Anybody use semi chisel anymore

[farmguywithasaw]

I got a job helping a guy buck firewood and maybe do some selective logging anyway long story short we are working in a park and have to skid wood down a gravel road so it’s murder on the chains. The fir bark is especially bad for holding muck and rock. So I thought I would get a loop of semi chisel made up for big Bertha (2100) but nobody has any in stock in my town and 1/2 the “sales representatives” didn’t even know what I was talking about. I know I know logger chain.com but I wanted a loop today sigh

 

[Fatherwheels]

My locals are mainly farmers, cutting hedges and clearing trees,
Semi chisel would be good for this, but the dealers here always stock
full, makes no sense cutting trees hauled through the field.

 

[svk]

I’ll use it if it comes with a saw I’ve acquired. Speed isn’t always needed and it does hold up better in dirty wood.

 

[Deleted member 149229]

I got a couple big oaks this year that we had to drag out of the woods. I got a couple loops of semi chisel, DPX, from Nate and my hassles went away. The full chisel, LGX, dulled quick when it lost the corner in the dirty bark.

 

[Bobby Kirbos]

Assuming you are talking 3/8...

The only time I DON'T use semi in any pitch is when I will be cutting on a freshly downed tree that I know won't have a ton of dirt caked to it. I keep 3 loops of semi and 1 loop of full on hand for each saw.

The only local shop that makes custom loops only has Oregon full chisel, safety chain (bumper drive links, so it not totally unusable). They may have semi available in the prepackaged stuff, but of course, I don't need the common sized stuff that would be prepackaged.

We may both be running into the same issue - we need a custom length. Stock space being limited and with the multitude of chain variations (pitch, gauge, cutter, etc), perhaps the dealers only have 1 spool in each chain variation.

Have you thought about buying a spool and spinning your own? I just picked up the Harbor freight breaker/spinner combo. It's not pro quality by any stretch of the imagination, but it works well enough for what I need.

 

[andy]

I keep full chisel on my felling saw only.... Stihl “micro chisel” on the rest.
Seems like my Saw shop always has both by the roll to make up loops and boxed up in popular loop lengths.
I do like sharp full chisel for falling.
Otherwise speed is not a primary focus.

 

[farmguywithasaw]

I think the thing was is they were pushing full chisel to be the best and semi sub par so nobody has any and nobody knows about it. And yes 3/8 0.058 I thought about making my own chains but I really can’t justify it as of yet. This job may only be a couple weeks or a couple months. Plus once it freezes and there is snow it won’t be an issue anymore

 

[Philbert]

Key thing is to plan ahead. You know what size loops your saws use. Keep x loops available for each saw. Then you can take advantage of sales, have custom lengths made, etc.

I have a spinner/ breaker set, but have never bought a roll of chain. I have bought loops cheaply at one of our home centers (correct pitch and gauge) and resized them to fit. That has probably paid for the set, along with dozens of damaged loops that I have saved.

Philbert

 

[Deleted member 149229]

Key thing is to plan ahead. You know what size loops your saws use. Keep x loops available for each saw. Then you can take advantage of sales, have custom lengths made, etc.

I have a spinner/ breaker set, but have never bought a roll of chain. I have bought loops cheaply at one of our home centers (correct pitch and gauge) and resized them to fit. That has probably paid for the set, along with dozens of damaged loops that I have saved.

Philbert

That’s why I bought my set, to repurpose any chains I get on clearance or at flea markets at a good buy.

 

[farmguywithasaw]

I hear you but I started Monday up till then it has never been an issue around the farm

 

[heimannm]

I prefer semi chisel chain on my firewood saws that will be cutting multiple tanks of fuel in a day. If I am careful and keep it out of the dirt I can manage 4-5-6 tanks of fuel before I have to change the chain. With chisel you can only manage about 1/2 as many tanks before the corner is dull and the chain loses cutting efficiency.

I do try to keep rolls of chisel and semi chisel in several different gauges and pitches on hand so I can make up what ever chain I may desire that day. It is pretty easy to accumulate a lot of chain over a period of a few years.

