Sharpening?

[Mike PA]

Another difference is semi-chisel v. chisel chains. My semi stay sharp longer than the chisels and can last a day easily, with care. The full chisel chains are much harder to keep sharp, but with careful cutting, I usually get by for a day. If it dulls too much, I just change it and sharpen at home.

I would guess that a lot of firewood cutters are using semi-chisel chains.

 

[tbuggle]

apparently....the nk chain on my 346xp sucks so bad i need not bother sharpening it.:biggrinbounce2:


every couple tanks or as needed.
always tote some extra loops in case of a rocked chain.

 

[TRI955]

Another difference is semi-chisel v. chisel chains. My semi stay sharp longer than the chisels and can last a day easily, with care. The full chisel chains are much harder to keep sharp, but with careful cutting, I usually get by for a day. If it dulls too much, I just change it and sharpen at home.

I would guess that a lot of firewood cutters are using semi-chisel chains.

:agree2: I take an extra chain for each saw, if they need sharpened, I'll just swap the chain out as needed and sharpen them all when I get home.

 

[BarkBuster20]

You can't have a good and sharp chain after 2-3 cords. Im not believing that - correct after two sometimes three cord the chain is getting dull so i sharpen it but it may also be because i mainly cut alder and fir. if i was cutting oak or walnut id sharpen after every cord.

 

[BarkBuster20]

one more thing, i try not to over sharpen my chain because 1 - diminishes chain life if you do it to much 2. even if your pretty carefull its hard to keep the perfect angle.. i life to take my chain in to get it sharpened about every 10 sharpenings just to keep the angles perfect. just my .2

 

[Cedarkerf]

Problem with silvey razur sharp II

It lives up to its name

Just wear gloves when handleing these chains and then you get chips like these.

 

[funky sawman]

I bring a lot of saws when cutting, When a chain gets dull, I just grab another saw The only problem with that is when you get home and have to tell your wife that you'll be in the shop sharpening till 10:00 pm-----SLAP

 

[BarkBuster20]

speaking of that i need to go sharpen my chain now..shoulda done it earlier but ill need it tomorrow. - full chisel by the way.

 

[funky sawman]

speaking of that i need to go sharpen my chain now..shoulda done it earlier but ill need it tomorrow. - full chisel by the way.

Im sorry

 

[Cliff R]

I also take a few extra saws on any outing, if you hit a rock, nail, etc, get another saw. Hand filing a wasted chain in the field is time consuming, and better done back at the shop in a big vise.

I also carry a small hatchet, and take the time to knock any dirt off where the next cut is going to be. Dirt will dull your chain quickly, some folks just keep cutting, and then end up working the saw twice as hard when the "edge" gets knocked off the teeth.

Every time I stop to fuel up a saw, the chain gets "touched-up", with a few light strokes from a sharp file.

Been doing this since the 1970's and have found that it is time well spent. A razor sharp chain is easier on the saw and the bar, and you get more work done in the same amount of time.

Our 480CD, which we bought new, and has been in service continuously since 1980 still has one of the original 24" bars we bought with it. The 20" bar burnt out the roller nose a few years ago, and it was outdated with no replacment available.

We cut all hardwoods here, and some of it is dirty from logging operations.

I have also found that the semi-chisel chains don't dull quite as quickly as the full chisel, but no dramatic difference.....Cliff

In addition to touching up the chain, I also grease the roller nose at every fill-up.

 

[BarkBuster20]

i prefer full chisel in my opinion it cuts much smoother and a bit faster. you grease the sprocket on the tip of your bar every time you refuel?

 

[Cliff R]

"you grease the sprocket on the tip of your bar every time you refuel?"

Absolutely, and I touch up the chain, just enough to put the edge back on it. Once one becomes proficient at these things, I can do all of it in less time than it's going to take me to type this response.

Interesting story about greasing the roller nose. A few years ago I was clearing 4 acres, and had a LOT of trees to take down and cut up. My grease tool ran out of grease early in the day. Instead of taking the time to fill it up, I skipped that step.

The 480CD had the original 20" bar on it, which had been in service over 25 years. About 3 tanks into job, I SMOKED the bearings in the roller nose.

I'm not sure to this day if it was just a coincidence, or it's time was up? But I went back to greasing the bars on all my saws, every tank, and they are all still working fine.

I attached a couple of pics of the newest members of our family.....Cliff

 

[BarkBuster20]

thats interesting. i dont grease mine but maybe i should start. maybe it was the greasing all the time that was keeping it going. i always like to maintain my bar and chain as well as possible so ill take your advice.

