..... I am handed about 7 chains from a fellow that buys white oak logs, grades them, then sells them to buyers. At times he will cut off the end of the logs. He said that I can have all cut offs shorter the 4'. I currently have 59 rick split and stacked in the field out in back of my house and about another 18 rick to split and stack. I get about 1-2 rick of logs a week. I sharpen his chains as a favor to him in return for the logs. He use to have the local Stihl dealer sharpen his chains but the dealer would burn the teeth and take the temper out of the steel and thus the chains would not hold the sharpening very long.This guy will not roll the logs when he is cutting the ends off, and so he will nick a stone now and then. I take them and kiss them with a grinder and return them to him. I feel this is a fair exchange.
Thank all of you for your replies. I think I will stop cleaning the chains, thanks to all of your input, and clean only if the links do not flex.