Stil low kickback chain filing

[slowtorque1]

I was sharpening the chain on my neighbor's 026 this evening and noted that the links that make it a low-kickback chain are also shaped liked the depth gages or rakers and are adjacent to them. Do the tops of these links need to be taken down to the same height as the depth gages or do I leave them alone?

Thanks!

 

[Newfie]

I believe that if you file down the bumper straps then you will be defeating the safety feature of the low kickback chain.

 

[sedanman]

File them down with as if they were depth guages(they are!) Their height has to be little lower than than the cutter or the chain won't cut.

 

[Rotax Robert]

The (anti-kickback) chain is also anti-cut, I would put a pro chain on it and teach your buddy how to cut. If you choose to stay with the home-owner chain then and file it up for him, take the top rakers down to .015 to .020...the chain will not carry any more than that volume.

 

[Dennis]

He He

I am going to throw a wrench in here...I have a 73LP Oregon chain..that is square filed...and will cut like a hot knife through butter....Other than weight..I see absolutely no hindrance in cutting ability from safety chain to regular chain if every aspect of it is maintained. Who is to say that those "safety" rakers dont clear chips faster???

 

[Gypo Logger]

Thats the one I filed wasnt it Dennis? I remember Robert and I shock peaned it for you, right?
Gypo

 

[Newfie]

guess that shows how much I know about chain.

 

[slowtorque1]

Stihl safety chain

Yes, I noticed that it is not very aggressive chain. Of course I am accustomed to my 036 with full chisel RS chain. I don't think I will suggest the pro chain due to the fact the Bob rarely uses the saw and thus never really becomes comfortable or proficient with it. Second, he doesn't wear chaps and would likely not buy a pair for occasional use. I help teach a felling course with the NCFA here in my area and have heard many stories about kickback fatalities. Husvarna is a very generous sponsor of this training. They say the bar can kick back about seven times faster than a human being can react. I shed the safety chain on my saw years ago, but I understand the reactionary forces at the bar tip and have a nice set of chaps and Stihl logging boots. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

[Stumper]

I have never observed Safety chain cutting noticeably slower than equally sharp Pro chain. (I agree with Dennis). The big disadvantage with saftey chain is its inefficiencey in making boring cuts.

 

[slowtorque1]

Safety chain

Yes, and bore cutting is the cornerstone of the felling technique taught here. Back when I used safety chain, well, those were pre-borecutting days for me.

John

 

[Rotax Robert]

Great and all this time I have been doing it wrong as well as all the other pros out there. Now I have a huge surplus of pro chain to get rid of.

 

[Dennis]

lmao....I knew that would get ya Beer Can Bob....yes all the pros use non-safety chain, I will give you that...but I use the stuff all the time...(cause I cant sell it) and I honestly dont notice much difference in what I do....I do have two race chains...one is an Art Martin special, (Carleton) and the other is Oregon 73lp.

 

[tony marks]

i gotto jump in here. the only safety chain i have is on an 36 cc craftsman.
for what it was meant for ,its one of the fastest chainsaws i have. so i while i have to go with conventional opinion on this [just because the pro should know what they talkin.] its still a fact that ive seen no difference myself.might see it tommorrow,who knows.it does give pause for thought ,when somebody like dennis makes the statement however.
personnaly im not interested in being right . im interested in what really is fact.
looks to me like a few, time in cut, test are called for by impartial persons.
both types sharpened to the max by the same person. mabe at one of u get togathers.,so the results can be established as fact.as to whether its worth all this trouble ,id sure like to know for sure.bet others would too.

 

[stihltech]

saftey chain

I use everything on my saw. The safety chain cuts just fine for most people, UNLESS they need to bore cut.
The weekend person who should not be felling trees anyways should be using anything else. A lot of the answers are from the pros on this site. No , they would not go logging with safety chain. However, an arborist in a bucket might find it an extra measure of safety. When they get to the trunk, the big saw with the RS chin comes out.
Every style of chain has a purpose. I like to give an answer tailored to the job at hand.

 

[stihltech]

oops

Should have read"should NOT be using anything else". Need to proofread more.

 

[tony marks]

stihl tech ,u are probably already aware of this . but u can edit your post for a short while after u post it. right under the post to the right . i use this all the time ,so u guys can at least get some idea ,what im trying to say.

 

[stihltech]

OK

Yeah, I know, the brain just gets disconnected once in a while.