Granberg File-n-Joint review

[litefoot]

Bought a Granberg file guide from Baileys for about $22 a few weeks ago before going out and cutting firewood. I slightly ground pounded one of the chains when I was bucking, so I set up the the Granberg to see how it would do.

The instructions were pretty good but a little dated as some of the nuts on the newer units apparently have been updated with wing nuts to provide a bit more tightening torque. I used a round file and set the top plate angle to 35 degrees with a downtilt of 5 degrees (not sure what that angle is called).

I tried filing on the kitchen table with one hand holding the saw and one hand pushing the file. Not good. I then took the saw to the shop and clamped the bar and pushed/pulled the file with both hands. Nice!

After finishing the cutters on one side, it's easy to rotate the file and do the other side. Now heres the good part...I did the best sharpening job EVER on any chain I've done by hand. The saw really ripped into the wood on a test cut. Highly recommended...especially at the Baileys price...for those who, like me, are a little challenged when hand filing.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I like mine and find that the hard part is the initial setup. Make sure you reclamp the side plates to the tooth for every tooth, this will eliminate chatter and make the process smooth.


Btw, dont back drag the file as this dulls it much faster than anything else ever would.

 

[Urbicide]

I use the Granberg also. A little complicated to use at first. It is easy with some practice. Be sure you keep the round guide bar lubricated. If you don't you will wear the bushings out prematurely. Also, periodically loosen the thumb screws holding the file and rotate the file. By doing this you will use the whole surface of the file verses just one side of it.