Observations from a noodling chain

[Wolverine]

Slow day here at the office. What better to do than rehab a chain. I recently used this loop to noodle a big ol oak. I got through quite a bit of wood before swapping it for another fresh one.


I’ve noticed this once before quiet some time ago.

Hit no metal that I’m aware of and I created a large bed of noodles to put the pieces on so I wouldn’t cut into dirt. I’m am pretty careful when it comes to that because I hand file my chains.
This is a 20” loop of LGX. Like I said, slow day at work and just thought I’d share some pics

 

[Wolverine]

And the after.


Just a working chains so I’m not striving for perfection.
Taking pics with an iPhone through a loop.

 

[Rob Stafari]

I've been wondering how you get such good pictures of your chain. Secrets out now! Time to dig out the old watchmaker loupe I have around here somewhere! Thanks for the trick!

 

[Wolverine]

 

[Wolverine]

I've been wondering how you get such good pictures of your chain. Secrets out now! Time to dig out the old watchmaker loupe I have around here somewhere! Thanks for the trick!

Lol. I brought one of my cheaper ones here to work. 26 years in printing and I’ve collected a few. One I have at home is much better but they both allow a good view of cutters. Often I think I have it filed real good but when I look closer, not so much.

 

[N8TE]

View attachment 234942 View attachment 234944

Hmmm...gotta be some abrasives imbedded in the bark. I dont believe the wood alone would cause that damage

 

[Wolverine]

Hmmm...gotta be some abrasives imbedded in the bark. I dont believe the wood alone would cause that damage

I’d have to agree to some point. This wood was laying in a way that most of the bark was clean (for bark). When I noodle oak, I sneak up on the bottom and try to force that last little bit apart so I don’t have to go totally through.



But I do agree. Just wood shouldn’t cause such a rough edge.

 

[Dub11]

Ive seen 80lb litho label cut grooves in a decurler bar after the shaft walked out of a pillow bearing with the set screws left loose. So to me at least it doesn't seem to be a far stretch that wood could do this to a chain.

Oh and we have backlit dot glasses now at work

 

[Moparmyway]

I believe that your cutters got those marks from going through the hollow (either rotted or ant chew) middles that your pictures show.

 

[Wolverine]

Ive seen 80lb litho label cut grooves in a decurler bar after the shaft walked out of a pillow bearing with the set screws left loose. So to me at least it doesn't seem to be a far stretch that wood could do this to a chain.

Oh and we have backlit dot glasses now at work

Yeah, true. Like I said, I’m pretty careful to not be a sod cutter, lol. Not much if any visible straight up dirt in the bark. And I noodled quite a bit before I switched that chain out.

Guess the shops I worked at were too cheap to buy lighted loops. Of course I never had any issues with the ones they provided.

 

[huskyboy]

I agree with Kevin. Especially in the wintertime hitting that rotted core when it’s frozen solid is effectively like cutting frozen dirt. I also scrape off frozen moss in the wintertime with an axe when felling timber that has it on the base. The underside of frozen moss is effectively sandy dirt. In the summertime rotten cores and moss aren’t near as bad... but still dull the chain after a while if you cut a lot of it.

 

[N8TE]

Gravel road nearby?

 

[Wolverine]

I believe that your cutters got those marks from going through the hollow (either rotted or ant chew) middles that your pictures show.

That could be as well. There weren’t any sections that were “dirt” filled.

Gravel road nearby?

No, not in my case. Not even close. Brand new development and this tree was way in the backyard.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Oak is some hard sheet, and your saws are No Mercy... Good pix! I've often wondered about that gunk in a hollow, especially when it's froze. (Hillbilly talk)

 

[Definitive Dave]

I’m pretty careful to not be a sod cutter

Hey Now!!

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Hey Now!!

You've moved on right?

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Does a millin' chain look about the same when done for?

 

[Wolverine]

Hey Now!!

Lol!!


Another interesting note. I can typically always see a polish happening on the rakers after they’ve been adjusted. Not while noodling.

 

[Wolverine]

Does a millin' chain look about the same when done for?

Much different than these noodle pics. I don’t have any different shots of them from what I poasted the other day.

 

[Wolverine]

And honestly those millin chains are seeing bark on both entry and exit, the entire length of the cut.