Setup to make Granberg style chain

[J D]

Setup a grinder with a cut-off wheel in an old drill press to make my last ripping chain. Worked remarkably well so I thought I'd share...

 

[Twinpines]

I had thought something like this would work

 

[sean donato]

Forgive the extremely stupid question, but the ripping chain I use looks like normal chain save it a 10* angle. What are you trying to do with the chain set up in that direction, parallel with the grinder?

 

[Philbert]

Granberg style ripping chain has extra scoring cutters, made by modifying some of the standard cutter teeth.

https://granberg.com/product-category/alaskan-mill/bars-chain/granberg-ripping-chain/
Philbert

 

[sean donato]

Granberg style ripping chain has extra scoring cutters, made by modifying some of the standard cutter teeth.

https://granberg.com/product-category/alaskan-mill/bars-chain/granberg-ripping-chain/
Philbert

Ah I see. Never knew that. Thanks.

 

[J D]

Ah I see. Never knew that. Thanks.

My milling saw is a 390XP & with a 36" bar it struggles with full comp. I have found the Granberg style chain lightens the load like using a skip chain while giving a slightly better finish than the skip tooth does

 

[sean donato]

My milling saw is a 390XP & with a 36" bar it struggles with full comp. I have found the Granberg style chain lightens the load like using a skip chain while giving a slightly better finish than the skip tooth does

Hmm, I run that same set up cant say I had an issue with full comp, very slow, skip worked better. I'll have to try some of this chain out. Thanks guys, very useful

 

[Philbert]

That’s what this forum is all about!

Philbert

 

[Twinpines]

From what I could find, its hard to get that chain.

 

[Philbert]

From what I could find, its hard to get that chain.

My local dealer (4th generation, family owned, saw shop) makes it up for customers, on request. I believe that they just hand hold the cutters up against the chain grinder to make the scoring cutters. The OP's set up looks like a better approach for doing this in volume.

Philbert

 

[J D]

The first chain I made I used a bench grinder to grind the cutters down. This way is much quicker, heats the tooth a lot less & is more consistent & controllable. If I adapted a proper chain clamp with an adjustable stop to the base (like an electric bench sharpener has) I recon I could do a decent length chain in about 5 minutes

 

[Philbert]

Again, very nice for production use. For someone making a 'one-off' chain to try, I assume that cut-off wheel(s) in a Dremel tool, with drive links clamped in a vise, would be a good option.

Philbert

 

[J D]

I think you can see the dremel feeling left out in the background... My initial reason for setting this up was to remove the bumper fins on some safety chain I got cheap. It worked very well for that too. I'd hate to think how many of those little wheels I would have gone through grinding 60 odd bumper links on top of the 30 odd cutters

 

[Philbert]

Most Dremel kits come with tubes of those thin, cut off 'wafer wheels' that don't last long on heavy cutting.

These last a lot longer: Dremel EZ456, 1 1/2-Inch, EZ - Lock Fiberglass Reinforced Cut-off Wheels
About $1 each, if you shop carefully, after you get the 'Starter Kit', with the spring loaded, EZ-Lock mandrel.
Just guessing, but I think that someone could get a whole chain out of one; maybe two of these at the most.


Philbert

 

[Twinpines]

Hey Philbert, you know if anyone has knocked off that granberg g777 guide? They want an arm and a leg for it. Might just have to make my own.

 

[Philbert]

Hey Philbert, you know if anyone has knocked off that granberg g777 guide? They want an arm and a leg for it. Might just have to make my own.

Chainsaw Mill?
https://granberg.com/product/g777-alaskan-small-log-mill/
Don't know much about them. Look like they are selling for about $140.

Sorry.

Philbert

 

[BobL]

My milling saw is a 390XP & with a 36" bar it struggles with full comp. I have found the Granberg style chain lightens the load like using a skip chain while giving a slightly better finish than the skip tooth does

I'm surprised as a 390 with just a 36" bar should easily handle full comp.
Finish is mostly mill operator dependent.
This is my full comp finish out of the box.

 

[psuiewalsh]

Could you cut this apart to.make a small mill?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-14-36...-/303523942537?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

 

[J D]

Could you cut this apart to.make a small mill?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-14-36...-/303523942537?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

Why would you need to cut it down when it can be adjusted down to 14"? If you didn't want the extra rail length sticking out the end then I guess you could but you'd be limiting yourself for the future. Why not buy a smaller one to start with?

 

[Twinpines]

Could you cut this apart to.make a small mill?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fits-14-36...-/303523942537?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

I'm currently working with one of these. I found there was a full inch deviation from saw end to bar end. If you run it open ended, check that out.