Removing Pitch From Chains

[820wards]

What are people using to remove pitch from their chains after milling or cross cutting green wood. When I milled green oak I got a lot of pitch on the chain.

Any suggestions?

jerry-

 

[BobL]

What are people using to remove pitch from their chains after milling or cross cutting green wood. When I milled green oak I got a lot of pitch on the chain.

Any suggestions?

jerry-

The easiest way to avoid that problem is to use a bit more bar oil.

Of course that doesn't help the fact that you now have it on the chain unless you need it clean for some reason (eg I don't like sharpening a dirty chain) then paint it with diesel or bar oil and the resin will come off next time you run the chain.

I clean my chains before I sharpen and do the rakers by soaking them for a couple of hours in simple green and hot water. The other crazy way is to soak them overnight in stale coffee grounds and water. Then I lay the chain out on a plastic crate llid and use an old scrubbing brush to scrub off any residue.

 

[rayvil01]

What are people using to remove pitch from their chains after milling or cross cutting green wood. When I milled green oak I got a lot of pitch on the chain.

Any suggestions?

jerry-

I'm so anal with chains, this will probably sound stupid: I sharpen them on the grinder, then store them in oil/transmission fluid between uses...about 50% transmission fluid. It's very high detergent. When I pull the chain out to use it, the pitch is gone.

I'm not sure why I started doing that...probably a suggestion from someone. But, I even soak new chains in oil/trans fluid for a few days before their first use. The little sandwich Rubbermaid storage containers with the red lids work very well; they're cheap, and they stack nicely. They'll hold a 130-140 Drive Link chain easily.

 

[BobL]

Here's how I have started storing my chains.

more pics here.

 

[820wards]

I'm so anal with chains, this will probably sound stupid: I sharpen them on the grinder, then store them in oil/transmission fluid between uses...about 50% transmission fluid. It's very high detergent. When I pull the chain out to use it, the pitch is gone.

I'm not sure why I started doing that...probably a suggestion from someone. But, I even soak new chains in oil/trans fluid for a few days before their first use. The little sandwich Rubbermaid storage containers with the red lids work very well; they're cheap, and they stack nicely. They'll hold a 130-140 Drive Link chain easily.

Ray,

I was wondering if I was the only person using ATF fluid for my chains to keep them clean. I like Bob's idea of a sectional plastic box to organize my chains. When I cut or mill dry wood, pitch is not a problem, it's the green stuff that sticks to the chains.

Thanks
jerry-

 

[820wards]

Here's how I have started storing my chains.

more pics here.

Bob,
I like your idea for storage. I've been using an old fishing tackle box with adjustable dividers for min and then using the bottom section for files and associated chainsaw tools.

Thanks
jerry-

 

[BlueRider]

When I was just starting out milling I would have my chains sharpend at a shop and they were always returned nice and clean. One time I asked what they used to clean the cains with and they told me they took them out back and hosed them off with cheap pressure wasser and plain water. The pressure washer they used was the kind that was sold as a handy man house hold unit. I wash my chains with a garden hose equiped with a pressure nosle. and then haing them in the sun to dry and I have never had any rust problems. I have the best results when I get them wet and leat them soak for a about 20 minutes. On really gunky stuff like monterey cypress(macrocarpa for those on the flip side) I will use a nylon brush on a few stuborn areas. For storage I hang them on a nail in my shop. same as all my table saw blades.

 

[Eddie39]

I agree totally ,i cant stand a chain clogged up with pitch ,at the end of the day i always remove the chain put it in the sink with plenty of boiling water and washing up liquid and let them soak for awhile ,then just scrub the leftover pitch off ,it comes off real easy pat dry them and hang them over the door by the fire till there properly dried ,then give them a good sharpening and oiling before putting them away.Some people think your a bit mad when they see you do this lol, but i believe if you keep your chain right it'll keep you, same goes for the saw keep it right and it'll keep you ,neglect it and problems will follow....

 

[820wards]

I agree totally ,i cant stand a chain clogged up with pitch ,at the end of the day i always remove the chain put it in the sink with plenty of boiling water and washing up liquid and let them soak for awhile ,then just scrub the leftover pitch off ,it comes off real easy pat dry them and hang them over the door by the fire till there properly dried ,then give them a good sharpening and oiling before putting them away.Some people think your a bit mad when they see you do this lol, but i believe if you keep your chain right it'll keep you, same goes for the saw keep it right and it'll keep you ,neglect it and problems will follow....

BlueRider/Eddie,

Thanks for the info.

jerry-