natenaaron Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 I have some old boats I need to chunk up and get rid of. It will cost me about 1000 dollars to take them to the dump. If I cut them up I will just put them into our dumpster a bit at a time. I was getting nowhere today with a Sawzall, when a friend came by. He told how a chainsaw with a carbide chain would get the job done faster. I know they have carbide chains but will they really cut anything that comes into their path, without killing me in the process? He said they used them when he worked for the fire department. Is this one of those too good to be true things? I figured someone here would be able to refute or support his claim. I would love to get this done faster. The first set of boats are blocking my blacksmithing area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Olson Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 I cut up an aluminum boat with a carbide circular saw. Loud but worked great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 We had carbide chains on saws in the Fire Department, it would open a 5'x5' hole in a roof for ventilation in about 2 min. Metal Roofing, shingles, timbers, nails, wiring, what ever was there With an axe 3 guys and 20 min if you were lucky. Also they have large circular cut off saws with carbide blades works great as well, BUT they are not cheap. Will take a large size chainsaw to have enough power to do the cutting, no little homeowners model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 23, 2016 Share Posted April 23, 2016 It's the "without killing yourself" part that's in question. How much experience do you have using chain saws? Using a carbide chain on indeterminate materials takes a combination of gentle touch and brute strength. Some things are really grabby some just come apart. It might take a couple chains but they'll cut up most things. I suppose I should've asked what they're made of first but it's never too late. What are they made of, power boats, outboards, inboards, Ironclads, etc? Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natenaaron Posted April 24, 2016 Author Share Posted April 24, 2016 Civil war era iron clad, Frosty. Fiber glass, IO and OB. I have plenty of experience with chainsaws, but I was worried about the chain breaking and flying wild or losing teeth. I was using a carbide stone blade when a tooth came off and took a piece of my glasses off. Scared the poo out of me. Now I sort of hesitate when something says carbide teeth. That is were the kill me thing came from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Shaped charges for the ironclads a big enough chain saw is just too heavy for a shift. Don't hog feeding it into the boats and it'll probably just jam before breaking. They're whole different animal than a circle saw blade the carbides on a chainsaw have a different shape and much larger area where they're silver soldered to the tooth. Chain saws either jam on the way into the sprocket or get thrown out the front if they break. I've never even heard of one coming back at the operator. Never, Never, N-E-V-E-R stand in FRONT of or or let someone stand in front of a chain saw. Rip out all you can before taking the saw to it. Wear good PPE, have someone close enough to call 911,(I don't guarantee nothin) take it slow and careful and it should go well. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natenaaron Posted April 25, 2016 Author Share Posted April 25, 2016 "But Doc Frosty Said......" I am going to give it a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notownkid Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Never operate a chain saw with out proper safety Chaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHCC Posted April 25, 2016 Share Posted April 25, 2016 Or indeed: "Never operate a chainsaw without proper safety, chaps." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yahoo2 Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 The guys I have worked with only use carbide tips for working with the chain in the ground, they ditch the worn TC chain after 12-16 small jobs. Everything else is done with standard chains and lots of sharpening and setting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harwester Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 I want to know about carbide chainsaw chains. I want to have experience about it. Can you explain me please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 One common use for the carbide chainsaw chains is when one believes he/she will be cutting wood that has nails or embedded metal wire. Often, these are common in farm and ranch situations where the trees were used as posts for fencing and signs. They don't cut as fast as a sharp conventional chain but will get the job done. Also, can be much more expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 See my reply to your other post. Chainsaws are too dangerous to try to lean about by asking random people on a blacksmith forum. There are books and places to take lessons. Heck most places that sell and service chainsaws "NOT big box stores like Lowes" will take you out back and show you how to safely start, hold and use a chainsaw. Just do NOT think you know enough to start ding tricky things like mill lumber. Carbide Chains are not particularly good for ripping lumber, you need a proper ripping blade sharpened to rip lumber. That's all I'm going to tell you, this is NOT the place to learn about chainsaws except maybe some of he disaster stories. Mine is in the prayer section and I'd been cutting timber for a couple decades before the accident. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted June 18, 2021 Share Posted June 18, 2021 Chainsaws are right handed tools. There are RULES for their use that are not written in the manuals, like do not cut above arm pit high, and if beer is involved, shut down and go home. Chains are cheap and you should learn when to replace them, and how to sharpen them. Dull chains are dangerous. Switching chain designs and configuration without a lot of research and a lot of light duty practice is not something you want to approach without caution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpasta Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 Is it normal for it to be this expensive? I do not think so Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted April 23, 2022 Share Posted April 23, 2022 If you are asking about the cost of a carbide chain, yes they cost about double of a standard blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 They are much more expensive in some countries than others; in which of the 100+ countries that participate on I Forge Iron on the World Wide Web are you located in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockstar.esq Posted April 28, 2022 Share Posted April 28, 2022 This thread reminds me of a question posted online. "What's the medical term for a fear of chainsaws?". The #1 voted response was "Common sense"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anachronist58 Posted April 29, 2022 Share Posted April 29, 2022 Please consider my take on the operation of Savagely Unforgiving Equipment: Respect and Reverence for the inviolable forces of Nature allows us to overcome our fears and leads us not into the foolishness of disrespect and irreverence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobynJ.45 Posted July 6, 2022 Share Posted July 6, 2022 On 4/29/2022 at 12:54 AM, rockstar.esq said: This, thread reminds me of a question posted online. "What's the medical term for a fear of chainsaws?". The #1 voted response was "Common sense"! I really enjoyed reading this. Truly a legend. Respect for nature! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzam Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 1:53 AM, mpasta said: Is it normal for it to be this expensive? I do not think so Absolutely I agree. Why is it so expensive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Welcome aboard huzam, glad to have you. if you put your general location in the header you'll have a better chance of meeting up with other members. Also many answers are strongly location specific so it matters. Have you looked at carbide tools? They are MUCH more complicated to manufacture than mono-steel tools. Steel chains have tooth, link and pin. 3 pieces, they are rough formed heat treated assembled and sharpened, done. Carbide blades require a different steel, tooth sections are rough formed and ground, Carbide bits have to be sintered which in itself is about a 5 step process using EXPENSIVE materials and lastly are brazed to the tooth section. Carbide blades are more expensive because the materials are more expensive and there are about 3x the steps and 2x the machinery involved in manufacture. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted July 13, 2022 Share Posted July 13, 2022 Along with that about half the market for them. Sell less makes it cost more in itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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