,571
    Location:
    Vermont
  4. Stlshrk

    Stlshrk

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2018
    Messages:
    327
    Likes Received:
    3,566
    Location:
    Central Virginia
    buZZsaw BRAD

    I agree with Screwloose as well.

    In fact, I've changed over all of my saws to semi chisel over the years. Full chisel is great for loggers, but doesn't work as well in a firewood production environment. At least for me. YMMV. Even many loggers don't really use a saw that much anymore, as things have gotten more and more mechanized.

    Even after learning over the years to take special care to keep the nose out of the dirt, roll logs to finish cuts, etc., much of my wood is still "dirty." :heidi:

    In fact, there was one location where I used to get some wood (a hunting lease from trail / road clearing) that the hickory (pignut) would actually have sand embedded into the wood. I guess it would get pelted into the bark from the wind (it was next to a mining site) and work its way in there as the trees grew. That stuff would eat chains quickly, especially full chisel. A semi chisel loop would not last a full tank of fuel in that stuff before it was cutting sideways and throwing dust. A full chisel loop wouldn't last half a tank before doing the same. :saw:

    Neither, unfortunately, are forgiving enough for a nail. LOL!
     
    Sandhillbilly, M2theB, Chaz and 3 others like this.
  5. amateur cutter

    amateur cutter

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2013
    Messages:
    5,928
    Likes Received:
    47,836
    Location:
    Gun Lake MI
    What was said above. On a log deck I run semi. Good clean stuff full chisel will make time for sure. I have saws set up with each for different conditions.
     
  6. coreboy83

    coreboy83

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2017
    Messages:
    709
    Likes Received:
    4,790
    Location:
    NW of Twin-Cities
    I agree with all that has been said. Personally, I run full chisel on my Husqvarna 450, 18" .325 x .058. I use my Pferd all-in-one gadget, often. I've had good experiences with this routine
     
  7. woody5506

    woody5506

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2017
    Messages:
    1,086
    Likes Received:
    5,930
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    I run full chisel on my 261 but next time I buy a chain I'll get semi.
     
  8. JCMC

    JCMC

    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2014
    Messages:
    1,600
    Likes Received:
    10,114
    Location:
    Just outside of Shushan, NY
    I have run the Carlton A1M chisel for years I like it. I cut mostly firewood some is dirty. I sharpen my saw (just a touch-up) after every tank full.
     
    John D, M2theB, buZZsaw BRAD and 2 others like this.
  9. Nixon

    Nixon

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2013
    Messages:
    669
    Likes Received:
    3,018
    Location:
    West Sunbury,Pa .
    I must be the odd man out here . I run square ground pretty much exclusively on any of my saws that run .375 chain . I grind the top plate at 17* ,and run very little lean on the side plate . It holds up very well for firewood duty ,even in dirty wood .
     
    Screwloose and Sandhillbilly like this.
  10. JB Sawman

    JB Sawman

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2018
    Messages:
    1,348
    Likes Received:
    8,556
    Location:
    pennsylvania
    semi chisel is more forgiving in abrasive conditions simply because the point is not there to get damaged I run full chisel carbide chain on my saw expensive but I do not have to sharpen very often and when you hit metal it rips carbide off most of my logs are my sawmill rejects and if my scan a log and find metal I have a saw with semi chisel for cutting up them but if you hit metal with any chain no style likes it
     
    Screwloose and Sandhillbilly like this.
  11. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    32,634
    Likes Received:
    199,529
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    Is a "wood deck" a pile of skidded logs amateur cutter?
     
    Screwloose and jo191145 like this.
  12. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    32,634
    Likes Received:
    199,529
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    I do the same for the most part JCMC
     
    Screwloose likes this.
  13. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,953
    Likes Received:
    47,831
    Location:
    Ct
    I run full chisel. Always have dropped and bucked trees where they fell. Usually in the snow. This summer I’ll be bucking up the logs I dragged on board my trailer. There will be more dirt involved. Not a lot but more. We shall see how it goes.
    I’m hoping I can roll them up the backside of my log arch. One it’ll get them high up off the ground and two I can inspect for dirt as they roll up.
    Who knows by the time I’m done I may be buying some semis.
     
    Screwloose and buZZsaw BRAD like this.
  14. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    32,634
    Likes Received:
    199,529
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    Ive been using the 460 with full chisel at my honey hole. Flies thru it, but does dull faster. Im careful to rotate log and minimize dirt cuts but almost inevitable. I have a second chain jo191145 to rotate if first one dulls. I have semi chisel for the 20" bar on the 290 and it seems to drag thru larger rounds even though its nice and sharp.
    How've you been? Work on any wood lately?
     
    Screwloose and jo191145 like this.
  15. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,953
    Likes Received:
    47,831
    Location:
    Ct
    Doing ok. The Lyme has me beat back a bit but if the rain would stop I’d get a little something done.
    Took the splitter out and tried the new four way I made. Works good but needs a couple small mods.
    Splitter itself is ready for a new ram,,,again. I have the original so I’m gonna try and get it re sealed. Hopefully whatever seals they use are better than OEM.

    Split some pignut hickory or a close facsimile of it. Wasn’t shag that’s all I know LOL. damm that’s some stringy tough stuff. Doesn’t help the splitter is loosing ram power quickly. Could be the pump is going too. One of the few parts on a relatively new splitter I haven’t replaced yet.

    How’s your storage area holding up?
     
    Screwloose and buZZsaw BRAD like this.
  16. buZZsaw BRAD

    buZZsaw BRAD

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2019
    Messages:
    32,634
    Likes Received:
    199,529
    Location:
    North Haven, Connecticut
    LYME disease? Did you just get it? You werent feeling well a while back.
    Storage area? You mean my processing area jo191145? I split some shag this week from from two different scores, "Easy" by hand when its fresh cut.
    One of the reasons i dont have a hydro is the breakdown factor.
     
    Screwloose and jo191145 like this.
  17. jo191145

    jo191145

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2015
    Messages:
    6,953
    Likes Received:
    47,831
    Location:
    Ct
    No the while back thing was just a joke because we were getting a little sick as in weird. ;)
    I’ve had it for years now. Can’t be sure how many maybe decades. Knew in my mind I had it almost 8 years ago. Requested test. Didn’t find out doc never had it done till five years later. Hit really hard 2.5 years ago. Went way downhill fast. I’m back up to 20% which is a lot better than I was LOL
     
    buZZsaw BRAD and Screwloose like this.