Chainsaw Questions.

[Iman74]

I'm a home owner which every other summer I go out with my 18inch Craftsman chainsaw and cut up some logs from the dump to bring home to split and stack to become firewood. However, the problem I face each time I do this is the chain gets dull really quick. Now there are many factors on why this may be happening.
1. I am hitting rocks and other particles that could be dulling the chain.
2. Being that I am buying my chains from Sears, that they are just cheaply made and aren't expected to last that long.
3. I have a good taste in wood and the wood for my chain is just too much for it.

While at the dump the guy made a comment that is bugging me. If you want a durable long lasting chainsaw and chain then you should really put in the extra cash and buy yourself a Stihl chainsaw with the carbon tip.

Now I knew what I need to know when buying my chainsaw, and being that was about four or five years ago all I know now is how to get mine started and how to replace the chain.

So assuming we have some chainsaw experts on PCMECH, with what I said about how I use it and how infrequently I do use it, is it really worth the extra buckage to go with Stihl and also pay for the extra cash to get their top of the line chain? I know I pay about $20 a chain from Sears; I have now idea how much they would be from Stihl.

[Clover]

We just bought a chainsaw last month. Before doing so we called our local tree service and asked what saws they used.

Husqvarna or Johnsered. The spelling might be off.

We bought the Johnsered. It works wonderfully!

A hint with your current one is to make sure your automatic oiler is working. If it's not, it will make a dull blade real quick.

[Byte 2.0]

Hitting anything other then Wood is going to dull the chain very fast.

The wood you are talking about, if you are picking it up off the ground mainly like it sounds like it is going to move then likely have one side covered with DIRT. Dirt on the chain will take the edge off very fast

The Brand of Saw isn't going to make difference other then a new motor and maybe more power if you get a larger motor(BTW more power is better).

Just to try, U could just get a Higher Quality chain for your existing saw and give it a try for a session.

My family used the Poland (most likely mis spelled) brand of chain saws and I believe you can get chains at Wal Mart for most models of saws.

Edit added, I agree with Clover, the chain needs Oil.

[jamesrpm]

Go buy the Stihl , and get a chain that isn't anti-kickback. The rakers ,pieces between the cutter teeth, are lower so you can cut longer before having to sharpen the chain.Although you do have to be more careful when cutting where the tip goes.I used wood for my heat for 25 years and cut it for sale too. You won't find good chains at mass retail outlets need to go to a saw shop to get them.

[Confused]

I'm nowhere a expert on chainsaws. I have owned Stihl's for over 20 years and consider them in the top of class. You can buy any brand chain as a replacement. Orgeon, Stihl are good ones.

But the thing to remember is all chains will dull with use. Especially in your case. In addition to the occassional rock you hit, you are cutting thru a lot of dirt, some of which has fine sand and gravel in it.

As long as your saw sarts easy, runs good, and has enough power, then invest in a quality chain and learn how to sharpen.
One of the best I've ever used is a Gamn. It uses a machined cutting tool to sharpen the tooth and also to adjust the depth guide.

I carry a round file with a guide for touch up while cutting and use the Gamn when the teeth get dull and misaligned from uneven sharpening with the file.

You can also have the chain machine sharpened at most outdoor power shops. I tend to stay away from them as most will grind off two much and shorten the chain life.
Chas

[Iman74]

Thanks for all the comments. I figured if everyone said yes getting a Stihl or better would do it then I would have. But from the posts I am gathering what I have is sufficient it's mostly because I am not waiting for the rain to knock off the dirt and letting the chain hit earth. I was never one to let stuff like that concern me. So if I went Stihl or better the samething would happen. Okay then, I will go out and buy a new chain instead of a new saw. However, sometimes i wish I had more power but I don't do this all day, nor do I do this every weekend. It's a small project, when completed the supply usually lasts me about two winters.

Also, before I go back out for more wood this weekend I am going to use my dremel chainsaw attachment for the first time.

[not important]

Buy a Stihl You will not regret it!

[Iman74]

"not important"
I could use a little more reason than that. Why do you say that?

[UncaDanno]

I bought a Stihl 14 or 15 years ago and use it quite often for clearing brush and deadfalls and cutting firewod. Still has the original chain and cuts through everything from dead sumac (you can break it by hand) to seasoned oak like as if the chain were still new. The chain has never been "really" sharpened from a butterknife-dull state. I did dress it up once with a small hand file. Did the trick.
I make sure I never put the chain anywhere near dirt. And keep plenty of bar oil in 'er (automatic oiler).

Your problem could stem from your source of wood. Several years ago I helped clear away a LOT of dealfall from hurricane Hugo. We didn't hit any rocks or any other "non-wood" materials with the saws, but we had to stop and re-sharpen every couple of hours or so.
We figured the chains were going dull so fast due to the dirt in the bark of the trees. The logs had been wallowed around a bit before we started cutting them up.
Since the wood you are going after is at the dump and has probably been move around some, the dirt that has been picked up in the logs could be doing the deed.

[mr krinkle]

Chains get dull no matter what you are cutting,But cutting logs that have rolled around in the mud will quickly dull a chain. Also Drier logs will tend to wear the chains faster also,especially Elms and other knotty hardwoods.<p>I use a old Mac but they are out of business,So If I were to buy a new one it would be a Stihl or a HUSQVARNA .<p>Depends on how much wood one cuts,A cheaper saw will do the same job but wear out sooner.

[raftero]

your craftman is plenty good.i have one,i starts runs and saws ,thats about all any of them do.i also worked on them for several years and yea stihl and Husky are top of the line but if you keep your chain sharp the sears will cut with the best of them.

[juppy]

I have a 20" Craftsman that works wonderfully. We also have an old Stihl that used to be my dad's. I have used both and don't notice anything "better" with one or the other. Now don't get me wrong, Stihl makes excellent products, but so does Craftsman, Husqvarna, Poulan, etc.
Alot of it DOES have to do with how much dirt you hit and how well the oiler is working. If the oiler gets plugged, the chain gets hotter and stretches faster. The dirt will dull the hell out of the blade quickly. The first chain I used on my Craftsman 20" went to hell in a handbasket really quickly, and I thought "Oh great, this thing's gonna be a POS." The second chain we got though, I kept it out of the dirt and other "non-wood" things and it stayed sharp alot longer and didn't stretch as much.
As for Stihl being better or not, I don't know whether they make their own chains or not (can't remember). I do know that I used to make fun of my uncles Homelite chainsaw and the Oregon chains he uses on it. I got to checking on my Craftsman and guess who the chain is made by? Oregon! Stihl may be the same way, dunno.

[Trent Steel]

With all this talk about the chainsaw itself I would like to suggest (that is if you don't already) get a pair of chainsaw chaps, or chainsaw pants. If anything goes wrong they may save your life, stops the chain cold, jeans and your leg are cut like butter without it.

[UncaDanno]

Amen to that, Trent!

Got a pair of chainsaw chaps from Northern. They are filled with some sort of fiber that just about instantly fouls the chain and stops it dead (saw a demo of them once).

I'd much rather booger up a chain and a pair of chaps than my leg!!

Steel-toed boots, hefty gloves and a working chain brake also gotta-haves.

[not important]

Iman74
Quality, reliabilty, servicability, and above all safety. I heated my home,solely, with wood for over 20 years. Bought two Stihl's. Still have them both.