Chainsaw Chain
 

What is everyone's thoughts on filing down the depth gauges on a chainsaw chain to use for cutting holes in the ice? Obviously, the chain would only be good for ice but I'm not sure if there's a downside to doing it.

Well, bar oil in the lake, and water in your bar would be likely considered downsides. That being said, my dad used to use his stihl in this manner when I was a kid, and I know people that still do in their "permanent" shacks on the lake back home

Curious as to why you would want to change depth on chain, or were you meaning bar length, Dave ..haha. It's more the rakers that determine depth. Regardless, my saw cuts plenty good enough for me, with no alterations... When the saw won't do it anymore, as was the case not long ago, out comes the ice auger. With it, we find water, although sometimes not enough.
And, oh yeah, now as trappers I suppose we will not be allowed a chainsaw on the ice for fear of oil contamination....sweeet.

I heard instead of chain oil guys have used vegetable oil not sure if that works, maybe some here knows??

;)I call them the rakers too, Doug, but I wasn't sure if most people did so I used the proper name (I think?) of "depth gauge". I'm just wondering if I could make life a bit easier for myself since I'll be cutting a few holes this week.

I use the special biodegradable bar oil in my saw so it's not an issue. ;)

Heard that before too, specifically for cutting ice-shack/fishing holes.

Filling your rakers is dangerous if not done proper,plus you can cut ice all day long without oil,water keeps the chain from burning up which is all oil does,all kinds of fancy cutting tools reqiure water cooling even diamond drill bits,just flush your oil tank with hot water once empty.plus it will clean and crap in your oil tank,but don't fill the rakers down to much because if you forget it will bit into the wood,kick back on you or even snap the chain if it has lots of power is in that saw,i put up ice in ice shacks when I was younger with just long chain and bar,just remember to refill with oil once done so nothing in your oil tank rusts.IT's a wet job so wear rain pants on top of your cutting pants,plus eye protection,. plus the oil will stay in the hole on top getting into your fishing line and reel,number one rule is long enough bar .:thinking-006:They do all kinds of stuff at winter carnivals with saws to make ice sculptures,no oil

Look into a skip tooth chain for your saw. If you have the ponies nothing does ice faster.

Thanks for the advice. I went to the Stihl dealer yesterday but unfortunately they don't make the chain for my 260 Stihl. Not the end of the world as this is merely something that I was wondering about in an attempt to make life easier for myself. I'll try filing the rakers down on an older chain and see how that works. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. :)

place in calgary will make the skip chain for you, I think it is also called a Rip chain used for cutting boards from logs. pitch of chain might be an issue

My saw isn't big enough for the chain size that Stihl makes. Usually guys that want skip tooth have big old heavy duty saws for cutting through huge trees. Not much of a market for skip tooth chain on smaller saws like mine I guess.

Cutting ice
 

I have a old Husky 61 I use for cutting ice....does a nice job.It has a 32inch bar with ripping chain and the rakers filled down.It makes nice square hole.No chain lube needed.I wore rubber bibs while cutting The bar tip was handy for the runs.Hope this helps.Zeph

LOL. There's a pic of sled sunk in Sheep creek at least once a year in the AO magazine.

Here's what you need for cutting through the ice in February my buddies new toyhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3a2d96a751.jpg

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She looks fun...

Nice saw.