cleaning a chain?

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steeltowninwv

Minister of Fire
Nov 16, 2010
768
west virginia
can u use a degreaser to clean chains?..if not what do u all use?
 
Yes, you can. Generally, I do not clean my chains, though.
 
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How about using an aircan from staples or break free, a lubricant?
 
why not ? I've used brake cleaner,gasoline,kerosene,but lately been storing them in home brew bicycle chain lube (3 parts mineral sprits 1 part motor oil new in a coffee can) can't believe anything other than dirt ,sand &salt or some corrosives cleaners if left unrinsed could be that bad .It's not like they got rubber or plastic in them. Most the time I spray wd 40 on them while running and let the dirt just sling off ,sharpen & repeat .

That's just me .I am a chain guy ALL kinds not just chainsaws, I also like synthetic oils

cheers

can u use a degreaser to clean chains?..if not what do u all use?
 
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Since I read a 50/50 mix of trans fluid and acetone makes the best frozen fastener lubricant, used by the military to free rusted bolts,, I'd say soaking a chain in that has to free it up nicely.
 
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Not the US military, not now anyway. Maybe during WW2. Mix that up and have it at work and OSHA, EPA, PETA, etc, etc would go crazy!

Sometimes I forget chains in teh bottom of a pail or in the truck bed and they get pretty nasty. I just throw them in the parts tank and rinse them off. I have stoddard solvent in there.
 
I use Mineral Spirits or Kero. A little jug, bucket, or coffee can will hold several chains.

Let them soak for a few days and your good to go. :)
 
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bone-dry dead Red/White Oak & Honey Locust.
 
wd 40 even cleans up milling chains very well!
 
Not the US military, not now anyway. Maybe during WW2. Mix that up and have it at work and OSHA, EPA, PETA, etc, etc would go crazy!

Sometimes I forget chains in teh bottom of a pail or in the truck bed and they get pretty nasty. I just throw them in the parts tank and rinse them off. I have stoddard solvent in there.
My mistake on the Military using it.. It was in a Military vehicle club magazine,,, whoops. Interesting though...
8-2013, 11:40 PM #1
bobabuee
Member

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: HAZLETON, PA
Posts: 42

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Homemade Penetrating Oil tests

i found this on www.homadetools.com thought very interesting.

Homemade Penetrating Oil

For All of you Mechanic's and Self doer’s out there.
Penetrating Oil - interesting
This was in one of the Military Vehicle Club newsletters

Here is an interesting finding on Penetrating Oils
Recently “Machinist Workshop Magazine” did a test on penetrating oils. Using nuts and
bolts that they ‘scientifically rusted’ to a uniform degree by soaking in salt water, they then
tested the break-out torque required to loosen the nuts. They treated the nuts with a variety
of penetrants and measured the torque required to loosen them.
This is what they came up with:
Nothing: 516 lbs
WD-40: 238 lbs;
PB Blaster: 214 lbs;
Liquid Wrench: 127 lbs,
Kano Kroil: 106 lbs
(ATF)/Acetone mix (50/50): 50 lbs.

This last “shop brew” of 50% automatic transmission fluid and 50% acetone appears to beat
out the commercially prepared products costing far more.

NOTE: I can't personally vouch for the results, 'cause I haven't read the magazine or tried it yet.
user_offline.gif
 
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It does work great, Kroil I suspect is pretty much exactly that.

It got my attention on the military deal because if it's not an actual product with MSDS or a product intended to be mixed (like a GP cleaner that gets mixed with water) we can't just homebrew something and expect to keep it around.... it would have to be stuffed in someones locker and only used when the "people" aren't around.
 
Degreasers and solvents? I use the opposite. Hose down or soak in WD-40, then scrub with a brush. They come clean (look like new) every time. I usually use a flattened cardboard beer case box to protect the table, but found beers costing $100 per case do no better than those costing only $60 per case.

I never have trouble with my own chains getting so dirty, but chains I have received with saws I have bought on ebay have been bad enough to justify a cleaning before sharpening.
 
That's what my old 2 cycle gasoline is for.
Especially after cutting spruce or pine.
Cleaning chains before sharpening, keeps what ever you use to sharpen with clean,
Won't get gummed up with oil, sap dirt etc.
Files, wheels & stones will last a lot longer & stay sharper.
(like cutting dirty wood dulls chains , dirty metal dulls sharpeners ;) )


Since I read a 50/50 mix of trans fluid and acetone makes the best frozen fastener lubricant, .

Read the same, some place a while back
Pop Mech or Pop Science( tips & tricks) maybe.
 
WD-40 is a solvent. Mostly Kerosene.

Not quite. The original formula 40 was about half mineral spirits, a quarter LP gas (for propellant) and a quarter mix of mineral oil and other stuff. Supposedly they have replaced the LP gas with CO2 to make it less flammable. My nephew used to light WD 40 on fire for fun whenever we went fishing and drive my brother nuts.
 
clean a chain? Whats that mean??:eek:

I soak 'em in kerosene, heck I leave them in kerosene until I need them, if they are nasty. Which, the only ones that I have that were nasty were ones that came with used saws I bought (or saws I dug out of my neighbor's scrap yard at his business). Kerosene is a great solvent, and when the dirt settles, can be used over and over and over again. I keep several gallons in a bucket with a lid on it out in the barn. When I need a parts washer, I grab the bucket and go to work...
 
Yes, no more propane, we used to use it to start diesels and it doesn't work anymore. But it's mostly kerosene still.

Not quite. The original formula 40 was about half mineral spirits, a quarter LP gas (for propellant) and a quarter mix of mineral oil and other stuff. Supposedly they have replaced the LP gas with CO2 to make it less flammable. My nephew used to light WD 40 on fire for fun whenever we went fishing and drive my brother nuts.
 
Just whipped up a batch of mineral spirits and ATF to soak some chains that were given to me. I did not have any acetone so MS is what I am going with. I will post my results. One of the chains has 8-10 links that would not move so this will be a good test.
 




Anyone seen one dirtier than this one? ;)
 
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WOW! Almost looks like they dipped it in sand or sugar for a spell.....;lol

Well kind of.....Veggie oil cooking on a little old hickory! That was setting for about 10 months. Fast forward to the very end and check out those noodles. ;) 880 oiler wide open with the aux humpin to!


 
I had no idea anyone went to this much trouble! I just sharpen 'em. I used to rinse the metal filings off with MS, then dip the chain in oil. Now I just blow the filings off with compressed air.
 
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I had no idea anyone went to this much trouble! I just sharpen 'em. I used to rinse the metal filings off with MS, then dip the chain in oil. Now I just blow the filings off with compressed air.

I grind, and throw them in the box. Always figured the first trip 'round the nose of the bar at 15,000 RPM would blow any remaining filings off for me.

Only chain I've ever cleaned is a few real nasty ones I've received on OPS (Other People's Saws).
 
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