Hand file... Eureka!

I hand file one link at a time in a vise for saw chains in bad shape. Half an hour produces a nearly new chain with a file in decent shape. Leaning hard on the file takes off a lot of metal to fix bad teeth. Looking carefully at each tooth shows when to use more "up" filing to undercut the tooth cutting edge to create a sharp edge. I use a small flat file to take a little off the rakers when needed.

 

Thanks for the post, it explains the cut very well.

 

This may be hijacking this thread sorry if so. Is there a way to clean a file? Can someone take a wire wheel to it and clean or is it just best to get some more.

 

Use a file card.
File Handles-Accs : Nicholson General Purpose File Cleaner

 

years ago at work they told us that files don't wear out and it is ok to use used motor oil for bar and chain oil and rakers should never need to be filed. You could tell that management never cut much wood or cared for the saws.

 

Do they still make the Carlton file-o-plate?

 

I’d like that for sure! Be nice to sip and chat in the mornings

 

Just dont brew any of that coffee with Red Bull...you would be able to thread a sewing machine with it running...

 

I don’t touch those energy drinks anymore, I was reaching some other level of shaky stuff with it and having coffee was an overnight change. Lot healthier too as I’ve heard lots about them... is it all sound? Not sure but heard better things about coffee than that stuff...

 

I don't drink them anymore either.

 

Anyone else have any additional quality round file recommendations? I know they’re all pretty decent when new but does anyone have any experience with certain brands cutting better or lasting longer? Just curious, I use mostly Oregon files, not sure who makes them for Oregon though.

 

I buy boxes of the oregon files off the internet. just be careful when buying them cuz some of the sellers show a picture of a box but then send you one file instead of one box... I haven't got burned on that, but read the fine print... I get them for under $20 for a box of 12 files. They last pretty good, but I'm not gonna mess around with a dull file. If it starts slowing down, I toss it and get another out. 1 file usually will sharpen a chain to the point of needing a new chain. I keep my chains SHARP. and touch them up with a couple strokes almost every tank of fuel depending on what I'm cutting. The Stihl chains seem to be tougher than the oregon chains on the Husky too, that may just be me, but it seems that way.

Under a buck and a half per file, I'm not gonna try to milk em till they're wasting my time...

and energy drinks... I've never tried them. I had a sip of coffee once and gagged... water, beer, and sugar free drinks are mostly what I go for. I don't need any extra HYPER... Wife says I'm hyper enough already... LOL

 

I've been using these Save Edge files for years.
Started when I was chainsaw carving bears and they were recommended on a carving website.
you can get them on Amazon

 

Have you noticed any difference in them over the years? I was reading a discussion on their double bevels and a guy chimed in saying he's been a farrier for a long time and the Save Edge files he uses for that job changed for the worse and he no longer uses them. I tried one of the double bevels and didn't like it. Never tried their round files.

 

I haven’t noticed anything different with the round files.
I have a box of 7/32 and one of 5/32 and they’re both half full. If the change was really recent I wouldn’t have noticed till I reorder

 

If the suits in the office can't walk out into the shop and do anything that anyone out there can do, at least as good as the average guy, if not better, they need to get told to stay in the office and mind their business.

 

Last files I bought were Pferd 7/32 box of 12. They seem to hold up pretty well. I like to keep my chain sharp two to three strokes after each tankful. Then I use the Granberg about every other sharpening 5 - 7 strokes usually does the job.

 

I ordered a pack of files from the forester shop online. I believe they were Jaguar brand and they really do a good job.

 

Great thread, tons of good information. When I first started cutting (very much a rookie) I would take my dull chains to a local hardware that offerd ssharpening service. Did not take me long to realize that they never touched the rakers! That's when I learned how to do it myself correectly.

 

Hah! I picked up that same $15 gizmo at TS recently, ignored the bracket, and jumped in it freehand. Those files are the best I’ve ever used.