New to wood cutting - How to maintain a chainsaw

Look into Game Of Logging courses in your area. I took one 11 years ago and it changed the way I cut wood now. Level 2 gets into chainsaw maintenance.

 

Thanks guys, I will definitely get a chain sharpening tool for out in the field, just need to learn how to use it. Thanks guys! I am in Citrus Heights California, right on the east border of Sacramento. Has anyone put a 49mm engine in there still 029? I believe that the 49mm came in the 039 so it should make it have more power!

 

for $200 to $300 you can get a nice electric sharpener that will last you forever if taken care of. I got one of the oregon models and have had great luck with it.,

 

Wow, I was thinking the other day about how many things there are to know. A chainsaw is not the kind of thing that you figure out as you go.

The user manuals tell you a lot but still there's more. It almost breaks down by subject. Here are a few:
- How to clean the saw and bar
- How to clean the oil passage
- How to sharpen the chain, how often you should resharpen
- How to use the saw without creating kickback
- How / when to lower the chain rakers
- The pros / cons of using pump gasoline (ethanol)
- How tight to keep the chain
- How to start the saw efficiently and safely
- What PPE to wear and how to use it effectively
- How to engage the chain brake and when to use it
- How to cut logs and branches without pinching the bar.
- How to fell a tree (although that's not a beginner task and a whole study of its own)
- The different kinds of chains, ways to sharpen, and pros/cons of each
- How to cut wood without quickly dulling your chain

David

 

Often Northern Tool has specials on a very useful grinder for $100- enormously preferable to the HF grinder, enormously. Still, a grinder is mainly for rocked chains IMO, NOT for normal sharpenings. A proper guided file works waaaaay better at that. See Granberg "File-N-Joint"- mine goes everywhere I go with saw(s). Stroke or two per cutter every other fillup- razor-city.
When adjusting chain tension, push bar tip up and keep it pushed up while adjusting and tightening bar nuts. Amazing how many didn't get that memo, and wonder how the chain got so loose so quickly.
Always keep your body parts out of the plane of the chain (you should always be able to read what's printed on the bar.) That'll keep kickbacks from getting at you. Always keep your feet apart and anticipate challenges to keeping your balance. Keep them off to the side from the line of the cut besides all your other body parts. Stay in charge.

 

^^^ sound advice ! Also,,, The most likely part of the bar to cause a kickback is the upper part of the tip .picture the tip as a D . The part that can cause the saw to come at you hardest and fastest is the part from the 12 oclock to 3 oclock position .

 

First of all tell us if you buy PPE , then the others

 

Also when doing firewood cutting be careful if you are on unlevel terrain. Im positive all of us on here have had logs or rounds go rolling downhill when they werent suppose to. And falling trees on hillsides can be very interesting to say the least. Look at your cutting site before you begin, also look for any utilities beforehand also.

 

What is PPE


Thanks all for the great advice! I got some videos to watch. I have been looking into chain sharpeners and how to use them, think I will get one before my next cutting trip. Is anyone else from California in here?

 

Really great video! Thanks for sharing!

 

I prefer the timberline chain sharpener.
Safety gear is as important as a good saw IMO. I always wear a helmet with ear and face protection.

 

Ash I see. Thanks. Last time I went out I had jeans, a jacket , ear muffs, gloves and safety glasses. Should probably get some safer clothes

 

Ya. My wife was telling me the other day how her grandfather cut half way through his leg with a chain saw I can't seem to find that members map, could you send me a link to it? Thanks

 

Thanks a bunch! wow the closest person to me is 2 hours a way!

 

MM, how do I add myself to that map?