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Post by w30bob on Apr 16, 2022 7:54:23 GMT -5
Hi Guys,
Another maybe silly question, but what the heck. Do a full skip, semi-skip or standard chain all start out with the same length blades? I run across chains from older saws that are sharpened down to nothing, and others that are barely used. But it got me thinking......is there a standard length for a blade, or did each chain manufacturer use something different. Also, while on the topic......how short a blade is too short? I assume if you sharpen a blade down too far at some point you increase the chances it could break off. So what blade length is that? There must be some rule of thumb for how far to sharpen a chain before it should be tossed. Would like to know what that is.
thanks, bob
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Post by edju1958 on Apr 16, 2022 8:21:11 GMT -5
You'll need to define what you mean by the word "blade".Chainsaws don't have blades,they have chains & bars.The Wright reciprocating saw uses a blade,but it's not really a chainsaw because it doesn't use a chain.Sorry for being anal about this,but it really bugs me.
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Post by stillsawing on Apr 16, 2022 8:35:15 GMT -5
I believe you are referring to the tooth on the chain? Some of the new chain have a line across the top of the tooth. When the cutting edge has reached that line, no further sharpening is recommended.
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Post by w30bob on Apr 16, 2022 8:55:18 GMT -5
Hi Guys,
Ed, no problem.......as still mentioned, I'm talking about the 'tooth' length, as each chain's cutting surface is located on a tooth, which has a sharpened edge...or a blade, as I call it. So whatever you want to call the part of a chain that does the actual cutting is what I'm referring to. So if a new 'tooth' is say 1/2" long....can you sharpen it down to 1/4" safely?...1/8"? What's the rule of thumb when you look at what's left on each tooth that tells you you're ok....or you should toss it because it's getting dangerously thin and could break off easily? And does everyone make their 'teeth' the same length, meaning it can be sharpened roughly the same number of times? I'm trying to determine if some brands of chain had longer teeth on their chains, or if there is a standard for tooth length. Sorry for the confusion.
regards, bob
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Post by stillsawing on Apr 16, 2022 9:27:48 GMT -5
The usual rule of thumb is, the larger the pitch, the longer the tooth. 1/2" pitch chain when new has a larger than a .404 pitch tooth. However, 3/8LP has a smaller tooth than standard 3/8 pitch. Sawchain is forever evolving these days, types of tooth, material the tooth is made of, grind configuration, and raker depth setting. The big three in the chain market are Husqvarna, Stihl, and Oregon, and they are always trying to stay ahead of each other. My favorite is Stihl, their tooth material stays sharper for a longer period of time.
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Post by blythkd on Apr 16, 2022 14:16:46 GMT -5
There's nothing really hurt if you keep sharpening a chain as long as it still cuts to suit you. After a few sharpenings, you have to knock the drags down a bit to regain some bite. In the old days and leaner times, I used to sharpen chain teeth down to nearly a point on the short side. They usually don't lose teeth even if you sharpen them down to a point but if one does, then it's time to toss the chain. I don't cut nearly as much as I once did so I typically don't run chains as long nowadays as I used to do. There's just nothing like a new saw chain.
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Post by jselden78 on Apr 17, 2022 5:14:28 GMT -5
It seems like terminology wasn’t a big deal after all. It was rather easy to tell what you were talking about. It’s great you got your question answered too. I usually go by the line on my chains. Once it reaches that line on top I switch to a new one. I don’t use one much though so it’s not really an expense to me to swap one out with a new on.
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Post by w30bob on Apr 17, 2022 7:57:57 GMT -5
Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the replies. I was coming at this from the perspective of the old, bigger pitch chains from the 50's and early 60's that I find on the early Homelite saws I collect. I keep forgetting this forum is for current day saws as well as the older stuff. The bigger pitch chains are getting hard to find and command a real premium in price when you do find them. So I was just trying to understand which ones should be relegated to display only use and which could be installed on runners and be used to cut wood, not that I plan to do a lot of that with these saws. That's why I got wondering if some of the shorter tooth chains I run across started out with less meat on them......or were just really well used. Because when I buy a saw the condition of the chain is a selling feature. sounds like they can really be used right to the very end....whether the actual teeth are the same size from all the manufacturers for a given pitch or not. As usual, great conversation.......and thanks!!
regards, bob
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Post by stillsawing on Apr 17, 2022 8:52:29 GMT -5
For cutting purposes, a sharp edge of the tooth and proper angles are all that is needed. However, when you are at the very end of the tooth and and it starts to lose width, binding in the cut starts to happen. The tooth must make a cut as wide as the length of the rivet in the chain, that cut width is called the kerf. I agree, when a saw is on display, it really looks good with a brand new chain. A new 1/2" pitch chain has an impressive size tooth. Take a look at an old Mall chain, massive. Enjoy the day.
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Post by w30bob on Apr 17, 2022 13:01:17 GMT -5
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Post by jselden78 on Apr 18, 2022 22:40:40 GMT -5
Interesting video. I was hoping he would go back and chart the differences in the number of cuts too. It seems the stihl chain did not get near the number of cuts to a tank of fuel as the Oregon. That speaks to the efficiency too. I never would’ve thought it would be that much difference.
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