Chainsaw Repair

Cant remember off hand but thinking 3/8LP and 325 on same wheel.

Depends on the chain, and how worn it is.  I have sharpened some older .325 pitch that has physically smaller cutters - the 3/16" wheel just 'did not look right' on them.  Some people also like to use the 1/8" wheel when the cutters are worn down towards their end of life, and lower, as well as shorter.

One of the things we get to decide when sharpening our own chains.

Philbert

I continue to use the new Oregon 310 grinder, which is kind of fun, since it is small, simple and quiet.  Not for heavy use, but I have a number of chains that just need touch-up grinding, and are sharpened at the default 30°/60°/0° angles.

I have have had some issues that should have been addressed before the grinder was released:
- error in wheel arbor hole size (replaced by Oregon);
- inferior, fine grit wheels (replaced with Oregon and Molemab wheels);
- specified 1/4 inch depth gauge wheel could not be mounted (returned wheel);
- motor hits chain stop and support post with 1/2 cutter life left and a fairly new wheel (raised issue with Oregon).

I hope that they address these issues, because it could be a nice sharpening tool for the right application.

Philbert

Oregon says that they addressed 3 concerns with these grinders: replacing the out-of-spec 3/16" wheels; installing a longer arbor to accommodate the 1/4" wheel for depth gauges; replacing the chain stop on the vise so that it does not hit the motor. The replacement unit I received still had all of these issues, which was disappointing.

There is still a place for a higher quality version of these 'mini-grinders'. They are small, easy to move/store, simple to use, quiet, relatively inexpensive, and can do a good job with the right wheels. They can be a good choice for the right user: someone who is satisfied with the 30°/60°/0° grind; who is mostly doing 'touch-up sharpening'; sharpens a modest amount of chains; and does not want to spend $300 on full-sized grinder.

I hope that they get these issues resolved. If you decide to try one of these Oregon mini-grinders please inspect it carefully upon receipt to make sure that you get one of the updated units.

Philbert

Do these have serial numbers on them?

Not to my knowledge.  I think that they were trying to 're-work' the inventory that they had in-stock, and just screwed up by sending me a replacement that had not been checked.  Poor QC/QA.

It's pretty easy to check by mounting both wheels on the arbor to see if they fit, and by seeing how much clearance there is between the motor housing and the chain positioning stop. Most people will probably not use the optional 1/4" depth gauge wheel, but you can mount the 3/16" wheel and add a washer or piece of heavy cardboard to see if a 1/4" wheel would fit on the arbor threads.

Philbert

Quote from: DefinitiveDave on September 29, 2015, 03:15:12 pm
"Are there any really good youtube vids that show the right way to get a good result with an Oregon grinder?"

Ran across these YouTube videos the other day, based on your new 520 grinders, but really apply to most grinders of that type (aside from a few features). They are pretty good.

(*Set up)

(*Use)

Philbert