Author Topic: Chain Grinders (Read 3498 times)

Rob · « **on:** March 18, 2003, 02:12:41 pm »

Do any of you guys here own one of these "Nick The Grinder" chain grinders??If you do what do you think of them,also do they have a tilt vise for the 10* to sharpen full chisel chain??I have been interested in buying one but can't find anyone who has one yet..

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=43955
Rob.

Rick Schmalzried · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:18:03 pm »

I have one and have been satisfied with it. You don't have any tilt, just a pivot for the angle. It is certainly not a commercial duty job, but it has paid for itself in sharpening chains for Perry and myself. It is highly recommended on the yahoo milling forum.

--Rick

Rob · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2003, 05:33:12 pm »

Thanks for the info Rick I appreciate it,I'm just looking for something to touch up older chains..

OneWithWood · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2003, 07:33:48 am »

I have tried many a tool for sharpening chains. The best by far has been the good old single file. It may take some practice to get it right but ultimately you end up with the best job. As a bonus you can solve many a dilemma while you are filing

Rob · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2003, 07:57:14 am »

I have no problems with free hand filing thats how I've been doing it for the past 7 years,but I have about 50-75 older chains that are sitting on the shelf that still have some life to them but they are chipped,rocked etc..and I don't really want to spend a week free handing them,so I figured I could give them a quick grind then give a few strokes with a file after..for the lightning fast cuts..

Thanks Rob.

Greg · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2003, 09:21:12 am »

Speaking of hand filing,

Can someone give some guidance on how much pressure you put on a round file when touching up a chain? I am pretty new to sharpening my own chains... I am trying to follow the advice of touching them up frequently rather than getting a super dull chain requiring a tool like Nick the Grinder.

Personally, by touch, I can't seem to feel a big difference in the cutter tooth after filing. Wish I had a "sharpness" detector that would tell me on a scale of 1 to 10 how I'm doing ;-)

I'm wondering how much powder/filings you all usually get when sharpening. Maintaining the angles doesn't seem to be much of a problem for me, but I'm still second guessing myself for either not filing hard enough, or taking too much each time.

Just don't have the feel yet, and haven't been able to watch a good hand filer up close to see what they do.

Cheers,
Greg

beenthere · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2003, 10:12:49 am »

I use a new or nearly new file, and make one stroke when I am touching up. If that doesn't leave a sharp edge, then I give every tooth two strokes. I have no trouble telling if the file is cutting or is not cutting. Not sure how to describe it any better than that.

If you have a dull file, then it is hard to tell when to stop or keep going. If you have touched the dirt, or hit a rock, and the teeth are bad, then file until there is an edge and keep all the teeth close to the same length, angle, and depth.

I touch up the chain after each tank of fuel (unless I touch the dirt, then I do it right away). I rotate between two chains, and when two chains are worn out, I replace them and also put on a new sprocket.

I also have tried the different devices, and come back to doing the sharpening by hand, for the best job.

Larry · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:14:58 pm »

I like files also. Hard to carry a grinder when you're 1/2 mile from the truck. Took me a while to figure that out so I have a few gadgets that gather dust in the shed.

I do about the same as beenthere except I get a little more time on the sprockets. Also I flip the bar every time I change chains (or have a derailment

).

Larry · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:31:15 pm »

Rob,
Forgot one thing. Don't ever hit rocks here but barbwire is pretty common and will sure mess up a few teeth. I take the flat file and work the burr off. Don't round file until the rest of the teeth are the same height. Really piths me off but in the end I only have a few extra chains hanging around.

Rob · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2003, 02:32:25 pm »

Ok guys are you getting what I'm saying hear I always free hand file all my chains and have been doing so for years it's just I have a collection of older chains on a shelf that have been rocked,minor chips etc..that I would like a cheap grinder for getting the angles etc..back to where they should be and then after I take them off the grinder I will make 1-2 strokes with a file to get them perfect..I don't plan on carrying a grinder with me..

I always no matter how good of shape my rim sprockets are in change them after 2 chains,I also flip my bar & sprocket daily to help wear them evenly..You guys are definetly right nothing beats free hand filing in the long run..

