TIPS Season 3 - Episode 5: How to sharpen and rip with a chainsaw
14 June 2020 · 22 min · 109K views
What this video covers
To process a large oak knee for a 23-foot V-bottom skiff, a chainsaw is modified for ripping by filing the teeth at a 10-degree angle rather than the standard 35-degree cross-cut angle.2:29 This adjustment creates a narrower kerf and reduces side-pull, allowing for more efficient material removal when cutting with the grain.2:44 Before cutting, the bark is removed with an adze to prevent dirt from dulling the chain.7:41 The log is elevated on cribbing to ensure the bar does not strike the ground during deep cuts. When the saw begins to bind in the narrow slot, a wedge is inserted into the cut to open the kerf and prevent the bar from pinching.10:39 By making three parallel cuts, the wood is split to produce bookmatched quarter knees with grain that follows the natural curve of the tree.13:44 A sharp, properly tuned chain allows a smaller chainsaw to perform heavy-duty milling tasks that would otherwise require a larger saw or a band mill.12:38
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