Mark

 

[s sidewall]

I stock up on chains when I find it on sale, whether it's full or semi.

Steve Sidwell

 

[mbrick]

I got a couple big oaks this year that we had to drag out of the woods. I got a couple loops of semi chisel, DPX, from Nate and my hassles went away. The full chisel, LGX, dulled quick when it lost the corner in the dirty bark.

I find the same, the LGX dulls quickly in thick bark. I have enough loops left that I'll keep filing and once these are done, try the new 72EXL.

Thanks for the feedback on the DPX though, I will also order that when I order any more loops.

 

[atpchas]

I have a spinner/ breaker set, but have never bought a roll of chain. I have bought loops cheaply at one of our home centers (correct pitch and gauge) and resized them to fit. That has probably paid for the set, along with dozens of damaged loops that I have saved.

Given the variety of brands, pitches, gauges available, how many different types of ties and presets do you keep on hand to do this? Do you get them from random sources or is there a supplier you favor?

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

I normally run semi chisel.

Full chisel doesnt stay sharp long enough. Even just silt in the bark is rougher on it vs semi chisel.

The micro chisel that is available for harvester chain is tough. It's sort of a semi/full chisel.

 

[Philbert]

Given the variety of brands, pitches, gauges available, how many different types of ties and presets do you keep on hand to do this? Do you get them from random sources or is there a supplier you favor?

The majority of chains that I work with are Oregon or STIHL, and in certain pitches / gauges. When I got my spinner / breaker set from Bailey's, I also started ordering presets and tie straps from them. I tried to maintain an 'inventory' of the sizes I thought I might need, adding them onto existing orders to save shipping costs. STIHL presets I buy from my local dealer in bags of 8 or 10 (quantity has changed over the years).

Since then, I have ordered from other dealers, found some on eBay or in the AS trading post, etc. For years, Oregon made many of the OEM chains for McCulloch, Husqvarana, Makita, etc., so their presets are often compatible with a number of other chains.

I keep them sorted in a small 'Plano' box; or small, labeled, zip-lock bags: they can be a bear to sort out correctly if they get mixed up.

Philbert

 

[atpchas]

I keep them sorted in small 'Plano' box, or small, labeled, zip-lock bags: they can be a bear to sort out correctly if they get mixed up.

I like that idea. Keeping them safe in bags rather than loose in separate compartments is also smart. Knowing me, I'd knock the box off the bench while it was open. If the pieces were loose in compartments, AAAARRRRGGGH!

 

[farmguywithasaw]

AAAARRRRGGGH

Watch the pirate talk

 

[Ted Jenkins]

Here is what I have found concerning chisel bit chain pure junk. What the heck does that mean. It means most people will find a certain size and a certain type of chain that will meet their needs. I do not encounter many small trees. I do have about 10 to 20% of my Oak at 10 to 14'' diameter which is the smallest. I do not know for most part what is green clean wood is. I have larger Pine trees very dry. I bought several Husqvarna saws new with a added bonus with a small roll of 3/8'' chisel bit chain about 25'. The chain cut great for a few minutes then was shredded. I was filing at least once an hour. It never occurred to me to get rid of chisel before it was used up. I normally keep several hundred feet rolls on hand all the time. Finally chisel was mostly gone. After making several chains for each saw using only semi chisel I discovered how much time I was wasting. A semi chisel can go about 300% farther than a chisel period in the kind of wood I am cutting. With an eye for the wood I am doing that day I can make small adjustments to the cutters and rakers with great success. Very little difference than the full chisel as far as total speed. The stay sharp longer is much much improved. With 404 chain I use a very good quality chain that has thick chrome which enables me to only sharpen once a day. Thanks

 

[Jethro 2t sniffer]

Its always semi around here chisel is the oddity I like them both and a nearly used up Semi will cut dam near just as fast.

With Oregon chain the presets are available on Ebay a big bag full is next to nothing and like philbert alot of my chains are off old saws from someone else and always semi I find myself using the presets for replacing single cutters or joining a few bits of chain to make a loop. I use a ball peen hammer