*Note: The original images in this thread were lost. I will try to add some back which are as close as possible . I cannot add photos back to other people's posts*
When I first started to sharpen my own chains I bought an Oregon, bar-mounted, filing guide (model 23736A). This was the 'professional' model; made in Italy, retailed for about $40, and had more metal parts than the model sold in home centers (model 23820) for about half that cost.
The instructions were not that clear. It was clumsy to mount on the bar. It was slow. But it gave me GREAT results; nearly perfect cutters that were razor sharp. It also helped me to understand filing, and how to use a conventional file holder for touch-ups in the field.
After I got a grinder, I sold that filing guide on Craig'sList.
A thread on the Timberline chain sharpener < http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/180488.htm > got me thinking about this again. I had a dozen chains to sharpen for a variety of saws, and 'talked myself into' the idea that it would be nice to have a sharpener that I could use in the house without generating a lot of noise or dust. Several A.S. members had posted in threads that they thought that the Granberg Fie-N-Joint was better than the Oregon, so when Bailey's had a sale and promo that brought it down below $22 I ordered one.
The package proudly stated that it was 'Made in USA', but the edges of die-cast pieces were rough and uneven, and there were several sharp corners on castings and even the thumb screws. I disassembled it, and spent about a half hour filing, grinding, and buffing the rough edges and corners smooth. I mounted the Granberg on scrap guide bars held in a vise, as I did my Oregon, so that I did not have to mount each chain on a saw (and because I did not have all the saws there!). I filed the depth gauges by hand.
Again, the provided instructions were poor (a YouTube video was much better). Again, it was kind of awkward to position and mount on the bar. Again, it was slow. Again, I got GREAT results.
I don't know if the older Granbergs were of higher quality, and I don't have my old Oregon to compare side by side. But this one does not appear like it will hold up to extended use.
Out of curiosity, I checked out one of the cheaper Oregon guides at a local home center. They had one left marked 'Made in Italy'; the newer stock was labled 'Made in China'. The Italian and Chinese gauges looked nearly identical, except for the fasteners (thumb screws, screw, nuts) which visually appeared to be of lower quality finish on the Chinese model. They both probably work OK.
I have not tried the Timberline sharpener, although, it has generally received very positive reviews here on A.S. I bought the Granberg because it was $100 cheaper, and because it used commonly available files.
In summary, each of these Oregon or Granberg style sharpening guides would be good for someone new to sharpening; for someone who wants to get very precise and consistent edges; for someone who has some time to spend sharpening; and for someone who does not have a large number of chains to sharpen.
They adjust for consistent filing angle, file tilt, file height, and depth of cut. As a practical matter, you still have to learn how to push the file in a straight line, and to count strokes.
I could not get cutters this consistent by free hand filing, or using a simple file holder and one of the scrap bars. I have multiple chains per saw, and do not wnat to have to mount each one in the saw to sharpen. These Granberg and Oregon holders have a spring metal dog to help keep the cutters from sliding backward, and small guides on each side of the chain to help hold it down by clamping above the rivets. A good filing vise that securely clamps the chain might be able to provide the same benefit for those who are more comfortable maintaining consistent file angles.
Philbert
When I first started to sharpen my own chains I bought an Oregon, bar-mounted, filing guide (model 23736A). This was the 'professional' model; made in Italy, retailed for about $40, and had more metal parts than the model sold in home centers (model 23820) for about half that cost.
The instructions were not that clear. It was clumsy to mount on the bar. It was slow. But it gave me GREAT results; nearly perfect cutters that were razor sharp. It also helped me to understand filing, and how to use a conventional file holder for touch-ups in the field.
After I got a grinder, I sold that filing guide on Craig'sList.
A thread on the Timberline chain sharpener < http://www.arboristsite.com/chainsaw/180488.htm > got me thinking about this again. I had a dozen chains to sharpen for a variety of saws, and 'talked myself into' the idea that it would be nice to have a sharpener that I could use in the house without generating a lot of noise or dust. Several A.S. members had posted in threads that they thought that the Granberg Fie-N-Joint was better than the Oregon, so when Bailey's had a sale and promo that brought it down below $22 I ordered one.
The package proudly stated that it was 'Made in USA', but the edges of die-cast pieces were rough and uneven, and there were several sharp corners on castings and even the thumb screws. I disassembled it, and spent about a half hour filing, grinding, and buffing the rough edges and corners smooth. I mounted the Granberg on scrap guide bars held in a vise, as I did my Oregon, so that I did not have to mount each chain on a saw (and because I did not have all the saws there!). I filed the depth gauges by hand.
Again, the provided instructions were poor (a YouTube video was much better). Again, it was kind of awkward to position and mount on the bar. Again, it was slow. Again, I got GREAT results.
I don't know if the older Granbergs were of higher quality, and I don't have my old Oregon to compare side by side. But this one does not appear like it will hold up to extended use.
Out of curiosity, I checked out one of the cheaper Oregon guides at a local home center. They had one left marked 'Made in Italy'; the newer stock was labled 'Made in China'. The Italian and Chinese gauges looked nearly identical, except for the fasteners (thumb screws, screw, nuts) which visually appeared to be of lower quality finish on the Chinese model. They both probably work OK.
I have not tried the Timberline sharpener, although, it has generally received very positive reviews here on A.S. I bought the Granberg because it was $100 cheaper, and because it used commonly available files.
In summary, each of these Oregon or Granberg style sharpening guides would be good for someone new to sharpening; for someone who wants to get very precise and consistent edges; for someone who has some time to spend sharpening; and for someone who does not have a large number of chains to sharpen.
They adjust for consistent filing angle, file tilt, file height, and depth of cut. As a practical matter, you still have to learn how to push the file in a straight line, and to count strokes.
I could not get cutters this consistent by free hand filing, or using a simple file holder and one of the scrap bars. I have multiple chains per saw, and do not wnat to have to mount each one in the saw to sharpen. These Granberg and Oregon holders have a spring metal dog to help keep the cutters from sliding backward, and small guides on each side of the chain to help hold it down by clamping above the rivets. A good filing vise that securely clamps the chain might be able to provide the same benefit for those who are more comfortable maintaining consistent file angles.
Philbert
