best of the file guides for manual sharpening?

[expertech]

I agree with Kenjax. Never needed a guide, they are just an extra pain and electric sharpeners de-temper the teeth if you overheat them.

 

[kmcinms]

No guide here either. Count the strokes.

 

[Tzed250]

oregon filing guide, 30 and 10 but out to in. just the opposite of the pictures in this thread. sharp, clean file, file card close by too.

The tooth will get sharper going outside in, but the file will wear out about ten times faster. It is also much harder to file as you must apply enough pressure for the file to cut the chrome. For those that claim free hand is the best, that is similar to saying that a hand drill does better work than a drill press. The FG2 will produce the best round filed chain.

 

[MCW]

For filing I like the Vallorbe guide. They seem to get the file down into the gullet a lot better than some of the other guides like the Oregons etc.
Anyone claiming a razor sharp edge needs to remember that the so called "razor" disappears .01 of a second after that chain hits the wood.
Try hammering a scalpel through a piece of wood and see how long it lasts compared to a chisel...

 

[Tzed250]

Exactly. The keen edge is less important than correct geometry.

 

[roberte]

The tooth will get sharper going outside in, but the file will wear out about ten times faster. It is also much harder to file as you must apply enough pressure for the file to cut the chrome. For those that claim free hand is the best, that is similar to saying that a hand drill does better work than a drill press. The FG2 will produce the best round filed chain.

Exactly, The file is cutting an edge. Filing in to out just seems to me that the chrome is being polished. The files at what price $1.50 ea or 3 for $5.00, is the inexpensive part of the equation.

 

[Tzed250]

I like the visual on the 'outside in' technique but it sucks if my files are going to have that short of a life. I just started using that method and it does seem my files are shot.



Is there any way sharpening from the inside out but eyeballing the work from the outside in would be feasible? It would mean sharpening on the pull stroke of course.......


......and the handle would be on the wrong end of the file. I'm talking square filing.

Reducing file life by 90% isn't going to work out long term.

Square filing is another story. I file outside-in on square. That way I can watch the corners meet.

 

[sbhooper]

Fil-o-plate.

 

[roberte]

View attachment 266900View attachment 266901View attachment 266902View attachment 266903So lets see, watch the Raiders lose or file saws, hmmm option 2.
This what works for me, Oregon guide. The guide allows for even strokes (insert joke here) cutting edge of file to cutting edge of the cutter. Four, five strokes once the star is removed as long as its not bad. Come on admit it we all hit knots dirt etc. As far as filing this way wearing out a file, big deal. Your going to tell me that you have no problem spending $1,000.00 on a saw but a file for a $1.50 is a deal breaker, really?

 

[zogger]

pferd chain sharpView attachment 265987

I have the husky branded versions of that one, work nice. Only con to it is expense of the special size flat files for the depth gauges.

 

[w8ye]

I have three of these older Red Oregon Professional File Guides. I like them very well. They do a very consistent job on my chains and they cut very well.

This style guide will also hold flat raker files and you can set the rakers very precisely with them.

Also you can use Erwin 7/16" electric drill sockets to hold a double bevel square tooth file to sharpen square chains. I bought them used on the auction site for $15-$25.

 

[w8ye]

The Oregon Professional File Guides are made by Tecomec in Italy just like the 511AX grinders. All the screws, drill rod, and key stock material is metric.

The swivel on top has two sides to it. Therefore, from left to right cutters, you can approach the cutter from the inside with the file by just swiveling the top around to the same degree mark on the other side.

On the Stihl, stand alone, bench mount, sharpener, you have to remove the file and turn it around when doing the left hand cutters because the swivel that controls the 25 or 30 degree angle has a one sided limit to its travel.

I have found that for me, it works better to be at the end of the bar when pushing the file by the teeth. I set at the same place without moving the chainsaw for both left and right cutters. I just change the pushing hand.

 

[SawTroll]

A good pair of magnifiers so I can see what the heck I am doing. I do not need a guide if I can see exactly what is going on.

Exactly, or just :Eye::Eye:.

 

[3000 FPS]

Exactly, or just :Eye::Eye:.

I did Pocket Watch restoration for the last 30 years and you could say I just got accustomed to using the magnifiers.

 

[KenJax Tree]

Has anyone seen or used one of these FG4 guides, its similar to the Husky roller guide.

YouTube

 

[Fatarrow]

Has anyone seen or used one of these FG4 guides, its similar to the Husky roller guide.

YouTube

Thanks for posting that! I haven't seen the FG4. Is it availible yet?

 

[KenJax Tree]

Thanks for posting that! I haven't seen the FG4. Is it availible yet?

That's what i want to know.

 

[Fatarrow]

I use the Husqvarna Roller Guide now, and it works great for me. This FG 4 looks like it may help eliminate some of the possible room for error on the cutting angle during the file stroke. Might have to check one out.

 

[benp]

Has anyone seen or used one of these FG4 guides, its similar to the Husky roller guide.

YouTube

Hmm... that is interesting. If it was cheap enough I would try it out.

I like the Husky roller guides. Quick and efficient and no sweat to use for in field touch ups.

My only complaint is that lately the ones I have purchased the channels that allows the chain to slip down have been TIGHT. I have had to take the raker file to them so they correctly drop all the way down.

 

[roberte]

Has anyone seen or used one of these FG4 guides, its similar to the Husky roller guide.

YouTube

Looks interesting enough and if it works for those of you that like it my hat is off to you.
Maybe Im just an old dinosaur but I ll stick with my backwards Oregon filing system.View attachment 267281View attachment 267280