Cooiling my chain grinder

I have an Oregon 511A chain grinder that I already made reversable. I have been using the pink wheels and wasnt happy with the heat that they were putting into the cutters. I was forced to slow down and use time if I wanted a cool, unheated cutter, so I started war gaming an idea on how to cool the cutter.

Then I saw a CBN wheel for under $120 to my door, so I went for it. I like the wheel ALOT, but on a rocked cutter, I generated enough heat to start blueing the cutter. I admit that I was very heavy handed, but I had the tree guy standing there waiting. I told him that it would be a little longer due to the rocked condition and the heat being generated, so he said "keep the old chain and can you spin me a new one ?"

I had an hour or so left to kill before work, and while everyone else was sleeping, I went to the barn and got started. The end result is a simple tube that blows cold air right at the cutting surface. Set it for the chain, just like the stop, and go around without touching it again. Switched to the other cutters and I still didnt have to touch the tube.

For me, it was simple enough to use air, I didnt want any water getting all over me or the grinder, and this works pretty well. I included a valve to controll the air from the tube, and believe it or not, I didnt need alot of air to do the trick. I intend on switching to a pink wheel on a junk chain just to see if it can keep that cold as well.

Have a look ........... first picture is an action shot too !!

 

Cool invention. Ha ha.

I just bought the same wheel and I have the cheap chinese knockoff of your grinder. Just used it last night for the first time.
I recently saw a video of someone using these grinders. He used more of a tapping method by continually raising and lowering the blade. Ha, that's what I've been doing wrong. Takes longer but so far no heat problems or molten slag dripping on the floor
The worse rocked chain I did last night only needed .030" removed so perhaps not the best test. I do like the blade tho, great investment.

 

I wish I snapped a picture of the chains at the local hardware rental department. Blued, distorted, thick burrs of metal hanging off, wow were they ever bad.

I had been thinking about active cooling but my compressor is on the opposite side of the shop. I wonder if setting up a small shop-vac would work - collect the grindings and increase air cooling over the cutters all at once.

 

I would neck down the tube to increase the velocity.

 

If you didn't have air handy near by, A good size fish tank air pump would probably do the trick.
I had a small one hooked up on a scroll saw , it blew the dust off real good .
A little more money a , Airbrush Compressor

 

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Can bend them to any shape and they work fine for air.

 

How much chain dust is getting blown on you?

 

Am I the only one the finds it strange that an "Oregon" grinder is made in Italy? Seems like the name should end in a vowel.

 

Actually, none.
The air is coming at an angle to the side and upwards, no matter which direction the wheel spins, I stand off to the side and dont even wear glasses. Its not alot of air pressure at all .......... cant even feel it blowing on me.

 

I use the pink wheels and the bounce technique but still put more heat into a rocked chain than i would like. been thinking about this very idea for awhile but never tried it. now that i see it works i may have to spend some time and give it a try.

 

You guys need to clarify which wheels you are using. Both Molemab and Oregon wheels are "pink". I know Molemab's are a favorite of most guys on here but I have found the grit to be too fine when working on rocked chain. They do produce a very nice finish to the cutter but I'm more about speed to get it done and less on aesthetics. Most guys just want it done and want it to cut good. So the nice mirror finish is not a priority in my book. Oregon wheels seem to be middle of the road for grit, and Stihl seems to be the coarsest from what I have experienced so far.

That being said i have found that both Stihl and Foley Belsaw make more aggressive wheels that cut chain quick; especially when they are rocked or need a lot of cutter taken off.

I honestly can't remember which grinder i had the foley wheel on and what size arbors the Oregon is vs Stihl.

I also highly recommend getting a BIG dressing brick from Bailey's or another supplier. The one I have is 1" x 1" x 6" and it's easier to control and dresses stone wheels quickly. Those tiny dressers that you get with Oregon grinders are about worthless IMHO.

I will be adding all of this and more detail to a grinder review later this fall. Philbert requested that I review grinders and wheels in a thread since I have many options in my shop to grind with. I'll also make note of which wheels can be paired with the certain machines and how to adapt your grinder if needed.

I will review these grinders and wheels.
Silvey 300
Oregon 511a
Oregon 511ax
Oregon 511ax with hydro
Stihl USG
--------
Molemab stone wheels
CBN wheel (maker unknown)
Stihl stone wheels
Oregon Stone wheels

Let me know if there is anything else you guys would like to add. I'd like to add a maxx grinder to the review but I'm not buying another grinder. I have used some of the cheap HF grinders and the NT 511a knock off too so I'll comment on those too. I sharpen a TON of chain so I thought it would be nice to have a side by side comparison from 1 person rather than online review from someone that only owns one grinder...

I know this is one of many hot topics that people struggle with on here.

Cheers!

 

Hardest item to procure is the valve. Everything is standard refrigeration tube and fittings except the compression elbow and 1/4" pneumatic fitting. If I had to make another one it would only take me about 1/2 hour since I have the angles and shape figured out already. I would also adapt a smaller tube to the end of the main tube, might be able to come across some capillary tubing that would be perfect. If you want, I can take more detailed pictures so you can war game your thoughts and come up with something that works perfect for you Sir.

 

I have been using the Oregon pink wheels

Stihl is 12mm
Oregon is 7/8" (a smidgeon over 22mm)

Looking forward to your review Sir !!

 

Oregon/carlton pink wheels for me too...on a Oregon 511A. Easy access since i order from those sources at least once per week. I have no complaints although i dont really sharpen a ton of chain. Maybe 15 on a bad week to 15 a day on a good week.

 

Oregono?

 

You sure that you are in Rabbit Hash and not using the hash ??

 

Well, I've always said Rabbit Hash is as much a state of mind as it is a destination!