Just curious, who believes in sharpening each cutter the same number of strokes and keeping the cutters the same length, and who believes in sharpening each cutter until it is sharp and filing the raker for that tooth accordingly? And why do you do it that way? How do you determine when it is time to toss a chain? Personally I file each cutter until sharp and file rakers accordingly. Toss my chains when cutters are down to a triangle with 3 sharp points.
I don't worry about cutters being the same length. Keep the depth gauges set right and it will cut straight. I run chain till the cutters start breaking off before replacing.
It depends on whether I hit something. If I’m just tuning up the edge I will file the same #. Because of metal strikes and a difference in my left right strength one side ends up shorter than the other. I’ve always used a progressive gauge so no cutting issues with short teeth on one side.
I never worry about the teeth being the same length. I would have been broke and fired years ago. I agree with the progressive raker gauge, which is to use one. I never count strokes either. When it is sharp it is sharp. I have different chains for the square grinder if I'm just mostly falling.
I used to be picky about tooth length. Now I use a progressive gauge and only remove the dull/damaged portion. Tooth length doesn't matter if using progressive.
Counting strokes doesn't work. You cut harder with one orientation vs the other when flipping teeth sides. I don't usually care about the teeth being all the same length unless I'm starting to feel jumping. Then I'll eyeball measure the tooth length and get them closer. Progressive gauge for the win. Take the rakers down, clear the gullet, and make sure you have a c shape to the underside of the tooth top plate.
Agreed 100%. Before getting the grinder, I filed till sharp. Same length cutters are not necessary if you use the progressive style for depth gauges.
I have always and still count strokes. When it doesnt bite as good sharp, ill hit the rakers with a couple strokes with the flat file. Dont use an type of raker guage. I do as you...file down to triangles and save for a one time disposable chain. If a few of the teeth break, then ill toss it.
I save the "gonna snap the teeth off if I use this one again" chains for stuff I would never use a good chain for, like below ground cutting. I try not to cut below ground, but sometime you have to.
Not to derail but sort of related. What’s everyone’s favorite, easiest to use progressive depth gauge?
Just my personal experience, I've used the Husky one for a while. It works great for me. What I did find, I used my old double bevel files to do rakers because they cut very good. They also tend to eat up those plates. I recently had to buy a new 325 roller guide kit for my dad and after using the flat file that came with it, noticed it didn't cut into the plate. I also bought one of the WCS plates. It does work very good but I haven't owned it long enough to judge it's durability. It does give more options on bite depth. Use a progressive depth plate? Check this one out
I too run them past the witness mark, they cut really good when small like that. Maybe it is just me, but the rakers look high for the shortness of the tooth if measured with a progressive depth plate. After 3 hand filings will touch up on the grinder. Rakers are done on a modified grinder with a stone contoured to the shape of the OEM .
