Trying no to beat a dead horse, but...

[tpyke]

I've read countless posts on here about all different types of sharpening guides, and how it is best to learn to sharpen your saw freehand, etc... I am a knife collector and sharpen all my knives freehand and and can know put a razor sharp, clean edge on any blade...even those unsharpenable bayonet blades on italian stillettos( :bang: ). I absolutely want to learn how to do it freehand, but I also want to have the opportunity of coming home and being able to fix my mistakes. Plus, I believe that the guide will get me used to the angle to put on the blade. I will not be sharpening enough chain to validate th e purchase of an electrical chain gringer, plus like I said before, I want to learn to do it freehand and with an electric gringer I won't be learning too much(and yes, I am fully aware of the fact that the best way to learn freehand is to practice, practice, practice). I have seen this set up that I find interesting:

Looks pretty much foolproof to me, but I haven't heard of anyone mentioning anything about this model....anyone have any experience with it?

 

[sawn_penn]

Maybe I'm just less critical about my chain then my knives, but...

(I'm ready for the backlash...)

I find it much easier to sharpen a saw chain than my chef's knives.

Seriously - if you have what it takes to sharpen a knife well, do your saw chains by hand with a simple guide.

 

[fishhuntcutwood]

My buddy has one of those. Loves it. I'm thinking of getting one myself.

 

[geofore]

practice on chain

When you use your saw, take a file with you. Every time you burn a tank of gas, freehand your way around the chain, one or two light strokes to each cutter. You're are going to use the tool you have to sharpen the chain before you use it again tomorrow. So, anything you mess up free hand will be corrected with the tool tonight but you will have practiced with every tank of gas to free hand the chain today. It only takes a miniute or two to touch up the chain free hand while you stop to refuel.

 

[Bad E]

When you use your saw, take a file with you. Every time you burn a tank of gas, freehand your way around the chain, one or two light strokes to each cutter. You're are going to use the tool you have to sharpen the chain before you use it again tomorrow. So, anything you mess up free hand will be corrected with the tool tonight but you will have practiced with every tank of gas to free hand the chain today. It only takes a miniute or two to touch up the chain free hand while you stop to refuel.

It took me a couple of chains to learn what you just said. Its alot easier to keep a chain sharp than to make a dull one sharp again.I freehand the chain every tank of fuel, just a couple of quick strokes.

 

[SawTroll]

.... Its alot easier to keep a chain sharp than to make a dull one sharp again.I freehand the chain every tank of fuel, just a couple of quick strokes.

Right, that's my experience also!

I use the combo roller/raker guide, but only at the end of the day.

 

[TimberPig]

That would be a Granberg File-N-Joint. It allows you precise control over the angles (5 degree increments) and the height of the file (infinite within the range of motion), as well as the tilt angle of the file (0-15 degrees of tilt, 5 degree steps). It also allows you to set it up for lowering the rakers. It is a well made unit, but if you push too hard on it, it will flex. A little oil on the slide makes filing easier. it is really easy to make a nice uniform chain, and I like mine mostly for cleaning up a chain after it's hit something, or if it has been getting a little out of whack from freehand filing too much in the bush. I mostly freehand for routine touch ups, but will use the File-N-Joint with the saw clamped in a vise to clean the chain up when needed. Once you get used to using it, your freehand filing won't take too long to develop after that. Buy one, they aren't too expensive, highly portable and work well. They are somewhat slow, especially if the chain has been rocked out, but if you're not in it for production, they do a good job. Just read the directions that came with it, and set it up according to the angles your chain requires, and it will work nicely.

 

[clearance]

That would be a Granberg File-N-Joint. It allows you precise control over the angles (5 degree increments) and the height of the file (infinite within the range of motion), as well as the tilt angle of the file (0-15 degrees of tilt, 5 degree steps). It also allows you to set it up for lowering the rakers. It is a well made unit, but if you push too hard on it, it will flex. A little oil on the slide makes filing easier. it is really easy to make a nice uniform chain, and I like mine mostly for cleaning up a chain after it's hit something, or if it has been getting a little out of whack from freehand filing too much in the bush. I mostly freehand for routine touch ups, but will use the File-N-Joint with the saw clamped in a vise to clean the chain up when needed. Once you get used to using it, your freehand filing won't take too long to develop after that. Buy one, they aren't too expensive, highly portable and work well. They are somewhat slow, especially if the chain has been rocked out, but if you're not in it for production, they do a good job. Just read the directions that came with it, and set it up according to the angles your chain requires, and it will work nicely.

Have to disagree, with respect, tpyke you are capable of freehand work, using a guide will not help you get better at freehand sharpening a saw, if you want to get better freehanding, do it more. Guides that hold the file are a crutch, they do not let you develop the routine and discipline needed to keep the file straight.

 

[TimberPig]

Have to disagree, with respect, tpyke you are capable of freehand work, using a guide will not help you get better at freehand sharpening a saw, if you want to get better freehanding, do it more. Guides that hold the file are a crutch, they do not let you develop the routine and discipline needed to keep the file straight.

If he only files a chain for a couple loads of firewood a year, he's not going to learn to file well freehand. It takes more practice than that. I agree freehand filing is preferable to the guide for most situations, but only if you do it often enough to develop the technique.

