Simple Chain Filing Vise

[KS Plainsman]

Not to derail,
but does anyone use Granberg or Oregon filing jigs?

Negative. Any filing I do is freehand.

 

[Philbert]

Not to derail,
but does anyone use Granberg or Oregon filing jigs?

I think that there are some threads on these here. I lnow there is are a few, large ones on A.S.

To get us back on track: the STIHL FG-2 has a built-in filing vise, unlike the clamp-on models.


Philbert

 

[IffykidMn]

Not to derail,
but does anyone use Granberg or Oregon filing jigs?

I have one laying around that I bought about 40 years ago used it once or twice and went back to free hand filing.

 

[IffykidMn]

AMA Maxx grinder does left & right hand cutters (not both at once, though!), the chain vice swivels as does the grinder head.

I'd like a second grinder permanently set up just for rakers as it differs greatly compared to tooth grinding.
Switching between a 3/8" (& .404") and a .325" (& 3/8" LP) wheel is not an issue as I don't grind many chains at all.

Although, owning 3-4 AMA Maxx grinders each for a specific chain gauge would be a sweet setup!

Yes mine the vice and grinder head swivels left and right as well, for 3/8 I just leave one set up for left and one for right as it quicker to just move the chain from grinder to grinder rather than keep moving the grinder vice and head from right to left.

I do not grind much .325 so readjust the grinder from left to right.

I like having the auto chain clamp.

 

[old saw fixer]

I have a Stihl FG2, but I am quite sure we here in the USA are not permitted to buy one from Stihl. The nylon bushings in mine are worn, but also unavailable here.
I know that I could go to the Ace Hardware and fumble around trying find something to "make do"....

 

[Philbert]

The nylon bushings in mine are worn, but also unavailable here.

That would probably be the simplest option.

The other possibility, is to have a member that lives in the EU (or friend, family stationed overseas, etc.), get the parts, and send them to you.

Philbert

 

[Wilhelm]

Decent amount of European members here.
Also, plenty of US members having a lathe and/or mill.

I do not know how those FG2 bushings look like, but I doubt they'd be too complicated to replicate.

I made my own replacement Archer FastFiler rollers on a mill, both plastic & steel, and also "renewable" steel ones that get a piece of Oregon fuel line pushed over them.

In case those bushings have a part number post it!


Also, shame on You!
You are derailing @Philbert 's thread topic.

 

[jakethesnake]

Have the homesite vise the member here sells. Like it. Have used just the bench vise. Just barely lock it down one file 2-3 teeth. Move chain to reach 2-3 more. You can use about anything really. I rarely take my chains off the saw so mostly do it on the bar. If you’re willing to spend the money the vise homelite builds is very nice

 

[jakethesnake]

I think someone asked if those knobs could end up being in the way. So mine has sat in the back of the truck and honestly treated like a tool. If you pull out on the lever after tightening the chain up. The lever then “free spools”

In other words tighten the chain. Then pull out on lever and move it wherever you want it to be.

Nice tool. Maybe I’ll oil mine up since I’ve dug it out

 

[jakethesnake]

So if you remove the knob completely you’ll see you can swap hole positions. I have never had the need but anyway just a review after having and using this thing. I had good dealing with him and would buy again.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Have the homesite vise the member here sells. Like it. Have used just the bench vise. Just barely lock it down one file 2-3 teeth. Move chain to reach 2-3 more. You can use about anything really. I rarely take my chains off the saw so mostly do it on the bar. If you’re willing to spend the money the vise homelite builds is very nice

I'd like something that would lock down at least 10 teeth at a time to file per side of chain. Probably have to be about 24" long

 

[KS Plainsman]

I'd like something that would lock down at least 10 teeth at a time to file per side of chain. Probably have to be about 24" long

Depending on vise setup, and how you file, you can get 7 at a time with this vise.

Let me get a picture.

 

[KS Plainsman]

Correction........you can get to 8 at a time. The one on the far left has very slight movement.

Now, when I filed more often, I always put the whole saw in this vise, held by the bar, and filed from behind the saw. So, I would be switching between hands and would just work my way down the bar. If that's not someone's thing, then that may not work. Some only file with one hand or the other.

With my vise in this spot on my bench, it allows me to work around more of the vise. Essentially 270 degrees. So, setup does matter.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Correction........you can get to 8 at a time. The one on the far left has very slight movement.

Now, when I filed more often, I always put the whole saw in this vise, held by the bar, and filed from behind the saw. So, I would be switching between hands and would just work my way down the bar. If that's not someone's thing, then that may not work. Some only file with one hand or the other.

With my vise in this spot on my bench, it allows me to work around more of the vise. Essentially 270 degrees. So, setup does matter.
View attachment 475352
View attachment 475353

Yeh, working around the vise is key. With what I've got I could do 10 at a time if it'd spin 180 degrees . Like to have a little freestanding pedestal with a vise on it.

 

[KS Plainsman]

Yeh, working around the vise is key. With what I've got I could do 10 at a time if it'd spin 180 degrees . Like to have a little freestanding pedestal with a vise on it.

When I get moved and have more room, I want to get another vise and set it up on a pedestal, so it's more modular, and I can work around it 360 degrees. I just don't have the room in my current garage, but that would be the most ideal setup. My current setup is works pretty good still.

Edit: I guess the point of my previous post was to show you can almost do 10 teeth at a time with this vise, since that was something you wanted.