Whats a ripping chain?

[jbone]

I know this probably sounds crazy that someone on this site wouldnt know, but I did a searched and looked through ten pages with out finding any info I needed. Also What are the other styles of chains used for? For instance: full comp, skip, ripping, etc. Thanks for the help!

 

[Freakingstang]

Ripping chain is used on a saw for milling. It is to cut a long lenthwise to make lumber out of, and produces fine dust instead of big wood chips from normal cross cutting.

Full comp is standard chain, where there a right cutter, tie strap, left cutter, tie strap, right cutter, tie strap, left cutter, etc

Skip chain can vary (half skip, etc) but usually full skip has two tie straps in between the cutters. It is typically used on long bars when chip clearance is a problem. It can also be used on smaller saws that run longer bars, so the saw has the power to carry the longer chain.

Full chisel is either round or square and the side of the cutter is 90 degrees to the top plate. This is the fastest cuttig chain, but it very prone to being dulled by dirt, sand rocks, etc.

Semi chisel has a rounded radius between the side plate and top plate. It is commonly used in dirty cutting conditions. It holds an edge a lot better it dirtier woods. It is just not as fast as full chisel.

Hope that helps, there are other types of chain, but those are the most common and general descriptions in my own words.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

Very good post Steve.

You know how rep goes, or I'd.....well....you know.....

 

[Lakeside53]

I was just about to say that!!


Heck of a wind over here Jeff - how about you?

 

[jbone]

thanks for the info!

 

[yawning_dog]

ripping chain

The top plates of every other pair of cutters on ripping chain is also commonly filed off for the most part. And then all cutters will be filed to something between a 0 and 10 degree angle. I think the purpose for filing the top plates off is to sort of score the wood, and then the next pair of cutters cut & remove it. I'll say one thing, ripping chain does give a much smoother cut than standard chisel.

 

[pbtree]

Ripping chain is used on a saw for milling. It is to cut a long lenthwise to make lumber out of, and produces fine dust instead of big wood chips from normal cross cutting.

Full comp is standard chain, where there a right cutter, tie strap, left cutter, tie strap, right cutter, tie strap, left cutter, etc

Skip chain can vary (half skip, etc) but usually full skip has two tie straps in between the cutters. It is typically used on long bars when chip clearance is a problem. It can also be used on smaller saws that run longer bars, so the saw has the power to carry the longer chain.

Full chisel is either round or square and the side of the cutter is 90 degrees to the top plate. This is the fastest cuttig chain, but it very prone to being dulled by dirt, sand rocks, etc.

Semi chisel has a rounded radius between the side plate and top plate. It is commonly used in dirty cutting conditions. It holds an edge a lot better it dirtier woods. It is just not as fast as full chisel.

Hope that helps, there are other types of chain, but those are the most common and general descriptions in my own words.

What he said...

 

[jbone]

so I assume you can definitely buy a ripping chain? Aside from the chisels is there anything else different about them? what brand(s) would you suggest?

 

[CaseyForrest]

Baileys (site sponsor) sells ripping chain most of us that mill here have had good luck with. Cant hardly beat the price as well.

You can also buy any brand semi chisel chain and just re-sharpen with the angles you need for your chain.

Anywhere from 0 degrees for hard wood to 10 degrees for softer wood.

 

[Woodie]

One other thing about ripping chain...according to my saw shop, it is too dangerous to use freehand on a saw. In other words, it's only for use on a chainsaw which is held in a mill.

I don't have any experience at all with it, so this advice isn't mine...I'm just passing along what the guys at my saw shop told me.

Anxiously awaiting the flames...:angry2:

 

[yawning_dog]

I've also heard warnings about using ripping chain for tasks other than milling. It will obviously work as it's chain saw chain, but I have a feeling the problem is because it's more like full skip chain because of the ground off top cutter plates every other pair. And I've been told that full skip is not the kind of thing that a novice homeowner should run. By extension, I would think that trying to use your ripping chain exclusively for non-ripping is probably not a great idea. Safety aside, it also seems a poor idea since it costs more than a regular loop. I think I paid about $50 or so for a 105 drive link loop for my 051. It was a couple years ago so that number might be off by now.

One thing I noticed is that the no-top-plate cutters are harder to sharpen than the others. Could this be because all the grinding to make the chain heated the cutter up and hardened it? It wasn't blued or anything, but it really thrashes my file. Has anyone else noticed this from the Bailey's chain? I probably just have cheapy files or something...

 

[jbone]

thanks for the help. I will prob. stay away from ripping chains I was really just curious. Thanks again!

 

[NWCS]

i have made many freehand cuts with riping chain. i found nothing unsafe as compared to regular chain. the downside of my freehand rip cut? its not a straight level cut.

here is one: ripping chain on my woods port 036 Pro: http://www.nwchainsaw.com/logview.jpg

video: bore cut and rip, same saw. dogs kept catching on the wood, could have been done better:
http://www.nwchainsaw.com/torturetest.wmv

One other thing about ripping chain...according to my saw shop, it is too dangerous to use freehand on a saw. In other words, it's only for use on a chainsaw which is held in a mill.

I don't have any experience at all with it, so this advice isn't mine...I'm just passing along what the guys at my saw shop told me.

Anxiously awaiting the flames...:angry2:

 

[GASoline71]

Search is our friend...:deadhorse:

Gary

 

[tawilson]

Very good post Steve.

You know how rep goes, or I'd.....well....you know.....

I tried too. But I did copy and save cause I kinda knew all that but to have it all right there on one page in laymans terms is great.

 

[tawilson]

Search is our friend...:deadhorse:

Gary

One of the first things he said was he did a search and looked through ten pages without finding anything.:deadhorse:

 

[jbone]

One of the first things he said was he did a search and looked through ten pages without finding anything.:deadhorse:

Thanks!! Sometimes I guess its hit or miss depending on what info you put into the search category