Bench mounted grinders

Any advice? Good or bad experiences? I'm just a homeowner/firewooder, but am seriously considering grinding my own chains. I'm fine with hand filing most of the time, but, like to have my chains ground every so often to get the angles precise.

 

I bought a Oregon 511AX about a year ago, I really like it a lot. It takes me about 5 minutes to knockout a 20" chain. The instructions are a little hard to understand. I still can't get the hang of grinding down the rakers with it.------- I'm real sure that you won't regret getting one.

 

The Harbor Fright one is cheap, I paid $30. It works for me, though it is likely somewhat imprecise, and is alittle awkward.

Greg

 

I am a big fan of bench grinders, get a full sized one.

For occasional user, the Tecomec clones in the $100-125 range do a fair job and perfectly adequate for most.

The Oregon 5111AX, and Tecomec clones have a much better clamping mechanism but the price is triple.]

The Silvey 510 is vastly superior to the 511AX by the way it pushes the cutter down into the bar rail groove to grind the tooth, but unfortunately they aren't made anymore and expect to pay triple. (you pull back on the chain in use, there is no clamping, the pawl then forces the cutter down)

Sorry I haven't figured the macro feature out yet.

 

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Hey Mike, Forester makes a nice grinder for about $125. ----I got my Oregon grinder from Russo Power Equipment for $311. with free shipping. No regrets at all.----- Throw away the files! Just joking, they're okay in a pinch.

 

I had a Harbor Freight grinder and upgraded to the one from northern tools, quite a few people have these, good bang for the buck and I see right now on sale for $99
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200624012_200624012

 

Yup that sure look like it's made by Tecomec. They make a bunch that are rebadged.

 

I broke down. 511AX is ordered. $311 from Russo Not terrible. Now need a spinner, breaker and reel of chain... Anyone interested in splitting the cost of some 3/8, 0.050 chain full chisel (round) chain, 33Rs/72LGX/30RC?

 

You'll never look back! Good investment.---Good video --Thank's Murph!-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chain sharpening tutorial 5th page down--------- https://www.youtube.com/watch?annot...&feature=iv&src_vid=XbDSFA71KEg&v=03y7UZelr9g

 

That looks like ALOT of hook !!!
How low are those rakers ?

 

I like as much hook as I can get out of my grinder. It saves me a lot cut time, I'm cutting Piyon Pine, I don't know if that would hold up very well on hard woods. I had to play around with different angles until I found what works best for me.

 

hey guys what are pros and cons of VA 511ax, vs. the rough neck besides 200 dollars

 

Frawleys has spools on sale right now for $287, very nice deal. Great place, I'm putting up a thread on the 72dl blowout they've got right now!
I've got a line on a like new 511ax for half price of new but can't make up my mind!!!

 

That pic. was an example of the pawl set up on the 510 and not a good example of a well ground chain. That was one of the 1st I did. It is really easy to run the wheel in too deep and get too much hook and that is a good example of "too much". If one wants the gullets cleaned out, it should be done with the wheel not touching the top plate and then make a second pass just "kissing" the working corner. The rakers are too low also, good eye. That was a chain I had already screwed up setting up the Tecomec for raker duty. (I just replaced that with a Nielsen model 100 for rakers but haven't got the wheel profiled correctly yet. Pictures to come eventually.)

Heck there is a learning curve for all.

 

Madsens has oregon for $259 last I checked. I bought a roll of chain and the breaker/spinner combo and they tossed in a lot of freebies like hats, chain charts, and an extra punch if I remember right.

 

Great price. I'm scared to call and ask about shipping.

 

I don't remember what it was. Somewhere around $20-25 for a single roll. I bought a grinder, breaker/spinner, and a roll of chain at one shot. I think it was $80 shipping on that bunch of stuff.

 

You won't regret the 511ax mike bayerl . I've had one for about 6 months now. Great grinder, but you'll find little ways to tweak your settings to best suit your cutting. I had a few chains hanging on the wall waiting for a grinder, sure is nice to be able to put them back into service now. My nearest dealers would ravage a chain on their grinder.

Just remember to dress your wheels often. That was my biggest learning curve. I've started to let my chains soak in the parts washer then brush them down before grinding, sure helps from the gunk buildup on the wheels.

 

Thanks for the advice.