Tree World - View Single Post

windthrown · 29th December 2007, 01:14 PM

I keep my unused chains in a plastic freezer bag with some bar oil in there. Then mark the bags with magic marker pen as to type and length. For example, 'RM 18" .325" ', or 'RM 20" 3/8 skip'. RM is Stihl rapid micro non-safety chain, and what I use the most here.

As for sharpening, I tend to hand file. Between hand filing I touch up with a 12 volt hand grinder. The grinder stones tend to get mishapen pretty fast though, and it is hard to get the right angle on the edges. So I do that less and less these days and hand file more. I have a bar mounted Oregon file guide and Oregon files. I sharpen when the chains are getting dull to the touch. I like them razor sharp. I also file to 30 degrees with 0 offset. 35 degrees will give a sharper edge, but it will not last as long.

I never sharpen loops in the woods. I have 2 chains for most of the bars, and if they get dull I just swap out the chains, or sometimes bars, or even saws. For some bars I also have spare Stihl RM2 safty chain loops for really crappy work, naily wood, fence posts and the like. I also keep end of life chains for that stuff too, and older Stihl E type bars.

That reminds me that I have some spare odd size loops to throw on Ebay for sale...

29th December 2007, 01:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
windthrown Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pacific Northwest USA Posts: 127	Re: Chains and sharpening I keep my unused chains in a plastic freezer bag with some bar oil in there. Then mark the bags with magic marker pen as to type and length. For example, 'RM 18" .325" ', or 'RM 20" 3/8 skip'. RM is Stihl rapid micro non-safety chain, and what I use the most here. As for sharpening, I tend to hand file. Between hand filing I touch up with a 12 volt hand grinder. The grinder stones tend to get mishapen pretty fast though, and it is hard to get the right angle on the edges. So I do that less and less these days and hand file more. I have a bar mounted Oregon file guide and Oregon files. I sharpen when the chains are getting dull to the touch. I like them razor sharp. I also file to 30 degrees with 0 offset. 35 degrees will give a sharper edge, but it will not last as long. I never sharpen loops in the woods. I have 2 chains for most of the bars, and if they get dull I just swap out the chains, or sometimes bars, or even saws. For some bars I also have spare Stihl RM2 safty chain loops for really crappy work, naily wood, fence posts and the like. I also keep end of life chains for that stuff too, and older Stihl E type bars. That reminds me that I have some spare odd size loops to throw on Ebay for sale... __________________ So few saws, so many trees... Stihls: 210/250-/025/290/361/FS85 Echo: CS-3000, Olympyk & Mac doorstops