Oregon Filing Guide

RDP · Nov 23, 2004

Does anyone use a bar mounted filing guide sold by Oregon and many others, this guide clamps to your bars and holds the exact degrees/angles etc. to file the teeth correctly. This tool does take time to mount however, do any of you have any hints, tips or tricks on using this tool.

Mange · Nov 23, 2004

Something like this?

Crofter · Nov 23, 2004

They are a good device to get a chain uniformly sharpened. Once you start freehand filing they are good to use every once in a while to bring the angles and lengths back even. They are slow though. They are a bit like training wheels on a bike; once you can get along without them you soon will. The little clamp on the file guides and some clip on the bar guides are much quicker and encourage frequent sharpening. If it is a pain to sharpen, you tend to continue cutting after the chain has lost its keen edge. Do a search on sharpening, file guides, sharpening guides etc. and you can find lots of threads discussing the pros and cons of various guides.

Lewis Brander · Nov 23, 2004

To RDP:

Hello and welcome to the site. As you can see from the bottom of this thread I have several old saws. I don't pretend to be an expert chain filler. I use a clamp on guide most of the time to sharpen my chains. They are a bit tricky to use, especiall if the bar and drive links are worn. I use it for my old chipper chains and round ground chisel chains. I don't use the saws much and have lots of time to play around with filling a chain. I clamp on the sharpener and make sure the top of the tooth is sitting perfectly square to the top of the bar when clamped in the guide. Just follow the instructions with the guide. I've experimented with mine a bit to get the chain as sharp as I can using the guide and have had good luck with it. Just take time and patience. You have to know how to set it up, know your different angles you want to file on the tooth and go from there. I do do a little touch up work, free hand during the course of the day while cutting, but as Crofter says the guide is good to use to bring the chain back to shape. You from what I understand have to keep 20% of the file diameter above the top of the tooth while using the guide. I also use a 5 or 10 degree upward angle from the back of the tooth depending on what chain I''m filling. Hope this helps and isn't confusing. Take care. Lewis.

Mange · Nov 23, 2004

Like Crofter said, after a wile it feels natural.
I like to take it out from time to time and use it to make sure I don't do something wrong.
Great learning tool. When I bought mine I did not understand the thing, so I simply put it away.
I have recently done a bunch of harvester chains, so after a few I belive I got the hang of it.

I was told there is nothing better to sharpen with.

Here It was sold by Oregon as "Fil Jonte".

RDP · Nov 23, 2004

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Now what about the PFERD Chain Sharp, anyone using this, is it as good as advertised and does it save time ?

http://www.pferd.com/PRO_Chainsaw_Files.pdf