Chains and sharpening

[wolfman]

How does one know which angle to sharpen a chain at? ANy advice as to how to actually sharpen a chain with a file? I have been sharpening mine at a 30 degree angle. I have managed to keep it sharp but I am not sure I am doing it right. I noticed that the cutting edge is smaller and that there doesn't seem to be enough surface area to cut well. The chain has been sharpened maybe 10 times. Is this average or did I screw something up? Does anyone have any links to a guide for this info?

Also, what is the best chain to use? My buddies tell me to stay away the safety chains and to use a chisel chain...in looking in various supply catalogs I have noticed that there are many choices. How do you choose the best chain...is it by application like type of wood or is it opinion? Thanks again for your help.

 

[Wade Huggins]

Hello again,
If you want the good chain then I would buy 72lg Oregon chain. It is a chisel tooth chain and Oregon is as good as any chain for the money. You need to pick a Carlton file-o-plate or something of that nature to help you see what you are doing right and to correct what you are doing wrong. Hand filing is tough if you want to be good at alot of people can get buy but not very many can do it to perfection(for lack of better word). Anyway get on Madsens web page and check all the info on filing and check out all neat stuff they sell for hand-filing. Late..............Wade

 

[Wade Huggins]

Also there are tons of info on this subject in the archives if you search it alittle you find all the reading material you want for the rest of this evening.............Wade

 

[Stumper]

Here is a thread -one of many.


http://www.arboristsite.com/showthr...&perpage=15&highlight=sharpening&pagenumber=1

 

[tony marks]

there is a little roller guide sold... sets rite on the chain with the cutter tobe sharpened sticking up and in the rite position for a strait stroke with a[ rite size] file... im not using mine as much now but its an excellent aid.... both to sharpen the cutter properly and to train your hand[okay fish time for your humor] in an effective stroke...by that i mean the stroke has a certain feel and u get, so as u can do it without the guide after a bit... in my case anyway.

 

[Oregon_Rob]

LG chain sharping details.

Here it is, LG chain. I stole this from the Oregon Chain site.

 

[wolfman]

Thanks guys!!! Once again, you provided me with very helpful info. I'll get it all sooner or later--it'll just take me some time.

 

[buckwheat]

Tried it!

Had a little free time and a dull chain so I tried the "Handle Up" method of free hand sharpening that Stumper was demonstrating in the linked thread.
It took about 8 passes per tooth to redo the cutting angle on the sideplate and I'm still not entirely satisfied that I got it to how it should be.
In the cut, it wanted to pull to one side, so I need to go back and check both the chain and the bar. I want to check the bar because I noticed it pulling a little before I put the saw away the other night so that could be my problem.
But the chips....beautiful and big! By far the largest chips to come off of the saw. I'm going to keep working on this chain and compare it to the ones where I hand file them "conventionally", but so far, I'm impressed.

 

[Saw Man]

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