How often do you snap chains?

[Diabel]

This will be a first for me.

I offered to cut down a 12" yard ash at my BIL.
Never fails!!
Everything went smooth until I got to the stump at grass level.
As I was bucking the trunk I saw in the corner of my eye my BIL walking toward the stump with a shovel.

I thought "crap" I hope he does not ask me to cut the stump below grade. Of course, he did as if it was a natural thing to do

I did have an old semi dull chain in my box. Swapped it as he exposed about 10" of the stump, started cutting and within 30 sec., pop.....
Spooked the be-Jesus out of me. Snapped as if it was made out of plastic!!

 

[Wildo]

I have only done it once about nine years ago. I still have no idea how it happened but it was a company saw so I don't know what was done to it before I was using it. The boss said how did you do it? I said I don't know I was just bucking a log. He went over and looked at my cut and said how did you do that you were just bucking a log? He then shook his head and walked away.

Maybe the chain had damage that was hard to see and it just gave up?

 

[Firewood Bandit]

Never have in 26 years.

 

[Diabel]

Never have in 26 years.

So, this is scary then..... Lucky me, nothing happened.

 

[cachunko]

It has never happened to me, either.

 

[Corey]

I've thrown a few chains off, but never had one break. Though conversely, I've seen plenty of relatively thick metal chunks snap like glass because of cracks starting at small rust/corrosion pits. I would suspect a saw chain is no different. If you have an old chain setting around or chain sits on the saw unused for a long period, it would certainly be possible for moisture in the air to form corrosion on the links, pins, etc. Then give it a few minutes use and 'snap'! This also hints at the importance of 'corrosion proofing' any chain you intend to let sit around unused.

 

[maple1]

I have never broken one either.

I'm no logger, but I've been using chain saws for almost 40 years now.

EDIT to add: I've also only ever used Stihl loops.

 

[DodgyNomad]

Cutting stumps is so hard on the saw, although that was a small tree. I've had blades come off, but never break while doing it. Best thing to do when you have to stump especially with big ones, is use 2 or 3 plastic wedges once you get enough room to take the pressure off the bar and saw.

 

[TreePointer]

I've had two chains snap while running a saw. Both were 3/8, .050, 20" on a Stihl 361. One broke and shot completely off the bar tip in the direction the bar had been pointing and landed about 15 feet away. The other snapped, stayed on the bar, and one end whipped back with such forch so as to crack the back end of the clutch cover.

Both chains broke at the rivet and tie strap that had been used to close the loop. A known cause for this is using the wrong size rivet or spinning the rivet too far. On one of the chains, I could see markings where the rivet had been spun improperly. I haven't had this issue since I started using another dealer to make my loops.

 

[Whitepine2]

Never,this is why it is important to check each and every chain when sharping I have found
chain that looks suspect and discarded.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

I've never done it, and never seen it done in the 30+ years I've been cutting. Heard of it. Once.

 

[Diabel]

The more I think about it, the more stupid I feel to even approach this stump with a chainsaw (stupid BIL preasure!!).
Lucky no one got hurt!!

 

[D8Chumley]

I had one on my 170 break when it hit an unseen nail in a log I was bucking. Scared me pretty good, that was the last cut that day even though I had another chain. I was wearing my hard hat with ear muffs and face shield, "felt" something funny and eased off the trigger, just in time

 

[Bigg_Redd]

The more I think about it, the more stupid I feel to even approach this stump with a chainsaw (stupid BIL preasure!!).
Lucky no one got hurt!!

I've cut lot's of stuff in the dirt. Just because something is a bad idea doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

 

[Wildo]

Just because something is a bad idea doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

I tell people that and they look at me funny... ???

 

[Firewood Bandit]

If you make chains, over tightening a rivet so it binds and running it that way will generate heat. That could cause a link to break.

 

[ironpony]

Never....

 

[cityboy172]

Once on a 28" stihl chain. I quit cutting for the night, kinda scared me.

 

[Diabel]

I've cut lot's of stuff in the dirt.

It sure makes a mess. It took me 2hrs to clean the two saws from the sand and soil mixed with bar oil.

Btw.

BIL just dropped off two new stihl chains, one for the 170 and one for the 360. I suppose he felt bad.

 

[Jags]

BIL just dropped off two new stihl chains, one for the 170 and one for the 360. I suppose he felt bad.

Now that is a thoughtful gent. Sounds like he really appreciated the help.

 

[Diabel]

Now that is a thoughtful gent. Sounds like he really appreciated the help.

I think it was my sister who initiated it. She called me couple of days ago asking where I service my chainsaw equipment....
I was surprised to see him show up with the right chains. My stihl dealer knows me and must have set him up.

 

[firefighterjake]

Thrown a chain in the past . . . but have never had one break.

 

[Fifelaker]

I have cut a bunch of stumps over the years and never broke a chain cutting one. I have had two chains snap on me and both were old chains and they hit some steel inside a tree. Actually I forgot, I broke one a month or so ago on a Echo cs3400 top handle, I hit an unseen fence post and it wasn't very dramatic. It just went TING and the chain was laying on the ground. I was lucky that I had another chain in the truck for it or I would have been trimming with my MS440.

 

[Diabel]

Yeah, mine just went TING and fell off the bar. It could have been different.......
I was sure I hit metal as well, but all the cutters look ok.

 

[Kevin*]

whenever I cut through a fat nail or screw with my MS192TCE.... never with the MS362, have broken a tooth before though
Though the chains that come on the small Stihl saws are cheaper then if you buy a new chain, some sort of cheese ball chain to keep price down says the dealer...