Square filing. Who has tried, and given up?

[Metals406]

The mismatched bevels shouldn't effect you at all. . . It really doesn't matter that they're different lengths.

Observe below how much (approximately) gullet I'll clean out on my tooth. You must remember that only the very top of the tooth (at the intersection of the side and top plate, or "point") are doing any work at any given time.

Removing that extra material improves performance believe it or not. There is no loss of side plate stability in the cut, there is no wandering, etc.

You aught to see the noodles I pull, cutting cross grain, with that tooth configuration. . . Smooth as silk too.

I'll illustrate on your picture of the file, why the mismatch won't hurt if you'd like.

 

[parrisw]

The mismatched bevels shouldn't effect you at all. . . It really doesn't matter that they're different lengths.

Observe below how much (approximately) gullet I'll clean out on my tooth. You must remember that only the very top of the tooth (at the intersection of the side and top plate, or "point") are doing any work at any given time.

Removing that extra material improves performance believe it or not. There is no loss of side plate stability in the cut, there is no wandering, etc.

You aught to see the noodles I pull, cutting cross grain, with that tooth configuration. . . Smooth as silk too.

I'll illustrate on your picture of the file, why the mismatch won't hurt if you'd like.

Do you think you could post a pic of one of your chains?

 

[Metals406]

Do you think you could post a pic of one of your chains?

It's really dark here right now. . . But I will for sure. In fact, I have two new JGX chains in the box. I'll throw one on and convert it to square. . . The one on right now is almost to the witness marks.

I'll cut with my chain, then the other freshy out'a the box for a comparison.

Over the last 8 years, I've experimented with my chain geometry. . . I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to obsessing on sharp things.

I shave with a straight razor now, and if it won't do the HHT (hanging hair test), shaving is uncomfortable. The same goes for any of my edged tools, dull is unacceptable.

 

[Zombiechopper]

It's really dark here right now. . . But I will for sure. In fact, I have two new JGX chains in the box. I'll throw one on and convert it to square. . . The one on right now is almost to the witness marks.

I'll cut with my chain, then the other freshy out'a the box for a comparison.

Over the last 8 years, I've experimented with my chain geometry. . . I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to obsessing on sharp things.

I shave with a straight razor now, and if it won't do the HHT (hanging hair test), shaving is uncomfortable. The same goes for any of my edged tools, dull is unacceptable.

Are you a member on Usual Suspects Network?

 

[Metals406]

Are you a member on Usual Suspects Network?

NOPE!! Just Americas Most Sharpened! Hahahahahaha!

 

[parrisw]

It's really dark here right now. . . But I will for sure. In fact, I have two new JGX chains in the box. I'll throw one on and convert it to square. . . The one on right now is almost to the witness marks.

I'll cut with my chain, then the other freshy out'a the box for a comparison.

Over the last 8 years, I've experimented with my chain geometry. . . I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to obsessing on sharp things.

I shave with a straight razor now, and if it won't do the HHT (hanging hair test), shaving is uncomfortable. The same goes for any of my edged tools, dull is unacceptable.

Straight razor eh!! Yikes.

 

[Metals406]

Straight razor eh!! Yikes.

If you can't make things sharp, then it's not something you'll want to try. I use my dads 100+ year old straight razor. I like it, and think it's almost therapeutic. . .

My razor must do this, or it's not sharp enough:

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF-ayPofWpY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF-ayPofWpY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[parrisw]

If you can't make things sharp, then it's not something you'll want to try. I use my dads 100+ year old straight razor. I like it, and think it's almost therapeutic. . .

My razor must do this, or it's not sharp enough:

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF-ayPofWpY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF-ayPofWpY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

That's friggin crazy!! How the heck do you get it that sharp?

 

[Metals406]

That's friggin crazy!! How the heck do you get it that sharp?

Lots of patience, and some good stones. I finish with a 12,000 grit wet stone, then on to the leather strop with Mothers aluminum polish. . . Then a round on just the leather strop.

Everyone has their own technique. . . But whatever gets you across the finish line.

You can actually use cardboard as a strop, as they use clay in it's manufacture.

 

[parrisw]

Lots of patience, and some good stones. I finish with a 12,000 grit wet stone, then on to the leather strop with Mothers aluminum polish. . . Then a round on just the leather strop.

Everyone has their own technique. . . But whatever gets you across the finish line.

You can actually use cardboard as a strop, as they use clay in it's manufacture.

Hmm, don't know if I got's that kind of patience. How much sharpening time is invested in each shave!

 

[Metals406]

Hmm, don't know if I got's that kind of patience. How much sharpening time is invested in each shave!

I strop on the leather before and after each shave. . . Just a few times.

I usually get 5-8 shaves before I do a utility sharpen on the 12,000.

If you're rebuilding the edge, you'll invest about 2 hours to complete the task.

Understanding edge geometry of all cutting tools, helps you understand what's needed to achieve a sharp chain. Of course, stropping/honing a chain would be silly, unless you were trying to gain hundredths of a second in time. . . Like for racing pro's, etc.

 

[redprospector]

I used to shave with a straight razor until about 10 years ago when it disapeared. It was my grand dad's.
I would do a "light" sharpening once in a while on the inside of a large, smooth drinking glass. I had 1 leather strop loaded with jewelers rouge, and another just plain leather. There's a lot of way's to skin a cat.

Most guy's who understand how to really sharpen can pick up square filing pretty easy. It's just simple geometry.

Andy

 

[redprospector]

Here's a picture of a cutter I touched up tonight. The file I was using wasn't the same on the bevels either. I had to really touch up the other side to make the cutters close to the same.

That cutter is looking pretty darn good. This is an excelent picture to show where the file is rubbing the tie strap, that means you've got the right angle there.

Andy

 

[ronT2]

Now that's crazy sharp!

<object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF-ayPofWpY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UF-ayPofWpY&amp;hl=en_US&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>

 

[husq2100]

I dont file chains or shavers.....but have sharpened the odd knife and some chisels ........angle consistantsy is PRIORITY.....put the edge under a magnifing glass and you will see.

 

[mdavlee]

I might try to resurrect the other semi skip round chain one more time to do a video comparison against that chain. I think the square will beat it pretty good this time.

 

[Metals406]

I might try to resurrect the other semi skip round chain one more time to do a video comparison against that chain. I think the square will beat it pretty good this time.

Clean that gullet with a 5/32" file first though. . . You don't have to bring it as far back as I illustrated, but you'll want to file it back none the less.

 

[Metals406]

I used to shave with a straight razor until about 10 years ago when it disapeared. It was my grand dad's.
I would do a "light" sharpening once in a while on the inside of a large, smooth drinking glass. I had 1 leather strop loaded with jewelers rouge, and another just plain leather. There's a lot of way's to skin a cat.

Most guy's who understand how to really sharpen can pick up square filing pretty easy. It's just simple geometry.

Andy

That sucks Andy!! I bet that old razor meant a lot to ya. You should look for the same brand razor on evilBay and pick it up again.

 

[mdavlee]

I'e been using a 7/32" on the gullets. I think I've got one 5/32" I can use to clean them out.

 

[Metals406]

I'e been using a 7/32" on the gullets. I think I've got one 5/32" I can use to clean them out.

A 5/32" fie is perfect for gullet work. . . Even a 3/16" in a pinch. You won't be able to get deep enough with the 7/32" file.

As soon as you feel the 5/32" "grab" you know you're back far enough.