Thanks for the info
Rob.

Mark M · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2003, 09:04:57 pm »

Hi Rob

I used one of those chain grinders when I was in high school and it really worked slick. It would work great on those old chains since it is hard to file one down and have it be symmetrical. I used to use one of those little Carlton File Plates on my Jonsered saw but now I have a Stihl and don't know if it would work. It isn't a Carlton chain so I am thinking it won't.

Mark

Rob · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2003, 03:52:17 am »

Larry,

I hear ya on the barb wire I have only hit that once so far and was'nt very happy about it thats for sure..You don't really see all that much wire up this way anymore but I'm sure it's still growin' into the trees

Mark,

Those Carlton File O Plate's are a slick lttle tool I have a few of them I really like them for lowering the rakers (Depth Gauge),they will also work on Oregon chains thats what I use and it works great.

Later Rob.

Crofter · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2003, 05:50:20 am »

There are many different file o plates specifically for different models of Carlton chain. Some will give suitable raker clearance when used on different brand chains ( depending on that particulary chain ) and some will give you a greater cleaarance than it would on a Carlton chain. You have to check each combination before you can assume that it is correct. Remember that putting metal back on is much harder than taking it off!

Frank

OneWithWood · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2003, 06:20:38 am »

Rob,
I tried using a hand grinder to dress up some of my older chains that somehow met the ground. I was not happy with the finished product and ended up hand filing anyway. It took more than just a couple of strokes to get them back to where they needed to be. Of course it may be I jest can't power file worth a DanG

Rob · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2003, 12:00:27 pm »

Dan,

Your right maybe I'll just spend this weekend free handing all of these old chains..instead of spending more money for a tool that I really don't need..Power filing is the only way to go

Thanks Rob.

wooddawg · « **Reply #15 on:** March 26, 2003, 05:48:37 am »

I have a box full of them round out in the shed if anyone needs a certain one let me know I may have it.bought abunch of stuff last year from a guy

JD_Kid · « **Reply #16 on:** May 30, 2003, 05:36:23 am »

Hi ya's
what did ya end up doing rob??i have tryed a few grinders all 12V one had the round stones (like a file)good but did not realy sharpen to well ,my new one is for sharping my mill 8)but i got the grind stone for it too (4 inch disk kinda deal) this one ya clamp on ya bar and set ya angles "bingo" ya grinding ..Just had a look at ya link with nick the grinder the one i got is kinda the same but ya set the angles on the grinder where that one i think ya move the base (the mini bar the chains in)good for doing what ya talking about or just to true ya chains once in a while ..i'll have a look at the box and give ya more info if ya want
catch ya
JD Kid

Rob · « **Reply #17 on:** May 30, 2003, 05:46:04 am »

JD,

So far I have just stuck with free hand filing but will be buying a Oregon 511A in the near future or maybe a Maxx Grinder from a guy I know..

Rob.

JD_Kid · « **Reply #18 on:** May 30, 2003, 04:02:38 pm »

Hi ya Rob
i don't know the grinders ya talking about but when i worked in the bush once a week the guys would have there chains ground (cutting alot of trees with dirt/grit under the bark)files are good but for what ya doing with older or chiped chains i'd grind ..the only thing i got to ask is how do ya end up with 60-70 odd chains??? all my chains are tossed with no teeth or worn that bad the side links start braking ,i would have had a grinder years ago or droped them off at the shop while buy new ones
catch ya
JD Kid

Rob · « **Reply #19 on:** May 30, 2003, 04:22:38 pm »

JD,

About 40 of the chains I have are from a fellow logger who just changes the chains after filing them 4-5 times,so they're still half there so I took them for myself.The others are just some chains I have had laying around for a while in the shop.I go through a few chains a week if I'm busy roughly 3-4 thats cutting 60mbf of Red Oak that I have cut,limbed,and bucked to length.I don't run my chains down till they break thats aking for trouble.

Gotta fly
Rob.

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Author Topic: Chain Grinders (Read 3498 times)