Chainsaw Repair

Chain - Grinders - Filing - Wood Milling - Tools - Welding - Machinist - Mowers - Tillers => Chain - Bars - Grinders - Filing => Topic started by: 3000 FPS on February 24, 2013, 10:52:36 pm

Title: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: 3000 FPS on February 24, 2013, 10:52:36 pm
Home made chain vise.   I know alot you guys have probably made your own.   Lets see a few.

(http://chainsawrepair.createaforum.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1658.0;attach=2643;image)
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: 660magnum on February 24, 2013, 11:06:26 pm
A good neat job
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: dutchsawdoctor on February 24, 2013, 11:18:00 pm
Nice job, its that nice you could think its factory made(http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o578/dutchsawdoctor1/siim.gif)
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: Al Smith on February 25, 2013, 05:50:19 pm
That is nice .At first I thought the subject was a chain pipe vise ,ha .That kind  have ,Ridgid as a matter of fact .
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: HolmenTree on March 05, 2013, 12:45:18 pm
This is what I use,
this pic is not mine got this from another site........mine is buried somewhere in storage in my shed :D
Old carpenter crosscut saw sharpening vise, works really nice filing race chain...each cutter is held tight and no interference from the jaws when using the chisel bit file. This model has 2 thumb screws to open close jaws, mine has a quick release lever. Whole unit clamps to edge of workbench.
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: dutchsawdoctor on March 05, 2013, 01:43:25 pm
That's a nice oldy, thanks for the photo love it!!!
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: HolmenTree on March 05, 2013, 02:12:52 pm
I see alot of these antique filing vises in antique stores, second hand stores
Some nice ones on E bay also
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: 3000 FPS on March 05, 2013, 02:31:01 pm
I see alot of these antique filing vises in antique stores, second hand stores
Some nice ones on E bay also

The next time my wife wants to go to a antique store I will have to keep my eyes open alittle more.  Thanks for the picture.
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: Cut4fun on March 05, 2013, 02:42:19 pm
This is what I use,
this pic is not mine got this from another site........mine is buried somewhere in storage in my shed :D
Old carpenter crosscut saw sharpening vise, works really nice filing race chain...each cutter is held tight and no interference from the jaws when using the chisel bit file. This model has 2 thumb screws to open close jaws, mine has a quick release lever. Whole unit clamps to edge of workbench.

Nice rekindle of memory. I knew of this and totally forgotten about it.
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: dutchsawdoctor on March 05, 2013, 04:32:58 pm
Quote
I see alot of these antique filing vises in antique stores, second hand stores
Some nice ones on E bay also

I can't buy on usa ebay (http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o578/dutchsawdoctor1/autsch.gif)
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: Cut4fun on March 05, 2013, 04:50:59 pm
Quote
I see alot of these antique filing vises in antique stores, second hand stores
Some nice ones on E bay also

I can't buy on usa ebay (http://i1148.photobucket.com/albums/o578/dutchsawdoctor1/autsch.gif)

Find one you like and let one of us know. I have shipped all over and know how to do the customs forms etc. 

I'm sure 1 of use could help you out just link the one.
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: dutchsawdoctor on March 05, 2013, 11:28:02 pm
Quote
Quote from: dutchsawdoctor on Today at 04:32:58 pm
Quote
I see alot of these antique filing vises in antique stores, second hand stores
Some nice ones on E bay also

I can't buy on usa ebay

Find one you like and let one of us know. I have shipped all over and know how to do the customs forms etc. 

I'm sure 1 of use could help you out just link the one.

Thanks, its hard some time when you can't use paypal or creditcard  ( i don't like to send money and have hi costs ::)
Title: Re: Home made chain vise.
Post by: Cut4fun . on March 06, 2013, 07:35:58 am
Quote
Quote from: dutchsawdoctor on Today at 04:32:58 pm
Quote
I see alot of these antique filing vises in antique stores, second hand stores
Some nice ones on E bay also

I can't buy on usa ebay

Find one you like and let one of us know. I have shipped all over and know how to do the customs forms etc. 

I'm sure 1 of use could help you out just link the one.

