Chainsaw won't point an 8 foot ESB pole to use as a gate post?

2wsxcde3

I've cut an ESB pole into 8 foot lengths to use as gate posts. While the chainsaw cut the pole easily in sections, when it came to pointing each pole the chainsaw wouldn't cut through it.

This is because when cutting a point, the saw is going against the grain of the wood making the timber more dense and difficult to cut through. I hadn't known about this before.

Does anyone know of any way to make a point at one end of each pole so that they can be driven into the ground with a post driver? A post driver wont drive them if they dont have a point at one end.

Genghis Cant

2wsxcde3 wrote: »

I've cut an ESB pole into 8 foot lengths to use as gate posts. While the chainsaw cut the pole easily in sections, when it came to pointing each pole the chainsaw wouldn't cut through it.

This is because when cutting a point, the saw is going against the grain of the wood making the timber more dense and difficult to cut through. I hadn't known about this before.


Does anyone know of any way to make a point at one end of each pole so that they can be driven into the ground with a post driver? A post driver wont drive them if they dont have a point at one end.

Sharpen your chain and it'll point it. I've pointed lots of them here.

Who2

2wsxcde3 wrote: »

I've cut an ESB pole into 8 foot lengths to use as gate posts. While the chainsaw cut the pole easily in sections, when it came to pointing each pole the chainsaw wouldn't cut through it.

This is because when cutting a point, the saw is going against the grain of the wood making the timber more dense and difficult to cut through. I hadn't known about this before.

Does anyone know of any way to make a point at one end of each pole so that they can be driven into the ground with a post driver? A post driver wont drive them if they dont have a point at one end.

A sharper chainsaw, ive pointed numerous posts with chainsaws.

2wsxcde3

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Sharpen your chain and it'll point it. I've pointed lots of them here.

Is there a special chain you need for this or will a regular chain on the chainsaw (assuming its been properly sharpened) point an esb pole?

Genghis Cant

2wsxcde3 wrote: »

Is there a special chain you need for this or will a regular chain on the chainsaw (assuming its been properly sharpened) point an esb pole?

Whatever chain is on it will do. Once it's sharp. It is harder on the chain cutting with the grain as opposed to across the grain. Pointing a post you're cutting sorta diagonally, neither across nor with the grain.

Floody Boreland

No special chain needed but needs to be sharpened properly.Lots of youtube videos on sharpening.

kk.man

It's like sharpening a pencil with a razor blade..thats how you point an end pole. Take your time..have the chain sharp..its slow ...i always take a small first segment then gradually increase as I move around the pole. The grain should not be an issue. Try it on a fencing stake first.

Nekarsulm

Watch out for random staples and those studs they use with an ID number on!

2wsxcde3

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Watch out for random staples and those studs they use with an ID number on!

Good idea, thanks

Mooooo

When standing esb poles for strainers we normally dig a hole for it as have failed driving them due to stones etc

patsy_mccabe

Nothing like ESB poles to take the edge of a chain. I think it's the tar they put on them sometimes.

Floody Boreland

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Nothing like ESB poles to take the edge of a chain. I think it's the tar they put on them sometimes.

Creosote oil probably. Serious carcinogenic so avoid contact.

my3cents

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Watch out for random staples and those studs they use with an ID number on!

I think the OP already hit one

2wsxcde3

my3cents wrote: »

I think the OP already hit one

No i didn't.

Tommy Ferguson

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Sharpen your chain and it'll point it. I've pointed lots of them here.

You can have the sharpest chain in the world but unless the depth gauges are brought down it would be like pushing a marshmallow through a key hole.
The lads that had too much porter last night will know

studdlymurphy

Tommy Ferguson wrote:

You can have the sharpest chain in the world but unless the depth gauges are brought down it would be like pushing a marshmallow through a key hole. The lads that had too much porter last night will know

Or pushing a rope up a hill.

Genghis Cant

Tommy Ferguson wrote: »

You can have the sharpest chain in the world but unless the depth gauges are brought down it would be like pushing a marshmallow through a key hole.
The lads that had too much porter last night will know

I think when most lads talk about sharpening a chain it's implicit that the rakers are done as part of the sharpening.
A lad brought me his saw to take a look at the chain some time ago he was after getting it back from getting it sharpened and reckoned it wouldn't cut.
The chain was sharp, no doubt about that. It was just on the bar backwards! :-)

Tommy Ferguson

Genghis Cant wrote: »

I think when most lads talk about sharpening a chain it's implicit that the rakers are done as part of the sharpening.
A lad brought me his saw to take a look at the chain some time ago he was after getting it back from getting it sharpened and reckoned it wouldn't cut.
The chain was sharp, no doubt about that. It was just on the bar backwards! :-)

You sound like an expert that knows it all.

patsy_mccabe

An older relative of mine showed my how to sharpen a chain years ago. He said to give the depth gauges 2 runs of a flat file each time I sharpened the chain.
I then went off and bought some feeler gauges and measured the gap correctly, with the straight edge of a metal square laid on top. The difference is unreal. Chain cuts like new now. The gap is 0.65mm with my current chain and it takes some filling at times to get that gap right.

Genghis Cant

Tommy Ferguson wrote: »

You sound like an expert that knows it all.

Thanks. It's rare that I get a compliment. I appreciate it.

Tommy Ferguson

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Thanks. It's rare that I get a compliment. I appreciate it.

What tickets have you?

MickeyShtyles

Tommy Ferguson wrote: »

What tickets have you?

I’ve three here for Billy Joel if that’s what ya mean!

Tommy Ferguson

MickeyShtyles wrote: »

I’ve three here for Billy Joel if that’s what ya mean!

I have ground tickets c30,30 different tickets.

Genghis Cant

Tommy Ferguson wrote: »

What tickets have you?

I'm way to humble to be bragging.

http://www.forestry.ie/education-training/coillte-training-safety-services

But seeing as you asked I trained with Coillte. Not that it makes any great difference to my advice.

Tommy Ferguson

Mod note: not here, Tommy, take it somewhere else

Buford T. Justice

2wsxcde3

UPDATE: Chainsaw successfully pointed ESB poles.