.325 pitch without bumper links

[Nish]

I'm looking for .325 pitch chainsaw chains without bumper links, or any extra metal on the "rakers". Anyone know of a source?

 

[Hotsaw]

I grind them off

 

[Nish]

I've been doing that too, with a rotary tool. I recently found that Woodland Pro has .325 without bumper links.

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

I spoke to an oregon rep at the ISA conference last week. He said Oregon no longer carries it within their line. But they make it for Carlton. He did say that there was a warehouse somewhere on the east coast that has a bunch of 34LG loops. He is supposed to contact me sometime this week with the details. I will let you know what he has to say when I hear from him.

 

[Tree_Frog]

Nish - did you find what you needed?

 

[Nish]

Yes, thanks TF. I found it in the WoodlandPRO chains on Bailey's online. Treestuff has one that will fit my ms260, but it's pricey.

 

[southsoundtree]

For what application do you use this?

 

[Tree_Frog]

Good. That is where I get mine. They usually run under $10 for an 18" loop.

 

[Nish]

For what application do you use this?

I prefer chains without bumper links on all of my saws; I would love to learn that I'm just failing to see their value in some professional application. My thought is that they work fine through a few light filings; the trouble seems to begin once I need to start really filing down the depth gauges.

 

[southsoundtree]

In logging, rakers will be removed for "bumping knots" at the landing. Lots of small diameter cuts. You can't cut full bar length, but zipping through 3" cuts, very fast. Can't bore or using the tip, like half a back-cut at a time on a small diameter tree.


Do you use a depth/ raker guage, and adjusting to a larger offset as you file your cutters back?

 

[Tree_Frog]

Are we talking about rakers or reduced kickback chains?

 

[Nish]

Just to clarify--I've never tried to run a chain without rakers. I didn't know about bumping knots. I imagine it would only work well if the small diameter limbs/stubs being cut are still attached to a big piece of wood. I wouldn't dare lay into a mess of small sticks and brush with a raker-less chain.

(By the way, I understand "rakers" to be a misnomer; I think they serve rather to just set the depth of the cutter; so maybe "depth gauge" is a better name?)

So the thing I don't like is the little bit of extra metal that is sometimes added to a simple "raker". I've heard them called "bumper links" and they seem to be associated with safety, anti-kickback, and reduced vibration. It's the kind of chain that seems to be on every new saw I purchase.

 

[southsoundtree]

ah. just the extra little nubs. What is the objection to it?

Bumping knots is cutting branch stubs off of mill logs, so they are solidly attached.

 

[Tree_Frog]

Bailey's got a sale for packs of 10 loops.

 

[Nish]

TF: thanks for the notice; I think I'll order a pack.

SST: my objection: I have the feeling (perhaps it is mistaken?) that the little extra nub become too thick for the kerf once the cutters have been filed down significantly. They seem to degrade performance somehow. This means there's a lot more metal to remove, and that's time consuming.