Thanks, its hard some time when you can't use paypal or creditcard  ( i don't like to send money and have hi costs ::)

I bet shipping would be high on the weight of one to you too.
Title: In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun . on October 11, 2013, 11:18:20 am
So how do you hand sharpen in your shop.  Me vise with rotating base.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Al Smith on October 11, 2013, 08:24:14 pm
Same method only the vise is on the other side of the bench .
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: mdavlee . on October 13, 2013, 03:31:56 pm
That's how my vise is setup.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: 660magnum on October 13, 2013, 04:03:28 pm
I did a lot of raker filing last week. I just put the chain on the saw and on the tailgate of the truck.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on October 13, 2013, 06:47:11 pm
These are commercially available.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on October 13, 2013, 06:49:55 pm
These are home made.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on October 13, 2013, 06:55:16 pm
Sorry for the multiple posts - I was having trouble uploading the photos.

Home made model started as a cheap stump vise, cut off the prongs, drilled a couple of holes, and bolted it to a scrap of 2x4. With a clamp I can use one of these vices on a bench, picnic table, tail gate, trailer bed, etc.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: jmester on October 14, 2013, 12:35:35 pm
Where can you get them look like they would bolt to a tail gate or tool box real nice.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on October 14, 2013, 12:59:10 pm
OK, I don't know the rules here: are we allowed to post links, are there site sponsors, etc?

I don't have any financial interest in these, and happy to share the info, but don't want to draw a foul. Someone let me know please.

I bolted them to pieces of wood and use clamps to hold them in place so that they are portable.  Could mount them permanently on a workbench.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun . on October 14, 2013, 01:07:01 pm
Philbert we are all sponsors here for FREE. No worries here. That is what this site is about, helping others and getting the info to others without having to pay to do so.    ;)

Have at it............
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: jmester on October 14, 2013, 07:05:53 pm
I was refering to the first pics you posted. Sorry about the confusion.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on October 14, 2013, 08:24:35 pm
Thanks C4F for clarifying that.

Jason, the commercial ones are available at TreeStuff.com under 'Chains & Bars', then 'Chain Filing'.

They are very well made and under $30.  Should last forever. There was a powder/coated version and a stainless steel version, although I don't see them both listed.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: jmester on October 14, 2013, 10:27:33 pm
Thanks for the info, I will check it out.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: doreadeal on December 19, 2013, 09:23:01 am
I just file wherever the saw is. I hold the link of the tooth I'm currently doing with my left index finger and thumb and file with the right hand. If the chain is real bad or big, I set my bridgport vice so the chain (i take it off the saw) rides in it like its the bar, but snug. So it takes effort to slide. The bridgeport vice has smooth jaws and holds where you leave it without being tightened on the chain, or anything else for that matter.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Miller-Thinner2 on December 19, 2013, 03:07:37 pm
If the chain that needs filed is on the saw I file it in a vise. If the chain is off the saw I have an old bar I put in the vise and hooked a clutch drum and sprocket to it and I turn the drum as I need the chain moved forward or backward. I can unbolt it and put it on longer or shorter bars if needed.
(http://i934.photobucket.com/albums/ad189/Contrand81/20131219_150211.jpg) (http://s934.photobucket.com/user/Contrand81/media/20131219_150211.jpg.html)
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on December 19, 2013, 04:12:54 pm
I like your clutch drum modification. Someone developed and sells the 'Chainmeister' which does something similar, but for $108.

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=1392

Lots of ways to sharpen. You just gotta find something that works for you.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun on December 19, 2013, 04:39:29 pm
If the chain that needs filed is on the saw I file it in a vise. If the chain is off the saw I have an old bar I put in the vise and hooked a clutch drum and sprocket to it and I turn the drum as I need the chain moved forward or backward. I can unbolt it and put it on longer or shorter bars if needed.



Oh heck ya. You to could be a Redneck.

 WTG very neat idea. 

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x93/dagu52/Animations/smileys/ThumbsUpSmiley.gif) (http://media.photobucket.com/user/dagu52/media/Animations/smileys/ThumbsUpSmiley.gif.html)
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Miller-Thinner2 on December 19, 2013, 09:46:35 pm
I like your clutch drum modification. Someone developed and sells the 'Chainmeister' which does something similar, but for $108.

