I hit a nail the other day with my chainsaw. It was embedded deeply inside an oak log with a diameter of maybe 20 inches or so. I didn't even hit the thing until I was 3-4" into the log. As soon as I saw a couple sparks I quit cutting because I realized I'd hit something.
I have a Stihl FarmBoss saw with a Stihl chain on it. I'm not one of these people that says my brand of tool/equipment/whatever is the best and anything else sucks by any means, but I know that Stihl is one of the upper echelon manufacturers of this type of equipment. As such, I was a little surprised at how much I messed up the chain.
I realize that a nail is really hard on a saw chain but one little nail seemed to completely take the temper out of the chain. I sharpened the saw really carefully this morning and went to the woods. I cut 3 pieces off a small green locust tree that the township had pushed over (right along the road) and then I attacked an old dead elm that was almost rotted to powder in the middle. After about 5 minutes the chain was as dull as can be. A new chain is not a big deal-I'm about due anyway.
Has anyone ever done anything like this and totally slaughtered a chain? I've hit nails before and not had this problem. I just couldn't believe that after that the chain is shot. Oh well, off to the Stihl dealer for a new chain sometime this week.
That brings up another question: Do you guys use the brand of bar oil specific to your saw, or any brand of bar oil you can find, or just whatever kind of oil you have handy? I tend to be in the first category and my dad is comfortably in the third.