Diggin in the dirt: What type of chain

[ron in sc]

I'm using my old Poulan 3400 to remove several stump on my property. I know that not the best thing for the saw, bar, chain life. But it's a 1981 saw and I not concerned.

Question:

Is there a recommended bar and chain for this type of use. Of course my regular chains go dull immediately, but the problem is they wear ie. stretch real fast.

 

[Lobo]

Carbide tipped chain for dirt and dirty conditions, however at the selling price of those it may be cheaper to rent a stump grinder at your local rental shop.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Carbide tipped chain for dirt and dirty conditions, however at the selling price of those it may be cheaper to rent a stump grinder at your local rental shop.

Yur a better man than me, Gunga Din. :alien:

 

[ron in sc]

I thought about the stump grinder, but it's $220 per day and is only a belt drive self propelled unit as opposed to a gear drive unit. I'm not a professional and I thought the belt drive unit would be underpowered and to much trouble to use. I forget how much HP they told me it had.

I do have some fellows that work for me on my property and I cut the stumps up a fair amount and they get nearly everything out of the hole with axes and the like. The trees being removed are all water oaks.

 

[DDM]

I thought about the stump grinder, but it's $220 per day and is only a belt drive self propelled unit as opposed to a gear drive unit. I'm not a professional and I thought the belt drive unit would be underpowered and to much trouble to use. I forget how much HP they told me it had.

I do have some fellows that work for me on my property and I cut the stumps up a fair amount and they get nearly everything out of the hole with axes and the like. The trees being removed are all water oaks.

Do you mean belt drive for the Cutter Wheel?

 

[ron in sc]

Do you mean belt drive for the Cutter Wheel?

I'm not sure. I just recall someone telling me something about gear drive stump grinders losing less HP at the cutting wheel.

I'm concerned that a rental stump grinder would be underpowered and frustratingly slow. My preference would be for a diesel powered unit, with lots of torque but I've not been able to find one for rent where I live.

 

[DDM]

I have a Carlron 4400D with a 44 HP Diesel on it and the cutter wheel is belt drive.
About any stump grinder you could rent would be much better than trying to cut stumps out with any Saw.

 

[Lobo]

Last summer I saw a gentleman using a gas powered cutoff saw the ones with a disk at the end for cutting concrete and pavement. Not really sure how that worked out however.

 

[Lobo]

The gentleman was using something like this on roots and stumps but I don't think it was a Stihl though.

http://www.stihl.ca/products_cutquiks.asp

 

[galde]

Ron: Carbide tooth chains cost between $60 and $100. A cheaper alternative is the carbide hard-surfaced chain sold by Laser Sales of Erie, PA. I just bought a few but I have not tried them yet. Use a hard tip bar, as nose sprockets grind out in a hurry in dirty conditions. I use chains that are on the end of their life cycle for all high-risk sawing. I dig down a few inches around of the edge of the stump, clean away the dirt, and use a hatchet to chop through the bark to clean wood. I cut at a downward angle toward the center of the stump. I keep reinserting the bar nose-first to produce a cone-shaped cut. I like a long skinny bar which keeps the saw away from the ground. This gives me a below-ground crater to cover with dirt and plant grass. The stump eventually rots, and I have to add more dirt to fill the hole. This has worked well for me.

 

[Stumper]

RENT THE STUMPGRINDER!!!!!!!!!!!!

No saw chain works well in the dirt-not even Carbide. The carbide flash coated chains are better for cutting crossties and such but they still dull quickly in the dirt. The old Barracuda style chain almost worked decent in the dirt -but not really, just better than standard chain. Nearly every stump grinder on the market uses belt drive. A few use hydraulic but in smaller machines the belt is more efficient. The important question is cutter sharpness. Ask that it be fitted with fresh teeth if possible and rent it-or hire someone-it might not cost much or even ANY more to have a pro come do it.

 

[P_woozel]

Get a stumpgrinder, I've used carbide insert chain alot, it isnt real sharp to begin with takes more abuse than standard chrome chain. It will still dull though, unless you plan on venting the roof of your house in the event of fire, save your money. I tried the carbide "imprgnated" or dusted whatever it was and it wasnt that good, just seemed like expensive standard round chain.Even a 25hp rig with sharp teeth will be better also you wont be bent over as much. :umpkin:

 

[Pacific]

No chain survives dirt its all abrasive it dulls chain or anything quick. It may take awhile but you can hack at it with a skill saw and a saws all.

The other option is have a backhoe to dig the stump out you will be looking at prolly 150 dollars then you don't have to worry about it.