How to square file

[ChipsFlyin]

I looked over my rocked chain real good. I found a couple of links that looked wonky. I filed them flat.
I went ahead and practiced a bit further. I personally am happy with my progress.
I thank everybody for kicking in and helping me out. It is appreciated more than you woll ever know.
The photo is a bit deceiving with the glare. But it is actually a fairly decent corner.

Nice and sharp! Looks like you might be doing the same thing that I catch myself doing on the outside edge - shows up in the second pic. I start with the filing thinking I have the tilt towards the cutter, angle down and angle back correct and start seeing things developing that I do not like such as the wrong angle on the top plate. Then I make adjustments to correct which gets the angle things strait but leaves 2 different angles on the face of the inside cutter.

Thanks. I am not in your league yet, but I think I am getting it.
When you file for 2 hours, it gives one's self a whole new respect for guys that file race chains and good work chains.
Heck, I just do it for the love of it and to learn. [emoji2]

I feel ya. I now have several hours in a chain and numb thumb tips. I will keep practicing and learning along with you.

 

[RI Chevy]

Lol. Yup!
That chain was a round file that I converted to square. But I am learning the angles now. How to get rid of beak .
Funny thing, my chain cut like a complete animal for the 2 cuts that I made before my chain derailed. Way faster than my round filed chain. I have a nice 16" square filed chain that I will save for a GTG Race file chain. Lol
Thanks again everyone for the help and guidance.

 

[concretegrazer]

I looked over my rocked chain real good. I found a couple of links that looked wonky. I filed them flat.
I went ahead and practiced a bit further. I personally am happy with my progress.
I thank everybody for kicking in and helping me out. It is appreciated more than you will ever know.
The photo is a bit deceiving with the glare. But it is actually a fairly decent corner.

Your coming along nicely.

Just need a saw that'll pull it like it should now.

and numb thumb tips.

@MustangMike 's paint stirrer trick helps with that.

 

[Wolverine]

Just need a saw that'll pull it like it should now.

 

[TravisJellison]

I looked over my rocked chain real good. I found a couple of links that looked wonky. I filed them flat.
I went ahead and practiced a bit further. I personally am happy with my progress.
I thank everybody for kicking in and helping me out. It is appreciated more than you will ever know.
The photo is a bit deceiving with the glare. But it is actually a fairly decent corner.

Looking good! Good job!

 

[RI Chevy]

TY sir.
One of the biggest things I have noticed, is when I square file, I really make lots of metal filings and the teeth disappear much quicker than round filing.
That could be the deal breaker for me. [emoji52]

 

[TravisJellison]

TY sir.
One of the biggest things I have noticed, is when I square file, I really make lots of metal filings and the teeth disappear much quicker than round filing.
That could be the deal breaker for me. [emoji52]

That's because you're learning, eventually that will get better.

 

[RI Chevy]

I hope so. I was beginning to think I can't afford square filing. LOL

 

[Manofstihl066]

It’s raining today, so in the shop filing. Back to the ol 3/8, this stuff seems so small after running the.404.
Stock Stihl grind vs mine.

 

[RI Chevy]

Looks like they are twins. [emoji106]

 

[Manofstihl066]

Looks like they are twins. [emoji106]

Thanks Jeff. If u look close, mine is a touch more aggressive. A bit more forward lean.

 

[TravisJellison]

Thanks Jeff. If u look close, mine is a touch more aggressive. A bit more forward lean.

Your corner looks better too. Nice job!

 

[ChipsFlyin]

Thanks Jeff. If u look close, mine is a touch more aggressive. A bit more forward lean.

You beat me to the -
Nice! Yours is a bit more aggressive!

 

[ChipsFlyin]

Just for fun. Once I get my filing down a little better and a little more time I am going to create ceramic honing stones out of ceramic tile with the same angles as a square file to hone the corners - 90 degree isosceles triangle on the end. I figure if ceramic is good enough for knife sharpening why not try it on a chain.

 

[RI Chevy]

Cool idea.

 

[Wolverine]

Just for fun. Once I get my filing down a little better and a little more time I am going to create ceramic honing stones out of ceramic tile with the same angles as a square file to hone the corners - 90 degree isosceles triangle on the end. I figure if ceramic is good enough for knife sharpening why not try it on a chain.

What grit will it be?

 

[ChipsFlyin]

What grit will it be?

I'm thinking around 1000 +/- 200ish depending on how smooth I can cut the tile on the wet saw and rubbing them together for a final finish. Most regular ceramic sharpening rods are 1000 - 1200. If the original compound in the tile ends up a little more coarse it should still work. With them being that high they might be able to be used for a final edge and tuning up after a couple tanks of fuel rather than a file and loosing more cutter. The only reason I know the tile may work is we were doing tile work at camp and grabbed a couple small tile pieces rubbed the cut ends together and sharpened a couple kitchen knives. Just for grit comparison I use 600 grit and wd40 to finish my axe edges. They are nasty sharp.

 

[Jswanson]

Burp

 

[RI Chevy]

Nice. Is it a race chain or work chain?

 

[SOS Ridgerider]

Nice. Is it a race chain or work chain?

If that’s a work chain I really wanna see his race chain....