How far is it safe to sharpen

[shorthunter]

No just 7/32, push down on the file to open gullet. Once opened file as normal

I use the roller file guides. Normal protocol with the roller file guide is 7/32 on newish 3/8" chains, 13/64 on half used chains and 3/16 on the totally worn out chains

 

[Hedgerow]

WOW, those rakers are short. Looks like I need to get the file out for some of my rakers with short cutters...

Those cutters were filed back past the witness marks. The teeth were literally little steel triangles.. Lol.

 

[Wilhelm]

I sharpen till they start to break off. Then its a stumping chain.

The last chain I pitched, had over half the cutters broken off...
It just finally quit cutting.

Get all the good you can out of em.

Like the other guys said run them till they break. I think a chain actually cuts better when the cutters are on there last couple of sharpenings.

^-^-^ THAT ^-^-^

And this (look up my posts on the second page):
http://opeforum.com/threads/worn-out-chain-thread.2090/



"Triangle teeth" chains cut like crazy as long as the rakers are lowered enough. The only issue one might encounter is a too narrow kerf of the cut. Keep the wood in a smaller diameter then Your saws bar length and it should be fine.

Teeth breaking is not an issue as the tiny tooth leftover is too small and light to do any harm even if it manages to hit the operators body. This is assuming the operator is wearing any kind of clothes!

Teeth bending will cause the chain to chatter, make for a rough cutting experience and possibly cause the saw to bog - just grind/file those off completely.

Once enough teeth are missing on a loop You will notice that there is a significant loss of cutting speed, at that point I mark a chain down for dirty work like cutting up roots while removing a stump. One stump removal usually renders a worn chain to completely worn out - THEN the loop gets tossed into the scrap metal bin!

 

[Wilhelm]

On my last wood clearing adventure which included creek bed grown acacia, willow and two dead walnuts I wore my Oregon work chain up to the witness mark.
On the last day I hit a nail grown into a larger willow and some teeth top plates broke/chipped off up to the witness mark as it acted as a weak spot/breaking point.

Yesterday I took it upon me to make that particular loop ready for work again and filed all teeth beyond the witness mark making them triangle teeth.

This is what I started with, the top plates cutting edge is just shy of the witness mark:


This is what I got after filling the teeth past the witness mark:


I still intend to clean the gullet with a small angle grinder, it got too late for that yesterday:


I can hardly wait to put this chain to work!
Maybe I'll get the chance during the upcoming week as I intend to ground a tree next to my house and remove several trees in my orchard (plum & apple).

 

[James Wilson AUS]

Have found a few 1/4 files which work great for gullet clearing

Sent from West Coast AUS

 

[jakethesnake]

When they get that small I wouldn't bother cleaning the gullets the teeth will break off soon and she will be done

 

[Wilhelm]

When they get that small I wouldn't bother cleaning the gullets the teeth will break off soon and she will be done

In oak or anything softer a Dolmar/Oregon chain won't loose or bend teeth till they are worn this far:


Just saying.

 

[jakethesnake]

In oak or anything softer a Dolmar/Oregon chain won't loose or bend teeth till they are worn this far:
View attachment 38494

Just saying.

Yeah I agree I have a chain posted in this thread with teeth at that length or shorter they broke off that next outing in green cherry wood they just can't stand but so much You're approaching end of life so I don't spend too much time removing extra metal that may help hold that tooth on a fed more days. I can't Stand throwing them out either

 

[Al Smith]

As long as is has any of the cutter left they will work .Right before the last rivet is where they claim a race filed chain cuts the best .

I suppose if a guy were really frugal you could grind the top plate off and turn what's left into a rip chain .I've never seen the advantage of a rip chain myself .Blows sawdust instead of chips and is slower than molasses in January .