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Carbide-Toothed Chainsaw Blades for Milling 
Question
It did get me to thinking about chainsaw milling with carbide. Anyone doing that? We are looking at contract cutting for a client who has a 60" diameter white oak, and wants it cut through and through. I have double ended bars 52", 66", and 84" and expect to use at least the two larger ones on the project. We bring along the Peterson to true up the cuts as we go and the whole process is very labor intensive. The wood is expected to be clean. I am expecting to get off almost twice as many cuts by not having to sharpen after every cut. But that chain is so expensive. The only source I am finding is Bailey's, and I will need a fifty foot roll, 3/8th full skip (about $1000.00), special order with a 10 degree angle on the teeth. I would really appreciate advice from anyone already doing this type of cutting. Forum Responses
From contributor T: What kind of setup do you have for the tracking? I would use the 2x4 system that they recommend, but my use of my chainsaw mill is for large gnarly logs like crotches and burls. Their design won't work unless I cut away lots of valuable material for a somewhat flat surface. I designed a whole tracking system out of steel complete with leveling legs. It works very well and is only three months old. I went to use it for the first time in about a month and I set it on top of a 36" burly double crotch walnut. The darn thing looks like an arched bridge!? I never knew steel could warp, so now I'm drilling holes in it for an adjustable track surface to mount on. From the original questioner: Thanks for your vote, but what I am looking for is someone who does use carbide chain on clean wood. It will cut through some rocks, as I have done so (there are at least three grades of carbide, I am told, and the softest are used by emergency responders to cut cars in half). Cutting a kerf over 4' wide and over 10' long through white oak dulls a chain too much. If I turn a four day job into a three day job because I sharpen once a day instead of after every cut, then I'll get a day of fishing in while you are still cutting. From contributor T: I don't have to sharpen after every cut, but I see your point. Anything that gains me a day fishing I'm all for! I would just be too bothered that I gained it by such an expensive chain. Does sound like it makes the day easier and more productive, though. These boards can make you able to afford dozens of rolls of that chain, but I'd rather same. Just my peace of mind. I would also like to hear any info on this chain. I don't understand it. I've heard of guys running it on a 20" bar or so, and hitting a nail imbedded in the wood only to see teeth fly off the chain. But like you said, there are the rescue teams using this stuff going through metal like it's nothing. It's got to be an entirely different grade of carbide and an entirely different grind style.
From contributor J: I use an old (early model) Stihl 070 on a Granberg 56" mill with a roller stinger handle. This is used on old Lysiloma (Caribbean walnut) and oak trees. The resulting slabs will be used for tables for the new buildings at the Everglades Institute, and extras will be used as fundraiser auction items. On a huge Lysiloma crotch, I found a chain in the center of one of the "Y" sides about one foot above the "V". In the middle of the 30" wide plank were the unmistakable sections of the chain. It was only about 1/4" chain, but the carbide coated chain went through it like the proverbial grass through a goose. The chain was not even dulled, much less missing teeth. This is not chain with a carbide insert, merely electrostatically coated with carbide. Worked as advertised, though. Actually, better than advertised. For the rest of the sections of this crotch, I am going to cut close to the chain and then use a home made steel cutting hacksaw with a metal cutting blade to complete the cut near and through the remaining wood and steel. Finishing with a metal cutting sander belt will solve the finish/level problem. Then, I'll take a moment and thank God for modern polymers.
From contributor O: I worked for town doing forestry and tree removals. We are in a snow belt, and most of the tree crotches had sand and gravel in them and the bark was often gritty. Snow blowers had filled the crotches full. We used carbide faced chain in all our saws. Cost was about 10.00 a loop extra for the carbide. The saws stayed sharp a lot longer. Stones or steel would dull them, but they were good if not abused. I still buy them for my own saw. From the original questioner: Thanks, everyone, for weighing in on the subject. Yeah, I'm a freak about staying sharp milling big. It seems to take less time to sharpen before the teeth get dull than to wait until they are truly dull and have to bring them back. Contributor J, I'm very interested in hearing more about using the carbide impregnated chain, as it is cheaper. Hey, if you can leave some chain dangling out of the board, you may have a real show piece. Yikes - snow blower filled crotch wood sounds like a nightmare. By carbide faced, you mean an insert or electro impregnated? Rapco is the only manufacturer I have found and it is cheaper from Bailey's than directly from the manufacturer. Anyone know other options?
From contributor U: I have heard that cutting time is slower with carbide than standard ripping chain. Stays sharp longer, but is never quite as sharp. From contributor O: You requested a source of carbide chain. I just found the info: Cutters choice, 1717 Oxford st E London Ont Can 888-817-4707 They have a complete line of chain, bars, parts, etc. I have dealt with them and am happy so far.
The comments below were added after this Forum discussion was archived as a Knowledge Base article (add your comment). Comment from contributor R:
1. Carbide chain can never be sharpened to get as good an edge as steel no matter what you do. It is the nature of the carbide. It never cuts as fast as steel chain. 2. It is really expensive. 3. If you hit something then you break off/damage some of the carbide teeth and this usually results in buying a new chain. 4. You need special grinding wheels to sharpen it - although this is only a minor negative point. 5. The harder the carbide the more brittle and the more likely to snap or shatter when hitting something hard. Despite all of our technology these days there is no everlasting ever sharp chain available - I really wish there was!
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