Angle for ripping/cutting chain

Carhartt · Jun 20, 2019

Just had a guy that turns bowls ask me to make him a chain. Because he is ripping as often as he is cutting. What angle works well for both ripping with the grain and cutting against the grain? 15 or 20? Any other secrets, full chisel, semi chisel, full skip for longer bar?

redline4 · Jun 20, 2019

I have some Archer that's at 10 degrees. Chisel. Cuts decent.
I just use it for ripping though.

Carhartt · Jun 20, 2019

Yes I know 10 is for ripping(chainsaw mill). curious what would work for both directions best.

chipper1 · Jun 20, 2019

Carhartt said:
Yes I know 10 is for ripping(chainsaw mill). curious what would work for both directions best.

It's kinda like using a 50cc saw for milling 18" wood and crosscutting, will it work yes, is it best no.
A 10/11 degree chain will make straighter cuts much longer than a 25-35 has been my experience flush cutting stumps but it is a lot slower but not terrible when you factor in sharpening, and sometimes it's nice to get a break lol. If I was milling I'd probably run 10/11 and I would buy new chains if I could rather than wasting a lot of tooth to convert to a milling angle.

Lightning Performance · Jun 20, 2019

I like fifteen for ripping but that's me.

Carhartt · Jun 21, 2019

Lets try this differently. What tooth angle works best for noodling say curly maple? Safety and control with a straight clean cut.

Lightning Performance · Jun 21, 2019

Carhartt said:
Lets try this differently. What tooth angle works best for noodling say curly maple? Safety and control with a straight clean cut.

Fifteen. I use the milling chains to noodle and cut stumps flush. Ten will be smoother as will five but they will be much slower. Fifteen is the happy spot I like for milling hardwoods and noodle big rounds in a timely manner. I don't burn evergreen soft wood but will be milling sassy and pine with fifteen and twenty two this weekend. The faster chain gets the nod if it is smooth. If not I try it again with less bite on the drags. A fast chain for work has always been my goal in round grinds. Still using chipper on a few things but mostly being forced to go to chisel square because of the time factor in milling. Square is faster in milling.
You can run ten, five or zero, noodle quickly and smoothly if you have enough grunt to pull the chain. Noodle cut is easier to get bite with the grain direction, milling, not so much.

mdavlee · Jun 21, 2019

I like 22-25 degree square ground stuff for noodling and milling. I tried semi chisel and it needs to be 30 degree or I fall asleep waiting on the cut to finish.

Lightning Performance · Jun 21, 2019

mdavlee said:
I like 22-25 degree square ground stuff for noodling and milling. I tried semi chisel and it needs to be 30 degree or I fall asleep waiting on the cut to finish.

Lmao. You would love my chipper 404 round @15

mdavlee · Jun 21, 2019

Lightning Performance said:
Lmao. You would love my chipper 404 round @15

If I was cutting stuff with rocks stuck in it probably. I use semi from time to time.

When I tested semi vs square it was a 40% difference in cut times in 25” wide cherry 7’ long.

Lightning Performance · Jun 21, 2019

mdavlee said:
If I was cutting stuff with rocks stuck in it probably. I use semi from time to time.

When I tested semi vs square it was a 40% difference in cut times in 25” wide cherry 7’ long.

Bingo....rocks and sand with the bark held firm. Not too many people understand this concept of really dirty logs like from a mud fest.

Do they make roller tips to replace the sprocket nose single rivet super bars by Cannon?....Or just the hard nose replacement to run both 404 & 3/8.

mdavlee · Jun 21, 2019

Lightning Performance said:
Bingo....rocks and sand with the bark held firm. Not too many people understand this concept of really dirty logs like from a mud fest.

Do they make roller tips to replace the sprocket nose single rivet super bars by Cannon?....Or just the hard nose replacement to run both 404 & 3/8.

Never looked. There’s the one with the helper handle and roller nose.

Lightning Performance · Jun 21, 2019

mdavlee said:
Never looked. There’s the one with the helper handle and roller nose.

I don't think that will fit a sprocket nose just a dual power head mount is all I saw.

Carhartt · Jun 21, 2019

I am gonna make him a 20 degree and see how that works for him.
I have a sawmill also and love when I can get the peel the bark off. Blades last longer. Ive never cut a log that wasn't drug.

Lightning Performance · Jun 21, 2019

Carhartt said:
I am gonna make him a 20 degree and see how that works for him.
I have a sawmill also and love when I can get the peel the bark off. Blades last longer. Ive never cut a log that wasn't drug.

What kind of wood does he cut dry or wet? That matters to. I find you can take a bigger bite in green wood.

srcarr52 · Jun 21, 2019

Ripping chain is all about hook angle. Top plate effects the finish more than speed once you start grinding with a lot more hook angle. Standard grind is 60deg, try 50 even down to 40 on semi chisel.

Carhartt · Jun 24, 2019

I wld say he is more into the mild hardwoods. Maple , walnut, cherry, mulberry, fruitwoods with occasional oak and locust.
I found a broken big semi chisel chain and made it into a 84dl with 20 degree top grind. I didn't get a chance to try it yet, hopefully this eve.

Lightning Performance · Jun 24, 2019

srcarr52 said:
Ripping chain is all about hook angle. Top plate effects the finish more than speed once you start grinding with a lot more hook angle. Standard grind is 60deg, try 50 even down to 40 on semi chisel.

I can try that on this semi 404 full 83dl. This chain is 15 top and 60 under. Going to 40 under. Ripping sassafrass, spruce and red cedar this week.
A winch is the way to go

Carhartt · Jun 24, 2019

srcarr52 said:
Ripping chain is all about hook angle. Top plate effects the finish more than speed once you start grinding with a lot more hook angle. Standard grind is 60deg, try 50 even down to 40 on semi chisel.

Are we comparing Stihl angles to Oregon/Tecomec angles?

Carhartt · Jun 26, 2019

The 20 degrees seems to work very well both ways. With and against the grain. Again this is a semi chisel so not sure that plays any roll in it. I tried it in a 18 in spruce. I didn't have anything hard laying close by.

Angle for ripping/cutting chain

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