How to clean saw chain?

[bstewert]

I just had a couple of chains sharpened but the links are still a bit sticky, so I thought I'd clean them up. Tried various things, but nothing would get that dark-green-black gunk off. Kerosene and lots of scrubbing with a wire brush worked best, but it's too much tedious work. Is there any secret to cleaning them, or do you just not worry about it?

Would it be OK to soak them overnight in kerosene? The same crud builds up on my hedger teeth, and it doesn't cut as well if the teeth are not clean. I'm thinking the same would apply to chain.

 

[sotc]

Soak it in diesel or kerosine, no problem

 

[Burnham]

Do that, then cut plenty of wood, preferably hardwood.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I don't unnerstan...

What's the big deal over a little gunk on the chain? Does that affect its cutting ability?

 

[Burnham]

Not in the real world, imo.

 

[NeTree]

If it's super bad it can steal some power, but I've always turned my oiler up on pitchy wood, and it seems to help keep the crap off.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Ah-soo!

 

[sotc]

I assume that is has been sitting out in the rain or got wet before being tossed in the garage, rusty chain needs a soak and a little work. I toss chain that gets anywhere near that condition as to me it is not worth the effort

 

[Burnham]

Sure, rusty chain is a different animal...and Erik is right, if the sap build up is REALLY heavy it can give grief. But mostly the sort of gunky coating I get is thin, heated and hardened pitch, and causes no issues.

 

[bstewert]

No rust at all. I was just wondering if it made any diff. This is the first time I've ever tried to clean one. Leaving it soak in the kerosene has loosened up all the links.

 

[SkwerI]

Make a few ripping cuts on some hardwood logs.

 

[Ed L]

There is a product that you can soak a chain in to remove pitch build-up. Works great! a friend has a bucket of it.
He got it through the local saw shop, I'll see if I can get a name.....

Ed

 

[Bermy]

Run it through a palm tree trunk...guaranteed shiny sparkly clean!

 

[bstewert]

Run it through a palm tree trunk...guaranteed shiny sparkly clean!

Except we don't have any of those up here.

 

[Bermy]

Yeah...I was being a smartass...

 

[Al Smith]

Cut some oak with it .Hang it on a nail and in about 3 days it will be black as the ace of spades from the tannin in the oak .

 

[lumberjack]

Yeah...I was being a smartass...

If you have to explain it, you're doing it wrong!

 

[pantheraba]

Hahahha...Carl is the king of the smart-asses. Sometimes only HE knows how smart of an ass he really is.

 

[lumberjack]

I'm laughing like a retard in the bank lot, people are looking at me strange like

 

[treesmith]

I'm laughing like a retard in the bank lot, people are looking at me strange like

Is that due to your behavior, or the way you're dressed?

 

[lumberjack]

Meh, it was Johnny so there's no tellin!

 

[pantheraba]

Hahahaha...got ya!!!

 

[treesmith]

Meh, it was Johnny so there's no tellin!

He's probably trying to remember if/when he's seen you before. It's a different world every morning!

 

[Tucker943]

I just run the chain. Ive never soaked em in anything. Ive put a rusty chain or two on my saws before. I just gave them a splash of bar oil and used them. They seemed to clean right up in an instant.

 

[Al Smith]

I just take those old rocked out Stihl chains I get from Tom and soak them a tad bit in kerosine .Once they get limber enough to go on the saw after about a minute running they loosen right up .

Then the battle begins trying to unrock a hard as a rock Stihl chain which is no small feat .I've done about a half dozen with another dozen hanging on a nail .I have to be in the mood for it which I'm not at the moment .