Damned rocks . . .

[Jim K in PA]

So yesterday afternoon I am happily bucking down a huge eastern white pine that the local utility crew dropped a few weeks ago. I have a nearly brand new Oregon 72DP on the 034, and life is good. I am ripping through the 22" butt end like Chuck Norris through a knitting convention. Then it happens.

A little too deep in the cut, and the tip hits a 6" square piece of 1/2" thick flat sand stone. Usually I can feel when I hit a nail or rock immediately. Not this time. It just stops cutting, and I realize too late what happened.

The leading edge of all the teeth are ground, almost like a taper. I tried filing, but I will have to take almost a 1/16" off the tooth to get past the stone damage. Seems like time to take it to the local HW store to have it ground, or go buy a chain grinder . . .

Anyone use a dremel with the 7/32" grinding stone? Worth it?

 

[smokinj]

So yesterday afternoon I am happily bucking down a huge eastern white pine that the local utility crew dropped a few weeks ago. I have a nearly brand new Oregon 72DP on the 034, and life is good. I am ripping through the 22" butt end like Chuck Norris through a knitting convention. Then it happens.

A little too deep in the cut, and the tip hits a 6" square piece of 1/2" thick flat sand stone. Usually I can feel when I hit a nail or rock immediately. Not this time. It just stops cutting, and I realize too late what happened.

The leading edge of all the teeth are ground, almost like a taper. I tried filing, but I will have to take almost a 1/16" off the tooth to get past the stone damage. Seems like time to take it to the local HW store to have it ground, or go buy a chain grinder . . .

Anyone use a dremel with the 7/32" grinding stone? Worth it?

yep works good but you go through those stones quick

 

[Jim K in PA]

Thanks. I am going through files pretty fast too. Those Oregon teeth are hard! (but they don't like rocks . . .)

 

[Sting]

Maybe this is a rookie mistake or maybe it will save your file

It did mine -- when a pal showed me that if I file from the open side of the chain tooth - past the tooth and hit the vertical of the tooth as the file passes -- I remove the chrome from the under side of the plating -- vs cutting the hard plating away when I was filing into the tooth on the vertical, or closed side of the cutter

Did that come out as I intended?

 

[smokinj]

Yep that will cost you a stone or two.lol

 

[chad3]

For the cost at the local place (mine is about 6 bucks) I'd take it there and try after. Chain is already pretty messed up so it's not like you have a good chain that just needs a touch.
Just what I would do....
Chad

 

[DiscoInferno]

That sandstone's a killer, isn't it? I keep a chunk with a nice groove in it around to remind me not to cut into the ground. I agree there's no point in filing, it would take forever. I've used the $30 harbor freight grinder to fix chains just like you describe. Works reasonably well for the price.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Maybe this is a rookie mistake or maybe it will save your file

It did mine -- when a pal showed me that if I file from the open side of the chain tooth - past the tooth and hit the vertical of the tooth as the file passes -- I remove the chrome from the under side of the plating -- vs cutting the hard plating away when I was filing into the tooth on the vertical, or closed side of the cutter

Did that come out as I intended?

I don't think so - say that again. . .

 

[Adios Pantalones]

The Dremel grinder rocks. I got diamond sharpening bits for mine through Amazon- they don't change dimension like the Dremel stones and they last longer. Hit each tooth for a few seconds at a time and go around the chain a few times to reduce heating or you will F up the temper on the teeth.

Local sharpener guy is well worth it too.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

We too try to do our sharpening with the dremel rather than trying to sharpen on the stones. lol

 

[Jim K in PA]

We too try to do our sharpening with the dremel rather than trying to sharpen on the stones. lol

:lol: Yeah - I'll look for a better rock to sharpen the chain on next time . . . :lol:

I am dropping off a couple of chains at the HW store in town tomorrow. I don't think they can make them any worse.


BTW - I remember some time in the distant past using a chain saw with an integral sharpener. You ran the chain up and pressed a button of some kind, and a stone contacted the teeth, theoretically sharpening them. I cannot imagine that actually working, and perhaps it is a figment of my imagination.

 

[Jags]

. I cannot imagine that actually working, and perhaps it is a figment of my imagination.

