square filing?

[ZinTrees]

im looking into square filing chain, how much better/worse is it? I know its a little harder to learn but seems to have nicer results
I saw inbred jed using a regular old triangle file, and others using some weird mix between a flat and triangle file, does it really matter what file I use?


p.s, what are some good round files?

 

[Woodslasher]

im looking into square filing chain, how much better/worse is it? I know its a little harder to learn but seems to have nicer results
I saw inbred jed using a regular old triangle file, and others using some weird mix between a flat and triangle file, does it really matter what file I use?


p.s, what are some good round files?

Oregon or Stihl makes good round files, personally I think square filing is too much work for an all-around chain but to each his own. You can use either a triangle file or a specialty file, it doesn't really matter provided you do it right.

 

[ZinTrees]

ok, any round file size you recommend? Buckin billy ray uses a 3/16 on his small saws, I dont recall what he uses on the big saws, id imagine its the same

 

[Woodslasher]

ok, any round file size you recommend? Buckin billy ray uses a 3/16 on his small saws, I dont recall what he uses on the big saws, id imagine its the same

I am the wrong person to ask, but I'll do my best. I use 7/32 for .404 and tall/"fresh" 3/8 chains and I'll use 3/16 for used or shorter toothed 3/8 chains.

 

[ZinTrees]

thanks man

 

[Clyde85]

Oregon recommends 3/16 for .325 chain, 7/32 for 3/8 chain and .404 chain.

 

[Ben Hur]

It’s worth it if you have the time and patience to master the technique, it will cut faster 100% but sharpening a chain square filing is harder than it looks.

 

[Ben Hur]

Inbred didn’t use a typical triangle file it looks like one but isn’t. A triangle with edges flat.

 

[Del_]

Inbred didn’t use a typical triangle file it looks like one but isn’t. A triangle with edges flat.

Is that the file that is sometimes call a 'goofy'?

 

[ZinTrees]

Inbred didn’t use a typical triangle file it looks like one but isn’t. A triangle with edges flat.

ohhh, without checking I think its gonna be easier to find a goofy file

 

[Ben Hur]

ohhh, without checking I think its gonna be easier to find a goofy file

This is the other version of square file.
https://stahlssupplies.com/7-Flat-Chisel-Bit-File-Use-to-sharpen-square-ground-chain_p_810.html

 

[ZinTrees]

was looking at some pferd files earlier, pricey, might try the one you linked, seems like a fair price
not like it could be that bad anyways

 

[Ben Hur]

at first the process is aggravating trying to get the angle right but once you get the correct angle it’s like riding a bike once you get it, it’s easy after that.

 

[Up_and_climber]

Pferd is a good company that makes files for “square filing”. I did it for awhile but each file I could get was around 13 dollars a file. The technique was very hard to get down for me. I went though a couple different chains at work before I noticed a good sharpness. I will admit it cuts a helluva lot better. I do a mix of felling/bucking and slashing, and I gotta say I would really only want to use the square grind for falling and bucking. It seems to dull faster and at 13 bucks a file I wouldn’t want to do it if I was slashing a lot. That being said. If I could get my hands on a cheaper simington square grinder I’d just square grind all of my larger bars and call it a day


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Squareground3691]

Vallorbe , make a very good file weather round or double bevel

 

[sean donato]

I like save edge myself, although they are a pain to get recently pferd is my second choice. I use a double bevel file for square grinds. The "triangle" style I have trouble keeping the angle right. Last file I got was around $7.00. Only have a few square chains on longer bars. Sure is a heck of a lot faster till it dulls out. Only use it in clean wood for that reason.

 

[Casawfan]

Vallorbe , make a very good file weather round or double bevel

The best files IMO

 

[North by Northwest]

Square filing like any new technique takes practice & proper quality files . A triangle file is the old school file which is the easiest to begin with . The goofy file & double bevel flat files require a little more understanding of the edge or corner between the top & side plate edge . This is wear the working edges meet that allow the effective cutting & removal of wood chips . Square files are marginally to quite a bit more expensive depending on quality than regular round files . I religiously file around 15-20 chains a week for family , friends & customers . Routinely once a person cuts with square ground or hand filed chain they will never go back . In clean wood its night & day difference within the speed of the cut . More or less like full chisel vs semi chisel . The downside with square filed is that it tends to dull quicker in dirty wood , which reduces its rate of speed in the cut . That's is why during commercial cutting , where dirty wood can be quite common round filed or ground chain usage is preferred , since it can be quickly resharpened by any competent feller/ cutter . Not every Commercial saw operator has the expertise with a square file . However any competent chain saw owner can become a knowledgible & effective square filer within a weekends practise . My Uncle taught me when I was a teenager how to file both round & square equally as well within one fall cutting session on the farm . Another perk of square filed chain is within limbing & felling sessions , especially Humboldts & small spars . It cuts smooth but aggressively , with little kick back potential even with aggressive rakers .
Anyhow just thought I would lend my two cents . Inbred Jed & Buckin Billy have some practical resourceful sharpening video's on the subject on the web indicating the subtle difference within round & square tooth filing technuques ...Cheers !