Hit a Nail, Is My Chain a Goner?

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Mass. Wine Guy

Mass. Wine Guy

Feeling the Heat
Nov 23, 2007
313
Northeastern Massachusetts
Yesterday I was sawing up some large log chunks, one of which I'd propped up on an upside down wood saw horse. All was well until I hit a nail. Of course, it sparked and it was only half a second or so until I pulled it away. Afterward, I definitely noticed that my chain was duller and took more force to push down. Should I just sharpen the chain and see how it is, or is the chain toast?

Thanks.
 
Have you examined the teeth to see how severe the damage is? Based on your description of how brief the event was, I think you should be able to sharpen and be OK.
 
Sharpen & carry on.

Of course, if you find a bunch of broken teeth while your sharpening, that's another story - but I've never had to chuck a chain from hitting a nail. Or fence, a more common occurance....
 
maple1 said:
Sharpen & carry on.

Of course, if you find a bunch of broken teeth while your sharpening, that's another story - but I've never had to chuck a chain from hitting a nail. Or fence, a more common occurance....
Click to expand...

+1 there normally so rusty theres not alot of damage.
 
Mass. Wine Guy said:
Yesterday I was sawing up some large log chunks, one of which I'd propped up on an upside down wood saw horse. All was well until I hit a nail. Of course, it sparked and it was only half a second or so until I pulled it away. Afterward, I definitely noticed that my chain was duller and took more force to push down. Should I just sharpen the chain and see how it is, or is the chain toast?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


I hit nails all the time. Just file it out.
 
I'd rather hit a nail than throw a chain. That buggers up your chain for good in most cases.

Look it over carefully and if there's any badly chipped cutters take it in to the shop to be ground. You can go a long way with grinding before you need to toss a chain for good.
 
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