Cleaning Chains

How do you clean your chains before your file or grind them?

 

unless theyre really grimy from rotten/dirty wood i do nothing. otherwise soak em in old gas (or new gas since theyre practically giving it away these days )

 

I have one of these (FloTool 10 Quart Drain Container 11837MI: Advance Auto Parts) that I put simple green in, let them soak for five minutes and then wipe off before you put on the grinder, Pallet Pete does something like this too.

 

+1 on old fuel mix to soak. And I'll add some old tranny fluid, too.

 

Tranny fluid, don't let trump hear that.

 

Running them in hardwood will clean them up.

 

I always blow em off with compressed air. If they're nasty, they soak in simple green or oil eaters (whatever is handy).

 

I use old premix on them. The gas cleans them and when it evaporates it leaves a little oil to prevent rust. And it gets rid of stuff I'd be tempted to ruin my carb with.

 

Thanks for the replies. You guys do basically what I was thinking. I was thinking about diesel and ATF. I just was not sure if there was a better way. Good idea on the Flotool container thewoodlands, I can put them in there and shake them to help clean. It will also be nice to keep the cleaning solution in.

 

I usually take the air compressor to the chains before I do a quick soaking (the chains) in the Simple Green.

 

X2 on compressed air or Simple Green.

 

I just leave them out until they rust , then i paint them , use good car metalic colours

 

PPG baby

 

yes and SATA jet 4000 paint pistols

 

For the most part ,Simple green and air . If I get one that has gotten really nasty ,I'll soak it in Coleman stove gas ,the after it's dry ( very important ) ,I'll take a cordless drill with a brass wheel to get the mung and rust off . The reason for all that is , I like to inspect the whole chain if I don't know it's condition . Can't do that when it's covered with dirt . It's also easier on the grinder wheels .

 

I run the saw at about 1/2 throttle and dip bar into a bucket of sand. It cleans off all the gunk and makes the chain super shiny!!




Kidding! Rarely are they dirty enough to need cleaned, but I have used bench-top sweeper brush a few times to knock loose grim off of them.

 

Soak in Old 2 cycle gas about an hour.
Then swish around , amazing how much black gunk comes out.

Good time to inspect the links too.
Had one (RS , that I bought used that was so stretched, no more adjustment , in the garbage can now)
cut 10 cord with it, lots of cutter left, but garbage now.

"Stretched" is probably the wrong word , worn / loose / sloppy at the pivot points,
guessing poor oiling &/or dirty cutting. ( not from me , from the guy I got them from )