About Tungsten Carbide Chains
🔧 How to Choose the Right Tungsten Carbide Chainsaw Chain
Tungsten carbide chains are built for demanding conditions—where regular steel chains dull quickly. Whether you're cutting firewood, storm debris, or dense Australian hardwoods, the correct carbide chain ensures safety, longevity, and performance. Use this guide to choose the right chain for your application.
🧩 Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Maya Pro-Tipped | Maya ST Low-Kickback | Tsumura Hi-Depth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutter Design | Tungsten tip brazed to steel cutter | Full carbide cutter, longitudinal weld | Carbide laminated capping with dual longitudinal welds |
| Kickback Profile | Non-safety, aggressive | Low-kickback, bumper drive links | Low-kickback, semi-chisel profile |
| Best For | Softwood, treated/dirty timber, demolition, firewood | Dense hardwood, roots, stumps, contaminated wood | Extreme hardwoods, burnt logs, fire-damaged wood |
| Power Suitability | Low to mid-powered saws | All saws (best with mid-power) | High-powered saws |
| Available Pitch | 3/8LP, .325", 3/8", .404" | 3/8", 3/8LP, .325" (Not available in .325LP) |
3/8" only |
| Gauge Options | .043", .050", .058", .063", .080" | .043", .050", .058", .063" | .058", .063" |
| Sharpening | Diamond file or disc (150 micron) | Diamond file or disc (150 micron) | Diamond file or disc (150 micron) |
| Cutting Speed | ~15–20% slower than steel | ~20–25% slower than steel | ~15–20% slower than steel |
| Manufactured In | China | China | Japan |
🔍 Chain Type Summaries
🟡 Maya Pro-Tipped Carbide – Full/Semi-Chisel
Pro-tipped carbide chains are cost-effective and great for general-purpose work in abrasive or dirty timber. The brazed tip resists wear but may detach under high-impact loads or in dense hardwood. Not suited for high-powered saws or hard Aussie species.
- Best for softwood, medium hardwood, demolition & treated timber
- Not suitable for Ironbark, Redgum, Grey Box,Turpentine or similar dense hardwood species
- Recommended raker height: 0.65mm (factory set)
🟢 Maya ST Low-Kickback Carbide – Semi-Chisel
Designed for tough Australian conditions, this full carbide chain features bumper drive links for reduced kickback. Ideal for dirty logs, roots, firewood, and mixed-species timber. Stronger than tipped carbide and tolerates impacts better—but must be kept sharp.
- Best for dense hardwoods (Redgum, Box, Stringybark)
- Suited to arborists, storm cleanup, firewood contractors
- Sharpen more frequently after 1–2 tanks of fuel when cutting dirty wood
🔴 Tsumura Hi-Depth Carbide – Semi-Chisel with Horizontal Capping
The strongest carbide chain available. Manufactured in Japan, the Hi-Depth design features carbide capping across all cutting surfaces, offering maximum durability and edge protection. Designed for high-power saws and extreme use in burnt wood, dense hardwood, stumps, and fire recovery zones.
- Only available in 3/8" pitch – .058" or .063" gauge
- Cutting speed is ~20% slower than steel chains
- Sharpen with diamond tools every tank in hardwood
- Never run blunt
- Never reduce raker height below 0.65mm
- Never lever into the cut with felling spikes
Failure to follow these may tear cutters from the chain.
💡 How to Choose Based on Your Application
- Softwood, treated timber, demolition: Maya Pro-Tipped
- General purpose firewood, dirty mixed species, storm cleanup: Maya ST Low-Kickback
- Extreme hardwoods, burnt logs, fire recovery, high-powered saws: Tsumura Hi-Depth
🛠️ Maintenance & Sharpening Tips
- Use diamond-coated files or discs matched to your chain type:
- Maya ST: 4.0–4.8mm
- Tsumura: 5.2–5.5mm
- Maya Pro-Tipped: 150-micron disc or fine diamond file
- Never run a carbide chain dull – sharpen early to prevent stretch & weld failure
- Maintain factory raker height – 0.65mm minimum
- Avoid sudden impacts, hard knots, rocks, or levering into cuts
📦 Custom Lengths & Support
We can supply custom loops to suit any bar size or gauge. Message us with your pitch, gauge, and drive link count and we’ll cut a chain to match. Need advice? Contact us—our team are experienced operators who’ve tested all the carbide chains we sell in real Australian timber.