Flossing your teeth

Kevin · October 06, 2002, 07:18:11 PM

One thing I make a habit of before filing my chain is to take a narrow piece of rag and floss each and every cutting tooth on the chain.
This only takes a minute and it prevents the file from plugging up.

Ron Scott · October 06, 2002, 07:32:45 PM

A good idea. I've been using a tooth brush, but the flossing idea will clean better.

DanG · October 06, 2002, 07:54:38 PM

Good idea, Kev..maybe if you mixed a bit of Listerine in your bar oil.....? :D

Kevin · October 06, 2002, 08:03:22 PM

I`m trying to think of a way to get feathers to stick to the chain on my 335 so I can use it as a feather duster in the house.

DanG · October 06, 2002, 08:34:54 PM

Ickey-Pic! (sp) We are probably the only ones here that know what I'm talking about. ;D

woodbeard · October 07, 2002, 03:29:40 PM

try dousing the chicken with molasses first :D

Corley5 · October 18, 2002, 08:25:22 PM

Intersting concept flossing your saws teeth. I've never seen a need for it. The teeth on any saw I've ever run were clean and shiny for the most part. Maybe a little dirt or dust here and there but nothing the file couldn't handle. After every tooth I wipe the file across my pants leg to knock off the filings. That's why my Carhart Arctic bibs have a fuzzy appearance on the right leg and my old pair has a hole wore in them.

Lumberjack49 · January 07, 2023, 08:20:13 AM

I always start the saw and cut a block before I file it cleans the chain of oil an dirt

John Mc · January 08, 2023, 12:31:07 PM

An interesting idea. I'll give a tooth a quick swipe with whatever I have handy, if I see a bit of crud hanging off it.

Reading this reminded me of another recommendation someone on here made a while back: make a noodling cut with the saw just before sharpening to clean out the teeth. I tried it a couple of times, and it does work well, but I never seem to remember to do it before sharpening.

petefrom bearswamp · January 10, 2023, 08:27:06 AM

we cut 99 percent firewood, mostly tops and work just a half day.
We take a spare chain with us.
Teeth on my chains are always pretty clean so I just start filing.
I sharpen 90 percent of the time in my shop vise, rarely in the field as my wood is pretty clean and a sharpening lasts most of the morning..
I use a square handle on my file. rotate it 1/4 turn every tooth and tap it on the vise every 4 rotations.
Not saying this is correct but works for me.

donbj · January 11, 2023, 01:10:37 AM

Quote from: petefrom bearswamp on January 10, 2023, 08:27:06 AM
we cut 99 percent firewood, mostly tops and work just a half day.
We take a spare chain with us.
Teeth on my chains are always pretty clean so I just start filing.
I sharpen 90 percent of the time in my shop vise, rarely in the field as my wood is pretty clean and a sharpening lasts most of the morning..
I use a square handle on my file. rotate it 1/4 turn every tooth and tap it on the vise every 4 rotations.
Not saying this is correct but works for me.

That makes total sense to me. Keeping the file clean of filings is smart. Why drag them through again. Looks like you have a good system to me

customsawyer · January 11, 2023, 03:09:02 AM

My dad was one of those that cleaned the teeth on his chain before sharpening. He also would say something if he saw me bring the file back for another stroke and it drag on the tooth a little. Said I was taking the edge off of the file. I always figured that files were cheaper than all of the time he spent trying to get a extra sharpening or two out of the file. I think for him it came from being born into the great depression and having to make everything last.