How Does Dirt Dull a Chainsaw Chain?

[cscltd]

When I got in the tree biz back in the mid 80's we would come across cement in dead and dying trees a lot.

It was a standard practice before that to fill tree cavities with cement.

It would really 'grind down' a chain. Some of it was pretty soft but it still wore the chain badly.

As the tree trunk decayed away internally the cement would accumulate near ground level and make for some really depressing stump cuts with a distinct cement odor.

I've cut cement hundreds of times sometimes at a pretty good height in the tree.

All that proves that there is another reason that chains get dull.
no prove of dirt not dulling chain-which it does

 

[Del_]

All that proves that there is another reason that chains get dull.
no prove of dirt not dulling chain-which it does

Of course it does.

Cutting down a tree piece by piece and bombing it out can get wood pretty dirty sometimes.

There are ways of working around the dirt though like making sure that dirt is never 'pulled into the cut' when it can be avoided.

Termites also can carry a lot of dirt up into a trunk.

I cut down a dead blackjack oak once that was about eight inches in diameter and it had a core of about 2 inches in diameter of solid clay. It was from termites most likely and had fallen down inside of the blackjack and was packed pretty solid. Though the chain still cut it was time for a touch up filing for sure.

 

[MacAttack]

It's really not a dumb question, how many "dull" shovels have you ever seen? I could chop down a sapling with my spade shovel. I know it's not really the same thing, but not hard to see how it can be tough to make sense of.
With that said, dirt is very abrasive, you can remove light surface rust from a chrome bumper with a glob of mud. Dust wipes out piston rings and other moving metal parts.
In my experience, just giving the ground a little kiss at the end of a cut doesn't seem to take the edge off a chain. But lunkheads running them right into the dirt over and over, dull and useless in no time.

 

[bwalker]

It's really not a dumb question, how many "dull" shovels have you ever seen? I could chop down a sapling with my spade shovel. I know it's not really the same thing, but not hard to see how it can be tough to make sense of.

With that said, dirt is very abrasive, you can remove light surface rust from a chrome bumper with a glob of mud. Dust wipes out piston rings and other moving metal parts.

In my experience, just giving the ground a little kiss at the end of a cut doesn't seem to take the edge off a chain. But lunkheads running them right into the dirt over and over, dull and useless in no time.

Every shovel I have used is as dull as you can get.
Dirt is much harder than wood or steel for that matter. That's why it dulls steel chain. Pretty simple concept.

 

[psc1947]

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawing!

Get a pie plate and some dirt and water and work it like you're panning for gold. The stuff left in the bottom is your answer.

 

[farfromiowa]

When I got in the tree biz back in the mid 80's we would come across cement in dead and dying trees a lot.

It was a standard practice before that to fill tree cavities with cement.

It would really 'grind down' a chain. Some of it was pretty soft but it still wore the chain badly.

As the tree trunk decayed away internally the cement would accumulate near ground level and make for some really depressing stump cuts with a distinct cement odor.

I've cut cement hundreds of times sometimes at a pretty good height in the tree.

Del,
I've never heard of filling tree a tree cavity with cement, your post made me look it up. Thanks, I learned something today.

 

[psc1947]

Del,
I've never heard of filling tree a tree cavity with cement, your post made me look it up. Thanks, I learned something today.

"Late that fall, another present appears in the knothole—two figures carved in soap to resemble Scout and Jem. The figures are followed in turn by chewing gum, a spelling bee medal, and an old pocket watch. The next day, Jem and Scout find that the knothole has been filled with cement." --To Kill a Mockingbird--

 

[ericylee]

It’s not so much the dirt per se but the rocks grit and pebbles embedded in the dirt. A chain will dull immediately on gravel and rock and eventually in pure potters clay.
A dull chain will still cut you in half.

 

[MacAttack]

Every shovel I have used is as dull as you can get.
Dirt is much harder than wood or steel for that matter. That's why it dulls steel chain. Pretty simple concept.

Yeah for us that have dealt with saws for years it's obvious that dirt dulls the chain, not to the new user or average homeowner though.

 

[Bill G]

Anyone who doubts the abrasiveness of soil has never seen a piece of tillage equipment or earthmoving equipment. Many years ago when we still moldboard plowed you had to build up the shares with hard surface rod. Go ask a farmer how many acres he/she gets out of field cultivator shovels. Take a look at the cutting edge of a dozer blade. Soil wears on steel

 

[jolj]

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawing!

Dirt/soil is made up of tiny rock called sand, then larger rocks call gravel, pebbles, cobbles & Boulders.
Do not forget all the man made stuff, like concrete bits, bricks, steel, wire, & many more, that ends up in the soil.

 

[Donbj]

It's the science of geometry actually. If you pay attention to the angle the bar is to the ground/dirt you will see how it happens. It gets far more complicated when the dirt is in the log/bark.

 

[Billhook]

why do internal combustion engines have air filters? Because dirt and dust is bad stuff. Why do dumb people keep asking dumb questions?

I think I got it now, where abouts would you fit the air filter to the chainsaw bar?

 

[Bill G]

I think I got it now, where abouts would you fit the air filter to the chainsaw bar?

How often must it be changed?

 

[Del_]

Why do dumb people keep asking dumb questions?

They are taking it as a challenge!

 

[Jim K]

They are taking it as a challenge!

You guys that responded to such a stupid question have been baited again by the same individual that keeps asking questions to see how many fish he can reel in.

 

[ken morgan]

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawing!

thats a rock my friend... could hsve been inside the tree, or it could have been you dipping into the soil... but thats a rock...

 

[Chevy928]

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawing!

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawin

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawing!

It's like putting your chain in a belt sander when it hits the dirt.

 

[HumBurner]

View attachment 1057297
“Cutting into dirt dulls a chainsaw chain” - I know that. ( In fact, I've lost 4 of my chainsaw chains this way!)

But I'm curious to know the SCIENCE behind it.

Dirt is soft, wood is much HARDER, then how come dirt dulls a chainsaw chain (almost) INSTANTLY?

This question might sound a bit “newbish ,” but I'm sure there're some people here who want to know the same.

So, if you know the answer, HIT ME with it!

Also, any tips on how to prevent a chainsaw from hitting the dirt would be appreciated!

Happy Sawing!

That chain is not dull, it's f***ed!

Rolled under edge, overheated, banged up on the side and back.

 

[lone wolf]

Every shovel I have used is as dull as you can get.
Dirt is much harder than wood or steel for that matter. That's why it dulls steel chain. Pretty simple concept.

I cant believe the whole damn topic has to be debated! It aint no Moon shot!