Not possible! Only crazy people with grinders ruin chains . . .
Philbert
Philbert
Philbert's Chain Salvage Challenge
- Thread starter Philbert
- Start date
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ChoppyChoppy
Tree Freak
It'd be way cheaper for me to take 3 mins to dump them in the trash than spend hours sorting chains!
But, you still workin' for a livin'.
Geezers do that for entertainment.[emoji108]
It's not all about the money . . .
Philbert
Philbert
It's clearly not something he (VF) is interested in doing but there's definitely money in it.
If you sold a flat rate box that was sorted by pitch and gauge (leaving DL count out of it), that would bring in good money from a guy like me who has lots of saws that only run one or two different pitch/gauge combinations.
If you sold a flat rate box that was sorted by pitch and gauge (leaving DL count out of it), that would bring in good money from a guy like me who has lots of saws that only run one or two different pitch/gauge combinations.
I have more chains than I can use . . just hate to see them tossed out if someone can use them.
Philbert
Philbert
I do not change saws very often as compared to many folks here at AS so salvaged chains are few. I wore through at least 10 chains in the last two years with out any thing left. When the chain wears down to about 25% of original and the teeth start breaking or bending they go to the metal pile. Is this NOT what most every body does? If my understanding is correct many AS people toss chains that are only worn to 50%. Why would this happen? I save some chains that are worn partially from saws or bar combinations that does not have much immediately need. Then they can be spliced to another chain that is about the same wear point. Those that sell or repair saws for a living would not usually spend any time sorting out chains for resale. Thanks
I can think of a couple for smaller saws, like 3/8LP .050 55 and 3/8LP .050 50 (and Picco .043 50) that there would be many takers for, me included.
Folks who never have depth gauges adjusted to compensate for repeated cutter sharpenings would certainly think their chain was a goner at 50% (if not sooner). They sure wouldn't be cuttin' much of anything. Not knowing why not they probably just write it off as a 'worn out' chain.
The 'flat rate box' allows me to add two or three extra loops to a saw I sell on C'list. Something to sweeten the deal for the reluctant buyer.
And, I culled out a lot of orphans I had hanging on the pegboard.[emoji108]
No, Phil, not sending you the culls.[emoji56]
And, I culled out a lot of orphans I had hanging on the pegboard.[emoji108]
No, Phil, not sending you the culls.[emoji56]
ChoppyChoppy
Tree Freak
I always seem to have way more work than time, so I try to work at the more important things.
If I had no new firewood orders, nothing break or need maintenance, no added work, I could stay busy for easily a year or two just working on the current to-do list, even with 2 hired hands.
Even packing up boxes of chains "wastes" time. Takes a good 30 mins to glue up a sturdy box, fill it up and mail it. But it nice to see them going to someone that can use them.
I w dug in a bit to find loops I can use, it's easier for me to just make a new loop. We usually stock a few thousand feet of chain in all popular sizes.
I'm currently using up about 300 ft of 3/8 .058 on my Stihls. I just opened up a D009 bar slot on the mill and it works great. Mostly because I was told it couldn't be done.
At home sick today. Got a back discography yesterday, damn that hurt. The actual procedure wasn't too bad, but later that day I was at about 7-8 on the back pain scale.
https://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-DISCO.htm
Doc said go home... I worked... lightly. Mostly paperwork.
Left work with a very sore throat. That started around noon. Was up all last night coughing and wheezing. Not a whole lot better today. Feel like I've been run over by a log truck.
I had lumbar spine surgery in January - ironic since in all my life I hadn't had even a backache that I could remember before this trouble started. No disk herniation, just lots of bony hypertrophy from wear and tear and heavy lifting when I was younger (and not so younger) and thought I was bulletproof. Anyway, the surgery was totally successful, so good luck to you if it gets that far. I feel (or felt anyway) your pain.
ChoppyChoppy
Tree Freak
Ended up at the Doc. Now on amoxicillian, prednisone and another one. Feeling a bit better. Lost almost all week being sick though.
Challenge Chains # 25 and #26
Couple of chains that a friend received along with a used saw purchase. Both were full chisel chains that had some abrasion or damage to the leading points, which was not fully observable until cleaned.
Chain #25
A little hard to see from the photos, but the abrasion on the side plates of many of Left hand cutters extended all the way back. Even grinding back to the 'witness mark' (end-of-life marking) might only produce a chain that cut poorly. Maybe if this was the only chain I had, but not worth the effort.
Chain #25
This chain had damage to all of the leading points / corners on one side, but it did not travel all the way back.
While I still had to remove a lot of material to get back to clean, Left hand cutters (and then match the Right hand cutters), it yielded a useable chain with quite a bit of life left in it. I used a resinoid wheel to hog off the large amount of metal without overheating the cutters. Then I adjusted and rounded the depth gauges.
WINNER? Rocks -1; Philbert-1.
LESSONS? Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. But the odds are generally in your favor, especially when you 'have nothing to lose'!
Couple of chains that a friend received along with a used saw purchase. Both were full chisel chains that had some abrasion or damage to the leading points, which was not fully observable until cleaned.
