How to square file

[RI Chevy]

I hear you Rob...[emoji106]

 

[Duane(Pa)]

John is a guru of square filing without a doubt. Somewhere along the line he says to “be the boss of the file and don’t let it skate around. Make it go where YOU want it to be...”

Of course this requires that the tooth is held very securely.

 

[MustangMike]

My advice:

Look at that Madsens site

For hardwood/general cutting: 45* back, 45* down and 45* angle. Also remember square is from the outside in, not the inside out. Your file will contact the strap on the far side, which will help to guide your angles. Always make sure the corner of the file is in the corner of the tooth, and that you stroke straight.

 

[old guy]

It's certainly not when first starting. I started learning and would've kept at it, but... After people talked about how much faster square milled. Then thinking about square filing 150+ drive link chains, I just went ahead and bought a Simington. I gave up on hand filing after that.

Amen to that, my square files are now raker files.

 

[WKEND LUMBERJAK]

Amen to that, my square files are now raker files.

They make really good racker files.

 

[Xr650jkallen]

Am I headed in the correct direction?

 

[kfd518]

Need to bring that side plate angle back square to or a couple degrees under the working corner. Top plate angle looks quite steep as well
File angle 45* back,45* down 45* tilted from wide side flat towards vertical is a decent starting point.
Not by any means perfect but someone will be along in a bit with a better pic and explanation.

 

[Xr650jkallen]

Better?

 

[kfd518]

How’s the top plate look?

 

[Xr650jkallen]

 

[kfd518]

Forgive the old funky file it was already in the truck. I use a shallow top plate angle and just enough side plate angle to get a decent bore cut and self feeding.
Chain is loose in these pictures but just trying to give an idea of file angles.

 

[Wolverine]

Better?View attachment 202357

Can you show exactly how you are holding the file against the toof?

 

[Xr650jkallen]

I've called it quit for the evening. I'll grab a pic next go. 30$ learning experience

 

[kfd518]

Have your dealer knock a link out and put a new one in... that or keep learning on it.

 

[Xr650jkallen]

Have your dealer knock a link out and put a new one in... that or keep learning on it.

I don't have a dealer near by that could do that. They didn't even know square filing was a thing. I'm going to keep practicing.

 

[Xr650jkallen]

I'm a little happier with this tooth.

 

[Billy Currie]

Agree, just change out that one link. Practice on an old chain if you have one laying around. It looks like you are in the right direction.

 

[mettee]

I'm a little happier with this tooth. View attachment 202380

Angles are off, but thats why you are here. To learn.

Set up your saw with the bar horizontal. Tighten the chain extra, just so that you can still move it on the bar. That will keep the cutter in place while you file. If the cutter moves while you file you are shooting yourself in the foot.

Now. You have seen 45*45*45 and that is exactly what you do. Your file will file the back strap if you are at the right angle. 45 back, 45 down, and 45 so the large flat on the file is flat but follows the 45 down angle. I said horizontal, that is partially correct but not really.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Pix are blurry can’t concentrate...

 

[Bjorn]

I'm a little happier with this tooth. View attachment 202380

Watch this.