HELP! Square beginner

[Catfishclark89]

So based off what I’ve read and watched it seems that square ground is far superior to round (although I’ve never got to run any square). So couple questions:
1. Do I need a grinder or hand file?
2. Recommend a good starting square grinder.
3. Which chain is best? (Cutting hardwoods)
Any input appreciated

 

[Squareground3691]

What’s ur objective to use square grind for ?

 

[Catfishclark89]

What’s ur objective to use square grind for ?

I’ve heard faster/smoother. Is this correct?

 

[Squareground3691]

I’ve heard faster/smoother. Is this correct?

It is if you know what ur doing, there’s more variables to learning to file or grind square ,Angles to use for ur specific task or needs and or conditions,

 

[hacskaroly]

So based off what I’ve read and watched it seems that square ground is far superior to round (although I’ve never got to run any square). So couple questions:

Here is a video about square ground chain and how to sharpen it. Towards the 12 minute mark the guy showcases cutting both hardwood and softwood with it (using a MS 500i).

 

[Squareground3691]

Here is a video about square ground chain and how to sharpen it. Towards the 12 minute mark the guy showcases cutting both hardwood and softwood with it (using a MS 500i).

Square grind is not ideal for dirty conditions, you can adjust your angles for it , but it’s ment for cutting clean wood, that’s were it performs best ,

 

[Squish9]

I can't add anything on grinding because I have not used a square grinder.

I file all mine, it's difficult and time consuming to learn. Once you figure it out it's no different to round filing form a time or difficulty stand point.

It does cut smoother, it's doesn't always cut faster. Your best choice is to buy a loop of factory square chain and experience using it before deciding if it's for you. Keep a few links of new chain so you have something to reference back to while your learning to file and keep at it.

 

[huskihl]

Thread 'How to square file'

Dec 31, 2015

Maybe we can get some of our pros to post videos . and give advice here .
Any help is appreciated.

• skippy
• Replies: 5,453
• Forum: Just Chains

• 

 

[Woodpecker]

Thread 'How to square file'

Dec 31, 2015

Maybe we can get some of our pros to post videos . and give advice here .
Any help is appreciated.

• skippy
• Replies: 5,453
• Forum: Just Chains

• 

‘Nuff said really! There isn’t going to be anything new mentioned here that hasn’t already been said in that thread right there.

 

[sawmikaze]

So based off what I’ve read and watched it seems that square ground is far superior to round (although I’ve never got to run any square). So couple questions:
1. Do I need a grinder or hand file?
2. Recommend a good starting square grinder.
3. Which chain is best? (Cutting hardwoods)
Any input appreciated

Far superior is a stretch..lol...like everything else on the internet...square doesn't cut for sh!t if it isn't razor sharp, it has its pros and cons like anything else.

What's your use for it ?

 

[Sloughfoot]

Thread 'How to square file'

Dec 31, 2015

Maybe we can get some of our pros to post videos . and give advice here .
Any help is appreciated.

• skippy
• Replies: 5,453
• Forum: Just Chains

• 

 

[Catfishclark89]

Far superior is a stretch..lol...like everything else on the internet...square doesn't cut for sh!t if it isn't razor sharp, it has its pros and cons like anything else.

What's your use for it ?

I was hoping for this comment. My use is logging. Hardwoods. Not firewood. Felling, limbing, topping. I don’t know any timber cutters around here that do run square chain but then again I don’t know hardly any that run lightweight bars that are over 24”. So I’m wondering if it’s worth it in my setting.

 

[Catfishclark89]

And when I say topping I mean what everybody else calls bucking. So topping after it’s laying on the ground lol

 

[Squareground3691]

I was hoping for this comment. My use is logging. Hardwoods. Not firewood. Felling, limbing, topping. I don’t know any timber cutters around here that do run square chain but then again I don’t know hardly any that run lightweight bars that are over 24”. So I’m wondering if it’s worth it in my setting.

Square grind is used most prevalent in the PNW , we’re the soft wood big Doug Fir , Cedar , Hemlock grow by professional fallers , and not so much on the East Coast for hard wood cutting,

 

[sawmikaze]

I was hoping for this comment. My use is logging. Hardwoods. Not firewood. Felling, limbing, topping. I don’t know any timber cutters around here that do run square chain but then again I don’t know hardly any that run lightweight bars that are over 24”. So I’m wondering if it’s worth it in my setting.

You stand to gain nothing in your use.

It's more expensive to get in to and maintain as well.

 

[Sloughfoot]

A square filed chain done well looks way cooler than round.

 

[sawmikaze]

A square filed chain done well looks way cooler than round.

When the fashion show starts he can worry about it.

 

[iamsham78]

Learning to square file is definitely a challenge, it was a true test of my patience.
Learning to do it and then learning to cut the right angles consistently on every cutter left/right was the hardest thing for me. I had to make a little jig to hold two drivers because it’s impossible for me to sharpen a chain while it’s on the saw. Figuring out what file I do best with was another thing. I live in West Virginia and finding someone who can square file isn’t common knowledge.
( Dull files cut beaks.) some words of wisdom

 

[Newdave]

Guilty of Treeson has some good videos on the subject good I've watched Jed square file by hand a dozen times, still cant do it.
I live in Ca. cut mostly oak madrone and manzanita I've been running square grind 3-4 years now, and I prefer it.
I use a Granberg file-n-joint bar mount sharpener with a Pferd 17081 file to keep it sharp. I run a Husqvarna 65L with a 24" bar it cuts fast and smooth but it will get dull faster so keep it out of the dirt. just my personal experience.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I played with Square Ground chains. Bought, sharpened, reprofiled from round file, and all showed improvements over the commonly used round file. My opinion is that is is not so much better that I would invest in a machine to SG. Use a file, achieve the desired profile, and if you're like me you'll go back to round files soon after. Round takes me no time at all to sharpen a chain. SG and I have to apply myself, and I'm only cutting firewood, not carving some masthead on a ship. You might get a few seconds faster cutting, but really so what. Cutting a 16" length of wood is 1/10 of the effort in picking it up, loading and unloading it into my trailer, splitting it, picking it up again and stacking it again.