What is a good method to clean a chain that is getting "dirty" eg oil deposits, sap etc. I was thinking something that could evaporate easily eg mineral spirits would work best and make the re-oiling easier. If I used an industrial type cleaner then the chain would need throughly water rinsed and dried before re-oiling.
Cleaning chain - how?
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Scooterbum
Addicted to ArboristSite
Dishwasher
Actually I just use compressed air and blow it out real good.
Actually I just use compressed air and blow it out real good.
cut with it while oil conditions are sufficent. itl look normal in a fue minits.
Sprig
Addicted to ArboristSite
I keep a tin of turps (turpentine) for sappy chains, one of the 2kg tins is best with about 2" of solvent in it, soak for a bit and use an old, stiff paintbrush to
work the offending mook off, takes a min or two
because turps is sap based it works very well to break even the toughest build-up down.
Serge
work the offending mook off, takes a min or two
because turps is sap based it works very well to break even the toughest build-up down.Serge
Hugenpoet
Addicted to ArboristSite
I keep a three pound coffee can half full of diesel. When I take a dull chain off one of the saws I toss it into the coffee can. When the can gets about 10chains in it I take them out, wipe the diesel off with a rag and sharpen them on my Northern Tool grinder. No matter what they look like when they go into the can, the diesel and the wiping clean them up just fine.
BloodOnTheIce
Addicted to ArboristSite
Carb cleaner and compressed air will do a decent job.
It seems that I picked up a (fortunately mild this time) poison oak rash from the bar or chain. I was wearing gloves the entire time in the woods, so the only contact would have been from the saw. A good incentive to ensure I clean both properly.
Yow! That can be a real drag. In that case, I wood toss the chain in a bonfire and stay upwind of it for an hour or so, then fish out the chain and sell it as scrap..............:greenchainsaw:
Actually, I bet diesel fuel wood work, because Technü the poison ivy stuff is basically a mineral spirits derivative............
Rip through a chunk of sweet gum, For some reason it will clean it up.
Forget the "how" part, what about the "why"?
Lakeside53
Stihl Wrenching
Sharpen, then just cut with it... they clean up real nice...
stevethekiwi
Addicted to ArboristSite
if you need to clean your chain, you are not using your saw enough 
I don't give the sap time to stick
But, If i really feel sorry for the chain, ill clean it by finding a nice hunk of pine to run it through. its the only method of cleaning I know that doesnt feel like cleaning.
I don't give the sap time to stick But, If i really feel sorry for the chain, ill clean it by finding a nice hunk of pine to run it through. its the only method of cleaning I know that doesnt feel like cleaning.
clearance
Addicted to ArboristSite
Never cleaned a chain in my life. Never even heard of it till now. Probably put hundreds of them on many saws, filed then all to nothing, they clean themselves. Silly thread, shame on you all, 'cept for Computeruser and Lakeside.
LOL - good posts. My background is as a development engineer, everything is always clean and shiny when we design it (before it gets used ), and I always try to keep my tools that way too. Maybe I need to relax a bit? I am going to wipe the bar down though to get the poison oak oil off.
), and I always try to keep my tools that way too. Maybe I need to relax a bit? I am going to wipe the bar down though to get the poison oak oil off.
COLD_IRON
Addicted to ArboristSite
I use diesel as well. I usually use it for cleaning freshly sharpened chains.
OilHead
ArboristSite Guru
Red Devel drain cleaner overnight in a plastic bucket.
joesawer
Addicted to ArboristSite
LOL - good posts. My background is as a development engineer, everything is always clean and shiny when we design it (before it gets used
Will saw gas kil the posion ivy oil?
If you are getting a tar like build up of pitch on your chain, it is because the teeth are getting hot. Sharpen your chain and back off the feed pressure. That is if you are cutting almost anything but red fir.
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Joe, thanks for the comments but the dirt etc is not a buildup, more just what you would get from normal usage. After each weekend I clean the saw and bar back to as close to new as possible so I'm ready for the next time. It also lets me check the saw over for any issues, loose screws, missing or damaged parts etc. I was just wondering what to do with the chain.
