High Quality Chainsaw Bars Husqvarna Toys

Filing a semi-chisel chain

RI Chevy

Mastermind Approved!
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
1254
Joined
May 7, 2016
Messages
27,002
Reaction score
67,743
Location
earth
Country flag
Are you pushing down? Or is the weight of the saw doing the cutting?
The semi naturally isn't as aggressive, as there's no point on the cutter digging in.
It's hard to get hook on semi if you're used to filing chisel. You could try lowering the file a tiny bit to make the top plate sharper. Or maybe a swipe more off the rakers
I wasn't really pushing on the saw. I tried to be as consistant as possible with all cuts.
I'll keep at it and get it.
Thanks for all the tips and pointers!
 

Philbert

Chainsaw Enthusiast
Local time
4:48 AM
User ID
737
Joined
Jan 30, 2016
Messages
4,421
Reaction score
17,838
Location
East Dakota
Country flag
I ran across this in an older book, suggesting why full-chisel chain cuts faster: not just due to the point. Had to chew on it for a while for it to make sense
Full chisel VS Semi chisel cutters.png

The reason it s-l-o-w-s way down when the point gets damaged is not just due to the dull corner, but the, point can get bent (not a lot of metal up there) and actually direct the cutting edges away from the wood! This photo shows damage from abrasion, but I have seen the points bent too (can't find a good photo of that).
Full Chisel Point Damage.jpg

Philbert
 

RI Chevy

Mastermind Approved!
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
1254
Joined
May 7, 2016
Messages
27,002
Reaction score
67,743
Location
earth
Country flag
Very interesting Phil.
Thank you deye
 

Wilhelm

Here For The Long Haul!
GoldMember
Local time
10:48 AM
User ID
1204
Joined
Apr 28, 2016
Messages
11,379
Reaction score
43,229
Location
Croatia
Country flag
Cut the safety bumpers off!

I did on the TriLink I have used, and will do again when I decide that I want to use the remaining three crappy cutting new loops.

I don't like semi chisel, nor round!
I am getting good results with round filed chisel tooth chains.

Semi chisel and round tooth chains are slow cutting chains, feels weird when one is used to the performance and speed of full chisel.

I don't cut wood commercially/for a living, a dull chain is not much of a setback to me.
 

drf256

Dr. Richard Cranium
GoldMember
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
319
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
9,334
Reaction score
61,428
Location
Strong Island NY
Country flag
I like semi-chisel better for working. I use 404 Stihl semi on a 36 for big work. It seems to virtually never dull.

The time it would take to swap and/or file chains gets made up for by the slower cut times easily.
 

drf256

Dr. Richard Cranium
GoldMember
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
319
Joined
Dec 29, 2015
Messages
9,334
Reaction score
61,428
Location
Strong Island NY
Country flag
I agree Al. Do you have a loop of 404 full-chisel to try as well?
Yes.

Cleared an acre of woods yesterday with the guy who toasted his saw. He couldn’t get the new saw to run, this time it actually was the carb that took a dump.

I had a square chain on the saw I used and I’ve decided to never use square for real work again. Touching it up, vs round file, is a total pita.
 

Ryan Browne

Pinnacle OPE Member
GoldMember
Local time
4:48 AM
User ID
1799
Joined
Sep 4, 2016
Messages
2,370
Reaction score
9,619
Location
Wisconsin
Country flag
That chain would outcut stock full chisel, but not even close to my dialed in full chisel. Semi is good chain for its intended purpose. For what you do it sounds like full chisel is better imo.

You're saying that you can file semi chisel that'll outcut RS off the roll? I'd love to see a video of that. I remember a couple years ago there was a race chain build off at one of the GTGs. If I recall correctly, only two guys made chains that cut faster than RS.
 

huskyboy

Sorta a husqvarna guy...
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
1352
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
10,025
Reaction score
43,448
Location
Ct
Country flag
You're saying that you can file semi chisel that'll outcut RS off the roll? I'd love to see a video of that. I remember a couple years ago there was a race chain build off at one of the GTGs. If I recall correctly, only two guys made chains that cut faster than RS.
I never said that. I should have been more specific. I can make stihl RM out cut stock LGX when I get it dialed in. It won’t bore cut as good though. The oregon semi chisel isn’t as good as RM because of the safety bumper links.
 
