Chainsaw grinder questions, tips, tricks, and pics!!!!

[Philbert]

Philbert

 

[Lawless]

Today was the day. I set it to 55° and used 30° for the top plate. I left the vise untilted.

First I like the CBN wheel. It imparts zero perceptible heat into the cutter and seems really efficient.

I took a junk chain that doesn’t fit any saw here and used it as my learning sacrificial lamb. It was in a box of chains from my FIL’s stuff. .325 /.050 for a 20” bar. I fiddled with the depth stop and chain stop some to get a feel and it wasn’t long before I had the hang of it.

I didn’t notice much difference in left or right cutters as far as burrs or anything. There is a difference switching sides as it relates to cutter length. I know there is an adjustment to make it even and I will play with it later. For now I backed off of the chain stop and snuck up on the right length to match the other side.

I then got down my 261 and took the chain off to have a go at it for real. I had cut a few small trees and remembered just kissing the ground toward the end.

Some thoughts, stream of consciousness type stuff :

I consider myself a good and consistent hand filer. I use a guide and really try to be consistent. The grinder shows the truth however. It showed slight differences in cutter length, cutter angle and gullet depth. Nothing crazy but there were noticeable issues.

The best thing to me regarding grinding is the consistency cutter to cutter. Angle, depth of the gullet and length are simply the same.

Since I religiously take the bar and chain off to clean out debris, it really isn’t more time to grind vs. hand filing.

A small adjustment in chain stop can mean a lot of relative material removal. I had to make myself do tiny movements to not waste cutter length.

————————

Some pictures

This is the junk chain, this was a rocked tooth turned into a cutting tooth again.








This shows a .325 cutter, hook shape and top. I compared to new Stihl RS chain and the hook profile was virtually identical.







This is a 3/8 .050 28” chain that has been well used and sharpened several times. I cleaned it up with the grinder and put all of the little cutter differences right. I then hand filed the depth gauges. I compared to new RS and the profile is again, virtually identical.

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

Today was the day. I set it to 55° and used 30° for the top plate. I left the vise untilted.

First I like the CBN wheel. It imparts zero perceptible heat into the cutter and seems really efficient.

I took a junk chain that doesn’t fit any saw here and used it as my learning sacrificial lamb. It was in a box of chains from my FIL’s stuff. .325 /.050 for a 20” bar. I fiddled with the depth stop and chain stop some to get a feel and it wasn’t long before I had the hang of it.

I didn’t notice much difference in left or right cutters as far as burrs or anything. There is a difference switching sides as it relates to cutter length. I know there is an adjustment to make it even and I will play with it later. For now I backed off of the chain stop and snuck up on the right length to match the other side.

I then got down my 261 and took the chain off to have a go at it for real. I had cut a few small trees and remembered just kissing the ground toward the end.

Some thoughts, stream of consciousness type stuff :

I consider myself a good and consistent hand filer. I use a guide and really try to be consistent. The grinder shows the truth however. It showed slight differences in cutter length, cutter angle and gullet depth. Nothing crazy but there were noticeable issues.

The best thing to me regarding grinding is the consistency cutter to cutter. Angle, depth of the gullet and length are simply the same.

Since I religiously take the bar and chain off to clean out debris, it really isn’t more time to grind vs. hand filing.

A small adjustment in chain stop can mean a lot of relative material removal. I had to make myself do tiny movements to not waste cutter length.

————————

Some pictures

This is the junk chain, this was a rocked tooth turned into a cutting tooth again.

View attachment 480078

View attachment 480079




This shows a .325 cutter, hook shape and top. I compared to new Stihl RS chain and the hook profile was virtually identical.

View attachment 480080

View attachment 480081



This is a 3/8 .050 28” chain that has been well used and sharpened several times. I cleaned it up with the grinder and put all of the little cutter differences right. I then had filed the depth gauges. I compared to new RS and the profile is again, virtually identical.


View attachment 480082

Looks good! Could maybe have a little more hook but it depends on what your cutting.

 

[Woodtroll]

Today was the day. I set it to 55° and used 30° for the top plate. I left the vise untilted.

First I like the CBN wheel. It imparts zero perceptible heat into the cutter and seems really efficient.

I took a junk chain that doesn’t fit any saw here and used it as my learning sacrificial lamb. It was in a box of chains from my FIL’s stuff. .325 /.050 for a 20” bar. I fiddled with the depth stop and chain stop some to get a feel and it wasn’t long before I had the hang of it.

