Why do saws start to not cut straight.

[Trees Company]

I hate when a saw starts cutting a curve. People say its the bar but its not. They say the chain is not filled right but thats not true either because as long as you dont hit a rock or the dirt they will cut straight even if you just file one side. I dont know exactly why but I know hitting the ground causes it. it seems to do something to the chain but what?

 

[jokers]

You`re making this up, right?

Russ

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Russ, give him a break, he's only Canadian.
Hi treesco, this is a phenomenae that takes alot of cutters a long time to figure out. It is really a vicious cycle.
The problem is that the chain when dull will lean to one side causing premature wear of all parts, so the cut will not be straight. This is the "Tobaggan Effect".
Assuming you are using .058 guage chain, see if you can fit a new .063 chain. Changing the sprocket helps to as does adequate amount of bar lube delivery.
Hope this helps, and stop trying to cut tobaggans with your saw.
RJ

 

[Trees Company]

What is that last messaadge suppossed to mean? I'm only canadian?

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi treesco, it means you and I are not the brightest bulb on the tree.
John

 

[Lumberjack]

Ever heard the term, "Rocked out Chain". Hitting rock damages the chain badly, and busts up the cutters edge

Dirt dulls the chain at alarming rates.


These things seldomly happen in equl proportions to the left and right cutters, therefore it cuts crooked.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi treesco, here is a link that may help.
John

http://www.arboristsite.com/search.php?action=showresults

 

[Trees Company]

And I provocked that besause what. My fathers father has run a saw mill in newfoundland for 60 years. My father was climbing trees for the city of toronto in high park when he was 15. He has been called by numourous companies to climb trees that they were afraid to. When we drive down the highway in a pick up with our company name on the side tree companies that weve never heard of give us the thumbs up right after they see our name. Just in case you think I'm new

 

[Gypo Logger]

Sorry, bad link, here it is.
John

http://www.arboristsite.com/search....d=166105&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

 

[tony marks]

if u think sharpening just one side cutters is the thing to do. i dont care how much experience u got. u aint learned it all yet. u need to just take u time with these fellas .. they can help u out. i hope.
so back off a bit with the tude ,or they mite decide not to.jmo no appologies.

 

[Trees Company]

"if u think sharpening just one side cutters is the thing to do. i dont care how much "

What were you reading? I never said that ,

 

[rborist1]

:Eye:

 

[MasterBlaster]

TC, your saw will cut crooked if the cutter angles aren't all the same.
It will also cut crooked if your not holding the saw properly, but I don't know how to explain that with words. If I could see your technique, I may be able to see what you might be doing wrong.
But generally, its from mis-angled cutters. Your drags even, to an extent.
Proper filing is an art form, as you are no doubt discovering.

 

[glens]

Originally posted by Trees Company
"if u think sharpening just one side cutters is the thing to do. i dont care how much "

What were you reading? I never said that ,

I'd suggest reviewing your first post, which contains the statement<blockquote>as long as you dont hit a rock or the dirt they will cut straight even if you just file one side</blockquote>Your heritage may be worthy of acclaim up in your neck of the woods, but around here you've got to show us what <i>you</i> got.&nbsp; From my vantage point it looks rather like you're trolling this forum.&nbsp; That doesn't mean "go away" or anything, by any means; it's merely a quick observation.

Chains don't have to be sharpened perfectly symmetrically to cut straight but I've found the very first place to look is cutters duller on one side than the other.&nbsp; If that absolutely isn't the case, then the bar is not up to snuff, particularly one rail is lower than the other <i>and</i> the cut is being forced.

Glen

 

[Dennis Cahoon]

When my chain starts cutting crooked, I just re-knurl my bell-gatches. Other than that, just don't dip it in the dirt.

 

[stihltech]

chain

It is amazing how many longtime loggers, arborists and firewood cutters(pros), don't have a clue about how a bar and chain interact when it comes to wear. They would not think of letting anyone grind their bar(I took the edges off with a file), or sharpen their chain( you will take too much off with that machine). But they buy chains by the dozen and bars monthly.

My favorite, and most respected logger, cut untill his seventies, and he would only work with 1 skidder operator. The others called him old and slow, but the board feet of wood he produced each year was equal or beyond any of them. He ran an 051 till the end, but I never saw the machine but what the chain was perfect, and the bar outlasted most other operators bars in usable time.
We can have our favorite brands of saw, chain , and bar, but unless we know how to maintain them, we are just wasting our time and money.

 

[WRW]

Any saw that strikes a hard object, like the ground, can lose it's set on one or more teeth. The set defines the amount of kerf on each side of the cut. With greater kerf on one side, the saw will center in that direction...hence cutting in a curved line. When all else fails ... bar level, depth guide depth, chain sharpness,etc. ... check the set. A dial indicator can be used.

 

[Chainsaw_Maniac]

:angel:

 

[BlackSmith]

wait a minute...you mean to tell me my saw is supposed to cut straight..?

 

[JimL]

Id be willing to bet the bar chain and possibly sprocket are worn out on the saw...