How does chainsaw chain actually work??

[Rob D]

I've spent a long time looking at the various chains out there ie. different sorts of cutters etc etc but it seems very hard to actually find much on the actual physical process of how a chainsaw chain cuts through wood.

 

 

I've heard that as the chain travels through the wood it's every other cutter pivots upwards to take it's chip out. Is this right? And if it is why is it!?

 

The chips cut by the top plate get carried out but again not sure the exact process i.e. does the chip get carried beneath that cutter? Does that same cutter take another chip which gets carried along with the previous chip?

 

It's easy to say 'the top plate chisels out a chip which is then carried in the gullet to be ejected near the saw'

....but I'd like to know more details on this!

 

 

Is there any vids in slow mo? i,e. cutting right at the end of a log and then the footage slowed down that actually shows the process of how the chain cuts a chip out of the wood and then how that chip travels with the chain to be ejected.

 

 

 

 

It would be nice to have concrete info backed up by proven facts!

 

Ta!

 

 

[jpbeaver]

I've seen a stihl video showing how a chain works. I didn't pay much attention tbh. I'll ask my local dealer if they still have a copy.

[Wolfie]

You think about it far to much.

[hazzygawa]

I got told is was some sort of voodoo magic that made the chain cut.

[farmer rod]

I've spent a long time looking at the various chains out there ie. different sorts of cutters etc etc but it seems very hard to actually find much on the actual physical process of how a chainsaw chain cuts through wood.

 

 

I've heard that as the chain travels through the wood it's every other cutter pivots upwards to take it's chip out. Is this right? And if it is why is it!?

 

The chips cut by the top plate get carried out but again not sure the exact process i.e. does the chip get carried beneath that cutter? Does that same cutter take another chip which gets carried along with the previous chip?

 

It's easy to say 'the top plate chisels out a chip which is then carried in the gullet to be ejected near the saw'

....but I'd like to know more details on this!

 

 

Is there any vids in slow mo? i,e. cutting right at the end of a log and then the footage slowed down that actually shows the process of how the chain cuts a chip out of the wood and then how that chip travels with the chain to be ejected.

 

 

 

 

It would be nice to have concrete info backed up by proven facts!

 

Ta!

 

 

Yes this is most important, we shouldnt just be blasting away with these things without knowing whats going on in the kerf!!

do let us know when you find out, in the morning is soon enough, im just off to bed:thumbup1:

[RobRainford]

Chain goes in, wood comes out, tree falls down. Always works the same for me

 

 

I suppose if you got a piece of chain and dragged it across a piece of wood as if you were trying to make it cut you would see it in some way

[Rob D]

You think about it far to much.

 

 

Got to have something to while away these cold, lonely wet evenings

[Rob D]

I've seen a stihl video showing how a chain works. I didn't pay much attention tbh. I'll ask my local dealer if they still have a copy.

 

 

Cheers - would appreciate it if you could - not found anything on the net at all.....

[Rob D]

Chain goes in, wood comes out, tree falls down. Always works the same for me

 

 

Yep I know I know but - considering it's our weapon of choice should we not know a bit more about the workings of it all...

 

... for instance there's been threads about - is skip link chain better and for what? Is square ground chain any use?

 

If I knew a bit more about the theory of how it works then you can start tweaking things a bit more...

 

 

 

[Rich2484]

Yep I know I know but - considering it's our weapon of choice should we not know a bit more about the workings of it all...

 

... for instance there's been threads about - is skip link chain better and for what? Is square ground chain any use?

 

If I knew a bit more about the theory of how it works then you can start tweaking things a bit more...

 

 

 

 

Why tweak it, if it ain't broke don't fix it.....