Saw sharpening

Solace · Jan 20, 2003

cutters

What really helped me become more proficent at filing was learning how the cutters are designed and what each componant of the cutter does. Once you posess this information, filing angles make a lot more sence.

Check out this site.

http://www.oregonchain.ca/info/faq.shtm

Crofter · Jan 20, 2003

Solace; Yep you are right; you surely have to know what result you are wanting to achieve because it won't happen by accident.

What makes square filing so much more difficult than round filing is that every time you change your file angle in one respect you change two other dimensions and if you change rotation of the file that also changes all your angles. On top of this you have to control file placement within about .005 of an inch of the tooth corner which also moves as you file. This makes it sound more difficult than it is because a lot of these thing start to happen intuitively after twenty or so hours of filing. It is a bit like learning to ride a bicycle; you cant learn it all by reading the instructions. You invest a fair bit of time before it starts to be fun.

Frank

Solace · Jan 20, 2003

Square

Oh so true.
People tend to be concerned with the immeadiately visabe top plate filing angle forgetting how that angle affects the whole or the purpose for different top plate, and therefore sideplate angles
A file guide is an excellent tool. I find file depth much more manageable with even the basic guides. At least for round ground or chisel.

Unfortunately I have never seen a tool for square ground.
In truth, there is not much call for square ground in my neck of the woods although I do know quite a few fellows in the west coast area using it. I'll admit the art of square ground filing has not yet been mastered by this humble student.

Crofter · Jan 23, 2003

Square filing

John Ellison : After going over what you said about filing outside in I gave it a try today. Definitely easier to see the corner, also possible to still see sideplate hook. I can't see it would be awhole lot harder on the file. I will play with both till I see which looks better for me. Im happy with the results but filing is still too slow for me if I was seriously cutting wood. Just for bragging and I would still be pretty careful who I bragged to.

I gotta know what makes it tick.

Frank