He basically has two options, learn to freehand or use a guide. If he wants to use the guide, that's his choice, not everyone has to be an expert freehand filer (and most aren't). There's no shame in using a guide, if your needs are merely for a sharp chain, for a few loads of firewood a year. Of course if you're going to be a saw nut like most here are, freehand filing is pretty much a prerequisite to prove your worth.

 

[clearance]

If he only files a chain for a couple loads of firewood a year, he's not going to learn to file well freehand. It takes more practice than that. I agree freehand filing is preferable to the guide for most situations, but only if you do it often enough to develop the technique.

He basically has two options, learn to freehand or use a guide. If he wants to use the guide, that's his choice, not everyone has to be an expert freehand filer (and most aren't). There's no shame in using a guide, if your needs are merely for a sharp chain, for a few loads of firewood a year. Of course if you're going to be a saw nut like most here are, freehand filing is pretty much a prerequisite to prove your worth.

I figured he could learn to hand file because of his experience sharpening knives (harder than a chainsaw, I think). Many of the saw nuts here do not hand file, they use grinders and guides of all kinds, handfiling is the hallmark of someone who actually works with a saw, outside, fulltime.

 

[TimberPig]

I figured he could learn to hand file because of his experience sharpening knives (harder than a chainsaw, I think). Many of the saw nuts here do not hand file, they use grinders and guides of all kinds, handfiling is the hallmark of someone who actually works with a saw, outside, fulltime.

I don't find one harder than the other really, the principle is the same, it's just in how you move the tool to produce the edge. A little practice and both can easily be learned to a reasonable level of function. A little more practice and you can put on a really nice edge.

I agree if he's serious about being able to keep a chain sharp, freehand is the best. Any time, anywhere, if his chain is dull he can sharpen it so long as he has a file for it. A grinder or a file guide may be necessary for fancy race chain filing, and is certainly much easier and faster than freehand for square ground chain (I don't blame fallers who use it day in and day out for using a grinder), but none of these are as portable as a file. In the long run, freehand is the way to go, but a guide isn't a bad plan for a back up, or fixing those freehand learning mistakes. I like the suggestion of practicing the freehand filing in the bush, and cleaning it up at the end of the day at home if it needs it. It forces him to learn to freehand, but he also doesn't develop bad habits from the cumulative mistakes produced while learning. Soon enough the guide will collect dust and only be pulled out in rare instances of a rocked chain.

 

[Bad E]

I don't find one harder than the other really, the principle is the same, it's just in how you move the tool to produce the edge. A little practice and both can easily be learned to a reasonable level of function. A little more practice and you can put on a really nice edge.

I agree if he's serious about being able to keep a chain sharp, freehand is the best. Any time, anywhere, if his chain is dull he can sharpen it so long as he has a file for it. A grinder or a file guide may be necessary for fancy race chain filing, and is certainly much easier and faster than freehand for square ground chain (I don't blame fallers who use it day in and day out for using a grinder), but none of these are as portable as a file. In the long run, freehand is the way to go, but a guide isn't a bad plan for a back up, or fixing those freehand learning mistakes. I like the suggestion of practicing the freehand filing in the bush, and cleaning it up at the end of the day at home if it needs it. It forces him to learn to freehand, but he also doesn't develop bad habits from the cumulative mistakes produced while learning. Soon enough the guide will collect dust and only be pulled out in rare instances of a rocked chain.

The only thing I use a guide for is to check my raker teeth for proper height once in awhile.

 

[TimberPig]

The only thing I use a guide for is to check my raker teeth for proper height once in awhile.

I only use one to true up a beat up chain. I rarely even use one for my rakers. It doesn't mean they don't work or are a bad idea. For most people, a guide isn't a bad thing, as lots of users, particularly casual users, don't have the freehand technique down well, and their chains show it. If you cut more often, like most users here, freehand will work better as you practice enough to keep their technique sharp.

 

[tpyke]

You guys are great! This forum is so active...I posted my thread this morning and already 12 replies! Plus, no one is afraid to speak their mind , so I get both sides of the pendulum. This forum and the members rock!

 

[RaisedByWolves]

A Crutch ???

File-n-joint is the way to go.

Its simple, effective and has been around for 40yrs, that alone should tell you something.


I wonder what the people who have sharpened some of the butchered chains have thought of their sharpening skills, probably thought they were an old pro.


I find it difficult to hold two different angles precisely while filing let alone doing it while trying to avoid rocking the file.(<----ask a machinist)


Btw tpike, that smiley is about to give me a seasure........

 

[tpyke]

Btw tpike, that smiley is about to give me a seasure........

LOL, but *ahem* tpYke....

 

[clearance]

File-n-joint is the way to go.

Its simple, effective and has been around for 40yrs, that alone should tell you something.


I wonder what the people who have sharpened some of the butchered chains have thought of their sharpening skills, probably thought they were an old pro.


I find it difficult to hold two different angles precisely while filing let alone doing it while trying to avoid rocking the file.(<----ask a machinist)


Btw tpike, that smiley is about to give me a seasure........

Wolfy-whatcha gonna do when you are miles from anywhere with just a file and you left your crutch behind?

 

[RaisedByWolves]

LOL, but *ahem* tpYke....

Sorry, i have no "y" key on my keyboard.

Wolfy-whatcha gonna do when you are miles from anywhere with just a file and you left your crutch behind?

Never thought about it........

p.s. Clearance, dont use my pet name in public, people will start to talk.



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