How to square file

[Fruecrue]

Abolox is the one I shared.
If Bahco were twice as much as Save Edge, I'd still buy them. Bahco last at least twice as long on my chains.
Ymmv
And vallorbe are better yet

Interesting, I had the opposite experience.
I found the Bahco corner to be very fragile, in fact even new, there were broken sections.
Perhaps I got a bad batch.

 

[Wolverine]

I once got a multi month run around from abolox site. Ordered when it said they were in stock and didn't hear from them for a while. Finally messaged and was told they were backordered, but my account was charged. Waited patiently for a while (actually a long while) and got zero communication from them and no files. Pulled my money back and went elsewhere. This was back when blanks were on shortage tho.

 

[RI Chevy]

Mostly Oregon. A little Carlton.

Oregon metal is a bit softer than Carlton I think. Stihl is right there with Carlton as being very hard. Lots of chrome on the cutters.

 

[huskihl]

Interesting, I had the opposite experience.
I found the Bahco corner to be very fragile, in fact even new, there were broken sections.
Perhaps I got a bad batch.

Possibly. I'm not sure. I've bought save Edge from two or three different vendors and I'm lucky if they will file right out of the box. I suppose I could have received a batch of dull Save Edge and you could have received batch of dull bahco files

 

[Moparmyway]

Possibly. I'm not sure. I've bought save Edge from two or three different vendors and I'm lucky if they will file right out of the box. I suppose I could have received a batch of dull Save Edge and you could have received batch of dull bahco files

I've had hits and misses from every manufacturer .............. luck of the draw nowadays

 

[concretegrazer]

They aren't that cheap. I can get Save Edge for less than that.

Link?

 

[RI Chevy]

http://stahlssupplies.com/7-Flat-Chisel-Bit-File-Use-to-sharpen-square-ground-chain_p_810.html

 

[mdavlee]

I've nwver gotten a bad Vallorbe. You do pay for the quality at $100/10 or 12.

 

[Sty57]

Still practicing.....but I think I'm getting closer.
I've got a bunch of Vanguard laying around so that's what I've been using. Until I get it figured out.

 

[RI Chevy]

Looks good. I hate the looks of that chains rakers though.

 

[huskihl]

Still practicing.....but I think I'm getting closer.
I've got a bunch of Vanguard laying around so that's what I've been using. Until I get it figured out.

@Hedgerow really likes Vanguard. So much that he's converting it all to square for everyday use

 

[RI Chevy]

That rolled over raker just doesn't look good to me.
I have never used it though.
Just my observation. But the squared tooth looks good!

 

[CR888]

I've nwver gotten a bad Vallorbe. You do pay for the quality at $100/10 or 12.

I agree with this, IME Vallorbe & Pferd are the most consistent in quality and least likely to give you a bad batch. This is important when spending $120-150 for a dozen chisel bit files, not so much when buying a $2 round file. Interesting though my chain supplier had a cracker deal on GB raker files (not sure COO) recently & I bought 2 dozen and they are the longest lasting ones I've used to date and they were $15 per dozen. I lucked out with Save Edge, the 2 dozen 3/16 were average at best but the 5/32's were OK. I only buy them in 12 packs so maximising your chances of a good quality run is important. But I difinately agree Vallorbe are consistently good.

 

[RI Chevy]

I cut a swamp cheery tree down. Very twisty grain. Some pieces that I didn't want to try and split I cut up using my MOFO 036 and my square conversion chain. I have to say it cut very well. Here are a couple of pieces that I noodled. And a pic of a tooth. Chain is a bit dry on the sides, and tooth probably needs a touch up.
Notice no tooth marks at all in the wood. I remember John Reilly saying that was a good sign.

 

[Moparmyway]

Got a bit aggressive with the raker, eh ?

 

[RI Chevy]

Kevin, that chain came as round with a saw I bought on CL. I did notice that when I took it out of the box. Hopefully as I sharpen the teeth, it will get better.

 

[RI Chevy]

A quick video of the saw noodling a piece of cherry. Video really doesn't show how nice the cut is.

 

[concretegrazer]

A quick video of the saw noodling a piece of cherry. Video really doesn't show how nice the cut is.

Its cutting the wood fibers differently when noodling. It'll be smoother.

 

[TravisJellison]

Noodling is a whole different ball game, even a good round filed chain will cut it smooth. Check your cross cuts. That's where the square pays off.

 

[TravisJellison]

I cut a swamp cheery tree down. Very twisty grain. Some pieces that I didn't want to try and split I cut up using my MOFO 036 and my square conversion chain. I have to say it cut very well. Here are a couple of pieces that I noodled. And a pic of a tooth. Chain is a bit dry on the sides, and tooth probably needs a touch up.
Notice no tooth marks at all in the wood. I remember John Reilly saying that was a good sign.
View attachment 98824 View attachment 98825 View attachment 98826 View attachment 98827 View attachment 98828

Looks like the corner is off, has some top beak. The side plate angle could lean back some more, but that will probably fall in line as you continue to file it. I've notice that when converting from round it can take some effort to get the side plate correct.

I like an aggressive depth gauge, but that one looks too aggressive. How did it feel it the crosscut?