Who has the best prices for ripping chain?

[Jackman61]

I'm looking for 3/8 .058 X 72 and X 93 drive links.

I've got some large logs cut that need broken-down before wrestling them to the splitter. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks for your help!

 

[t_andersen]

Good question! Hope that someone has an answer

 

[Newfie]

If you are just making firewood I'd skip the expense and hassle of ripping chain. Cut your logs into whatever length firewood rounds and then cut down through them as they lay on their side as if a log. It'll make big stringy curly fries and you might have to clean out the clutch cover a few times but it will be MUCH faster than working them from the end.

I found bailey's has good prices on ripping chain if you are determined to go that route.

 

[oldwild]

here's Bailie's
http://www.baileys-online.com

 

[Jackman61]

I looked at Baileys online. They list 3/8 .050 and .063, but no .058????

I sent an e-mail to their site asking about .058 gage.

Newfie, I'm thinking a mill might be in my future, that's why I may go to the expense of ripping chain at this point. I have made "curly fries" in the past.

 

[trimmmed]

Do yourself a favor and do what Newfie said above

 

[Newfie]

Check out the Bailey's forum here on AS. Grandedog will hook you up with what you need if you are intent on that slow and arduous route.

Curly fries is the fastest way to do what you want to achieve. Do you really want to rip firewood at rates of minutes/foot?

 

[Jackman61]

Newfie, Thanks for the input. I realize it will be a slow go, but all the things I've seen on this site about milling have got me interested in giving it a try. Baileys was able to take an order today for the chain in the correct gage. Should have some chains to try next week. I have a hunch that I'll be looking for a mill soon.

Back to the topic of this thread, the ripping chain I ordered from Baileys was $0.20/DL. A local chainsaw shop offered to order a loop for me at a mere $0.65/DL. Ouch! Can you believe I declined?

 

[Lawn Masters]

Yes I can believe it. your dealer is probably gonna lose some business from you, to Baileys. I can say that you'll be very happy with the service Baileys provides to the customers, I love buying things from that company, especially since the prices are dirt cheap on top notch parts.

 

[Newfie]

Newfie, Thanks for the input. I realize it will be a slow go, but all the things I've seen on this site about milling have got me interested in giving it a try.

Don't let me dissuade you from chainsaw milling. In the end you get some pretty nice boards. It can be fun and rewarding. Just don't bust your butt to "mill" firewood was the point I was trying to make.

 

[Marco]

Nothing special about ripping chain except sharpening angles, if you have a length of chain that you found some rocks with you may be able to use it for ripping by the time you would resharpen it to ripping angles. Check out the stuff with 10/15' top plate angles http://www.oregonchain.com/tech/cross_ref_guides/OCS_82.pdf

 

[rmihalek]

I thought that ripping chain had the top plate ground off of every other pair of cutters, leaving just the vertical side plate in place.

 

[Al Smith]

There are several methods for making rip chain,that is one method.

 

[Crofter]

Bob, that is all it is, plus the cutters are sharpened to near straight across. I have made up a few using a thin cut off wheel in the angle grinder. I modify a pair of vice grips so it holds up one tooth and the rest of the chain drops down out of the way, while you nip the top plate from the top down. They do work better.

 

[Newfie]

Rip chain that works the best in my experience has 0 degrees on half the cutters and 10 degrees on the other half. At .20 cents a drivelink I can't imagine taking the time to make my own rip chain. My time is much too valuable.

 

[Crofter]

Mike, that is not what Eric says!

 

[Marco]

Well it depends if you still rasp your chain or sharpen it on an electric grinder and yes I've had frugal woodcutters tell me they can get a chain sharper with a file. Umm yeah, sure. You do fail to mention shipping and the wait for your chain. Jackman must have a little time on his hands or he wouldn't be taking the time trying to split these monsters. Taking a cutter from 30' to 10' or 0' wouldn't take that much, seen full chiesel that would take more effort just to get sharp again.

 

[Crofter]

It all comes off the same roll for me. You change the angle and sharpen in one move. The modified cutter takes only a few strokes and the complete top plate, you just strike the front of it straight across a few strokes. The next few sharpenings will bring the new angle the rest of the way across the top plate.