Hand Filing

I have the stihl one looks just like that.

With or without the guide?

MasterMech said:

With or without the guide?

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I use it with. Easier for me to hang on to and nothing to set-up. Stays on there a whole lot better than just the handle.

smokinjay said:

MasterMech said:

With or without the guide?

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I use it with. Easier for me to hang on to and nothing to set-up. Stays on there a whole lot better than just the handle.

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Same here. I was wondering if Zap had purchased just the bare file or the file with the guide attached.

BTDT. Better than naked file. Better than going home for new chain.
Granberg clamp-on file guide still enormously better IMO 35+ yrs later. Costs little more, besides.

CTYank said:

BTDT. Better than naked file. Better than going home for new chain.
Granberg clamp-on file guide still enormously better IMO 35+ yrs later. Costs little more, besides.

Click to expand...

Much faster without one.

smokinjay said:

I have the stihl one looks just like that.

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+1 here....it's all about the angles.....

I tried freehanding with just the file. After a few tanks of gas, i went back to using the guide. The angle is so so so important. Im just not good enough yet to eyeball the correct file angle.

Skier76 said:

I tried freehanding with just the file. After a few tanks of gas, i went back to using the guide. The angle is so so so important. Im just not good enough yet to eyeball the correct file angle.

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This file guide has the angle on it....As close to free hand as your going to get. With just a little help. (the last step if you will)

Here is a great video on sharpening and chain tension!

smokinjay said:

CTYank said:

BTDT. Better than naked file. Better than going home for new chain.
Granberg clamp-on file guide still enormously better IMO 35+ yrs later. Costs little more, besides.

Click to expand...

Much faster without one.

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Yes. And after a little practice (quick learning curve really) its much faster like you said.Just follow those 'witness marks' etched on the top of cutter.

Thistle said:

smokinjay said:

CTYank said:

BTDT. Better than naked file. Better than going home for new chain.
Granberg clamp-on file guide still enormously better IMO 35+ yrs later. Costs little more, besides.

Click to expand...

Much faster without one.

Click to expand...

Yes. And after a little practice (quick learning curve really) its much faster like you said.Just follow those 'witness marks' etched on the top of cutter.

Click to expand...

Cant seem to pass this point. I cant seem to hold the file right without handle and the normal handle seem to fall apart. Not that I like to even use it at all, but when I get caught. I use this.

I like to just free hand it, it is hard for me to see the laser etch mark unless I use a glass but it seems pretty natural to just go with memory as it is very close to the angle on the tooth, just a little less. The guide just seems to get in the way for me and I can't see or feel what I am doing.

smokinjay said:

CTYank said:

BTDT. Better than naked file. Better than going home for new chain.
Granberg clamp-on file guide still enormously better IMO 35+ yrs later. Costs little more, besides.

Click to expand...

Much faster without one.

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Nope, IMO. Much faster for getting it RIGHT. Couple strokes- razors again. But who's timing a few seconds, or rushing with saws?

I could say I don't need no steenking guide, I'm so good. But that'd be a lie.

I can't seem to get away from the guide either.

Also, I swear they make these chains more blurry than they used to be.

I've never used a guide. Learned how to sharpen a saw before i learned how to run it...so prob when i was 12 or so.

I use the same guide as Zap bought - finally getting sharp chains after about 20 tries. Tried filing with no gauge at first, and chains were always duller than when I started! Cheers!

I use the file guide also... It does the job, However, in my opinion NOTHING cuts better than a brand new chain.Even when I get my chains back from the local sharpener shop they just aren't quite like a fresh one from the box. Thanks for posting the tutorial bubba, I learned some new info.

Start with a really dull chain and eventually you will start to see nice big chips
coming off the chain....personal experiance! The rakers....that is another story!

I noticed in the video tutorial the guy only filed in one direction while sharpening the cutters, but went back-and-forth while filing the rakers.

It took me many years and I don't know how many dollars worth of ruined files to learn that files only cut in one direction and to pull it backwards (as thought sawing) will dull the file.

Also, another file killer is chattering. If what you are filing is not clamped down tight, it will chatter and kill the file in a couple strokes. That little tip about tightening the chain tension might be a money saver.

wood dope said:

I use the file guide also... It does the job, However, in my opinion NOTHING cuts better than a brand new chain.Even when I get my chains back from the local sharpener shop they just aren't quite like a fresh one from the box. Thanks for posting the tutorial bubba, I learned some new info.

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I had a guy sharpen one of my chains for my 009L and it was very dull, when he was done with it it was sharper than new so it can be done.