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=1392

Lots of ways to sharpen. You just gotta find something that works for you.

Philbert

That looks like a nice one but a bit pricy for me, i'm to cheap lol. I am going to build a nice one someday. The day I made this 1, The mig welder had no wire so i was limited on what I could do lol But I'm going to keep using this 1 until it breaks or fails me.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on December 19, 2013, 10:34:45 pm
Can you post a photo of the other side, so that folks who want to do something similar can be inspired?

I don't have welding capabilities, so a 'no-weld' design would be interesting.

Thanks !

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Miller-Thinner2 on December 20, 2013, 09:23:02 am
I can definitely post a pic. I will get one later today. All it is a short hardwood board and I drilled a hole into it to attach sprocket/drum. Then i put a hole in the other end so I could attach with a bolt in the bar. I put the chain on and pull it tight by hand then tighten the bolt. The sprocket bolt is just finger tight.
A pic will be better then my description.


Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on December 20, 2013, 11:30:32 am
Let's see if I can post photos of my low tech filing vise.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on December 20, 2013, 11:31:47 am
A few more.

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on December 20, 2013, 11:34:17 am
Originally posted this on another site (won't let me reference?).

The body is a piece of angle iron from an old bed frame.  The front is piece of flat iron stock from the hardware store.  The cam clamps were scrounged from seat posts of cheap, old mountain bikes (I used spacers on the back to avoid the need to cut down and re-thread the posts) - Rockler Woodworking also sells these new for about $10 a pair.  The small, tapped screws at the bottom are to let me add spacers to keep pressure focused near the top. 

Total vise width is 11 inches, which lets me file everything from 10" pole pruner chain to 36" MS 660 loops: any pitch, any gauge. I bolted it to a piece of 2X so that I could mount it in my woodworking vise when needed, and to allow some height adjustment.  Could be an 'L'-shaped base to clamp/mount to a trailer bed or picnic table. Make sure to offset it slightly to allow chain clearance in front of the vise.

You can probably figure it from here, or improvise your own version. The key is to keep the halves together during fabrication so that they are the same.  I used double stick tape when drilling the holes, then bolted them together while grinding the radiuses.  Hacksaw, drill press, and bench grinder is all I really used.

Next version:

- I will add a third clamp in the middle of the vise for more even clamping pressure.
- I will move the clamping holes up slightly from the middle to put more pressure on the drive links.

Philbert





Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Miller-Thinner2 on December 20, 2013, 11:45:15 am
looks some nice.
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on January 06, 2014, 12:55:20 pm
I can definitely post a pic. I will get one later today. All it is a short hardwood board and I drilled a hole into it to attach sprocket/drum.


Any updates on the photos?

Thanks!

Philbert
Title: Re: In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun on January 06, 2014, 02:16:53 pm
I merged a older homemade chain vise thread to this one.  So the 1st half will be some older postings now.
Title: Re: Home made chain vise
Post by: 660magnum on January 06, 2014, 03:14:27 pm
Noticed the homemade vice above  was made from an old bed frame rail. That material is manganese steel. You have to be a "MAN" to saw or drill it but it should last forever,

Those old bed rails were my dad's favorite material for building little things around the house that utilized angle iron. He would seek it out at the scrap yard. As a kid I always wondered why it was so difficult to work with but later on, in college, I noticed what steel they were made of.

So if you have any old bed rails laying around, don't take them to the junk yard.
Title: Re: Home made chain vise
Post by: 3000 FPS on January 06, 2014, 04:21:08 pm
Noticed the homemade vice above  was made from an old bed frame rail. That material is manganese steel. You have to be a "MAN" to saw or drill it but it should last forever,

Those old bed rails were my dad's favorite material for building little things around the house that utilized angle arm. He would seek it out at the scrap yard. As a kid I always wondered why it was so difficult to work with but later on, in college, I noticed what steel they were made of.

So if you have any old bed rails laying around, don't take them to the junk yard.

I did not know that.   But being some what of a welder I don't throw metal away and I just happen to have some of those bed rails.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on January 06, 2014, 07:07:12 pm
66magnum,

I frequently find the old bed frames for a few dollars at garage sales, or free at the curb.

