Alternative to sharpening your chain

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Gologit

Gologit

Completely retired...life is good.
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Bargain time...

Look at it this way...if Farmerdoug wants to throw away perfectly good chains why not just let him do it?

Now, granted it doesn't make a lot of sense to 99.9% of people but it's his money to spend or waste...or both...as he sees fit.

In the meantime some of you more dollar wise guys can start lining up for those disposable chains of his. Sounds like a good deal to me.

But...I have to wonder...if his saw needs a new sparkplug or air filter, does he trade the saw in on a new one? Might be some bargains there, too. :msp_rolleyes:
 
sunfish

sunfish

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4 cords on one chain without sharpening?

Well, your cutting the last 2-3 cords with a dull chain...and very soft wood at that...or???

I can see now this is goin the be a looooong thread! :msp_biggrin:
 
Metals406

Metals406

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Look at it this way...if Farmerdoug wants to throw away perfectly good chains why not just let him do it?

Now, granted it doesn't make a lot of sense to 99.9% of people but it's his money to spend or waste...or both...as he sees fit.

In the meantime some of you more dollar wise guys can start lining up for those disposable chains of his. Sounds like a good deal to me.

But...I have to wonder...if his saw needs a new sparkplug or air filter, does he trade the saw in on a new one? Might be some bargains there, too. :msp_rolleyes:

:phone:
 
malk315

malk315

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Okay. I have yet to see a video of someone trying to cut with a dull chain, stop their saw, sharpen it and go back to cutting, so that we can see how sharp one of these 5 minute sharpenings are.

I would take this on based on the last outing -- I hit pebbles+dirt that had found their way into a hollow section of the middle of a locust stump I was flush cutting. 372 chain would not cut for anything -- would go through bark and not produce chips -- it was like there were only rakers on the chain. Only thing that came close to how bad it was cutting was when I determined my neighbor's brand new craftsman saw wasn't cutting because he installed chain backwards :dizzy: (he also put 2 cycle oil in the bar oil tank and at least put gas+oil mix in the fuel tank rather than straight gasing the brand new saw)

I finished w/ 262 and went back to my place to cut another pine victim of Sandy. Did a quick sharpen and cut several 20" diameter pieces no problem.

I'm sure someone here is working on a video right now!

Like the other post I saw: :popcorn:
 
sunfish

sunfish

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Look at it this way...if Farmerdoug wants to throw away perfectly good chains why not just let him do it?

Now, granted it doesn't make a lot of sense to 99.9% of people but it's his money to spend or waste...or both...as he sees fit.

In the meantime some of you more dollar wise guys can start lining up for those disposable chains of his. Sounds like a good deal to me.

But...I have to wonder...if his saw needs a new sparkplug or air filter, does he trade the saw in on a new one? Might be some bargains there, too. :msp_rolleyes:

I agree, but he asked us if we thought he was insane... :msp_wink:
 
CentaurG2

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:msp_wub::msp_wub::msp_wub:Love my Wusthof's!:msp_wub::msp_wub::msp_wub:
I've only got a steel to sharpen then now but have some japanese honing stones on the way!

I spent many years learning how to sharpen a knife. I have used everything from diamond stones to a Tormek but they took too long and were wearing hollows in my knives. I stumbled upon a youtube video of someone using a Kalamazoo 1” belt grinder as a knife sharpener and I shamelessly copied the technique. I can now put a convex edge on a knife that will pop the hair off your arm in under a minute.

Quick & easy knife sharpening - J. Neilson - YouTube

For chainsaws, if you puddle around the stihl web site long enough, you will eventually find a vid how to sharpen a chain. If you follow the technique demonstrated and don’t let the chain get dull, it’s easy. I can touch up a 24” loop of saw chain faster than I can add mix and oil.
 
farmerdoug

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Very good input

You are giving good input. West coast is made up of Douglas Fir, Maple and Alder. I do agree that this is not the same as oak.

If I did not live on the west coast I would definitely sharpen chain as the following would be true:
  1. I wouldn't know about Stihl RSLK Chisel chain
  2. I would have only used round chain
  3. Round chain is very easy to sharpen and very forgiving
 
farmerdoug

farmerdoug

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How many cord of wood does a chain last??

Question is how many cord of wood can you get out of a chain if you do choose to sharpen the chain? Are we talking 20 cord? Or 10 cord?

Just curious as to how much you expect out of a chain. I know there are variables, but many of you get in a groove and know what to expect out of a chain.
 
Gologit

Gologit

Completely retired...life is good.
. AS Supporting Member.
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In the Redwoods.
You are giving good input. West coast is made up of Douglas Fir, Maple and Alder. I do agree that this is not the same as oak.

If I did not live on the west coast I would definitely sharpen chain as the following would be true:
  1. I wouldn't know about Stihl RSLK Chisel chain
  2. I would have only used round chain
  3. Round chain is very easy to sharpen and very forgiving

West coast is also madrone, manzanita, eucalyptus, almond, and several varieties of oak.
 
edisto

edisto

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I do not like cutting with a dull chain.

I usually get 4 cord of cut firewood out of a single chain.

Which is it?

Okay. I have yet to see a video of someone trying to cut with a dull chain, stop their saw, sharpen it and go back to cutting, so that we can see how sharp one of these 5 minute sharpenings are.

I think I see the problem. I would venture most here don't cut until the chain is dull enough to seriously impede cutting. A quick touch up every tank or 2 (or 3 or 4 or...) makes keeping the chain sharp fast work.
 

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