Surely you must be joking....everyone knows it's best to cut upside down, keeps the wood chips from getting in your hair.
I'm no expert, I still am learning every time I file but from what I can see it looks okay, how's it cut? That's 2 different chains from The last time I filed
Looks good from the angle. I look at the edge from the front of the bar and if I don't see shiny, I call it good.
This pic looks like you’ve been in the rocks and need to file back more on the top plate to remove the damage
firewoodbuckenman - If your chain is producing dust or smallish chips, it’s not sharp. If the cut curves to one side when bucking, teeth on one side of the bar may be sharper/different length than the other; or uneven wear on bar rails. Big healthy chips and a straight cut are sure signs of a properly sharpened chain. Also important to note- don’t neglect the rakers/depth gauges. They dictate how much bite each tooth can take. They need filed to predetermined height per manufacturer’s spec.
Both saws seem to cut very well the second picture of chain i had removed all chain lube so it made a clearer picture. Since just starting to use the Stihl 2 in 1 sharping tool, i am just trying to get as good of a sharping as i can and get as much life in cutting before needing a real shop machine sharping.
The gullet should be a little more evenly round. What size/pitch is the chain? How are you sharpening...ie free hand file, filing guide, dremel etc?
First question, how does it cut? From looking at this chain, which I can see clearer than the chain in the first pic, it looks like at least the first full tooth from bottom of pic needs a little more filed off to give it a full cutting edge. Other thing I noticed is that it looks like the gullet needs to be cleaned out some more. Each chain has a “recipe” for how it should be ground/filed. I grind for the most part, so I set my grinder for all of the appropriate angles and offset that the manufacturer recommends. If you wanna see a good video check out some of buckin billy rays stuff. He’s a pretty entertaining guy from canada and he loves to talk about “cleaning out the gullet” once you’ve mastered this, get in touch with The Wood Wolverine for mastering the square file technique!
As long as its cutting without forcing and producing chips it seems okay. Most guides are rather foolproof. Just be sure to keep the rakers filed as well. Sometimes i forget to as i freehand sharpen and when i do i notice the improvement. Sometimes im a little too over zealous and it bites too much into the wood.
I have watched Bucken Billy Rays Videos he and his son working together, i have seen him just sit on a log and start sharping a 36 inch chain by hand on the saw, he just zips quickly through the chain and is back to sawing tree's he gos. he also has a great way of taking on life. Not saying he does not do many really dangerous things and he is not much into protection chaps or eye protection, so one needs to understand old Bucken has been doing it all his life and had been hurt many times, so don't just think you can do as he is doing it may not end well.