Philbert
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: mdavlee . on January 06, 2014, 08:35:50 pm
I've got one of the nice ones coming from homelite410 here this week. I think it will be much better than what I've been using.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: 660magnum on January 06, 2014, 08:39:13 pm
I've been using a regular bench vice that has worked well for me but back when he first started making them, I bought a Homelite410 vice.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: farmboy on January 07, 2014, 09:48:22 pm
That's good to know on the bed rails.  Local Charity thrift store sells em for a couple bucks a set.
Shep
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: 660magnum on January 07, 2014, 10:08:21 pm
My smaller 4' X 3' work bench has a Craftsman 4" swivel vice on a 1/4" steel top but the legs and frame are made from bed rails. It is all bolted with no welding. It was built by my dad in the late 50's.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun . on July 11, 2014, 09:24:32 pm
store bought ChainMeister video

http://youtu.be/qKzUJNrFNbU
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: bryanr2 on July 11, 2014, 09:52:32 pm
Now that I like. :)
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: bryanr2 on July 11, 2014, 09:56:26 pm
who sells the chainmeister?
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: 660magnum on July 11, 2014, 09:59:20 pm
$108 clams and it's yours. That doesn't include the bar holder brackets.

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=1392
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: 660magnum on July 11, 2014, 10:03:32 pm
Those bar clamps are $27.95 each

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?category_id=229&item=3459

But you could just use a common bench vice
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: DexterDay on July 11, 2014, 10:22:26 pm
Love it!!
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: dutchsawdoctor on July 12, 2014, 02:29:52 am
Handy tool, and great video
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: HolmenTree on July 13, 2014, 01:40:56 am
ChainMeister as the video showed in the field would be more efficient if the powerhead was still on the b/c and just the 2 upright clamps mounted on the board held the whole saw.
Now in the work shop the setup would work fine sharpening multiple chains but without the board and 2 upright clamps and just the b/c and tensioner  clamped in a bench vise.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun . on July 13, 2014, 12:25:57 pm
ChainMeister as the video showed in the field would be more efficient if the powerhead was still on the b/c and just the 2 upright clamps mounted on the board held the whole saw.
Now in the work shop the setup would work fine sharpening multiple chains but without the board and 2 upright clamps and just the b/c and tensioner  clamped in a bench vise.

In the vise is how I would use something like that too.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: HolmenTree on July 13, 2014, 01:54:42 pm
Slick setup though,  the inventor put alot of thought into and did a nice job building it.
Was the inventor Jim Smith AKA "Tree Machine"?
I think I remember all the discussion of it years back on Tree World. Speaking of TW what ever happened to Ekka?
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun on July 13, 2014, 08:17:35 pm
Slick setup though,  the inventor put alot of thought into and did a nice job building it.
Was the inventor Jim Smith AKA "Tree Machine"?
I think I remember all the discussion of it years back on Tree World. Speaking of TW what ever happened to Ekka?

His site went down the tubes. Heck he got way worse then AS was in his gestapo ways.  He read PM's too just like AS did.

Also on the cheinmester thing. Guy brought up you have to unclamp both clamps from bar to switch chains. I didnt catch that.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: 3000 FPS on July 13, 2014, 10:37:53 pm
Slick setup though,  the inventor put alot of thought into and did a nice job building it.
Was the inventor Jim Smith AKA "Tree Machine"?
I think I remember all the discussion of it years back on Tree World. Speaking of TW what ever happened to Ekka?
His site went down the tubes. Heck he got way worse then AS was in his gestapo ways.  He read PM's too just like AS did.

Also on the cheinmester thing. Guy brought up you have to unclamp both clamps from bar to switch chains. I didnt catch that.

Your kidding me.  AS was reading PM's that the members were sending to each other.   That is low life.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on July 14, 2014, 12:41:47 am
The Chainmeister clamps are the ones I showed in Post#17 in this thread; they are very well made. My 'home made' versions are in Post#18; fun to make, and they work too. 

