Quote Originally Posted by Sigidi View Post
This is interesting... 32 square feet, that sounds rather specific/scientific, so if you are cutting a hardwood log which is 3m long and 750mm dia how many slabs do you cut before changing the chain? considering each slab is a different width, do you measure each slab after cutting it, then change the chain when it is 340mm into the third cut of the log?


Another thing which jumps to mind, why do you change a sharp chain?

Salty, Good too hear you've backed your chain tension off and aren't snapping chains anymore - obviously my advice helped you then? but what do you mean by the 'rakers easily clear the groove'? or do you mean the drive links?
I agree with you sidgi these numbers sound a bit odd.

I can't believe chains need swapping on softwoods after only 64 sq ft. That's only 2, 4' x 8' slabs. I'm not familiar with slabbing with a Lucas but with a CS mill I can cut ~ 256 sq ft of clean softwood on one sharp chain.

In hardwoods, it really depends on the hardwood. On a really clean Jarrah I cut over 100 sq ft without changing the chain. On harder woods like lemon scented gum my chain touch up skills have improved to the point where it is quicker for me to touch up rather than change the chain in between slabs. I used to swap chains between slabs but now only change the chain when the rakers need attention as I measure these at home with a caliper. So I will generally cut 4 or 5 slabs with the same chain, touching up in between slabs.