Wedge Renewal

[RI Chevy]

Here is the small Oregon busted up plastic wedge I use. Its about 20 years old.

 

[RI Chevy]

Here is the wedge after I filed it. It's good enough for who its for. Lol

 

[leadfarmer]

Big pocket ? [emoji38]

6-8. [emoji41]

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Philbert]

Sometimes, you need to take a break from filing chains . . .




Philbert

 

[livemusic]

I loaned three wedges to some guys cutting for hire at my neighbor's yard who seemed to know nothing about saws and trees and they almost destroyed my wedges. Before I saw this thread, I thought to do this very thing and will get more use of them. At $10-$15 each, it dollars up! At least I got some firewood out of those guys. Funny, they were trying to harvest a huge oak with a small, el cheapo saw. They were struggling to buck and I went and got my ported 362 and their eyes popped out. The next day, they showed up with a new Stihl.

 

[Wood Doctor]

I loaned three wedges to some guys cutting for hire at my neighbor's yard who seemed to know nothing about saws and trees and they almost destroyed my wedges. Before I saw this thread, I thought to do this very thing and will get more use of them. At $10-$15 each, it dollars up! At least I got some firewood out of those guys. Funny, they were trying to harvest a huge oak with a small, el cheapo saw. They were struggling to buck and I went and got my ported 362 and their eyes popped out. The next day, they showed up with a new Stihl.

A few of the Tree Removal companies around here try to do about the same thing -- use a beat up saw with a dull chain to drop an oak tree and buck it up. One company came to my place and asked me to repair two of their saws before they started and sharpen the chain loops. The only saw they had that worked OK was the top-handle saw that the climber used.

 

[Philbert]

At $10-$15 each, it dollars up!

You should be able to find them for $5 -$10 each, especially in quantity.

Even individually at The HD:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/ECHO-8-...ge-for-Chainsaw-Logging-99988801804/205180593

Philbert

 

[Philbert]

Tried a New File

While looking for these curved tooth files, 'auto body filler' files came up occasionally, so I tried one that I found on eBay. There might be different sizes and levels of tooth coarseness available. This one worked, but not as well as the Bacho file mentioned earlier.



This shows the autobody file (center) between the Nicholson (top) and Bacho (bottom) files:



Also, keep a toothbrush (or something similar) handy, as the plastic fills up the files quickly.




And ('Pro-Tip'): don't wear fleece while filing - the static electricity will make you look like a speckled wedge very quickly.

Philbert

 

[jake-e-boy]

Farrier rasp/file will remove some serious plastic, seen PNW hand fallers use em for re-shaping wedges.

 

[Philbert]

Farrier rasp/file will remove some serious plastic, seen PNW hand fallers use em for re-shaping wedges.

EDIT: I did not look closely enough at the photo posted. Please see updated post (#52) below.

Those in the photo are also called '4-in-hand' rasps, since they have 2, different, flat teeth, and 2, different half-round teeth, on a compact file that fits in your hand. They will work, and they are convenient to carry. But, again, the difference is like using a sharp versus dull chain. Try them side-by-side with the curved tooth files and you will be amazed (note: I don't sell any of these or make any $ off them!). BTW: That rasp is $9 at the Home Depot; the Bahco file is $17 right now on Amazon (price fluctuates - I paid $22).

I looked at some farrier rasps, but the ones I found were pretty pricy, which led me to the ones recommended. Still open to trying other styles, or types, which is why I bought this auto body filler file (now for sale on my local CL!).


Philbert

 

[5155]

I had a pair made from old big lilac wood.
Used them for lifting logs to trim/fit dove tail notches.
They took a lot of mileage.

After losing the local blacksmith, what I'm running low on is stone splitting wedges.
They tend to take flying lessons.

 

[Philbert]

View attachment 271659
Farrier rasp/file will remove some serious plastic, seen PNW hand fallers use em for re-shaping wedges.

When I first looked at your photo, I thought it was of the smaller '4-in-hand' rasps ('shoe rasp'; about 8" X 7/8" and half round), due to the small image, and because I have seen a lot of guys use those: I should have read the print more closely.

I pulled out a very similar, double-ended hoof rasp tonight (Nicholson 12" X 1-1/4", flat on both sides) from a box of stuff from a garage sale, so it was not new, but in pretty good condition, and tried it on a Bailey's WoodlandPRO wedge:




It worked pretty good, especially having the coarse side for heavy stock removal, and the finer side for smoothing. I could do good work with it, if it was what I had. But side-by-side, I preferred the way that the Bahco file worked the plastic.

Philbert

 

[Daserlon]

Put the wedges in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before sanding on them. It keeps them from getting "gooey" and you'll get a smoother finish on them

 

[Philbert]

Put the wedges in the freezer for 15-20 minutes before sanding on them. It keeps them from getting "gooey" and you'll get a smoother finish on them

Or in Minnesota . . . .



Philbert

 

[Wood Doctor]

Heck, Philbert, does it really get that cold in Minnesota? Whoops! Yes it does. I forgot about 1982-83. Gasp!

A few folks threw a glass of tap water up in the air outdoors in Duluth, mid-January 1983. It was all ice when it hit the ground. The high temp for the day was 19 F below zero.

 

[Philbert]

***SHAMELESS PLUG ***

I summarized most of what I posted above in a video entered in a contest with TreeStuff.com. If enough people 'like' my video by 2.28.2021, I might recoup some of the R&D I invest in all these things that I primarily do for the groups that I volunteer with.

Renewing Plastic Wedges

Thanks.


Philbert

 

[Farmchuck]

Informative video Phil. Nicely done.

 

[davidwyby]

Works like a charm. First pic was later in learning process. Use bar for depth gauge and move slower for smoother finish. Left to right or bottom to top with these pics orientation. Cut with pulling side of bar/chain (obviously).

 

[Philbert]

I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G.

a lot of guys re-shape plastic wedges with a chainsaw, but few do it intentionally!!!


Philbert

 

[davidwyby]

@Philbert I saw a crude method of doing it in the field with a saw and refined it a bit.