By the way, what kind of Shrooms grow in your woods?? %-P

 

[Jim K in PA]

. I cannot imagine that actually working, and perhaps it is a figment of my imagination.

By the way, what kind of Shrooms grow in your woods?? %-P

:lol:

OK Jags - you made go and find it. It was a 1970's vintage Mac 140. Here is a copy of the ad where it even touts the feature:

(broken link removed)

;-P

(broken image removed)

 

[Jags]

"The Mac 140 can't play 'little drummer boy', because you can't beat it"

OMG - what the hell was their advertising staff on?? :grrr:

 

[Jim K in PA]

"The Mac 140 can't play 'little drummer boy', because you can't beat it"

OMG - what the hell was their advertising staff on?? :grrr:

:lol:

Advertising department, in CA, in the 1970s? Pretty much anything . . . . !

:lol:

 

[Bubbavh]

The Dremel grinder rocks. I got diamond sharpening bits for mine through Amazon- they don't change dimension like the Dremel stones and they last longer. Hit each tooth for a few seconds at a time and go around the chain a few times to reduce heating or you will F up the temper on the teeth.

Local sharpener guy is well worth it too.

+1 The diamond bits are nice. Keep the speed of the dremel very slow.

If your chain is that bad your rakers are gonna need a lot of filing also. I would take it to be sharpened and also buy a new one and use that beat up chain for cutting stumps and nailed trees.

 

[Gooserider]

Sears also made an "autosharpen" saw - same basic idea, might even have been a rebranded Mac (like most everything else they sell) Reports are that it didn't work all that well in practice...

I have one of the cheapy HF grinders, agreed it does a reasonable job of rescuing rock chains, but generally you'll do better filing by hand for normal touch up work.

Sting - not sure just what you were trying to say, but it sounded wrong to me... :lol: If you look at your cutters, they each come off one side of the chain, up and then bend over to make a sort of "7" shape. You always want to file from the inside of the "7" towards the outside, with the file held so that it follows the same angle as the cutter edge, or better, the "witness line" across the top of the tooth, if your chain has one (not all do)

Gooserider

 

[SuburbanFarmer]

The Dremel grinder rocks. I got diamond sharpening bits for mine through Amazon- they don't change dimension like the Dremel stones and they last longer. Hit each tooth for a few seconds at a time and go around the chain a few times to reduce heating or you will F up the temper on the teeth.

Local sharpener guy is well worth it too.

Agreed on the Dremel tool, a quick touch each tankfull keeps my 5/32 Echo (Oregon) chain cutting like new.

Adios Pantalones - Care to share your source for bits? I have seen 5/32 stones from Widget supply for $1 each (vs the $6 for 2 retail packages.) Can 5/32 and 7/32 diamond bits be obtained at a discount / quantity purchase?

 

[Jim K in PA]

Just got my chains back from the hardware store . . . >:-(

1 out of 3 teeth are blue from their grinder.

I think I will invest in the Dremel, jig and diamond stones. I'll be re-sharpening these chains pretty soon.

 

[Jags]

Just got my chains back from the hardware store . . . >:-(

1 out of 3 teeth are blue from their grinder.

I think I would be talking to the boss man, that is completely un-called for. As someone who owns a grinder (little cheap one, but it works), there is NO need for that. Even if the chain was rocked badly, you take smaller swipes, just more of them. No heat buildup.

 

[SuburbanFarmer]

Just got my chains back from the hardware store . . . >:-(

1 out of 3 teeth are blue from their grinder.

I think I would be talking to the boss man, that is completely un-called for. As someone who owns a grinder (little cheap one, but it works), there is NO need for that. Even if the chain was rocked badly, you take smaller swipes, just more of them. No heat buildup.

What he said - THe reason fo rgoing to a 'pro' is because they supposedly have the skill, equipment, and knowledge to do the job properly. If the chain was 'half used up' from hittin th rock, it was worth $10, but to pay the typical $6 sharpening for a $10 chain?! I'd say they owe you a refund for the 'sharpening' and 50% off a new chain... IF they want your business in the future...

 

[Jim K in PA]

I will be stopping back at the HW store on my way home from work. I did not really look at them this AM until I was half way to work.