Chainsaw Pete
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Does a given size FOP (example, for .325 pitch chains) work on other brands of chain - like Oregon and Stihl - of the same pitch?
Carleton File 'o Plate
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Yes will work fine on other brands of chain.
The answer is, it depends...
Some chains have additional guard links or bumper links and the FOP may not fit those.
Also, some cutters have different geometry and again the FOP may not fit even though the pitch is correct.
There were different FOP's for different chain types (Chisel vs. Semi-chisel) and one may not actually fit a different chain type.
These all fit some form of full size 3/8 chain. I had the blue ones made because 37509 was put of production for 20+ years and no longer available elsewhere.
Mark
Some chains have additional guard links or bumper links and the FOP may not fit those.
Also, some cutters have different geometry and again the FOP may not fit even though the pitch is correct.
There were different FOP's for different chain types (Chisel vs. Semi-chisel) and one may not actually fit a different chain type.
These all fit some form of full size 3/8 chain. I had the blue ones made because 37509 was put of production for 20+ years and no longer available elsewhere.
Mark
There were some alternative design plates made for some of the guard link type chains.
Mark
Mark
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Were do you find them? Always like them.
Chainsaw Pete
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Several on ebay right now....search for file o plate. Most are obsolete and listed as NOS. Selling for around $15 to $22.
I was interested for the depth gage part of the plate. I have no problem filing the teeth by watching the scribed angle mark on each tooth. The angle gage part of the FOP is much more obvious, but I'm not convinced it will make things any easier. Since I am running Stihl and Oregon chains (.325 and 3/8) and one needs more knowledge than I have to select the appropriate FOP I think I'm going to pass on getting one.
While I am not thrilled with the Stihl gage, I'll probably stick with it for a while.
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I have done this in the past have to try again.THANKS
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For depth gauges- a lot of people (myself included) prefer the Husqvarna style gauge- but I (and others) use it as a gauge only, file and recheck with gauge- rather than file with the gauge in place and lower the depth gauge to the face of the plate- keeps them looking new for decades.
Chainsaw Pete
ArboristSite Member
I picked up one of these, not only because of your recommendation, but because I do not like the Stihl gauge that I have. So, how do I use it? Does it go flat on the chain with the depth link poking up through the slot or does the gauge go on the chain at an angle like the file o plate?
What is meant by soft and hard stamped on the face?
There are burrs on the back of the gage around the soft and hard openings as well as the end slots. Should I file those burrs flat with the back?
Your depth gauge above works very similar to the File-O-Plate depth gauge.
As a cutter guide...
As a depth gauge guide...
The hard setting (hardwood) will take a little less off the depth gauge, the soft (soft wood) setting will lower the depth gauge a bit more.
Mark
As a cutter guide...
As a depth gauge guide...
The hard setting (hardwood) will take a little less off the depth gauge, the soft (soft wood) setting will lower the depth gauge a bit more.
Mark
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Chainsaw Pete
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What are the rollers for? How is that used? I can see how the metal fits over the chain like the fop.
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The blue section is for filing the cutters, the rollers are what the round file rests on to cut at the correct height, the swing out plate is for depth gauges with both a hardwood and softwood option.
Plenty of youtube tutorials out there will explain its use.
Reading about these all these gauges makes my head hurt, sure happy I only need a round file ,flat file and a couple file handles,much easier to carry with me. In the shop a vice comes in handy.
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Yep but not everyone has your experience and time spent.
When I started out- no gauges were ever used- you learned by trial and error- until you developed the eye, muscle memory, knack and what angles suit what.
You got to remember some people on here and out there, burn less mixed fuel in a season/year than you did in a week.
That won`t change my hurting head but a fifth of JD helps some.LOL There was a time when I tried teaching how to hand file, I bought many clamp on bar guides to get the students set up to seeing how the file sits on the chain, what it does to the cutters when stroked. Those guides made the most sense to those beginners and a few actually became passable freehand filers, dam few though. I know it is a lot of info to take in and make sense of to get the angles, depth and edges sharp. At 9-10 years old I had no one to show me how to file chain, the filer at the mill did not understand chainsaw chain but he knew how to make metal edges sharp, big rotary mill blades need sharp edges and so did big vertical band saw blades. He let me file along with him in off hours, my dad filed crosscuts so as a young fella during early development years I picked up some good ideas and habits. They tell me that a young persons mind is much more malleable and can learn new tasks much easier than us old pharts. I have none ,0,of these filing gadgets so my head hurts less and my pockets don`t rattle when I walk, use what ya need to get the job done.
