How to square file

[Squareground3691]

The files directional cut design for smoother cutting action I believe

It’s 3 dollars less a file if u buy a dozen

 

[RI Chevy]

OK. Good. TY

 

[Wolverine]

https://www.vallorbe.com/en-ch/products/forestry-products/chisel-bit-files

When I started square filing, talk of Oberg straight cut files, like the ones picture above, said they were best. I've never seen or used one. Nor have I seen an actual pic of a straight cut Vallorbe. Point is moot for me now because I grind.

 

[RI Chevy]

I think grinding is where it's at!

 

[MustangMike]

Only if you really rock it, otherwise it is a lot faster to leave it on the bar.

 

[Philbert]

What does 2nd cut mean in the description?

‘ The cut of the file refers to how fine its teeth are. They are defined as (from roughest to smoothest): rough, middle, bastard, second cut, smooth, and dead smooth. A single-cut file has one set of parallel teeth while a cross-cut or double-cut file has a second set of cuts forming diamond shaped cutting surfaces.’ -Wikipedia

Philbert

 

[MustangMike]

Learn something every day! Thanks for that explanation.

I know some of my flat files have single cut on one side and double cut on the other.

 

[RI Chevy]

Thank you Phil. I appreciate the insight.

 

[MustangMike]

Is the Stihl Hexa file available yet in the States? I think I saw it would be in Canada first.

 

[Squareground3691]

Is the Stihl Hexa file available yet in the States? I think I saw it would be in Canada first.

Haven’t herd any availability as of yet maybe late spring

 

[Wolverine]

$100 bucks says I can swap a fresh ground chain out faster than anyone can hand file a loop on a saw. Any size chain. Any takers?

 

[Philbert]

$100 bucks says I can swap a fresh ground chain out faster than anyone can hand file a loop on a saw. Any size chain. Any takers?

One of these guys you?

Philbert

 

[RI Chevy]

I think a guy on West Coast may have his hands on hexafile.

 

[ZERO]

View attachment 332813 Vallorbe my go to file little file adjustment but she cut real good View attachment 332810

Nice looking tooth, she should cut real smooth.

I have a nice 5 year dry ash that I saved just for testing my sharpening skills. Its the hardest wood around at the moment.

 

[MustangMike]

$100 bucks says I can swap a fresh ground chain out faster than anyone can hand file a loop on a saw. Any size chain. Any takers?

Yea, but you won't swap it out and put it in you machine and sharpen it faster.

 

[Squareground3691]

Nice looking tooth, she should cut real smooth.

I have a nice 5 year dry ash that I saved just for testing my sharpening skills. Its the hardest wood around at the moment.

Here ya go 40” plus inch dead ash Cut with that chain

 

[ZERO]

Yea, but you won't swap it out and put it in you machine and sharpen it faster.

I have been quite surprised at how much wear happens on the top plate and the top corner just after one tank of cutting. All clean wood, but once I get into the knotty hardwood, the wear shows. Chain cuts nice, better than a round chain after a tank of gas in the same wood and same cc saw.

I have been practicing the art of touching up the chain on the bar wedged in as per earlier discussion, much harder than when pinched in a vice, but it is all about hand/eye coordination. I am starting to better understand the feedback from the file both in the sound and vibration to avoid chatter.

 

[MustangMike]

I have a wooden box with a flat top, I sharpen my saw chains on top of it. I put the bar in a stump vice and hold a paint stirrer with on hand (against the back of the tooth) and sharpen with the other hand. This procedure immobilizes the tooth. My wooden box is 27" long, 12" wide, 12" high. I store my sharpening supplies in it. I then sit on a mechanics stool to do the sharpening.

The bottom of the paint stirrer is on the box, angled into the back of the tooth, then I just pinch it against the guide bar. Goes fast, works well.

Generally, I square file by hand, but this procedure also works well for round file, with either a hand file or 12 V sharpener with diamond stone.

 

[MustangMike]

I mark each bar where I like the stump vice, depending on the power head and length of the bar.

If the saw does not rest flat, I put a plastic wedge under it.

 

[RI Chevy]

You should try a chain vise Mike. I think you'll really like it. Much more precise.