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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,276 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,276 Likes: 37 |
Had a couple "what chainsaw should I buy" threads lately. Always good for a couple pages. Figured the next best thing to set the 'fire a twitter would be one on chains and the proper sharpening of such.
Read Madsen's blub - most people are likely running a bar under 28 inches and they'd recommend a full comp chain for that - then getting into skip once above for long cuts in soft wood.
What say you?
What are you running for chain? Bar and powerhead size? Wood cut?
How do you like to sharpen? Files, one of those electric grinders or do you send them out?
Me
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,599 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 26,599 Likes: 4 |
I keep my chains tuned up with a file[just the file & handle]. If they get dull and hot or I really screw the pooch[rock] they go to a local shop.
028 16" TS590 20"
All run Stihl yellow, full chain
FJB & FJT
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,795 Likes: 8
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 67,795 Likes: 8 |
I have an Oregon bar and chain on my Echo. 18 inch. Every so often I touch it up with a little round file.
Sam......
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,721 Likes: 43
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 60,721 Likes: 43 |
MS 460. Semi skip
Hand file. 32 inch.
I am MAGA.
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,980 Likes: 10
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,980 Likes: 10 |
I use a file to touch up my chains and I have an electric chain saw sharpener I use occasionally to even everything up. I admit I don't know much about the different tooth configurations and it would be helpful if someone could discuss that and their applications. Or I can look it and read about it.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,193
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 9,193 |
And don't forget the depth gauges (aka "rakers"). If they are too high the chain won't cut no matter how well the teeth are sharpened. Lots of different guides on the market for filing the depth gauges.
===================== Boots were made for walking Winds were blowing change Boys fall in the jungle As I Came of Age
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,047 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 19,047 Likes: 3 |
I just buy more chains….. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️😂😂
The brand Baileys sells work good and is cheaper there Donnie Earls full msrp Stihl shop.
Dave
�The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.� Lou Holtz
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,244
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,244 |
028 Super 18"
Stihl green (full comp?)
Hand file with a guide and gauge
Been eyeing a 261CM real hard lately...
Last edited by eaglemountainman; 07/19/22.
My heart's in the mountains, my heart is not here. My heart's in the mountains, chasing the deer.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 675
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 675 |
Last edited by Cabriolet; 07/19/22.
Survivor of the 13th Original Colony, I escaped on December 17, 1968.
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,867
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,867 |
Darn, haven't seen an old 895 McCulloch in years. Great old saw in their heyday
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,276 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,276 Likes: 37 |
I really thought there would be more arguing by now.
Me
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,311 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,311 Likes: 2 |
I use a Jolly bench grinder like the one posted above when the chain gets really screwed up. Other than that have a 3&1 file Pferd (sp?) for both .325 and .404.
Stihl 260 - 16” .325 Stihl 360 - 20” .404 Stihl 661 - 24-25” cannot remember.404
CK
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,397 Likes: 53
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 67,397 Likes: 53 |
Stihl 2-in-1 doo dad 3 files on the rack includes the flat on that licks the rakers all in the same pass
Touch up with a naked 5/32 or 3/16 when out in the woods.
I’ll hit it 3-4 licks after every couple fuel refills. Why not, just takes me 5 mins. You’ll figure quick what youre doing right or wrong in these hickory hollows
Ain’t none of junipers or julip or jupiter shît around here 😃
Geno and his butter-soft firewood. Out there with an electric Remington and 300ft of cord. lol
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,472
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 9,472 |
Depends on what type of wood your cutting. In Upper Peninsula oak and maple with a 60cc saw I would run an 18" bar full comp round filed chisel chain with conservative raker clearance. In the west where I live now I run 24" bar with full skip round filed chisel chain, with more hook to the chain and more raker clearance. The wood out here is really easy cutting, about like white pine in the mid west.
I greatly prefer Stihl RS chain over any alternative.
Last edited by BWalker; 07/19/22.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,988 Likes: 3 |
I've tried several different style of file jigs for sharpening my chains and realized I just suck at it. Always seemed to get one side different from the other and the cut would wander off every time I tried to cut. If I cut something more than a time or two a year I may get better at it, but I only need to use my chainsaw a few times a year to clean up some branches and cut firewood for hunting camps. I finally bought one of those cheap Harbor Freight electric chain sharpeners and once I got it adjusted properly it worked surprisingly well. My saw has never cut as well as it did last year . For the $35 or so I spent on this unit it was worth the risk IMO.... https://www.harborfreight.com/elect...tml?_br_psugg_q=chainsaw+chain+sharpenerFor my uses, my Stihl 036 is more saw than I need, but I got a good deal on it in a trade and it works better than any other saw I've ever used. The 24" bar is probably more than I need, but it works and I don't have to bend over as much as my old saws used to require. For my uses the standard blister pack chain and bar you can buy on line- usually an Oregon bar and chain - work just fine.
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability.
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,708 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,708 Likes: 1 |
I really thought there would be more arguing by now. LOL! No kidding! Everybody must have flamed out of the 20 page chainsaw thread?
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6,798
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6,798 |
Want know what’s best ask a production faller When I was in the pacific NW they al would argue Stihl vs husqvarna 2 stroke oil brands were another wrestling g match but chains. Stihl chain get the nod almost always I have used every brand out there all with good results Stihl and Oregon I can’t hardly tell the difference probbly the same stuff Best luck with Oregon and Stihl bars It’s tough to wear out a bar if you run sharp chain keep it adjusted and flip it every time you file I’m a file raker gauge guy. I have a pro model grinder and just never use it I can file on razor sharp quicker than I can remove the bar and chain and reinstall Get rid of those goofey file guide gimiks can’t possibly see what your doing
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,276 Likes: 37
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 39,276 Likes: 37 |
I really thought there would be more arguing by now. LOL! No kidding! Everybody must have flamed out of the 20 page chainsaw thread? I am dissapoint.
Me
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6,798
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 6,798 |
This for the chain saw crooked cutters It not the chain it’s the bar chain will cut fine with different size teeth Bars need flipped to even out wear I have a grinder special made to dress bars It can be done with a file if your carful Buckin billy ray smith has some fantastic sharpening videos that explain this in detail and dispels all these myths
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