Filing a semi-chisel chain

[RI Chevy]

I do well at filing full chisel chain and getting it to cut well...
What's the secret on getting semi chisel chain sharp and cutting well? Any helps, tips, etc?
Photos of a good sharp semi chisel cutter?

 

[hseII]

I do well at filing full chisel chain and getting it to cut well...
What's the secret on getting semi chisel chain sharp and cutting well? Any helps, tips, etc?
Photos of a good sharp semi chisel cutter?

I wish jasha was over here.
@tree sling’r

Edit:

This guy-

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[huskyboy]

I do well at filing full chisel chain and getting it to cut well...
What's the secret on getting semi chisel chain sharp and cutting well? Any helps, tips, etc?
Photos of a good sharp semi chisel cutter?

I’ll show you at the next gtg. Bring a loop that needs sharpened.

 

[deye223]

Here's a couple a pics of mine ......
In very dry hard wood I give the top plate a 15* angle with little hook but for normal cutting top plate gets 25* And more hook .


And this is how far I I file them .

 

[CR888]

That's ^^ nice. The hook/C-profile on the side plate has good shape top-to-bottom. Very much similar to how my semi chisel chain looks. I think cutting so many hardwoods here, a bad chain is less forgiving. Softer species let you get away with a higher degree of faults in your chain IMO.

 

[RI Chevy]

I received several chains in s saw purchase. Guy didn't own a file, just kept on buying new chains when they didn't cut. I trued them up, then took 2 chains and filed them slightly different. I will put them both in wood then report back.
Basically 1 filed with file guide, normally, and 1 I hogged out the gullets and put a little hook on it. I cut hard wood trees 99% of the time, so I will use a maple stick for a test piece.

 

[deye223]

That's ^^ nice. The hook/C-profile on the side plate has good shape top-to-bottom. Very much similar to how my semi chisel chain looks. I think cutting so many hardwoods here, a bad chain is less forgiving. Softer species let you get away with a higher degree of faults in your chain IMO.

You got that right in some of the wood around here if you try and use chisel chain it just takes the corner off in 2 or 3 cuts and you are done .
I don't do it very often but I love cutting green redgum I can cut all day and only have to file 2 or 3 times ......

 

[CR888]

Semi is what I use 99% of the time. I do love the way chisel chain cuts but everyday work chain is always semi, .404 chipper chain is the chiz, the odd nail or dip in the dirt won't stop you dead in your track's.

 

[RI Chevy]

Do you hand file or grind the 404?

 

[RI Chevy]

Here is a few pics of my cutters. The chain on top has the gullets cleaned out a bit more. The chain on bottom was filed with guide.
I realize they are safety link chain, but the price was right.
Both are Stihl 3/8 semi-chisel.

 

[RI Chevy]

 

[huskyboy]

2nd video looked better unless my eyes are fooling me

 

[RI Chevy]

Yes. Cut faster with gullets cleared out.

Full-Chisel FTW

 

[huskyboy]

This is how my semi cuts after I file it. This is ash, probably frozen too at the time. I used to run semi exclusively for firewood after I figured out how to get it to cut good. Lasts much longer for dirty firewood. The longer I’m cutting, the more wood gets cut. I don’t run it for logging or cleaner wood, because full chisel lasts just fine for that. It cuts faster and bore cuts much better. Semi doesn’t bore cut worth a damn even filed good. That rounded cutter is the problem. I found stihl RM “yellow chain” semi chisel to work the best in my experiences. No silly safety raker like some of the others.

 

[RI Chevy]

Looks like it cuts pretty similar to mine. Just cuts a bit slower than what we are used to...

 

[huskyboy]

Looks like it cuts pretty similar to mine. Just cuts a bit slower than what we are used to...

That chain would outcut stock full chisel, but not even close to my dialed in full chisel. Semi is good chain for its intended purpose. For what you do it sounds like full chisel is better imo.

 

[RI Chevy]

Yes. I really don't cut "dirty wood" except at GTGs. [emoji23]

I have these semi-chisel chains, and just wanted to have them available as an alternative. I Hate the ramps. Lol

 

[Philbert]

No difference really, then filing full chisel chain: it's the edges that do the cutting. Get the edges sharp (pick your angles based on the type of wood, or speed versus longevity).

Gullets, depth gauges, etc. are the same.

Cutting speed will be slower, but usually lasts longer.

Philbert

 

[RI Chevy]

Thanks Phil. Just a little getting used to the cutting speed, etc...

 

[huskihl]

Thanks Phil. Just a little getting used to the cutting speed, etc...

Are you pushing down? Or is the weight of the saw doing the cutting?
The semi naturally isn't as aggressive, as there's no point on the cutter digging in.
It's hard to get hook on semi if you're used to filing chisel. You could try lowering the file a tiny bit to make the top plate sharper. Or maybe a swipe more off the rakers