That is absolutely how I do it as well. Yes I can sharpen by hand but why?
Chain Issues
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I have found all sorts of metal in trees. Even in the woods. Most of our woods here was pasture at one point or another so it's really common to find Imbedded metal
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Yes, lots of hedgerows and yard trees, I’m not logging, just cutting for firewood for myself and a friend. We live in a wooded area, and it seems power and phone companies used to lag into front yard trees to run wiring from street to house.
I’m also not processing on site. I lop the trunk into 15 foot lengths and drag onto my trailer, then stack logs at home. That stack may sit a year at home before processing, so by then orientation of what was top-down is forgotten.
Also, I’m not implying I hit insulators or bolts on an hourly rate, but it happens occasionally. More often I’m just swapping chains because it’s getting less sharp from use, and I just don’t want to spend any of my limited daylight time sharpening. If I always used a file it might be less of an issue, but swapping from grinder to file usually means more than just one or two swipes to get it sharp, as the grinder leaves a different profile.
I don't understand what starting at the top will change. If there is metal there it doesn't matter where you start.
So, don't go to a grinder!, I mean this, at no time do you kill a whole chain, if you stop when the problem happens, it's easy squezy, lemon pleasey, lift off when you see Sparks, sharpen, cut another cord
Oops I missed it, starting at the top usually insures you a cord delivery before noon, unless you captains of industry have a better plan for lunch
If you don't like grinders fine. I do as do many others. I don't see why it bothers you if I prefer to swap chains and sharpen with a grinder.
Why would I care about delivering a cord before noon? I am simply cutting my 3 to 4 cords a year. I am going to cut the whole thing regardless. Now yes most of the time I do start at the top because that simply makes the most sense and is safest but not always.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
I’ve never seen sparks when I have a long bar buried in wood and manage to hit something. If the metal was on my side of the log, I guess it might throw sparks, but then I’d probably see it before hitting it. It’s the stuff buried inside, or on the far side of the log where I just fail to see it, that always gets me. Besides, I’m not sure how good a chain would be after making sparks, even if I did see them.
But I’m not sure why you have such a problem with someone who prefers a grinder? To each their own, I found a system that works for me.
Once again, you guys complained about the employees of hardware stores, saying it takes away many more sharpening, ok learn to do it yourself, in the field, that's all.
I didn't ever complain about hardware store employees. Yes grinding takes off more material. Yes I will get a few less sharpenings per chain. I am fine with that
Isaac Carlson
Minister of Fire
I have buggered whole chains by hitting stuff. It doesn't take long. I have hit railroad ties, birdhouses, fencing, rebar, concrete, rocks, nails, bolts, squirrels, mice, and a host of other stuff. I get more sparks from the wood than the objects in the wood when cutting ironwood. It looks like an angle grinder when cutting that stuff in the dark.
I swap chains and sharpen at home. My chains are always sharp and ready to go. I know guys who file in the woods and their chains are mostly dull and uneven.
I swap chains and sharpen at home. My chains are always sharp and ready to go. I know guys who file in the woods and their chains are mostly dull and uneven.
Isaac Carlson
Minister of Fire
Carry a couple chains and you can make it a double load. Drive the truck in reverse and the load will get there even earlier.
I thought someone said they were leaving.......
Yes, leaving to go deliver a load of wood, a cord was on my truck, and the customer called and stopped it, aw, great, leaf springs are getting hurt tonight, then the call came, delivery tonight, shew,.
I certainly don't. If I ever did expand our chimney business into that it would be with log loads and a processor. Atleast in this area at what firewood sells for here I don't see any other way to make a decent profit
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Isaac Carlson
Minister of Fire
I've been thinking of selling wood. Some years I'm swimming in it and some years im coasting on what i got stacked.
You said the secret ingredient, to make a decent profit, sharpen the chain on the saw and get back to work, that's all I was saying, there are no quick fixes in the woods
Ashful
Minister of Fire
Isaac Carlson
Minister of Fire
Swapping chains gives me a chance to clean out the bar groove and oil holes. I run ported saws and when I cut wood, it gets cut fast. When the saw gets set down, I need a break, and that means fuel, oil, and a chain, and then back to it again. It doesn't take me long to cut a full cord, and a chain swap takes a few minutes.
Ashful
Minister of Fire
No need arguing about what was said. It's water under the bridge.
No profit here, just maximizing use of limited daylight hours on a Saturday.
Isaac is this log lenght wood on a landing or are you in the woods, most ported saws don't leave the header
Isaac Carlson
Minister of Fire
