Chainsaw chain locker

[Darren Wright]

I’m getting quite a collection of chainsaw chains and have been looking for a good way to store/take them with me when I go out cutting firewood.

There is a plastic box on Amazon called Chain locker, but it seems overpriced for what it is. I also shopped the plastic hardware and food storage areas for options, but nothing really was what I had I mind.

Since I have the cnc going, I drew up a proto type, based on the chain locker. And milled one out. I ended up getting a couple of the curves wrong and must have mis measured the length of my smaller pole saw chain.


I went back to the drawing board, even got some help from my design consultant.


Version 2 came out a little better, but was unable to get the smaller chain out without a screwdriver.


So I added a small pocket in the middle, which helped a lot.


This one does work better, but the two smaller chain pockets could stand to be 1/2” or so longer. The 3/4” thick top is a bit thick, so may try some 1/2” ply.


I’ll probably seal both with BLO. I’ll probably use a small piano hinge, but need to look at latches. A future version will be deeper pockets, maybe dual sided for sharp vs dull, or maybe some pockets for files and such.

 

[Ryan Mooney]

I’ll probably seal both with BLO

traditionally we used old motor oil for such things but a good soaking of bar oil... would be authentic looking . Perhaps less pretty but has that "woodlot grease" feel heh.

 

[Frank Fusco]

You are a lot more fussy than I am. I just tossed my chains into the plastic tool (tackle?) box I took with when I was using my chain saw. Harbor Freight has a lot of interesting tool boxes and bags at reasonable prices.

 

[Darren Wright]

You are a lot more fussy than I am. I just tossed my chains into the plastic tool (tackle?) box I took with when I was using my chain saw. Harbor Freight has a lot of interesting tool boxes and bags at reasonable prices.

It could be that my OCD kicked in.

I wanted to do something on the cnc though. I've got a few other versions/ideas I'll post when I get to them. The big box I have on my carry-all has the fuel, bar oil, wrenches, files, extra chains, paint, some herbicide (for locust trees), straps, and several other things. For the most part it works fine, but when I need chains, tools, files; I'm pulling all those other things out to find them. A tackle/tool box just takes up too much room for the contents, so working on slimming that down

 

[Jonathan Shively]

Now that is a cool idea. Not practical for me as I have 6 chainsaws, different bar lengths. I really like the idea though as I had not a clue when I started reading your post what a chainsaw locker was. Great execution, burn your brand or name on it to make it permanent (like anyone else has one!)

 

[Darren Wright]

Now that is a cool idea. Not practical for me as I have 6 chainsaws, different bar lengths. I really like the idea though as I had not a clue when I started reading your post what a chainsaw locker was. Great execution, burn your brand or name on it to make it permanent (like anyone else has one!)

Yeah, I currently have 3 different chainsaws of different sizes, the chains for all fit in this box, but will be making separate ones for each too, so that maybe I can keep a file or two in there and perhaps the wrench. I tend to hang the dull chains on one of the hooks of the carry-all so I don't try to put one back on, so doubt I do the doubled sided box I mentioned above with sharp vs. dull.

 

[Mike Stafford]

I made a carrier (I cannot call it a box) for my chains back in the days when I was heating with wood. It was not a box but just two pieces of 3/4" plywood and a couple of dowels.
The dowels were glued into shallow Forster bit holes on one piece of plywood and spaced so that my chains would fit around the two sticks with a little slack. The dowels were reinforced with a screw through the plywood. The second piece of plywood had holes that were enlarged by sanding a little so that they would slide over the dowels. The second piece of plywood was held in place with a couple of large rubber bands. As I recall I had a total of five chains for my saw and when I was cutting wood I carried the chain carrier and my saw box to wherever I was sawing.

Not very pretty but it kept the chains safe when not in use and kept me safe when I was reaching for something in my saw box. For somebody who liked to make boxes I sure didn't waste any effort on something to store my chains.

 

[Jonathan Shively]

In my mind I can see your chain locker oversized from your last picture and the "frame" being fastened together. Then the piece in the last picture slide into the "frame". No need for hinges then.