Last edited:

huskyboy

Sorta a husqvarna guy...
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
1352
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
10,025
Reaction score
43,448
Location
Ct
Country flag
Stihl RS handfiled and dialed in by me... 9 second cut. Mic is overloading on phone causing popping sound.
Oregon chain handfiled and dialed in by me... 6.11 seconds. Can’t remember if it was lgx or exl. Smoother and faster than the stihl chain though. Less expensive too. Same saw and same bar. Stihl chain does last a bit longer though, harder cutter. Also harder to file/harder on files.
 
Last edited:

Al Smith

Here For The Long Haul!
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
537
Joined
Jan 14, 2016
Messages
6,095
Reaction score
13,457
Location
North western Ohio
Country flag
Semi or old chipper chain has a tendency to "roll" a chip depending on the wood .A deeper gullet means it will rock out of the cut later because it holds more wood fiber .
I remember a guy who now is a champion hot saw runner when he was a 16 year kid at a GTG in Ohio .He had never seen a relatively fast gear drive running 1/2" chipper with a hogged out gullet and an 8 tooth spur gear .That #10 Oregon chain has a 45 thou raker drop .
The saw was a Mac 650 with a 2 to 1 reduction running over 9,000 RPMs and throwing fluffy chips like a wood planer about 10-15 feet in Cotton wood .
 

Magic_Man

Oh Yea !
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
9
Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
1,151
Reaction score
3,560
Location
SE Ohio
Bringing this to the top, while we all love our chisel and square, sometimes semi is what’s needed to get the job done. I’ve been cutting a lot of tops left by loggers for firewood and it’s a mess full of red clay and rocks.


I think I remember this guy posting a lot of info back in the day. Might have to venture back over there and see if I can find it.
I wish jasha was over here.
@tree sling’r

Edit:

This guy-
52258f87d932f54c46402dfb1d60f1e1.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

huskyboy

Sorta a husqvarna guy...
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
1352
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
10,025
Reaction score
43,448
Location
Ct
Country flag
I almost wish I had semi in frozen hardwood this time of year. Especially on the landing. I just file to 20-25 degrees on full chisel and relax my hook to help it last longer since I need a chain that can still bore cut saw logs ok. Which is one of semi’s biggest shortfalls... it bore cuts like crap. It also saps more power than other chains because it is a less efficient cutter. But nothing beats it in dirty firewood. You’ll be still cutting wood while others are filing with full chisel or square. Comes down to using the tool for the job, as usual.
 

huskihl

Muh fingers look really big
GoldMember
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
360
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
143,009
Location
East Jordan, MI
Country flag
I almost wish I had semi in frozen hardwood this time of year. Especially on the landing. I just file to 20-25 degrees on full chisel and relax my hook to help it last longer since I need a chain that can still bore cut saw logs ok. Which is one of semi’s biggest shortfalls... it bore cuts like crap. It also saps more power than other chains because it is a less efficient cutter. But nothing beats it in dirty firewood. You’ll be still cutting wood while others are filing with full chisel or square. Comes down to using the tool for the job, as usual.
I’ve never run 33RM. By the pics, it looks like it has a smaller radius on the cutter than most semi. That would speed it up if it’s true
 

huskyboy

Sorta a husqvarna guy...
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
1352
Joined
May 30, 2016
Messages
10,025
Reaction score
43,448
Location
Ct
Country flag
I’ve never run 33RM. By the pics, it looks like it has a smaller radius on the cutter than most semi. That would speed it up if it’s true
Is that the normal standard “yellow” chain stihl semi? I’ve ran it, quite a bit faster than oregon semi. Doesn’t have the extra hump on rakers. Not very smooth, but cuts pretty nice for semi. Doesn’t hold a candle to a round filed full chisel in clean wood still, but probably the best semi chisel I’ve tried.
 

huskihl

Muh fingers look really big
GoldMember
Local time
5:48 AM
User ID
360
Joined
Dec 31, 2015
Messages
22,456
Reaction score
143,009
Location
East Jordan, MI
Country flag
Is that the normal standard “yellow” chain stihl semi? I’ve ran it, quite a bit faster than oregon semi. Doesn’t have the extra hump on rakers. Not very smooth, but cuts pretty nice for semi. Doesn’t hold a candle to a round filed full chisel in clean wood still, but probably the best semi chisel I’ve tried.
Always figured they called it RapidMicro because of maybe having a smaller radius. Like I said tho, I’ve never seen it in person or run it
 
Top