Depth gauges, “riders,” or “rakers,” as they are sometimes called, control the amount of wood severed by a cutter tooth. During the life of a pro saw chain, they occasionally need maintenance for top cutting performance. … Each time the chain is sharpened, the top corner of the cutter tooth gets lower.

How often should you file the rakers on a chainsaw?

More experienced cutters have a good feel for how their saw is cutting, and simply take their rakers down whenever they seem to need it. In my case, that’s about once every five sharpenings, more or less, assuming nothing extraordinary happens, like hitting a rock.

What is a skip tooth chain?

A skip chain has fewer cutting teeth than a conventional chain which means it won’t be dragging as many teeth through the wood you’re cutting. Less drag on the chain means less power is needed to cut through the log. That means the motor on your saw runs faster which keeps it in a more efficient power curve.

What are the parts of a chainsaw chain called?

• Cutter.
• Rivet.
• Drive Link.
• Tie Strap.

Why does my chainsaw cut at an angle?

Check the size of the top plates, which sit on the longer sections of each tooth on the chain. These top plates should be the same size. If some are shorter than others, file the longer ones down to match. Keep the same angle on all the top plates as you file – angles that don’t match also can cause curved cutting.

What is chainsaw pitch and gauge?

Pitch: the distance between the chain’s drive links. Gauge: the width of the groove where the chain fits into the bar.

What is a raker gauge?

Depth gauges, “riders,” or “rakers,” as they are sometimes called, control the amount of wood severed by a cutter tooth. … Each time the chain is sharpened, the top corner of the cutter tooth gets lower.

What is a chainsaw bumper spike?

A bumper spike is used to rest the chain saw on wood as you are cutting to prevent kick- back, especially when performing a buck cut. An anti-kickback chain reduces the forces on the chain that cause kickback. A tip guard at the end of the chainsaw bar helps prevent kickback.

What is the gauge on a chainsaw chain?

The gauge of a chain refers to the thickness of its drive links. It is determined by measuring the portion of the drive link that fits into the groove of the guide bar. It is usually expressed in thousandths of an inch: . 050″ or .

What is the difference between .325 and 3/8 chain?

The three-eighths chain is a beefier saw and better suited to one that has more horsepower. It has larger teeth and a heavier duty chain, so it requires more horsepower to operate correctly. … 325-inch chain for those saws between 40 and 60 cc.

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What's the difference between full chisel and semi chisel chains?

Although the semi chainsaw chain cuts slower than a full chisel chain, a semi-chain will stay sharper longer even in rough sawing conditions. In most cases, this is the preferred chain for cutting softwood, dirtier wood, dry wood, and frozen wood.

How do you know what file to use on a chainsaw?

You should also need both round and flat files to sharpen your chainsaw chains in order to get the best results. Your round file will be needed to sharpen the side and top plates of the cutting teeth. You should then use a flat file to sharpen the depth gauge so that it keeps its shape.

What is the best angle to sharpen a chainsaw?

Most standard chain is sharpened at 25-35 degrees for crosscutting wood and for ripping with the grain it’s best to use 10 degrees. So if you are cutting with the grain, you should be using 10 degree sharpened chain. They do make ripping chain that comes sharpened at 10 degrees for cutting with the grain of a log.

What size file do you need for a 3/8 chain?

Chain PitchFile Diameterin.mm.in.3/8 PMN9.325/321/4 3/8 PM6.35 9.325/320.3258.253/16

Why does my chainsaw chain dull so quickly?

If your chain dulls quickly, then it could be a couple of things. Check your user’s manual to ensure that you are using the right sized file for your chain. Alternatively, you could be applying too much pressure when you file. This will create cutting edges that are too thin and dull quickly.

What is a full chisel chain for chainsaw?

Typically only professionals and experienced chainsaw users use full chisel chainsaw chains. They are typically used to cut through hardwood such as oak as their square-cornered cutting teeth are more geared up to power through the wood.

How many teeth are on a 18 inch chainsaw chain?

Amazon.com: Stihl Chainsaw Chain- 26RS68- 18 Inch, 68 Drive Links, . 325 Pitch, .

What do you do with an old chainsaw?

1. Dispose of Gas Chainsaws as Scrap Metal. All metal pieces, including the blade, can be recycled with other scrap metal. …
2. Remove All Gas and Oil. Gas and oil must be removed from the chainsaw prior to disposal. …
3. Electric Chainsaws Are E-Waste. …
4. Remove the Rechargeable Battery. …
5. Handle With Care.

Can you cross cut with a ripping chain?

Re: Crosscutting with ripping chain? Yup… Results will vary depending on the style ripping chain you have, fewer top plates or less top plate area is going to slow your cut a lot. My 066 cuts like an 046 on steroids when crosscutting with a full comp ripping chain and leaves a smoother surface.

When should you throw away a chainsaw chain?

Chainsaw feels unbalanced, cuts unevenly, or rattles when in use. In short, if you have attempted to balance your cutting teeth, are certain of your depth gauge, and the tension is properly adjusted, but the saw still doesn’t cut correctly- then you need to replace the chain.

How long should a chainsaw bar last?

Re: how long does a bar last The next, a Granberg, lasted about 2 months. About that time Stihl started using them with the same results. A good bar can be filed a few times on both sides and the tip replaced when needed. They could last almost as long as the saw.

Why is my chainsaw smoking and not cutting?

This most commonly is a result of a dull chain and exerting to much pressure on the bar and chain trying to make the chain saw cut. This could also be either a lack of bar and chain oil ( tank empty, restricted oiler hole ) or an inferior type of oil that is being slung off the chain and not lubricating.

What does 25 mean on chainsaw?

25 = 1/4 mini-pitch .050 gauge. 26 = .404 pitch .058 gauge or 1.5mm. 27= .404 pitch .063 gauge or 1.6mm. 28 = .404 pitch .050 gauge or 1.3mm.

What are the teeth on a chainsaw called?

The Cutter Teeth The cutter teeth come in two parts; right-hand and left-hand cutters. These teeth are the meat and bones of your chain. They are the cut force of the blade itself and chip away at the wood you are using your chainsaw on. Cutter teeth come in different types too, which are called cutting tooth profiles.

Can I put an 18 inch bar on a 16 inch chainsaw?

Yes, but you need a bar designed to fit on your saw. There are different designs for different saws, and the bar has to match the chain/sprocket configuration as well.

How many times can you sharpen a chainsaw chain?

To keep your saw cutting in a straight line, be a fanatic about filing each cutter with the same number of strokes and the same amount of pressure. Cutters can be sharpened up to 10 times or more before the chain needs replacing.

What is a buck cut?

The process of cutting a tree into usable lengths is called bucking. Bucking often occurs as a tree is being limbed, such as when the limbs of the crown are to be used as firewood.

What is a felling dog on a chain saw?

MS880 / 5 point – $44.95 USD. Add to Cart. These oversize falling or felling dogs are made of sturdy 1/8″ thick heat treated steel. They make ratcheting into stump a lot easier without the bending or wobbling of stock dogs. Each dog is custom built based on the model of Pro Stihl chainsaw you have.

Why do chainsaws buck?

If a log is not sitting firmly on the ground when you cut, the downward force can cause the log to close up on your chain. Pinching of the blade is more likely to occur when you’re cutting from the top down.