Chain Loops and cutting teeth?

[Forester Parts]

I took a small Husky in on trade. I noticed that the chain seems to be missing a cutting tooth. Not that it is broke off or something. It just looks like when the loop was made it was just cut straight off the roll. It is a 18" bar with 68 drives. It has 33 cutter teeth instead of 34. Does this make any difference. When I cut loops I have always thought that I try to keep as many cut teeth on the loop, so I burn a link to keep the # of cut teeth right. What do you think?

 

[stig]

Might make a difference to a true fanatic.
I've never noticed any.

 

[pigwot]

My 346 has a 16" and a 18" bar and one has a full complement of cutters and the other skips a tooth; never has been an issue, and it cuts the same.
I don't lose my place when touching up the saw in the field; just start and stop at the gap.

 

[Burnham]

What both above have said.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I don't lose my place when touching up the saw in the field; just start and stop at the gap.

I keep a red perm marker with my files that I use to mark my starting tooth. Everyone who sees me do it, and then uses my vise, always grabs for that marker too.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I use a lumber crayon, but have never observed anyone else marking before filing. It's a mystery to me how they know where they started, exactly.

A missing tooth is probably like having two left or right cutters in a row. Somehow you survive.

 

[flushcut]

It makes no difference what so ever.

 

[Jed]

Rajan, (Flushcut) is right.

 

[jasonsykes]

I concur with the first two repliers.

 

[Cut4fun]

I did it again and it's starting to get on my side. I was counting out 44 drive links of the PS3 to break for the echo pole saw. For some unknown to my dead brain why I counted to 40 and marked it. Yes I even counted to 40 twice and the bell wasnt going off.

So I go to spin it up and thought to myself, boy that chain looks short. So I go cut 4 more drive links off the roll and put in 2 presets now.

Anyhow I just want you to know I thought the PS3 chain cut alot faster through the pine tree branches I was trimming up before winter over power wires. Just like dropping a hot butter knife through butter IMO.
Still wore me out but seemed like I was going through the limbs with far less effort.

 

[woodworkingboy]

Chain length charts are pretty handy if you have the room on a bench to spread them out. That being said, I bought one about twenty years ago and have never used it.

 

[Al Smith]

I usually mark off the bulk chain with the famous red marker which has been mentioned .Then wrap it around the bar just to make sure . I'll be the first to admit though I have screwed up a time or two .

 

[Cut4fun]

I knew what I wanted 44 in my mind. I just miscounted 4 short each time to 40. I even marked the chain at 40. I was only counting to 40. It was all me.

 

[Al Smith]

Oh things just happen .I recall one time I started out to cut and install trim work in a bedroom where I once lived .After cutting up an entire 12 foot piece of trim and not having one piece cut correctly with the compound angles I figured it was better day to drink beer than pretend I was a finish carpenter . That was in my Old Milwaukee days of yore .

 

[woodworkingboy]

During my woodworking apprenticeship I cut a whole table top about six inches too short. It was a custom order size for a coffee shop or something. Instead of facing the wrath of my teacher, I pretended that it never happened, when on to finish the job. For six months after that, whenever the factory manager walked into the room, I got the shakes. Never heard a thing about it, but fessing up would probably have been easier.

 

[Al Smith]

The only people who don't make mistakes are the ones that don't do any thing .

 

[Porkbrick]

"trying is the first step towards failure." homer simpson

 

[Burnham]

I use a lumber crayon, but have never observed anyone else marking before filing. It's a mystery to me how they know where they started, exactly.

A missing tooth is probably like having two left or right cutters in a row. Somehow you survive.

I don't have any trouble telling which tooth has been sharpened and which has not. For one thing, the visible filing dust shines in the light.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I just mark my starting part from the getgo. That way, I don't have to worry about braking as I file 100mph.

 

[Al Smith]

Speaking of chain ,it looks like I have a long loop to make up .122 drivers of .404 for a 42" on Toms 084 .

He finally found that bar which is no worse for wear after I gave it a good soaking with Kroil .Evidently he has a partial roll of chain .So in a bit it looks like ye olde 084 will be back again with a proper bar .Ha the race bar I made for that thing with an open roller tip wasn't much good for real work .122 cc with 19" of bar ,amusing but not too practical .

Geeze I priced some chain and has it ever escalated in price since last I bought any .It used to be 24 cents per driver on .404 ,now 43 cents for Oregon .Fact a 25 foot roll of Carlton ..404 skip in .058 only set me back 25 bucks about 2-3 years ago .The last that Baileys had in that size .

 

[HolmenTree]

I don't have any trouble telling which tooth has been sharpened and which has not. For one thing, the visible filing dust shines in the light.

Same here Burnham , the shiny filings is second nature to me too. I just have to wear reading glasses now

I have always counted my drive links by two's to help speed things up.

 

[cory]

I just mark my starting part from the getgo. That way, I don't have to worry about braking as I file 100mph.

Ditto,MB

 

[Marc-Antoine]

I put a little brass wire, either around a cutter or throw a link. If there isn't an easy spotting point like a double cutter (same side teeth) or a hole in the sequence.

 

[Al Smith]

I can most generally tell by the feel of the file as to where I started .

 

[Porkbrick]

i know when to stop when i see shiny as well. when i make chain i count half the links and then fold it over to show me where to break it.