Hand filing is for the birds. Do yourself a favor. Buffalo Tools ECSS Electric Chainsaw Sharpener Amazon.com: Buffalo Tools ECSS Electric Chainsaw Sharpener: Home Improvement 30 magazine clip on my ghost gun
Yes; that is the business end that is making contact with the wood. It needs to be sharp like a knife. At this point any method to get you there will do. I've tried just about all of them and so far I get the best results with my Stihl FG2. But I can get them throwing chips freehand with just a round file too. Just takes some practice. That would be a great chain to practice on too. Two suggestions: get a new chain to compare with so you know what sharp should look like. Also take a sharpie to the cutter faces to see where your file / grinding wheel is getting to.
I personally don't think an electric grinder is the best tool for a rookie sharpener to learn on. Just my .02 5 degrees is splittin hairs. Won't hurt anything. BUT, I applaud you for digging that deep. I think your well on your way to doing things right, your way. Lots of great help here too.
For hand sharpening I like these ,Pferd CS-X Chain Sharp Filing Guide, they aren't cheap but if you only have one size of chains it's not to bad and you save time , where you sharpen your chain and take down your rakers in one pass. This link is for 7/32" File Guide sharpens 3/8" and .404" pitch chainsaw chain. Pferd Cs-X Chain Sharp Filing Guide - 7/32" | Pferd Filing Guides | Chain Filing Guides | www.baileysonline.com
We have a Oregon Bench mounted Saw Chain Grinder and I hand file the chain in the woods when needed. When we paid to have them sharpened we only had one come back that needed to be taken back, there was no charge for them to redo the rakers the second time.
So I just received the .325 husky roller file guide and it rides too high on my stihl RS chain. Any ideas?
Can you post pics of how you have it sitting on the chain? Here's mine on Stihl RS. If you zoom in, you can see it's Stihl chain.
Hard to get this phone to focus where I want it and hold the file in there. The guide does have a front and back. The taller end should be back and make sure it's all the way down. IF you want it lower, you could file the slot a little. I've never done it (haven't needed to).
Sounds like either the chain is not the size you thought it was? Or the file is not the size it is supposed to be...