Hit an old square nail in a big oak last weekend, wiped out every cutter. Fixing it this morning I noticed there's chunks of nail attached to a handful of cutters. Chains like this make me question why I don't setup my grinder.
Can't like this post. Looked at a timber job close to home, they had a bunch of rejects beside the loader and I couldn't believe all of the blue stained oak, nails everywhere.
Without a grinder I would of just junked that chain or hung it up till I had the grinder set up. That's a lot of filing.
Cutters weren't damaged much at all. What you see curled is metal that was somewhat easily removed from the chain. Whatever he sawed was softer than the chain and it cut into it, so that is in effect metal saw shavings.
Thats the only reason I set up my grinder as well. I had a day like that myself a while back so up went the grinder and wouldn't you know it. After setting it up I haven't hit anything; kind of like buying that new snowblower " No Snow that year ". Sawmill ; well , still having bad days on occasion finding metal. But that's a different story.
That stinks. I have a few like that with badly dulled teeth that im reluctant to hand file. No electric grinder here.
Lol. He never did give me an explanation that I can remember. I just picked off those shavings and used my Timerline jig on it. What really sucks is if you hand square file a long loop and hit metal. Ask me how I know...
farmer steve showed me the basics of hand filing around 2016 and I haven't had a chain ground since. A few that would have been easier with a grinder like the one in this thread, but I just turn on the music and file away.
Ive done the same with badly dulled chains when its the only one i have on hand...even in the field! Since loosening up the wallet and having multiples of common sized chain i wont do that as often, plus i know three members here with grinders.
Four. And you can borrow mine. Since learning to field dress mine, the grinder sits unused. I can't think of a time I'd use it at this rate. I keep 5 chains handy for the 450, and 3 for the 460. I used to burn through most of them and then have a session with the grinder. Now I just field dress them, even after rock contact. A couple years ago, residential tree, I found a big knot of metal. Was an older chain, and decided I'd try to cut around the knot. I did, but not before shearing off 8 teeth on the 18" chain. I charpened the remaining just to see. It made this nifty powder, holding the saw with one hand buzzing away.... Sca
