Why is this chain not sharp?

For regular round file chain I like my Granberg 106B. If I don't get a better result on that than using any grinder, I am just not paying attention. A new, in the box, chain can get about as good as I do with that tool but it is no better than I can get by hand. I am still not very experienced with mine so it takes me 15 minutes to finish up a 20 inch chain, but it does the job. I have yet to try restoring a rocked chain with it but my guess is it will just take a lot more strokes to get deep enough in the gullet to end up with a useful cutting edge. At that point a raker adjustment would be absolutely needed.

 

Yeah for sure. I've filed and filed and filed that chain and it still does not cut like it should. If I need to cut any wood in the near future I'm gonna spend the $25 on a new RS chain.

 

Fuque that. Spend $15 for a decent chain at your local dealer and also get a decent tool to help you get the filing right. The 106B lets you adjust depth of cut, cutting angle and any deviation from horizontal if your chain requires it. With the depth set, you just stroke the file forward until it quits cutting, then move to the next tooth. There is no counting strokes and hoping your feel is just right. I can use 5 strokes on one tooth and then press a bit less and use 10 strokes on the next tooth. What counts is that the file stops biting when I get to that predeterminred depth. Every tooth ends up identical. At least Oregon and Stihl make identical tools to the Granberg 106B so don't sweat the brand name on the one you use. Granberg calls that model a File-N-Joint but I am not sure the names that Stihl and Oregon use for theirs. It is about a $30 to $40 tool and uses whatever files your chain calls for.
For a quick tutorial, check here
chainsawbars.co.uk - using a filing guide system

 

You probably should ask if yer woman is polishing his tool for him if it looks like he is at your place!

 

I agree with the others that top plate looks damaged in dirt or some hard surface...like nails you mention. It was not ground back past the damage, and the taker would then have to be lower as well.

Another reason why I sharpen my own. I have heard that places charge between $5-10 per chain. I don't cut that much wood a year but would easily sharpen 5 to 12 chains a year and that alone would cover or almost cover the cost of my grinder.

 

It took you 3 weeks to come up with that lame azz joke? Good thing we're not trying to sharpen your brain...

 

No it took me 2 seconds as this was the first time I clicked on this thread. I will drop it here as it appears we are a bit testy about giving a little friendly grief.