What Did You Buy Today?

[ChazzC]

there was a thread by @MrWhoopee a while back https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/reclaiming-polyethylene-pipe.98240/. I gave it a try using hdpe.. It worked better than expected. I had cut pieces into chunks. And melted it all together. I would like to try the shredding, so I get more of a mix of colors. After seeing a guy make slingshots out of multi colors using 5 gal buckets, I was piqued. sometimes I'll need black, white or red.. sometimes multi color. I'll let you know how it goes, maybe I'll add onto the existing thread. It did take a few hours to do these 2 bricks.
But I think that's because this was the first big try. I want to do more, quicker, and maybe use multiple ovens. I picked up a pan at walmart, the problem with it, is the amount of draft, it makes it hard to press, because the slope of the sides allows squeeze out, and therefore reduces the pressure. I will probably make a new press plate to use in my hydraulic press. I quickly made a wood one when I realize the clamps were too slow.
I also need to get some silicone oven mits to twist for better hot working of the hot polyethlene.

Two steel plates and a square spacer with holes for the blocks.

 

[wachuko]

I am a sucker for puzzles... who am I fooling... I am just a sucker...

This arrived today...

 

[matthewsx]

Been watching saw chain prices go up along with everything else. I’ve never been pleased with resharpened chains but in all fairness, never really looked that hard. Enter my scratch and dent purchase:
View attachment 438630
$110 to the garage. Figured it could pay for itself in 3 chains. Didn’t really notice any scratches or dents. I sharpened a pretty tired chain today. Won’t know how I did until this weekend. I was impressed by the grind consistency tooth to tooth.

I had a little chain sharpener like that, found doing it by hand was easier/quicker once you get the hang of it.

John

 

[G-ManBart]

Brought home a Clausing 8520....it came with a vise and a bunch of tooling that isn't pictured. I also brought home a 10" rotary table from an unusual Polish brand....it's super smooth and was a steal at way under $100. Not pictured, a set of 14.5* PA gear pitch gauges for like $10.

 

[rwdenney]

I'd love to find a good little mill like that Clausing, but the examples I've seen around here are expensive and clapped out. Or they are big mills beyond the scale of the spot where I would put it.

Rick "but has to recover from lathe tool-up first" Denney

 

[Eyerelief]

I had a little chain sharpener like that, found doing it by hand was easier/quicker once you get the hang of it.

John

That is fantastic John. I think everyone is like you in that they possess the ability to keep consistent angles when sharpening. Bought my first chainsaw in '85, and not once can I say that my hand sharpened chains matched a new Stihl chain. Paying $8-$10 to get one sharpened by a service wasn't a vast improvement over dull either. Sharper than when I started - yes, plenty sharp for the job -yes, sharp as new - nope. Figured that after 38 years if I didn't have the hang of it by now, probably time to punt. Regarding the time it takes, I'm guessing that I would spend 10-20 minutes with a file on a chain with 80+ drivers or a half hour in a car going somewhere. My first chain after setup took all of 5 minutes (feels really sharp, but then they all do after sharpening).
I have the same problem when sharpening knives. I can make them sharper every time, but I can make better use of my time with a guide.
Hoping that the aid of a fixture will allow me to fiddle with angles and depths a little on my own to get me to where I want to be. As you can imagine, if you can't hold a 30 degree angle to begin with, adjusting the grind +/- 5 degrees either way is like trying to push water up hill.

 

[great white]

That is fantastic John. I think everyone is like you in that they possess the ability to keep consistent angles when sharpening. Bought my first chainsaw in '85, and not once can I say that my hand sharpened chains matched a new Stihl chain. Paying $8-$10 to get one sharpened by a service wasn't a vast improvement over dull either. Sharper than when I started - yes, plenty sharp for the job -yes, sharp as new - nope. Figured that after 38 years if I didn't have the hang of it by now, probably time to punt. Regarding the time it takes, I'm guessing that I would spend 10-20 minutes with a file on a chain with 80+ drivers or a half hour in a car going somewhere. My first chain after setup took all of 5 minutes (feels really sharp, but then they all do after sharpening).
I have the same problem when sharpening knives. I can make them sharper every time, but I can make better use of my time with a guide.
Hoping that the aid of a fixture will allow me to fiddle with angles and depths a little on my own to get me to where I want to be. As you can imagine, if you can't hold a 30 degree angle to begin with, adjusting the grind +/- 5 degrees either way is like trying to push water up hill.

I often find that those who have trouble with sharpening chain saw chains is they just don't understand the relation of the cutting edge to the depth gauge (ie: raker/drag/etc) and keeping the gullet consistent.

Personally, I hand sharpen but I cheat a bit by using the special Stihl sharpening kit:

Does a lot of the alignment stuff for you, but you still have to learn a little bit to use it right.

It's nice to be able to grab the file if I'm in the middle of the job in the woods and the chain starts to dull. A quick brush across the teeth while it's hanging off the back of the Argo and it's back to fighting trim and cutting nicely.

Or, if I loose focus and touch dirt with the chain, I can clean it up quickly and easily right there on site.
.

 

[woodchucker]

I often find that those who have trouble with sharpening chain saw chains is they just don't understand the relation of the cutting edge to the depth gauge and keeping the gullet consistent.

Personally, I hand sharpen but I cheat a bit by using the special Stihl sharpening kit:

Does a lot of the alignment stuff for you, but you still have to learn a little bit to use it right.

It's nice to be able to grab the file if I'm in the middle of the job in the woods and the chain starts to dull. A quick brush across the teeth while it's hanging off the back of the Argo and it's back to fighting trim and cutting nicely.

Or, if I loose focus and touch dirt with the chain, I can clean it up quickly and easily right there on site.
.

I don't need a guide, but I'm sure my son does. I picked him up one for his Husq... I just keep doing every other tooth one way, then go back and do the other way. Then finally the tops. I will also stone the burr off with a swipe or 2 with a broken stone I use.

 

[Eyerelief]

I often find that those who have trouble with sharpening chain saw chains is they just don't understand the relation of the cutting edge to the depth gauge and keeping the gullet consistent.

Personally, I hand sharpen but I cheat a bit by using the special Stihl sharpening kit:

Does a lot of the alignment stuff for you, but you still have to learn a little bit to use it right.

It's nice to be able to grab the file if I'm in the middle of the job in the woods and the chain starts to dull. A quick brush across the teeth while it's hanging off the back of the Argo and it's back to fighting trim and cutting nicely.

Or, if I loose focus and touch dirt with the chain, I can clean it up quickly and easily right there on site.
.

I had seen those and can tell it is a well thought out tool. Having a tool that can handle the depth gauges is good stuff. If you dont mind my asking, can you use it to change the profile of an edge other than just leaning harder on one end of the cutter? Let say you wanted to change from a factory 60 degree sharpening angle to a 55 degree or 50 degree?

 

[great white]

I had seen those and can tell it is a well thought out tool. Having a tool that can handle the depth gauges is good stuff. If you dont mind my asking, can you use it to change the profile of an edge other than just leaning harder on one end of the cutter? Let say you wanted to change from a factory 60 degree sharpening angle to a 55 degree or 50 degree?

I just follow the chain angle, but if you wanted to change it you can probably just hold the file on the angle you want. There's only one set of ref marks, so anything other than that you're likely eyeballing it......