Thread: Chainsaw Chain cleaner

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Some pics of the gizmo.


Here's some close ups of the rig.

The chain tension is provided purely by the weight of the bar. The bar nuts are not even needed and only done up finger tight to eliminate the bar wobbling and looking like the chain might come off. I have run a bar and chain without any of the bar bolts (ie the bar hanging vertically, just cradled by the the chain) and the chain won't won't come off unless the chain is really gummed up and then it might suddenly set up a bar wobble eventually allowing the chain to jump the bar so that the bar fall downs. The bar bolts are there just to prevent the bar falling but the bar nuts are not really needed.
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Home made single point drive spline.
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Fits standard rim sprocket (so can switch to 404 etc) I just use an old one since it's not exactly hammering along.
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Home made ally bearing pillow blocks with 1" bearings.
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Driving the 42" bar
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It also works with the 60" bar but I have to do that outside with the rig clamped to a ladder.

Different.

Looks good bob, the rig allows a bucket of cleaning product left underneath, the chain can drip dry once applied and scrubbed clean. Good thinking.

Originally Posted by jasons673

Looks good bob, the rig allows a bucket of cleaning product left underneath, the chain can drip dry once applied and scrubbed clean. Good thinking.

Yep what I do is start the chain spinning. Spray the chain with degreaser and let it work up a nice foamy shampoo. Then I turn off the drill and let it sit for half an hour. Then start the chain spinning and scrub with the wire brush!

Once its clean I can even run a hose over it and then spin the chain fast for a spin dry followed by a blow dry with a compressor - lastly I squirt it some CRC on the chain to seal it from corrosion.

Have you tried oven cleaner, apparently it is good for shifting that baked on muck.

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

Have you tried oven cleaner, apparently it is good for shifting that baked on muck.

Yep I do that with Tuart which is pretty gummy - I spray on oven cleaner and let it sit overnight, it seems to soften it but I still have to scrub it.

hey bob why would you be putting your hand anywhere near that thing when spinning, it is still a chain saw .

He had it running backwards.

Bob your mean machinist, I wish I had some more spare time, whenever I have slabbed anything gummy with the lucas slabber it has just flaked off overnight or by the next use, for my falling saw all I do is run the saw tip down a smooth barked sapling in the sapwood layer to clean the teeth up nice & clean for filing.
regards inter

Originally Posted by jmaxwell

hey bob why would you be putting your hand anywhere near that thing when spinning, it is still a chain saw .

As Cliff says it is running is reverse.

I'm just demonstrating that using ones hands to hold a wire brush near a chain spinning in reverse at low RPM is quite safe.

BTW don't try this (even in reverse) using a high revving corded drill as it will take the skin of your knuckles.

Originally Posted by InterTD6

Bob your mean machinist, I wish I had some more spare time, whenever I have slabbed anything gummy with the lucas slabber it has just flaked off overnight or by the next use,

Yeah I knew professionals would laugh at this because they do have better things to do with their time. But you have to remember that we are not all professionals and being a rank amateur, playing with my mills and saws is just a hobby (and way cheaper than therapy). I guess I have to find ways of spinning things out as long as I can

what is the idea of cleaning the chain.

i clean mine with the next cut.

Originally Posted by weisyboy

what is the idea of cleaning the chain.

i clean mine with the next cut.

With some trees we have out west, like tuart, the gum cakes on so hard and can build up so bad that it places an extra load on the saw so there is a reason to clean chains. My old dad used to throw his chains into a bucket of diesel overnight. This softens up most of the gum so that it would come off on the next cut but the gum used to clog up his files and I remember him cursing every time he had to cut tuart.

For me it's mostly a personal preference - I like to file clean chains. I also degrease and wash my saws down about once a month. But I wash my car maybe once every two years.