Chipper, semi-chisel ?

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

Ok, this may sound dumb but what is the difference between chipper and semi-chisel? I guess that I always thought they were the same. also which one stays sharper longer and which one cuts faster?

 

[TommySaw]

chipper looks like a question mark and semi-chisel looks more like a seven with a slightly rounded corner

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

Do they even make chipper anymore?

 

[TommySaw]

I've seen it around but couldn't tell you if it's NOS or if they still make it somewhere. Semi-chisel should do what you want but will dull quicker but cut alot faster from what I've seen. Alotta people call SC chipper chain as they don't know the difference.

 

[eyolf]

Carlton listed chipper a couple of years ago

Edit: still there: "S" chain, although I bet not many shops carry it on hand.

http://www.sawchain.com/products/productdescChain.asp?SeriesID=1

I had some around a while back; bought it years ago to do some work along a dusty gravel road where the trees had been absorbing grit for years. Chisel chain wouldn't hold up; chipper starts out about like half-dull chisel, but stays there for a long time.

 

[MS460WOODCHUCK]

Thanks for the info guys.

 

[MCW]

I'm not sure whether chipper is available or not but Australian stocks are pretty good and as far as I'm aware and is easily available. The Carlton importers have good stocks although I know that Carlton dealers in the US can't get it apparently so maybe it isn't made anymore? After all the vast majority of chainsaw users worldwide cut pretty clean wood where chisel and semi chisel are at their best. I have chipper in stock in 3/8" and .404" and highly recommend it to people who...

1) Can't sharpen a chain to save themselves.
2) Cut in very abrasive conditions.
3) Don't like sharpening chains.
or 4) Complain about their semi chisel going blunt too quick (refer to answer # 1 ).

At the same time I'd also recommend a hard nose bar along with chipper chain if cutting in really abrasive conditions. In my area clean green wood isn't cut very often by the majority of people and most of the firewood cut would be old, dead, grounded hardwood logs full of termites and dirt. I've got 2 Oregon Power Match Plus bars in at the moment that have the nose sprockets absolutely wrecked from cutting in dirt. The bar grooves aren't too bad so I'm replacing the nose sprockets and giving them a dress. This guy does lot of woodturning and uses a Husky 359 to shape any grubby wood he can get his hands on, including old White Mallee stumps impregnated with sand (one of the hardest, densest woods in the world WITHOUT added sand ). I saw his 359 and near cried - it was hammered/abused and a true testament to Huskys worldwide that it was even still running. I sold him a new 18" GB Hard Top hard nose and 3 chipper chains to suit - he'd been using Oregon LGX and wondered why he had to sharpen it so often :censored:

You're not alone though mate - a lot of people don't know what chipper is and haven't heard of it. I find it cuts slightly slower than semi chisel (about the same as going from full chisel to semi) and although highly subjective I think it wears about twice as well as semi chisel under the same conditions. Semi Chisel suits 98% of my cutting and I currently have no chipper chains in use. Conditions have to get REALLY tough before I'll make up any more Chipper loops for myself.

Below are some photos of Carlton Chipper, Carlton Semi Chisel, and Oregon LGX Full Chisel (all 3/8" .050"). The profile difference between chipper and semi chisel is very subtle. Semi Chisel is in the middle in all photos and the LGX is obvious. Hope that gives you a better idea...