Simington / Silvey Square Chain Grinders Tips/Tricks/Secrets

[tek9tim]

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.

I bit the bullet at work, started a separate thread on it. TL;DR- I like it, but needs improvements like every other square grinder.

 

[Philbert]

I bit the bullet at work, started a separate thread on it. TL;DR- I like it, but needs improvements like every other square grinder.

Link?

Thanks!

Philbert

 

[jacob j.]

Link?

Thanks!

Philbert

T

Thread 'T&S CZ223 review'

Nov 29, 2025

It was pretty hard to find any info on the relatively new CZ223 square grinder, so when there was some money in the work budget for a square grinder, I decided to buy one and find out myself.

First and foremost, I'm not a super experienced square grinder. For about 20 years, I've bought Oregon CJ and square filed it as long as I could keep the angles good and then started round filing. I just started square grinding in earnest about 5 years ago when I got ahold of a used Simington 451B for my home shop. I have a lot of time on that machine, and I've sharpened a few loops on a Silvey RS2...

• tek9tim
• square chain square grinder square ground
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Just Chains

• 

 

[Philbert]

Thanks!

Philbert

 

[Khntr85]

Ok boys I got a chance to get a Simington grinder I believe it’s the 450 because it doesn’t have the adjustable arm cheap 300-400….anyway I just got that square jig that goes on my Oregon grinder and it’s amazing can churn out a killer chain (I can post some cutter pics), it seems like not to many people have one but if you aren’t new to grinding it makes a perfect square chain!!!

Anyway just wondering if the Simington worth it as I know it doesn’t have the adjustments of the newer 451, I’m not lazy but don’t want to mess with shimming the motor to get more angles….i am thoroughly happy with that square jig, but don’t want to pass on something I would regret, but I don’t want a grinder that won’t be any better than the square jig ya know….

Anyway just wondering what your ya thoughts would be on it?!?!?

 

[huskihl]

I believe Shaun makes an adjustable arm for it, but it’s been a while, could be wrong on that one. You can also shim your wheel down to get some adjustment

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Ok boys I got a chance to get a Simington grinder I believe it’s the 450 because it doesn’t have the adjustable arm cheap 300-400….anyway I just got that square jig that goes on my Oregon grinder and it’s amazing can churn out a killer chain (I can post some cutter pics), it seems like not to many people have one but if you aren’t new to grinding it makes a perfect square chain!!!

Anyway just wondering if the Simington worth it as I know it doesn’t have the adjustments of the newer 451, I’m not lazy but don’t want to mess with shimming the motor to get more angles….i am thoroughly happy with that square jig, but don’t want to pass on something I would regret, but I don’t want a grinder that won’t be any better than the square jig ya know….

Anyway just wondering what your ya thoughts would be on it?!?!?

I had a 450. Made a good chain. The guy I sold it to has no complaints. The dressers shape the wheel, and that is where a fair amount of the tooth shape comes from. 3-400 sounds like a pretty decent deal...

 

[pbillyi69]

you can buy a simington adjustable arm too. if you dont care about changing angles. that 450 will be pleanty good. they make a sharp chain.

 

[jacktheripper]

@singinwoodwackr what model is yours?

 

[singinwoodwackr]

@singinwoodwackr what model is yours?

450

 

[Duane(Pa)]

you can buy a simington adjustable arm too. if you dont care about changing angles. that 450 will be pleanty good. they make a sharp chain.

Kelly at Salt Creek told me the arm is not interchangeable. IDK never compared the two. There’s a thread on here where SCarr mills slots into the arm. No idea what that mod costs.

 

[Wolverine]

Ok boys I got a chance to get a Simington grinder I believe it’s the 450 because it doesn’t have the adjustable arm cheap 300-400….anyway I just got that square jig that goes on my Oregon grinder and it’s amazing can churn out a killer chain (I can post some cutter pics), it seems like not to many people have one but if you aren’t new to grinding it makes a perfect square chain!!!

Anyway just wondering if the Simington worth it as I know it doesn’t have the adjustments of the newer 451, I’m not lazy but don’t want to mess with shimming the motor to get more angles….i am thoroughly happy with that square jig, but don’t want to pass on something I would regret, but I don’t want a grinder that won’t be any better than the square jig ya know….

Anyway just wondering what your ya thoughts would be on it?!?!?

That's a great deal IMO. I think it would be a better choice than your other one, mainly because you can very quickly advance a cutter and back it up into the (adjustable) chain stop, grind, move on. The second main difference I see, on the 450 you need to adjust the wheel dressers to really change the profile you are grinding. I do mill and it would be great to have a wheel just for that but I haven't done it (have the wheel, don't have the time).
Once the motor is squared(shimmed) to the mount, no need to tweak there, IMO. That's a set and forget. The adjustments come from dresser angles and where you position the cutter. Mine was modded so the chain holder is on an essentric. I can significantly raise and lower chain height. Pics are on this thread I believe.

 

[Wolverine]

@Duane(Pa) do you still have that pic showing what wheel profile does to the cutter profile?

 

[Khntr85]

That's a great deal IMO. I think it would be a better choice than your other one, mainly because you can very quickly advance a cutter and back it up into the (adjustable) chain stop, grind, move on. The second main difference I see, on the 450 you need to adjust the wheel dressers to really change the profile you are grinding. I do mill and it would be great to have a wheel just for that but I haven't done it (have the wheel, don't have the time).
Once the motor is squared(shimmed) to the mount, no need to tweak there, IMO. That's a set and forget. The adjustments come from dresser angles and where you position the cutter. Mine was modded so the chain holder is on an essentric. I can significantly raise and lower chain height. Pics are on this thread I believe.

Appreciate the info!!!

From what I have seen looking at pics of both, the 451 has the adjustment where you can move the “part that holds the chain”, forward or backward more…which from what I can see would give the option to make a more or less aggressive tooth….

Don’t happen to have a pic of a tooth you sharpened with the 450 by chance??

 

[Khntr85]

450

Hey lol didn’t know you had one or would have asked ya on the phone lol….

I’m goin to post a pic and circle the part I’m talking about but I didn’t know if you can get diffrent tooth profiles by moving the part that the chain sits in…

 

[Khntr85]

 

[Khntr85]

I know that’s a 451 I’m just using th photo so you guys can see what I am talking about…

Does it change the tooth profile if you spin that forward or backwards, or does it not change the profile regardless of where that is holding the chain????

 

[Khntr85]

There is a chain I did on square jig, I have plenty room and adjustments to go more/less aggressive…it’s pretty cool honestly… I don’t cut wood for a living. I’ve heated for probably 15 years with an outdoor boiler and I cut wood for my father-in-law so in all reality, this thing would be plenty for me, but we all know how that goes always something “else” lol

 

[Duane(Pa)]

@Duane(Pa) do you still have that pic showing what wheel profile does to the cutter profile?

@Duane(Pa) do you still have that pic showing what wheel profile does to the cutter profile?

Look closely. There are four angles to consider.

 

[Khntr85]

Look closely. There are four angles to consider.

Ya I was just curious how much adjustment there was on the 450 on the machine itself…I know you can dress the wheel to get whatever profile you want, I just didn’t know if it had any adjustments on the machine itself