Chain #25
A little hard to see from the photos, but the abrasion on the side plates of many of Left hand cutters extended all the way back. Even grinding back to the 'witness mark' (end-of-life marking) might only produce a chain that cut poorly. Maybe if this was the only chain I had, but not worth the effort.
Chain #25
This chain had damage to all of the leading points / corners on one side, but it did not travel all the way back.
While I still had to remove a lot of material to get back to clean, Left hand cutters (and then match the Right hand cutters), it yielded a useable chain with quite a bit of life left in it. I used a resinoid wheel to hog off the large amount of metal without overheating the cutters. Then I adjusted and rounded the depth gauges.
WINNER? Rocks -1; Philbert-1.
LESSONS? Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose. But the odds are generally in your favor, especially when you 'have nothing to lose'!
Out of curiosity, what type of resinoid wheel for hogging? And what do you usually use? (I'm sure you've mentioned it somewhere along the line...)
And check out my new free grinder! Should make life much easier when a good grind is required. I ran the snot out of my HF (or NT?) 511 knock-off until it just wouldn't hold an adjustment any longer. Got some serious mileage out of it, but this AX is on a whole other level by comparison. (You tried to tell me, Philbert.) Got it from a tree service guy whose saws I take care of. He bought it new a couple of years ago. Tried using it a few times instead of his hand jig and Dremel. Hated it. Found it clumsy and slow. Put it back in the box. Stayed there until he gave it to me and I took it out last week..., still like new.
Winner? (Yeah. I SUCK.)
Lessons? Fix busy tree guys' saws fast and economically for em -- (while they wait, if you can)!!!
And check out my new free grinder! Should make life much easier when a good grind is required. I ran the snot out of my HF (or NT?) 511 knock-off until it just wouldn't hold an adjustment any longer. Got some serious mileage out of it, but this AX is on a whole other level by comparison. (You tried to tell me, Philbert.) Got it from a tree service guy whose saws I take care of. He bought it new a couple of years ago. Tried using it a few times instead of his hand jig and Dremel. Hated it. Found it clumsy and slow. Put it back in the box. Stayed there until he gave it to me and I took it out last week..., still like new.
Winner? (Yeah. I SUCK.)
Lessons? Fix busy tree guys' saws fast and economically for em -- (while they wait, if you can)!!!
The resinoid wheels are Bailey's item MOL A18728B and MOL A18728C Molemab Black Resin Grinding Wheel
Discussed in this thread: http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/resinoid-grinder-wheels.256733/
Now that Total / Tilton has closed shop, baileys is the only place that I know of to get them.
I usually just use the 'pink' Oregon or Molemab wheels, use a light touch, and dress the wheels often.
Discussed in this thread: http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/resinoid-grinder-wheels.256733/
Now that Total / Tilton has closed shop, baileys is the only place that I know of to get them.
I usually just use the 'pink' Oregon or Molemab wheels, use a light touch, and dress the wheels often.
Great score on the 511AX! Sounds like you earned it!
Philbert
Challenge Chains # 27 and #28
Couple of chains recently submitted. They will come out better than the photos (sorry)
Chain #27
An Oregon 3/8, low-profile loop that lost a fight with something hard. Rounded cutting bevels and damaged top plates need to be filed or ground back a bit. But the chassis (tie straps, drive links, etc.) is still in good condition, and this is a commonly used chain, so worth a little bit of effort. With some careful set up of the grinder, the chain should still have 1/4 to 1/3 of its useful life left.
Chain #28
A 1/4 pitch chain that someone's friend offered to sharpen for him. The well intentioned guy definitely gets the deal about the '30° top plate angle' (top view) but not the part about each cutter having 2 cutting edges / bevels. Those laid back profiles look more like Santa's sleigh than a saw chain! Not sure what the chain looked like before 'the help', but there is probably enough tooth left to re-profile and get some more use out of this loop. Again, easier with a grinder to get the new profiles consistent.
WINNER? Philbert - got a couple of usable loops, even if they are over half way used.
LESSONS? Look at the cutters from all sides, and be careful who offers to help!
Couple of chains recently submitted. They will come out better than the photos (sorry)
Chain #27
An Oregon 3/8, low-profile loop that lost a fight with something hard. Rounded cutting bevels and damaged top plates need to be filed or ground back a bit. But the chassis (tie straps, drive links, etc.) is still in good condition, and this is a commonly used chain, so worth a little bit of effort. With some careful set up of the grinder, the chain should still have 1/4 to 1/3 of its useful life left.
Chain #28
A 1/4 pitch chain that someone's friend offered to sharpen for him. The well intentioned guy definitely gets the deal about the '30° top plate angle' (top view) but not the part about each cutter having 2 cutting edges / bevels. Those laid back profiles look more like Santa's sleigh than a saw chain! Not sure what the chain looked like before 'the help', but there is probably enough tooth left to re-profile and get some more use out of this loop. Again, easier with a grinder to get the new profiles consistent.
WINNER? Philbert - got a couple of usable loops, even if they are over half way used.
LESSONS? Look at the cutters from all sides, and be careful who offers to help!
I've seen a few of those "no hook" chains. Always wondered what was up.
Bench or die grinder maybe? For that chain I believe I would sacrifice a file and hog out the gullet by hand to give your grinder a head start.