I didn’t notice much difference in left or right cutters as far as burrs or anything. There is a difference switching sides as it relates to cutter length. I know there is an adjustment to make it even and I will play with it later. For now I backed off of the chain stop and snuck up on the right length to match the other side.

I then got down my 261 and took the chain off to have a go at it for real. I had cut a few small trees and remembered just kissing the ground toward the end.

Some thoughts, stream of consciousness type stuff :

I consider myself a good and consistent hand filer. I use a guide and really try to be consistent. The grinder shows the truth however. It showed slight differences in cutter length, cutter angle and gullet depth. Nothing crazy but there were noticeable issues.

The best thing to me regarding grinding is the consistency cutter to cutter. Angle, depth of the gullet and length are simply the same.

Since I religiously take the bar and chain off to clean out debris, it really isn’t more time to grind vs. hand filing.

A small adjustment in chain stop can mean a lot of relative material removal. I had to make myself do tiny movements to not waste cutter length.

————————

Some pictures

This is the junk chain, this was a rocked tooth turned into a cutting tooth again.

View attachment 480078

View attachment 480079




This shows a .325 cutter, hook shape and top. I compared to new Stihl RS chain and the hook profile was virtually identical.

View attachment 480080

View attachment 480081



This is a 3/8 .050 28” chain that has been well used and sharpened several times. I cleaned it up with the grinder and put all of the little cutter differences right. I then had filed the depth gauges. I compared to new RS and the profile is again, virtually identical.


View attachment 480082

Looks like you're getting the hang of it!

 

[Lawless]

Looks good! Could maybe have a little more hook but it depends on what your cutting.

Say I changed the tilt to 50° and created slightly more hook. What does this mean in use? Faster but less durable?

I like new RS and the 55° seems to match it perfectly.

 

[SawAddictedFarmer]

Say I changed the tilt to 50° and created slightly more hook. What does this mean in use? Faster but less durable?

Yes it would cut faster and go dull quicker. But for general all purpose that's probably perfect.

 

[huskihl]

Absolutely! "You got to get that gullet", as one Youtube character is fond of saying. LOL

Yeah he likes saying that a little bit too much so, no

 

[Woodtroll]

Yeah he likes saying that a little bit too much so, no

I think he's a bit much most of the time. I don't have much patience for Youtube but looked him up because I see him mentioned sometimes. Seems like a nice guy but he's too rapid for me.

 

[huskihl]

I think he's a bit much most of the time. I don't have much patience for Youtube but looked him up because I see him mentioned sometimes. Seems like a nice guy but he's too rapid for me.

Same same

 

[Duane(Pa)]

BBR. Dude has a good message. Delivery is a bit wonky. He can sharpen a chain... Just mute the audio lest you go crazy trying to focus on what he's doing while listening to all the yappin' and yammerin' (trying to be kind)

 

[Lawless]

Who are we talkin bout?

 

[Woodtroll]

Who are we talkin bout?

"Buckin' Billy Ray"

I don't like the way he saws the file back and forth while sharpening, but he does do a decent job of explaining angles, hook, etc. The one thing to remember with a lot of these West Coast videos is that they tend to prefer more hook and lower depth gauges because they cut primarily softwoods, while we here in the Appalachians deal with a lot more hardwoods - our chains last longer with a little less hook and pull better with a little higher depth gauges. Any particular configuration is not "the best" in every situation, although it may be a killer for one specific set of circumstances, so you have to find what works best for you.

Billy Ray reminds me of a medic partner I once had. Loud, constant chatter, enthusiastic about everything, although not a rocket scientist. But he was an absolutely phenomenal partner because he was hands-on brilliant, a never-quit hard worker, respectful towards patients and families, and usually knew what I was going to ask for before I asked. Those qualities kept him alive on some of the long 24-hour shifts when I wanted to throttle him! LOL. But overall he is a great guy.

 

[Lawless]

"Buckin' Billy Ray"

I don't like the way he saws the file back and forth while sharpening, but he does do a decent job of explaining angles, hook, etc. The one thing to remember with a lot of these West Coast videos is that they tend to prefer more hook and lower depth gauges because they cut primarily softwoods, while we here in the Appalachians deal with a lot more hardwoods - our chains last longer with a little less hook and pull better with a little higher depth gauges. Any particular configuration is not "the best" in every situation, although it may be a killer for one specific set of circumstances, so you have to find what works best for you.

