Making sense of the Husky file guide...

I picked up a set of Husky files for the new saw, since it uses larger chain than the Echo does. I have the Oregon file set for the Echo.

I think I like the way this guide works better than the Oregon, which had the file guide attached right to the file. I can actually see what I'm doing with this one. Which leads to my question.

The file doesn't seem to fit all the way into the gullet. Is this normal?

 

Yes this normal . You will need to clean the gullet. As needed

 

So I guess the next question is, how do you do that? Freehand? It seems like this file is just a hair too big to fit in there.

 

It will clean it out as you file. Just file it.

 

How do you mean? The top of the file should not be flush with the top of the tooth, with any guide.

 

I recall hearing about that in a Husqvarna chainsaw maintenance video; that part made sense to me. I can see how the bevel would be wrong if the file was flush.

I guess I expected the file to make it all the way into the gullet of the cutter. I tried to get a pic of that in the second photo. This is a brand new chain - first time sharpening it. Will the file start to reach in there after I sharpen it a few times? Or is there another technique to cleaning out the gullet?

 

Shawn I know exactly what you are talking about and I don't like the way it looks either. I use mine to get the tooth sharp, then I take it off and freehand to clean the gullet. I'll see if I can find a pic of the last chain I sharpened with mine so everyone can see what I mean. Halfway down the gullet the file leaves a metal ledge.

 

Here are a few pics. They are poor quality, but I tried to show the issue that I have with it. The arrow shows where the gullet has a small point on it if you look closely. The file only removes metal above that point. As the tooth is reduced, the bottom of the gullet below the point is much farther forward than the sharpened area. I'm not sure im describing it very well, but hopefully you guys see what I mean. Don't judge me for filing almost into the tie strap either! I did that while I was free hand filing the gullets so it didn't look messed up. I wish I had left one in the original shape so the pics would show it better. These are some of the worst ones on the chain. The others look like they should with a nice smooth rounded gullet. Not a pretty tooth but it is sharp and throws good chips.

 

I tried 7/32 and 13/64 with the same result. It cuts fine but looks like crap and I dont like it. Does the gullet actually matter or is it just the top plate and corner where the point is?

 

Is this the first time this chain has been sharpened? I'm thinking that differences in contour like this could easily be chalked up to switching between different sharpening tools. rather than an inherent characteristic of the new tool itself. In this case you could say that an electric grinder took more than necessary out of the gullet, rather than that the file didn't go far enough.

 

I understand there are different models for different chain sizes. You might double check you have the right one for your chain size if you feel you have too much file above the cutter.

However, remember as previously stated you are suppose to have 20%-1/5th of the file sticking above the top of the cutter.

 

I have 2 brand new Oregon chains that were the same way, the file only touched the very top and bottom of the tooth. After verifying several times (with calipers too) that I had the correct sized file, I just went with it. After a few sharpenings things took care of themselves and enough material was removed so the file touches the entire tooth now.

 

Yes, brand new chain - only made 2 cuts with it. First time any sort of sharpening device has touched it.

I have the right set, unless the package was mislabeled, or they included the wrong files with it. They seem pretty close though. File seems to be the right height above the cutter. It did a good job on the "top plate" and "cutting corner", it's just not reaching all the way into the "gullet" of the tooth.

Good to know - glad I'm not the only one who's seen it. This was a Husky labelled chain, though I suspect Oregon manufactures them. It does seem like it will start getting in there after I sharpen it 4-5 more times.

 

The Husky roller guides work very well. Use a 7/32" file for 3/8 chain. Save Edge and Pferd files are the best. I throw the Oregon/Husky files away after filing one chain...

 

I have good luck with it also..gets em shaaaarrrppp...

 

Apparently I was drunker than I thought when I filed that last chain. Just used the roller guide on a diff chain and it looks perfect.

 

I just picked up the Husky roller this past weekend. I have yet to try it out, but I like the idea of sharpening on the bar. I currently use a vise mounted home made clamp to sharpen my chains with the help of the Stihl file guides. On the worst chains, I'm sure I'll still use that too. The Husky guide should be a lot better for quick sharpenings.

Been there done that dgb, drunk filing usually makes for more work in the end. That pic above looks good!

Who here uses the Husky guide on Stihl chain? Do you still use the 7/32" file from the kit or the 13/64" Stihl file size?

 

That is stihl rs in the pic and I used 7/32.

 

Right on. I just used it for the first time with a 7/32 on an RSC, which was previously sharpened with a 13/64 file. I didn't have any odd problems. After the first pass or two the tooth sharpened smoothly.
I really like the way it holds the chain. I didn't like using the 'clamp on the file' guides because the chain would move too much in the bar groove and cause a sloppy filing. Hence why I build myself a chain clamp for my bench vise.

I can see myself using the Husky guide quite often.

 

The roller guides lack the flexibility of the Granberg and similar tools. The various angles are not adjustable, but for most chains they work very well. They're also small enough to carry around when you're out cutting. I've even used my .325 roller guide on .063"-pitch Stihl chain, and it was initially a tight fit but broke in pretty quickly.