Simington / Silvey Square Chain Grinders Tips/Tricks/Secrets

[angelo c]

Well I think I've got the angles decent now. It seems to me that a chain that cut good round, when converted, needs a decent amount off the rakers to self feed at all. I did the 3 chains for the tests I did in the gtg thread. All three needed rakers lowered.
But they cut great. I'm going to do some now. I really need to build a stand for this. I'm constantly dropping to my knees to check the the angles.
Also it seems that keeping the corner right where it needs to be is tough. Seems to move a little as I progress through a chain.
I'm getting better with it.
I'm going to convert my 20" chains now!

The raker heights should vary depending on the woods too.
I finally got to run my MOFO 440 with a real RS chain. Most of mine are RM. I never get "clean wood" (I swear the tree service guys get paid by the mile of skid not the size of tree. )
Chain cut the hell out of some swamp maple, wasn't self feeding as good in red oak. Completely different chips coming off different wood with same saw/ chain

 

[paragonbuilder]

True. I did 4 chains this morning. These are all used chains I got from a guy. One I could just kiss, rakers should be fine. The other 3, teeth were rocked and different lengths. So I had to take them back a bit.
Do you guys concern your self with making sure both sides are equal? Or just set rakers accordingly?

 

[srcarr52]

The white stone is the softest but good to learn with because the corner is easy to see if you rub something on it. Blue stones rock!

 

[paragonbuilder]

The white stone is the softest but good to learn with because the corner is easy to see if you rub something on it. Blue stones rock!

I'm learning to watch the corner. Even with the stops, it seems every 5-10 teeth I get one that doesn't get to the corner or passes it if I'm not watching it.

 

[mdavlee]

I try to make them the same length. Even on a new chain they're not that close to even. The best wheel to convert round to square is the gray waxed. Very soft and the wax keeps from burning the cutters. You can take off 1/16" in one pass with them. The corner lasts about 3-4 teeth though.

 

[junkman]

The softest wheels i have are grey not waxed ,good for converting round over ,do not heat the cutters being soft. Blue i get best edge with

 

[paragonbuilder]

Changed the angles up a bit. This is what I've got now.

 

[mdavlee]

I would try to dress the wheel to get another couple degrees forward lean. Looks vertical or a touch backwards.

 

[angelo c]

Changed the angles up a bit. This is what I've got now.

Im guessing we should wait until you get it in the wood. (Maybe the gullets need cleaning up is about all I see.)
after all cutting is the desired result....what works best is best.

 

[angelo c]

I would try to dress the wheel to get another couple degrees forward lean. Looks vertical or a touch backwards.

was thinking the exact same thing Mike....is it the strap touching that is the giveaway or can you just eyeball the angle ?
it looks blount to my eye... and what does that do as opposed to more "steeply" angled.

 

[paragonbuilder]

I would try to dress the wheel to get another couple degrees forward lean. Looks vertical or a touch backwards.

Third pic looks that way, maybe it's the angle. It sure looks like it's got at least a couple degrees of forward lean to me here.

 

[paragonbuilder]

Im guessing we should wait until you get it in the wood. (Maybe the gullets need cleaning up is about all I see.)
after all cutting is the desired result....what works best is best.

I'm going to owe you a wheel, lol. Any preference?

 

[paragonbuilder]

I'm going to owe you a wheel, lol. Any preference?

Or maybe I can keep this thing and I'll send you chains when you need them...[emoji33]

 

[mdavlee]

I was just using the bottom of the tie straps as a guide to guess. More lean feeds better. 0 will be a touch smoother but needs lower rakers

 

[junkman]

Those look like durable angles that will self feed,if stand up the side cutter it will cut a little smoother like Mike said

 

[angelo c]

I'm going to owe you a wheel, lol. Any preference?

nope...don't sweat it.
as long as we are all lernin its kool.

Mike, as the wheel is "wearing" can't we just adjust the location where the wheel hits the cutter to make up the difference ?
they are still on the same "plane? " no ?

 

[paragonbuilder]

I was just using the bottom of the tie straps as a guide to guess. More lean feeds better. 0 will be a touch smoother but needs lower rakers

Ahh! That makes sense. It rides on the tie straps so that's my baseline. Thanks Mike. I'll look closer.

 

[mdavlee]

nope...don't sweat it.
as long as we are all lernin its kool.

Mike, as the wheel is "wearing" can't we just adjust the location where the wheel hits the cutter to make up the difference ?
they are still on the same "plane? " no ?

Yes. That's normally what has to happen.

 

[paragonbuilder]

Those look like durable angles that will self feed,if stand up the side cutter it will cut a little smoother like Mike said

I was going for durable. I get a lot of dirty wood.

 

[paragonbuilder]

nope...don't sweat it.
as long as we are all lernin its kool.

Mike, as the wheel is "wearing" can't we just adjust the location where the wheel hits the cutter to make up the difference ?
they are still on the same "plane? " no ?

Basically slide the carriage forward, right Mike?