 

[B_Turner]

It lives up to its name

Just wear gloves when handleing these chains and then you get chips like these.

Cedarkerf, Did you break down and get a square grinder?

I know what you mean about nicks. As TS says, fresh square is so sharp it'll cut your eyes just looking at it too long.

For most of my wood I typically can get two tanks per chain (Stihl square), which is alot of wood generally. Then I swap in a fresh one. I run a few Oregons in the mix which don't last quite as long, although the duropro lasts longer than the older Oregons (but has a wider/slower cutter).

That's the average. I've hit nails on the first cut and I've had chains last 3 tanks, too.

Also I usually have several saws in the trailer and if I'm close I will just grab another saw and swap chains later.

I also pack semi chisel loops for the dirty stuff, like logs that have been machine handled much. I don't like running it, like how can you tell when it gets dull because it cut so poorly from the start?

 

[Cedarkerf]

Cedarkerf, Did you break down and get a square grinder?

I know what you mean about nicks. As TS says, fresh square is so sharp it'll cut your eyes just looking at it too long.

For most of my wood I typically can get two tanks per chain (Stihl square), which is alot of wood generally. Then I swap in a fresh one. I run a few Oregons in the mix which don't last quite as long, although the duropro lasts longer than the older Oregons (but has a wider/slower cutter).

That's the average. I've hit nails on the first cut and I've had chains last 3 tanks, too.

Also I usually have several saws in the trailer and if I'm close I will just grab another saw and swap chains later.

I also pack semi chisel loops for the dirty stuff, like logs that have been machine handled much. I don't like running it, like how can you tell when it gets dull because it cut so poorly from the start?

Bought it a while ago took a little dialing in but got it goin on now. I bought the square grinder cause I kept buying square loops for Big trees (Doug firs Cedars) because I like the cutting speed Ended up with a rack of used square ground that would cost half the price of the grinder to have sharpend if I could find any one to sharpen it. Last year went down to our favorite saw shop down south bought a 460, a roll of RSLHK and a razur sharp II figured now I will always have sharp square. All I use now.

 

[Burvol]

Bought it a while ago took a little dialing in but got it goin on now. I bought the square grinder cause I kept buying square loops for Big trees (Doug firs Cedars) because I like the cutting speed Ended up with a rack of used square ground that would cost half the price of the grinder to have sharpend if I could find any one to sharpen it. Last year went down to our favorite saw shop down south bought a 460, a roll of RSLHK and a razur sharp II figured now I will always have sharp square. All I use now.

Square is the way of our people Cedarkerf...I like talking in Tribal Leader Dialect on this matter.

"The square tooth is very important to my People. We rely on it's superior sharpness, aggressive nature and cutting speed to sutain our needs."

On average I usually use two chains a day, many times all day on one chain. However, I have made it three days on a chain a few times, cutting really clean knot free Doug Fir and slick Pine.

 

[JONSEREDFAN6069]

i change loops about every 3rd tank regardless if it's still cutting good. easier to touch it up than completly sharpening it imo. i carry 5 to 6 loops of 16" and 5 of 20" i have 3 16" bars behind the seat of the truck and 2 20". then i swap em out acordingly. it's easier to carry the power heads to the truck and select the b&c i'm going to use after i hit the bush depending on tree size. plus the 670 & 630 take up less space in the cab without bars on them.

 

[Cedarkerf]

Square is the way of our people Cedarkerf...I like talking in Tribal Leader Dialect on this matter.

"The square tooth is very important to my People. We rely on it's superior sharpness, aggressive nature and cutting speed to sutain our needs."

On average I usually use two chains a day, many times all day on one chain. However, I have made it three days on a chain a few times, cutting really clean knot free Doug Fir and slick Pine.

Ive used square for years then filed it round I am now of the tribe of square grinders . I will round file no more forever.

 

[slowp]

Ive used square for years then filed it round I am now of the tribe of square grinders . I will round file no more forever.

The People of the Mudslides say, NUTS. Square will not do. Since the tribe tends to be round, the feng shui mandates the file shall be round.

 

[mattmc2003]

The reason your sprocket tip burned is because you greased it then stopped greasing it. If you never grease it to begin with, it will last a long time with bar oil only as lube. When you grease it it keeps the oil from getting to it, so it relies only on grease. Ours at work never get greased. Never ever. And they are in harsh conditions all the time, and rough operators. I've been there 4 years and never saw a bearing failure.