Billy Ray reminds me of a medic partner I once had. Loud, constant chatter, enthusiastic about everything, although not a rocket scientist. But he was an absolutely phenomenal partner because he was hands-on brilliant, a never-quit hard worker, respectful towards patients and families, and usually knew what I was going to ask for before I asked. Those qualities kept him alive on some of the long 24-hour shifts when I wanted to throttle him! LOL. But overall he is a great guy.

Ok, wasn’t sure.

Yeah he is quite a character. I believe he is pretty knowledgeable in hands on work and has seen a LOT of cutting.

West coast guys don’t fight dirty hardwood like we hillbillies

That other “ok friends” guy with the beard for me is hard to listen to but he is very knowledgeable.

————

I have another 28” 3/8 chain on the grinder waiting for the next session. This one is newer and has been sharpened by hand once I believe. It will be interesting to see the grinder tell the truth.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

He makes me shake my head (often) but I really respect his recovery from druggin’ and drinkin’
and I suppose some of his followers might need to hear his encouragement.

 

[Lawless]

He makes me shake my head (often) but I really respect his recovery from druggin’ and drinkin’
and I suppose some of his followers might need to hear his encouragement.

And I don’t begrudge youtubers of their success and niches…..even that wranglerstar guy

 

[Junk Meister]

"Buckin' Billy Ray"

I don't like the way he saws the file back and forth while sharpening, but he does do a decent job of explaining angles, hook, etc. The one thing to remember with a lot of these West Coast videos is that they tend to prefer more hook and lower depth gauges because they cut primarily softwoods, while we here in the Appalachians deal with a lot more hardwoods - our chains last longer with a little less hook and pull better with a little higher depth gauges. Any particular configuration is not "the best" in every situation, although it may be a killer for one specific set of circumstances, so you have to find what works best for you.

Billy Ray reminds me of a medic partner I once had. Loud, constant chatter, enthusiastic about everything, although not a rocket scientist. But he was an absolutely phenomenal partner because he was hands-on brilliant, a never-quit hard worker, respectful towards patients and families, and usually knew what I was going to ask for before I asked. Those qualities kept him alive on some of the long 24-hour shifts when I wanted to throttle him! LOL. But overall he is a great guy.

One Seldom finds a SideKick that fits in like you just described, and few people realize what they have soon enough. BBR is a small dose at a time video for me "Content Good" but not a "Lois Lamour" experience.

 

[jakethesnake]

And I don’t begrudge youtubers of their success and niches…..even that wranglerstar guy

That guy went off the deep end. I actually kinda like him now. He’s on tik tok. Posting shti about disabling cameras Making trip wires. Just wonky stuff like that. Probably doing it for views but I actually watch the videos now. It’s amusement

 

[Lawless]

That guy went off the deep end. I actually kinda like him now. He’s on tik tok. Posting shti about disabling cameras Making trip wires. Just wonky stuff like that. Probably doing it for views but I actually watch the videos now. It’s amusement

He used to make some really good forestry and fire videos. I remember one where he explained girdling a standing tree to dry out for cutting down the following year. Things like that were really interesting.

 

[huskihl]

"Buckin' Billy Ray"

I don't like the way he saws the file back and forth while sharpening, but he does do a decent job of explaining angles, hook, etc. The one thing to remember with a lot of these West Coast videos is that they tend to prefer more hook and lower depth gauges because they cut primarily softwoods, while we here in the Appalachians deal with a lot more hardwoods - our chains last longer with a little less hook and pull better with a little higher depth gauges. Any particular configuration is not "the best" in every situation, although it may be a killer for one specific set of circumstances, so you have to find what works best for you.

Billy Ray reminds me of a medic partner I once had. Loud, constant chatter, enthusiastic about everything, although not a rocket scientist. But he was an absolutely phenomenal partner because he was hands-on brilliant, a never-quit hard worker, respectful towards patients and families, and usually knew what I was going to ask for before I asked. Those qualities kept him alive on some of the long 24-hour shifts when I wanted to throttle him! LOL. But overall he is a great guy.

That, and he was a faller, not a landing guy. They are always cutting trees in the middle of the woods that haven’t been dragged through the mud. Pine and spruce is pretty easy on a chain

 

[Duane(Pa)]

That, and he was a faller, not a landing guy. They are always cutting trees in the middle of the woods that haven’t been dragged through the mud. Pine and spruce is pretty easy on a chain

I kinda forget where I posted this before, but my buddy got about half p1ssed off because I wouldn’t cut the muddy logs that blew across his driveway. Well, I got his driveway cleared, but I wouldn’t cut the muddy stuff off to the side.