clamp to bar Filing jigs?

[ontario026]

Are the chain sharpening jigs that you clamp to the top of the bar worth the money? They seem like a good idea, making it easier to maintain identical angles on all the teeth in theory, in practice are they any good?

Thanks

 

[leweee]

File-n-joint

Bought a file-n-joint( clamp to the bar) filing jig when I bought my first chainsaw 30 years ago. They work great. Remember to rotate the file in the holder 90 degrees & then replace them when dull. Granberg still makes them . Available at Leevalley in Ottawa ON. Good Luck

 

[Blowdown1]

Ontario, see my recent post about filing semi-chisel. A lot of people say the setup and use of the clamp on jigs is too slow. I use the Husqvarna roller guide on full chisel and it didn't take long to be able to get it down so that my teeth are as sharp or sharper than out of the box.

My other post was inquiring about using that setup on semi-chisel, so that is something I don't yet know enough about. But the roller guide is so small you can take it out in the field and use to touch up quickly and easily.

 

[Crofter]

The clamp on guides do an excellent job of uniformity for someone who has not a good eye for it. The stick on roller guides are sure a lot easier on the pocket and times quicker. They take a bit of judgement or measuring on the part of the operator to keep tooth length adequately uniform. Even tooth lengths and file height on the tooth, in my opinion, are more important than slight angle variations.

 

[ontario026]

Thanks guys, Blowdown I went to the local Husky dealer today and bought a roller guide, seems to work really good once you get the hang of it... one of the first few strokes with it I got my right pointer finger in the way and cut the end of it open a bit on the depth gauge, nothing serious, just a pain to use the trackball on this stupid laptop to type now! LOL Seriously though, any other amateur chain sharpeners, I would recommend giving one a try! I will be buying a second one for the .325 chain on the 026 for sure!!!

Next time I'm in ottawa I might still pick up a granberg clamp to bar style guide as well, use it in the shop and the roller guides in the field..

 

[glens]

If you're using the Husky roller guide on Stihl chain, be warned that the profile of the chain when viewed from the side is different than the Oregon chain the Husky roller guide is designed for.  As the cutter gets worked back, the roller guide drops the file progressively too low, so you need to raise the rear of the guide.  I use zip-ties wrapped around the frame, through the back chain grooves to raise it, along with judicious filing to fine tune it for angle and to prevent the chain links from being compressed fore/aft, which causes either the front or rear of the target cutter to lift.

Glen

 

[chainsawworld]

i remember my father buying one of those about 30 years ago. i was 14 and could not get the knack of filing with my opposite hand. this device actually help train me in keeping all the angles equal with both hands.
you do need to rotate the file and you can not tap the filings out when the file is clamped in but, give it a shot. i think i sell them for around $20.00. might be worth your investment. marty

 

[woodshop]

We had one at work, and I tried it few times, it worked great, perfect angles etc, but took longer to sharpen the chain, and like leweee said you have to rotate the file every couple teeth for good results. I ended up thinking at the time, that it was more fuss than it was worth. Have sharpened enough to where I do it by hand sans anything but a file holder to protect my palm. I am sure my angles are not as perfect as if I had the holder, but the chain is sharp and goes like a bandit in the log, chain doesn't wander in cut etc... so I am satisfied. Having used one with success though, I can see there is a place for them for some folks.

Dave