Goofy Filing, Round Filing or Grinding

Gypo Logger · Jul 11, 2010

Just did my first goofy filed chain. It took awhile to get the sideplate low and under the top plate.
When you think about it, you can attain the exact same angles with a grinder that you can with a goofy file if you use the thinner wheel, like for 325 chain.

I made some cuts with the goofy filed chain on a 385 with a 16" bar 8T and the chips were identical to the chips from the round filed chain. Can't tell if the chain is faster till I put it on the 359, but I left it in the bush on a stump.
I'll do some vids.
John

wigglesworth · Jul 11, 2010

Yukonsawman said:
Just did my first goofy filed chain. It took awhile to get the sideplate low and under the top plate.
When you think about it, you can attain the exact same angles with a grinder that you can with a goofy file if you use the thinner wheel, like for 325 chain.

I made some cuts with the goofy filed chain on a 385 with a 16" bar 8T and the chips were identical to the chips from the round filed chain. Can't tell if the chain is faster till I put it on the 359, but I left it in the bush on a stump.
I'll do some vids.
John

I still got that used starter rope Ill trade ya for that filing vise...

Gypo Logger · Jul 11, 2010

wigglesworth said:
I still got that used starter rope Ill trade ya for that filing vise...

You got a deal, but does it matter that the chain is welded to the vise? Lol
John

Saw Dr. · Jul 11, 2010

wigglesworth said:
I still got that used starter rope Ill trade ya for that filing vise...

At least he can recycle the box of scored 290 pistons I am offering. :dizzy:

Looks like that chain is about ready for the recycling bin too. Or maybe it is that new style Canadian chain I have not seen yet.

wigglesworth · Jul 11, 2010

Yukonsawman said:
You got a deal, but does it matter that the chain is welded to the vise? Lol
John

Sure, i own a grinder.

redprospector · Jul 11, 2010

Good for you John. I'm glad you're giving it another shot with the goofy. :clap:

That is a nice vice.

Andy

smokinj · Jul 11, 2010

If the file is correct and the angles is good the square will be much faster but slower to produce. The whole scheme of thing it really seems like a wash to me...

Gypo Logger · Jul 11, 2010

redprospector said:
Good for you John. I'm glad you're giving it another shot with the goofy.
That is a nice vice.

Andy

I tried to take pics of a cutter, but it looked duller than a hoe, so I didn't post any for fear of ridicule, lol, even though they look sharp to the naked eye and seem to cut ok.
John

AUSSIE1 · Jul 11, 2010

Yukonsawman said:
I tried to take pics of a cutter, but it looked duller than a hoe, so I didn't post any for fear of ridicule, lol, even though they look sharp to the naked eye and seem to cut ok.
John

Dull hoe's only take one drink!

Anyway we wouldn't ridicule as were all bro's here! :cheers:

redprospector · Jul 11, 2010

Yukonsawman said:
I tried to take pics of a cutter, but it looked duller than a hoe, so I didn't post any for fear of ridicule, lol, even though they look sharp to the naked eye and seem to cut ok.
John

Why you no filin' sack of ............Just kidding. :hmm3grin2orange:
Any body that's willing to try, and willing to learn I'm willing to try to help. Heck, I've been doing it a long time and still have lots to learn.
A few years ago, when I first started trying to file race chains. I posted a pic, and was told it was the slowest looking race chain they'd ever seen.

Andy

Gypo Logger · Jul 11, 2010

redprospector said:
Why you no filin' sack of ............Just kidding. :hmm3grin2orange:
Any body that's willing to try, and willing to learn I'm willing to try to help. Heck, I've been doing it a long time and still have lots to learn.
A few years ago, when I first started trying to file race chains. I posted a pic, and was told it was the slowest looking race chain they'd ever seen.

Andy

Lol. I think we may have somethig there with the goofy filing. I'll keep at it in the woods and see how it compares to round filing.
It seems to take awhile to lose the file marks that the round file left.
What sideplate angle is the best?
Thanks,
John

redprospector · Jul 11, 2010

Yukonsawman said:
Lol. I think we may have somethig there with the goofy filing. I'll keep at it in the woods and see how it compares to round filing.
It seems to take awhile to lose the file marks that the round file left.
What sideplate angle is the best?
Thanks,
John

The guy that taught me had me hold all angles of the file at about 45 degrees, and told me to adjust to what worked best for the wood I was cutting. I've settled into about a 40* angle of the file for everything. If you keep your top plate to about 22* to 25* and your corners matching, everything else just falls into place. Don't over think the angles. :cheers:

Andy

madhatte · Jul 12, 2010

Yukonsawman said:
you can attain the exact same angles with a grinder that you can with a goofy file if you use the thinner wheel, like for 325 chain.

I am going to try that. I have never liked goofy files because they're no easier to use than the chisel files, but if I can get near-Silvey chain performance from my NT grinder, count me in.

Gypo Logger · Jul 12, 2010

redprospector said:
The guy that taught me had me hold all angles of the file at about 45 degrees, and told me to adjust to what worked best for the wood I was cutting. I've settled into about a 40* angle of the file for everything. If you keep your top plate to about 22* to 25* and your corners matching, everything else just falls into place. Don't over think the angles.

Andy

So if I am understanding things with the goofy file the under the top plate angle will be the same as the sideplate angle, right? So all your angles are 40* including the top plate angle looking down on the cutter?
Thanks,
John

madhatte · Jul 12, 2010

In my experience hand-filing chisel chain (limited though it be), if you line the file up to produce the proper working corner, the rest of the angles will also be correct. I think that's why I've never liked goofy files -- I can never tell when I've got the corner right. To do the same on a grinder, however -- I'm guessing that I'll ruin a couple of chains before I get it right, but that's a chance I'm more than willing to take.

Gypo Logger · Jul 12, 2010

madhatte said:
In my experience hand-filing chisel chain (limited though it be), if you line the file up to produce the proper working corner, the rest of the angles will also be correct. I think that's why I've never liked goofy files -- I can never tell when I've got the corner right. To do the same on a grinder, however -- I'm guessing that I'll ruin a couple of chains before I get it right, but that's a chance I'm more than willing to take.

I'll have to order a 3/16" grinding wheel for the goofy grind.
The biggest advantage to the goofy file over the sq. file, is that it elliminates one angle. The sideplate angle being the most difficult to hold, for me anyway.
John

madhatte · Jul 12, 2010

Seems weird to me. I've only ever paid attention to the corner, and let the angles fall where they may, so long as the corner is right. I would guess that I'm usually around 40 side/30 top/45 corner, but I've never measured. I'm kind of rarin' to go now with this grinder thing because I want to see how it actually works.

Gypo Logger · Jul 12, 2010

With a sq. chain I think the ideal side plate angle was 2* or less.
I modified a round grinder once to grind a semi sq., by tilting the wheel as far over as possible, however, the sideplate angle was the same as the cutter angle. The vids on here somewhere and some doubted that I had ground it.
It was pretty fast.
John

madhatte · Jul 12, 2010

2 or less? Seriously? Can I see a picture? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the geometry. I'm trying to imagine grinding into a blank cutter for the first time. I'm not seeing it... 40-50 makes more sense in my head.

Gypo Logger · Jul 12, 2010

madhatte said:
2 or less? Seriously? Can I see a picture? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around the geometry. I'm trying to imagine grinding into a blank cutter for the first time. I'm not seeing it... 40-50 makes more sense in my head.

Here's a few pictures of chain I ground, note the slight beak and the slight forward slant of the side plate.
John

Goofy Filing, Round Filing or Grinding

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