Thread: Chainsawing Mulga and other very hard woods

Chainsawing Mulga and other very hard woods

Hi, I have had an enquiry about cutting Mulga and other very hard woods with chainsaws

The enquiry
"milling Mulga in the Gibson Desert region of WA – Ngaanyatjarra lands in particular.
You probably know Mulga is very hard, similar to the Lancewood or Gidgee found in the Gulf country, North Queensland and Mornington Island. (I once sent a sample from Mornington to AEG in Germany – they couldn’t believe how fast we went through their planer blades – their reply was “our blades are for wood, not metal!”…

Anyway, would you mind recommending the best chainsaws, milling blades etc in your experience.

The logs to be milled here are typically between 150mm – 250mm diameter and lengths vary a lot. Trees are casualties of bush fires… we go to recently burnt country and cut the straightest we can find. Chainsaw blades last ok when crosscutting… regular touch-ups help… but any older hardened wood is avoided – blunts a blade in no time."

I am inclined to think that tungsten tipped blades are probably the best thing but I do not know where to locate them nor can I offer advice on the best ohainsaws to buy. Although I do prefer Husqvarna/Jonsered over other brands

So what do the forumites think?