How To organize Saw Chains ????

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HDRock

Minister of Fire
Oct 25, 2012
2,239
Grand Blanc, Mi
How do you all organize your Saw Chains ;?
Like, whats been fresh sharpened,what needs to be sharpened,length, pitch,DL, low pro, full chisel ,with out squinting to see markings on chain.
Did I leave out Any thing ???
 
I typically have several chains for each saw, but I normally only use one at a time till its worn out. I keep the others sharpened ready to go stored in labeled "Grandma's Potato Salad" containers basted in a few squirts of WD40. There are 2 containers in the rear left of this photo behind the coffee cup. My chains rarely get seriously dull as I constantly touch them up with a hand file on the saw.

[Hearth.com] How To organize Saw Chains ????
 
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How do you all organize your Saw Chains ;?
Like, whats been fresh sharpened,what needs to be sharpened,length, pitch,DL, low pro, full chisel ,with out squinting to see markings on chain.
Did I leave out Any thing ???

Mine are in OEM cardboard boxes or plastic boxes with the specs clearly labeled. A few oddballs I have hanging around the shop are just slung over a nail sometimes with the matching bar cradled in the chain.
 
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I thought about this alot. If I was still cutting 20 cords a year I would have it. "Custom made Leather jewelers case".
 
I only run one kind of chain. That's how I keep them straight.
 
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I have nails with the saw name written above them and and dull and sharp nail for each saw. That seems to work well if I'm good enough to use them, which sometimes I'm not! But, I do like the small plastic container idea so the chains can sit in oil while not being used - might try that instead. Cheers!
 
I took a board and put 2 sets of screws. One is sharp, one is dull. Holds 10-12 chains. The board says in teh truck along with the rest of the gear.

Don't have to worry about different chains... once you buy a Stihl you realize the one saw does it all :p

Dunno how much wood I'll cut this year, I'm hoping for at least 50 cords, more would be better.
 
I just hang mine on nails. Pretty easy to see the difference in length and I normally just sharpen them on the saw by hand so I am not rotating them alot. I would not put them back in a container like grandma's potato salad, even though that looks nice and neat, and I love potato salad. But that is another chance for them to get twisted up again, and I hate that. Always a puzzle to solve.
 
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Bars not being used are hanging on a screw on inside wall of shed.1 matching chain goes over that.Any extra or new chains are in OEM cardboard boxes on a hanging pine box on opposite wall.A couple old chains saved for stumps,yardbirds or near fencelines are hanging on wall next to the others.Ripping chains are separate from the others.
 
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How do you all organize your Saw Chains ;?
Like, whats been fresh sharpened,what needs to be sharpened,length, pitch,DL, low pro, full chisel ,with out squinting to see markings on chain.
Did I leave out Any thing ???
I grabbed these hangers for my chains, sharp get placed on the hangers and the dull get hung on the vise for sharpening. It started out looking neat then I jmped into milling along with some longer bars.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/chain-storage.49726/#post-622844 before milling & longer bars... the next picture is after.
 

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I have a 2x4 screwed to the wall with a bunch of nails driven in it to hang chains on. There are 2 nails for every type of chain I have. Sharp and Dull. Each nail has the saw and/or length written on the 2x4 below the nail in sharpie. 12", 14" 20" and 28" means 8 nails total. I have another 2x4 with nails for various bars.
 
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