chain saw help

[Tom Forrester]

does any one know the proper name for a ripping chain.I have called most of the local dealers and not found much help. Are they called micro chisel or full chisel or some other name. Thanks for any help you might be able to give.

[Paul Downes]

Tom, Ripping chain can be made from a regular full chisel chain. The chain is sharpened at 0 to 10 deg. Some folks like to use a full skip or semi skip chain to allow more room for chip removal from the saw kerf. The size of the chain is dependant on the size required by the particular saw you are running. Check out www.baileys-online.com , they sell ripping chain in some sizes. I've made my own ripping chain for quartering large diameter logs. You just try to file each tooth 0 to 10 deg. from 90 deg. to the chain. Don't file the rakers down to much because it is easy to clog up the saw kerf in a wide log. Unless of course you're running an 088 or 3120 saw.

[Tom Forrester]

Paul thanks for your help. I am trying to rip a few logs for bowl blanks and can't find anything around here. I will try the grind you reccomend. thanks for your help

[John Shuk]

Just go to a Stihl dealer and ask for Pro chain. Tell them you don't want the anti kick back stuff. I don't know if you are going into the endgrain or not but you will have much better results if you are laying the log on its side and cutting along the length of the log or parralel to it. The anti kickback chain works well for this but I like the pro stuff with out the pawls I like to cut as fast as I can so I can get to the lathe quicker!
John

[Greg Tatum]

Hey Tom...all you want to know about chain is at thishttp://www.madsens1.com/ripchain.htm http://www.madsens1.com/sub4.htm ..the whole site is worth looking at as well....I've had them make up a few loops for use with my Alaskan saw mill....modify a chain till it cuts the way you like...BTW, you don't have to use ripping chain. It just makes the job easier and puts less stress on the saw...regular chain usually leaves a smoother cut as well....there is a group on Yahoo called "Milling" that has a lot of posts on ripping chain....good luck and be safe...make sure you have your log secure....when you start that cut the log will want to pull towards you esp. if using a big saw with lots of torque.

Hope this helps,
Greg

[Steven Wilson]

You don't need rip chain to rip bowl blanks. Set the log on it's side and rip that way, works very well.

[Anthony Yakonick]

We need a link to Bill Grumbines site, any one?

[Paul Downes]

We need a link to Bill Grumbines site, any one?

Here ya go Anthony:http://www.enter.net/~ultradad/