How do you organize your bars and chains?

[TopJimmy]

Just curious, how do you organize your bars and chains? 1. in the shop, 2. going out inot the field?

I have considered building a open box to hold my spare bars and chains that could be taken to a cutting site (left in the truck, not carried into the woods). Generally I take a couple of saws with the bar lenghts I need, but I ocasionally take an additional longer bar or two. I usually take one or two extra chains for every setup. I have tried a couple of methods for keeping them sorted out, but I would love to hear other ideas.

Jim

 

[computeruser]

At home, the bars and loops that aren't attached to saws hang on nails on the garage wall. To-be-sharpened loops hang on a hook on the side of the work bench where the grinder is.

When I go cutting, spare bars, chains, wrenches, oil, files, extra gloves, etc., go in an industrial-strength rubbermaid container, the type where the lid is two pieces with piano-style hinges on the outside edges of the long sides. This box fits up to 20" bars. Larger bars that aren't on a saw sit underneath the box and the saws in the back of the Jeep. Extra loops get tossed in the box, sometimes segregated into little boxes by length and type, but usually just tossed in. This system works well enough for me, though it certainly isn't pretty or "hi-tech."

 

[Brushwacker]

Chains that need maintained I hang away from the ones ready to use sometimes with a note what they need or how they cut so I know what to do when I get to it. I clean a bar oil jug or similar container to carry x-tra chains and a few misc parts, wedges or what ever in my pick-up tool box or cab in my dump truck. I drilled a hole in my p-up tool box to mount an x-tra bar to the inside side. Keeps it up out of the way and clean and ready to go. In the dump it will be put in an original package behind or under the seat.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

At home stuff hangs on nails everywhere.

Instead of taking extra bars I just take extra saws.

Ditto....

and....

Ditto.

 

[Rspike]

I have a large tool box ( 24"X12"X10" ) I keep all my chainsaw tools, grease gun, spare parts,glasses ,files ,paint brush in the top tray and in the base or bottom : gloves , wedges , hand axe , rag ,first aid , funnel and all my chains ( about 18 or more ). Each of my chainsaw chains go into a freezer quart bag ( 1 chain per bag ) Each bag is marked with the marker (kept inthe tool box too ) ,size of chain and noted "sharp" , when the chain is "used" but still good its marked "used" and when it need to be sharpened its then marked "NS" and goes into the file cabnet in the shop when i get back to be sharpened . When the chains are in there own bag they stay lubed ,dirt free & organize . I have 4 different bars just for the 372Xp and i have 5 different chainsaws so this is the only way to get all the different chains organized . The bars go in the truck tool box , the chainsaws go into ther own Husqvarna power box cases and all the PPE goes in my Husqvarna gear bag . When i get back to the shop everything goes back to the shelves like it was taken out to the woods . ie: everything in the tool box stays in the tool box and the bars go into a drawer, PPE bag go to the shelves as does the chainsaws in there cases. <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/P8010402.jpg"> <img src="http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a97/Roospike/P8010398.jpg">

 

[SteveH]

Rspike's idea of the freezer bags is excellent. I only have maybe 8 chains or so, only use either 18" or 20" bars, and I keep the chains in the boxes they came in, hang each box on a nail [they've got that little hole on the back anyway, the box] with a note on it...when sharpened, to be sharpened, used how much, brand new, or whatever. I have them hanging in my own order on the wall of the shop...works for my small collection. But the plastic bag idea is maybe even better.

 

[sawinredneck]

Milk crate, everywhere. Although I do like the idea of the bucketboss someone on here came up with the other day. Hang a bucket boss on the outside of a 3 1/2 gal bucket and get the divided plastic tryas from HD that fit inside the bucket and good to go! Kinda strickes my fancy!
Andy

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

...and get the divided plastic tryas from HD that fit inside the bucket...
Andy

So are the tryas near the trays, or are they in a different aisle?:hmm3grin2orange:

(I don't normally jump on spelling and grammar, in your case I HAD to give you a hard time time Andy!) :hmm3grin2orange:

Jeff

 

[sawinredneck]

Fat fingerd again!!!!!!:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[Four Paws]

Although I do like the idea of the bucketboss someone on here came up with the other day. Hang a bucket boss on the outside of a 3 1/2 gal bucket and get the divided plastic tryas from HD that fit inside the bucket and good to go! Kinda strickes my fancy!
Andy

Thanks

And, check this deal out for storing your chains.

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?ProductID=10497&sk=MC511529

Doubles as a lid for the bucket and a seat when you are tired - not that a log wouldn't do!

And, if you feel the need to have segregated compartments inside the bucket...

http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/searchdetail.asp?productID=10496

So far, mine is looking pretty empty. I guess I need more tools and gear!:hmm3grin2orange:

 

[sawinredneck]

Those divide trays are the "tryas" I was reffeing to at HD or Lowes, relativly cheap and suit the puropse of sorting screws and nails well!!! Don't see why they wouldn't work for chains also.
Andy

 

[oldsaw]

for chains, I made my own bags from some upholstery cloth my wife bought to redo an office chair...I had to redo the chair. I started with a strip of cloth about 8" wide and 20" long. I sewed the edges over about 1/2 inch, then folded it over, and folded a flap over on the lower part to tuck in the top flap. Works great. I used a sharpie marker to keep track of what's in the bag. Cheap, and fast...5 minutes each.

Mark

 

[SawTroll]

I put oil on the spare chains, wrap them in a small plastic bag, and the place them in small soft plastic boxes.
For the woods, spare bars goes into a small backpack, with the chain boxes and other equipment (and some beer when appropriate :hmm3grin2orange: ).