Took A Stab At Square Filing

[toolmaker]

I went online and bought a coupla' Vallorbe double bevel files and took a shot at square filing. Read many oposts here and watched many videos including a lengthy vid that was buy a guy that was called the master at square filing. (don't know his name)
Keep in mind this was my first shot at square filing.

I gotta say that I was not impressed with massive gains. I was expecting that when I fired the saw up that all the trees would just give up and fall down.
don't get me wrong, it did cut very fast and very well, but I did not notice tons of improvement over the way I have been sharpening for years.

 

[Bjorn]

 

[Dolkitafreak]

Teeth should be looking something like this

 

[Wolverine]

Don't judge it yet. Looks like your angles need a tweak.

 

[huskihl]

Don't judge it yet. Looks like your angles need a tweak.
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Nice photos, Jason. That should be able to help out just about anyone who is wondering where to hold the file

 

[Federico]

[QUOTE = "toolmaker, post: 1118712, member: 11603"] Sono andato online e ho comprato un coupla 'Vallorbe a doppia smussatura e ho provato a limare il quadrato. Leggi molti opost qui e guardato molti video tra cui un lungo video che è stato comprare un ragazzo che è stato chiamato il maestro all'archiviazione quadrata. (non so il suo nome)
Tieni presente che questo è stato il mio primo tentativo di archiviazione quadrata.

Devo dire che non sono rimasto impressionato da enormi guadagni. Mi aspettavo che quando ho acceso la sega tutti gli alberi si sarebbero arresi e sarebbero caduti.
non fraintendetemi, ha tagliato molto velocemente e molto bene, ma non ho notato molti miglioramenti rispetto al modo in cui ho affilato per anni. [/ CITAZIONE]
Non buono.

 

[Woodpecker]

Don't judge it yet. Looks like your angles need a tweak.
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Great pictures Jason! @P.M.P.

 

[davidwyby]

Glad I found this. Bout to have to try it cuz I cut a nail with the fine piece of skip chain I got from @chiselbit .


I noticed Buckin filing from the inside. Seems easier (more like round filing we’re used to) and less likely to need BandAids...?

 

[davidwyby]

Blacked out inside of cutter



Set up, braced body and elbows

really gotta have good light, light angle, head angle, maybe magnifiers to see and feel you are nestled in the existing angles. I’m filing inside out.

 

[davidwyby]

One light swipe and then check black to see if your angle matches
couple more

cut self filing gullets out with 3/16” file (don't point your finger along the file!)




Gullet out


Thanks @chiselbit and @Adirondackstihl

 

[chiselbit]

How’s it cut? Not counting your finger

 

[davidwyby]

I only had a bitty 6-8" dia stick to cut on last night, and it was late (ported muff modded saw, neighbors...). It grabbed enough with no down pressure to take saw out of 4 stroke. But with pressure, seemed to need more than it should?
But the last chain I cut with was the race chain, so...gonna try it in proper wood after work today. By eye the rakers still look well over .025". I will not be surprised if I find some imperfections in my filing once I get it out in daylight. Wouldn't be the first time.

Side note, even after hitting the nail, it would still cut with a little dog action, I'm impressed with square staysharp.

Side note 2, I'm using a Pferd...is there another that is finer and leaves a smoother finish?

 

[davidwyby]

I proberly should have posted in "how to square file".

 

[Philbert]

I noticed Buckin filing from the inside.

There are many people who do this. It is supposed to make the expensive files last longer, since they are not jamming into the hard chrome plating. But a lot of experienced square filers state that filing from 'the outside-in' helps them find the outside corner better, and that is how it is usually taught.

Philbert

 

[davidwyby]

Gotcha

I went inside out partly because I wanted to nest in/feel/see the existing angles and not change them as the chain cut well.

Outside in would probably have a lot less chatter in a chain vise or vise grips. Will give it a shot.

 

[davidwyby]

How’s it cut? Not counting your finger

Touched it up a bit more at lunch and tried it. Previous cut time in big euc was 42 sec. With my sharpening it was 49 sec. Didn't feel hungry enough, so I swiped the rakers once (they are about .025") and then a rounding swipe. I tried another cut, but must have hit a scorpion on the previous cut because it felt dull, not more hungry and 66 secs. I have heard to be careful with rakers on square in hard wood or it will grab hard and stall. My uneducated guess is touch the cutters up again and one or two more swipes. I like a hungry self feeding chain.

I should probably get some carbide for this euc.

 

[hippi]

Does anyone know what chain vise he is using in this video?

 

[Wolverine]

Does anyone know what chain vise he is using in this video?

He made it himself. Watch this:

 

[Homelite410]

Does anyone know what chain vise he is using in this video?

Here is one I have made to sell.

 

[OnlyStihl]

I have been running a square ground chain on my ms400c, and I am not overly impressed. Maybe a little faster, maybe stays sharper longer, I'm not sure. Keeping the chain sharp is not a problem, hand filing, but it does take a bit more attention to detail. I have 4 files, and when they are used up my experiment with Square Ground chains will be over.

Also the files are more expensive, and my first one has gotten boogered up pretty fast, so I'm not happy about that either.