Playing around, first attempt at square filing saw chain.

You’ll get there . It’s rewarding and worth the effort to learn .

 

Maybe it's side beak I have and not top beak.

 

Yes, I will get there. I have always been good with files, and most other hand tools. Just have to figure out the right technique. I have some of the double bevel files ordered. All I have is Stihl triangle file, right now. Which may actually be ok, actually, but it gives a little different side cut, but I watched a video on how to use a triangle file to do the job, and actually, the way the guy was doing it, was maybe easier then using a double bevel file.

In the video, they did a cut time comparison in a big log. At first they used a factory Oregon full chisel, full comp chain, and it took like 28 seconds to cut a fairly large diameter cookie, on average. Then they filed the chain in the traditional round file way and reduced time to an average of 18 plus seconds. I have experienced the same thing recently on factory new, verses first sharpening job. didn't time it but I know it cut noticeably faster after my hand sharpening job.

Then they re-profiled the chain by hand square filing it, using a triangle file. This shaved another 4 seconds or more off for a time averaging 14 seconds. That's twice as fast as Factory Oregon Full Chisel.

Anyway, I learned (watched) how he did it with the triangle file, then went out and re-filed my old chain, which looks a lot better now, with my corners looking not too bad, then I lowered the rakers again, slightly, to be .065 low. I know it will cut, but did not get a chance to actually try it, today.

 

I converted another chain today to square file. I converted a full house 24" chain on my Stihl 362. All I have still yet is Stihl Triangle file for square filing. I am getting it down a lot better. I am staying in the corners a lot better. I took it and felled a few more trees today, and cut several stumps off, really low but managed to keep it out of the dirt, although I did get in the dirt just barley a couple of times. But it's still sharp and cutting.

One thing I really like about square file chain is how much better it works when cleaning out a Dutchman in the face cut when felling. I can really appreciate why a lot of pro's like it for felling trees. I had to clean out a face cut, I made today, where I had left a fair amount of wood in there, and was really surprised how much better square cut chain rips the V clean, where round chain will bounce around high and low and you have to keep fighting it. Square chain cleans it out and right now!

 

After my last post this afternoon, I went back out, because I got a call from my brother in law, and he had been in contact with the other landowner and he gave us permission to cut some trees on his side, many heavy leaner's and dying trees that would become a problem later and end up falling on the new fence that is going to get built.
I cut another probably 12 trees or so, I didn't count them. I got into everything. I cut into one big Red Oak that looked solid but turned out to be hollow with only about 2 inches of holding wood on each side, and I was trying to fall it about 90 degrees left of natural lean to keep it out from hanging up. When I saw how hollow it was, I was a little nervous on that one, but the holding wood held and it went right were I pointed it.

Another one, a heavy leaner, had me worried about a barberchair and it was right in the old fence line with the barbed wire stapled to it. I needed to cut it at about five high or higher to clear the fence. I decided to bore cut it first. I have not really done this much. And I made a mistake or two. But the bore cut went well. My saw with the square filed chain bored right through the tree, no problem. And looking back, I think I should have drove a wedge in each side to hold it. But I didn't. Then when cutting the face cut, the tree set down and pinch my saw, hard. Now, all that's holding the tree is the thin back strap. My saw was pinched on the last 6 -8" of the bar. And I probably should have taken the saw off and left the bar in the tree, to be safest but instead my brother in law held my saw up level, and I cut the back strap with a second saw. I told him to let my saw go and run if things did not go well. I got on the other side of the fence and carefully cut the back strap. Every thing went well, the tree popped a little and fell as planned and he was able to pull the saw out as it left the stump. It was probably a little dangerous and stupid risk on our part, but we got away with it. But something I don't want to duplicate in the future.

I believe if I had put the wedges in there, the tree would not have pinched my saw, and my face cut was probably a little too close to the bore cut, because the top barb wire was too close, just below. A good lesson for next time. Anyway, the square filed chain is holding up good. It's not text book on the filing but not bad, either, for an amateur newby square filer. I have cut a lot with it, today, and it's still cutting. I ended up cutting, Red Oak, White Oak, Post Oak, Hickory, Elm, Locust and Red Cedar with it, and some hard dead logs and trees, also. I was really surprised it held up for the duration, (almost 4 tanks of gas), considering everything. I forgot to take any pictures, I should have.