TreeMachine intended the clamps to be mounted to a truck or bench, but I mounted them to a small board so that I could clamp them to any surface, including a picnic table, trailer bed, tailgate, etc.  Anywhere where a regular stump vise would not be convenient.  I also attached a small, pivoting, wooden cleat to the bottom of one board, so that the clamp can be held in my woodworking vise, which is flush with the workbench, as opposed to a mechanic's vise, which is mounted on the surface.  That works well, with the powerhead supported by the bench, instead of being up in the air.

I also modified one of the Chainmeister clamps: cutting off the base and having a 3/4" threaded rod welded on.  This one drops through a hole in a trailer bed, work table, etc.: anywhere that the vise might be used periodically, but not permanently.  It is clamped by a large wing nut from below, holds rock solid, and eliminates the use of clamps, which some people did not like.

Philbert
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Philbert on July 14, 2014, 12:54:45 am
Quote
(HolmenTree) ChainMeister as the video showed in the field would be more efficient if the powerhead was still on the b/c and just the 2 upright clamps mounted on the board held the whole saw.
Now in the work shop the setup would work fine sharpening multiple chains but without the board and 2 upright clamps and just the b/c and tensioner  clamped in a bench vise.

I have never used the Chainmeister, but see how it could be a good option for some guys.  Especially, if they sharpen multiple chains that fit the same bar, and they sharpen somewhere where they don't have the powerhead, or don't want to bring a fueled/dirty powerhead (e.g. in their home). Or maybe to sharpen while someone else is running the saw.

In another discussion, TreeMachine noted a feature that was not obvious.  If you file a lot of chains that fit the same bar, you can drill 2 holes in the bar and mount it on the OUTSIDE of the clamps, using the same screw knobs.  This lets you mount and unmount the chains for sharpening with the Chainmeister, without having to remove the bar from the clamps (or a bench vise) each time.

As noted, I like the clamps for holding a saw on a flat surface that may not have a vise. One clamp is sufficient to hold the bar when the powerhead is still attached, just like a conventional stump vise.

Philbert

EDIT: added a photo showing the bar mounted on the outside of the clamps.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: dowdy41 on July 14, 2014, 03:01:38 pm
I once went to a small table, so there were picnic tables, platform trailers, behind doors that were installed on any surface.

Vidal surface mechanical banks, used a little irony in the table.

It is rather just a branch from the bank in the sky to my eyes, but it works well.

dowdy
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: HolmenTree on July 14, 2014, 08:02:05 pm
Quote
(HolmenTree) ChainMeister as the video showed in the field would be more efficient if the powerhead was still on the b/c and just the 2 upright clamps mounted on the board held the whole saw.
Now in the work shop the setup would work fine sharpening multiple chains but without the board and 2 upright clamps and just the b/c and tensioner  clamped in a bench vise.

I have never used the Chainmeister, but see how it could be a good option for some guys.  Especially, if they sharpen multiple chains that fit the same bar, and they sharpen somewhere where they don't have the powerhead, or don't want to bring a fueled/dirty powerhead (e.g. in their home). Or maybe to sharpen while someone else is running the saw.

In another discussion, TreeMachine noted a feature that was not obvious.  If you file a lot of chains that fit the same bar, you can drill 2 holes in the bar and mount it on the OUTSIDE of the clamps, using the same screw knobs.  This lets you mount and unmount the chains for sharpening with the Chainmeister, without having to remove the bar from the clamps (or a bench vise) each time.

As noted, I like the clamps for holding a saw on a flat surface that may not have a vise. One clamp is sufficient to hold the bar when the powerhead is still attached, just like a conventional stump vise.

Philbert

EDIT: added a photo showing the bar mounted on the outside of the clamps.
Jim "Tree Machine" Smith did good with this product, I hope he makes good revenue off this. From my encounters with him on TW he was a real decent fella.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: Cut4fun . on July 14, 2014, 08:04:27 pm
That makes sense there Philbert. Thanks for your time digging all of that up for us.
Title: Re: Homemade chain vise - In shop hand filing
Post by: HolmenTree on July 14, 2014, 08:11:28 pm
Yes you did a good job with that info Philbert :)
I have to correct myself now that my memory recovered, it's Jim Clarke not Jim Smith aka Tree Machine, he developed the Chain Meister but was not the original inventor.