A saw care tip from my time climbing near the ocean

During a climb by the ocean last summer, the salt spray was damaging my saw chain quickly. An arborist from the area told me to rinse it with fresh water after each use. I started doing this, and now my chains last much longer. This tip is great for anyone working near saltwater.

3 comments

3 Comments

nora_wood431mo ago

On the Oregon coast, the salt air ruins everything from bikes to saws. How do you rinse the chain right after a climb if you're miles from fresh water? I've heard of folks carrying a small bottle of distilled water for this. Does that work better than tap water? What about the bar itself, does it need the same treatment to prevent rust?

anna_roberts81mo ago

Actually, pre-treat everything with a light corrosion blocker before you even go out, it buys you way more time. The goal is to stop the salt from ever sticking to the metal, not just wash it off after.

skylerc861mo agoTop Commenter

Used to just rinse my gear after, but pre-treating really is a game changer. Makes the salt just bead off. That bottle of distilled water trick works pretty well too, keeps spots off.