In the video below, starting at 2:20 and 5:00, you’ll see a REALLY dull chainsaw.
What are the signs of a dull chainsaw:
- The chain is smoking from overheating.
- Very fine sawdust, a sharp chainsaw throws long shavings or chips.
- The paint at the edge of the bar is worn off from overheating.
- The saw isn’t cutting, it’s chewing through the wood from friction, not sharpness.
- The operator is trying to physically move the chainsaw back and forth to cut the log. A sharp chainsaw should self feed into the wood.
If you notice your chainsaw doing any of the things above stop immediately and sharpen it or put a fresh chain on. A dull chainsaw is a dangerous chainsaw for it is much more likely to ‘slip’ in the cut and injure the operator.
A chainsaw should never be allwed to become as dull as the one in this video.
When I’m using a chainsaw the moment I notice it’s dull I stop cutting and sharpen immediately, I don’t even finish the cut. I simply turn the saw off and grab the file. Why? Because it’s much easier to file a saw that is a little dull than a lot.
WOW!!!! Lent one of my sons my Stihl and brought it back with a blue edged paint burned bar and chain. Guess what it cost him…… Also no more borrowing from me. Bye the bye I’m glad this fellow didn’t slip or lose his balance and cut those rubber boots of his. Could of been really ugly! John, got accquinted with your site by your landscaping on you tube a couple of years back. Miss them! By from Idaho, just down the I-84 from you a few miles….
I used to loan out my 036 to a friend and it always came back dull, filter full of dust and filthy dirty. Eventually, I said you can take the saw but I need 20 for a new chain and that’s all it took to make it stop. 20 bucks?
I agree, that video looked like an accident waiting to happen.
I’ve been getting back into YouTube videos again. If you haven’t been to my YouTube channel have a look.
Idaho, that’s a heck of a drive from here!