Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Turning Topic 1/21/04
TDaniel
>Tonight's topic: Chainsaws, sharpening the chain, skip toothed chains, drag, ripping vs cross cutting....etc, etc....all the things you need to know to harvest that "free" turning wood. Read your safety manual first. We will answer questions about sharpening jigs, holding vises, etc., but no questions about green saws. come join us at about 9 pm eastern.
TD
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
BubbaBob
>No green saws? But they rule!!!
BubbaBob
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
Mel Wright
>Sure they rule, They just don't seem to run.
Mel...mine runs...
BubbaBob
>...well...almost daily...LOL...go POO-lan!
BubbaBob
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
Russ Fairfield
>Green, yellow, red, and blue chainsaws ain't what they used to be.
There was a time when "Green" chainsaws were good ones, but that was a long time ago. About 30 years ago if my memory is correct. If you have a good one, it ihas to be an antique. "Yellow" (McCulloch), "Red" (Homelite), and "Blue" (Remington) saws were also good ones at one time; but again, that was a long time ago.
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
Dick Hines
>Why would anyone have any color but orange?
Russ have you ever seen a blue Homelite?
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
BubbaBob
>Russ, my green one runs daily....and it is only 5 yrs old...whaddya want cut? It will do it.
BubbaBob
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
Ron Sardo in PA
>I have a 30yr old orange. I guess that should be the top of the pile!
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
Russ Fairfield
>Yep, Homelite was "Blue", but that was almost as as long ago as when the Titan, made by Kiekhaefer Mercury if I remember right, was the king of the woods. The Titans that I remember were the big 2-man saws with an 84" bar. That was in the late 40's early 50's. The first light commercial saw that I saw was the McCulloch in the early 50's, and the Blue Homelite came out about that same time.
Re: Turning Topic 1/21/04
Glenn Hodges
>Do you remember the saws that came around after the old 2 man manual crosscut saws? It had a gasoline motor and wheels, the blade was round like a cutoff saw, and the blade was run by a belt. When I was a kid and first saw one, I thought it was something else, but now I think of it as a dangerous trip to the hospital waiting to happen. Loggers and pulpwooders used them. That was a long time before I ever looked at a chainsaw.
Dag Nab It!
Mike Schwing from Md.
>I really wanted to join you guys for this chat, but forgot.
I have a question or two that were probably asked, if you'd repeat the answers I'd appreciate it. It revolves around sharpening. I use my saws once or twice per week it seems. I keep a couple of chains for each saw, and have been diligent about resharpening after each use. I use the standard round file, sized properly for the chain(s). Three or four strokes in one direction only on each tooth seems to resharpen the cutting edge quite nicely. I do all of the teeth on one side, turn the saw around and do same on the other. I have better file control that way. It only takes a few minutes and boy does it work wonders.
I have two questions about this, maybe 3.
1. How many resharpenings am I likely to get out of this before I need to start working on the depth guides/gauges as well.
2. Occasionally I'll take a light flat file and take a quick swipe to remove the burr off of the top edge. It makes me feel like the edge is sharper but I suspect the burr wears off within a few seconds of use anyway. Anybody else do this?
3. Do you use the file sharpening method, a dremel or a dedicated sharpening machine? Is one preferable over the other for you?
As background, I have a Stihl 360 pro with a 20" and a 16" bar (soon a 30") and a Homelite Timberman with a 20". (guess which one I give to my helpers?)
Re: Dag Nab It!
TDaniel
>Mike, take your saw with you to a Husky dealer and get their new little roller jig that guides your file as you sharpen. Tell them you want the jig with the vinyl rollers and get them to show you how to use it. I have sharpened without a jig for years and thought I could get a chain as sharp as anyone but I tried one of these things and it was better and it is quick and easy. While at Husky, get one of their new file handles also and maybe the little stump vise. I think the jig is about $12 and the vise is about $11. Both are worth every cent.
TD