Stihl sharpening tip from the dealer

[windthrown]

Was on another thread in AS someplace and we were talking about file sizes for Stihl full sized chain sharpening... and that Stihl 3/8 .050 chain takes a 13/64 file for sharpening. I do not have any files or stones that size, and they seem hard to get. I use a 7/32 stone on a mini 12 V. hand grinder and a 7/32 file on the Oregon bar-mount file sharpener for the Stihl chains.

Anyway, I was at the Stihl dealer/saw shop today getting a full skip loop for the Stihl 20 inch bar, and the dealer recommended using a 7/32 file size for sharpening the first half of the teeth, and then when they wear down going to a 3/16 file size for the second half. Seems like a plan, as I have files and stones in that size.

 

[bwalker]

I have and have used both, and prefer using 13/64 files on RS chain. With that said I have gone to using all 7/32 Stihl files because most of the chain I use is not Stihl. The 7/32 files work well on both the Oregon and Stihl chain that I use.

 

[Cam501]

sithl recommends 13/64" instead of the 7/32" that most chain manufacturer's use for 3/8" chains. Most of our pro guys start off with the 7/32" and then swtich to 13/64". Our tech who does our chain sharpening swears the 7/32" gives it a bit of an extra hook, but can't really tell the difference...go figure. I'm too lazy to sharpen chains by hand 95% of the time anyways, but that's a whole different story