Simington / Silvey Square Chain Grinders Tips/Tricks/Secrets

[Hedgerow]

On the 20th of this month, I'll be celebrating 18 years clean.

That’s a solid number..

 

[huskihl]

Bump

Hey- I've read up to page 46 on this (and others as well) and did searches on the fourm but have so far seen no mention of this grinder which is currently available at Baileys from time to time.. does anyone have any experience with these? Gotta say to me it sounds good and is cheaper than what you would pay for some of the old Silvey models.. opinions? Thoughts? Experience? Please share any you have.

It’s not mentioned because the thread is older than that grinder. It’s only been on the market for about a year.

I’ve never used one but it looks like it would do a fine job

 

[J.Noss]

It’s not mentioned because the thread is older than that grinder. It’s only been on the market for about a year.

I’ve never used one but it looks like it would do a fine job

Oh I see, I've never seen it mentioned anywhere at all on the fourm even in recent posts at least search brought up 0.
I've been interested in square ground chain for some time and have read tons of threads like this but where I live the average tree service guy or hardware store employee only knows the difference between full and semi chisel tooth about 3 out of every 5 times..
For me it's not just about getting firewood or making $ it's just plain fun and interesting to know this kinda stuff and be able to use a fast cutting saw, I think I'm gonna eventually get a square grinder to play with and maybe its best to go with the tried and true Simington so I can get help if I need to from all the great info available on it.

 

[huskihl]

Yep, same with most of us. Woodpecker has a simington 451 for sale for a good price. Probably less than half of the cost of the one you mentioned earlier

 

[Mastermind]

Yep, same with most of us. Woodpecker has a simington 451 for sale for a good price. Probably less than half of the cost of the one you mentioned earlier

Solid plan.

 

[Philbert]

Hey- I've read up to page 46 on this (and others as well) and did searches on the fourm but have so far seen no mention of this grinder which is currently available at Baileys from time to time.. does a

Fairly new grinder. Available exclusively through Bailey’s, as I understand it.

Philbert

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Fairly new grinder. Available exclusively through Bailey’s, as I understand it.

Philbert

The company making it has several videos published on YouTube.

 

[Woodpecker]

Yep, same with most of us. Woodpecker has a simington 451 for sale for a good price. Probably less than half of the cost of the one you mentioned earlier

Pretty sure it’s sailing north to Frankfort, but appreciate the plug.

 

[Woodpecker]

Oh I see, I've never seen it mentioned anywhere at all on the fourm even in recent posts at least search brought up 0.
I've been interested in square ground chain for some time and have read tons of threads like this but where I live the average tree service guy or hardware store employee only knows the difference between full and semi chisel tooth about 3 out of every 5 times..
For me it's not just about getting firewood or making $ it's just plain fun and interesting to know this kinda stuff and be able to use a fast cutting saw, I think I'm gonna eventually get a square grinder to play with and maybe its best to go with the tried and true Simington so I can get help if I need to from all the great info available on it.

Seems like a superior machine to the Simington for not much more money.

 

[pbillyi69]

it looks like it would be able to do what ya need for sure. i wonder how hard it is to see the corner when you grind.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

it looks like it would be able to do what ya need for sure. i wonder how hard it is to see the corner when you grind.

Seeing the corner is, without a doubt, the most important thing in square grinding. A side beak is too vulnerable to be durable, and a top beak absolutely will not cut. A perfect corner is surprisingly durable even in eastern hardwoods.

 

[Mastermind]

Seeing the corner is, without a doubt, the most important thing in square grinding. A side beak is too vulnerable to be durable, and a top beak absolutely will not cut. A perfect corner is surprisingly durable even in eastern hardwoods.

I believe a proper square ground chain is just as durable as round ground in clean wood.

 

[Woodpecker]

I believe a proper square ground chain is just as durable as round ground in clean wood.

Yes that has been my experience with square over the last several years of commercial tree work.

 

[blades]

simington $1599 T&S $2399

 

[pbillyi69]

i have used both square and round in commercial use. without a doubt a square ground chain with perfect corner alignment and the right balance of blunt angles is super durable. if ya keep it off the ground and dont hit something hidden in the tree a chain will cut for two days.

 

[J.Noss]

Seeing the corner is, without a doubt, the most important thing in square grinding. A side beak is too vulnerable to be durable, and a top beak absolutely will not cut. A perfect corner is surprisingly durable even in eastern hardwoods.

Wow great explanation, I have never even gotten a chance to run legit sharp square ground chain.. But I just managed to get back on here tonight and see all these responses really..
My power went out to the house during a storm Tuesday night, then my darn alternator gave up on my truck while I was going to get generator gas and I had to walk about 4mi home with 2 5-gal cans of fuel..
Then, next day while I was at Advance Auto getting a rebuilt alternator and getting it put on some point during the day my one wood stack collapsed at the one downhill corner.. so I spent the rest of yesterday and today getting that all restacked and fixed so that shouldn't happen again.. my power just came back on so hopefully all the fun is over now.

Hope everyone else has had a great day today and gotten some worthwhile things done.

 

[pbillyi69]

Wow great explanation, I have never even gotten a chance to run legit sharp square ground chain.. But I just managed to get back on here tonight and see all these responses really..
My power went out to the house during a storm Tuesday night, then my darn alternator gave up on my truck while I was going to get generator gas and I had to walk about 4mi home with 2 5-gal cans of fuel..
Then, next day while I was at Advance Auto getting a rebuilt alternator and getting it put on some point during the day my one wood stack collapsed at the one downhill corner.. so I spent the rest of yesterday and today getting that all restacked and fixed so that shouldn't happen again.. my power just came back on so hopefully all the fun is over now.

Hope everyone else has had a great day today and gotten some worthwhile things done.

what a rough few days. glad ya got all squared away.

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Wow great explanation, I have never even gotten a chance to run legit sharp square ground chain.. But I just managed to get back on here tonight and see all these responses really..
My power went out to the house during a storm Tuesday night, then my darn alternator gave up on my truck while I was going to get generator gas and I had to walk about 4mi home with 2 5-gal cans of fuel..
Then, next day while I was at Advance Auto getting a rebuilt alternator and getting it put on some point during the day my one wood stack collapsed at the one downhill corner.. so I spent the rest of yesterday and today getting that all restacked and fixed so that shouldn't happen again.. my power just came back on so hopefully all the fun is over now.

Hope everyone else has had a great day today and gotten some worthwhile things done.

That’s what my mom would call a “Rough Patch”
If you aren’t familiar, a side beak comes from feeding the tooth too far into the stone while grinding. A top beak is when the tooth isn’t pushed into the wheel quite far enough. As with any chain, the rakers or depth gauges play an important part in the smoothness square ground chain is known for.

 

[Spladle160]

A little off topic but is anyone square grinding for other folks? I can file a good tooth, but it just isn't close enough to the one before it, so I'm looking to send someone experienced to grind them all back to consistent lengths and angles.

 

[pbillyi69]

A little off topic but is anyone square grinding for other folks? I can file a good tooth, but it just isn't close enough to the one before it, so I'm looking to send someone experienced to grind them all back to consistent lengths and angles.

i can do it. i like less top plate angle than what comes stock. its not quite as fast but it is really smooth