Chain grinding angles

Using a bench mounted chain grinder, I've always done my best to follow the grind angles for any given chain, but it's always been a challenge. Both Oregon and Stihl have conflicting information out there, particularly when it comes to the vise angle (0 vs. 10 degrees) on some of their most popular chains.

It seems a lot of folks sharpen their 33RS and 33RSC's to 60/30/10 degrees, and I'm wondering if maybe I'd just be better off sharpening all of my 3/8" x 0.050" chains to that set of angles, regardless of brand or profile. Thoughts?

I usually stick to the OEM spec'd angles for the chain. But I've been hand-filing for the last few years so vise angle is a crap-shoot really.

Vise angle is 30* for the chain I run. Stihl RS32 I think.

You're talking top plate angle, which i also keep at 30, not vise angle. I've never seen a vise that tilts beyond 15 degrees.

That said, I've seen literature putting Stihl 33RS at both 25 and 30 degrees. I use 30.

My grinder doesn't adjust like that, the vise just spins to around 40* side to side.

http://www.oregonproducts.com/pro/products/accessories/BenchMountMiniGrinder.htm

What grinder do you have Nate?

http://www.oregonproducts.com/pdfs/GrindingAngles.pdf
You sure? Check out the diagram for Dimesion B.

http://www.oregonproducts.com/pdfs/GrindingAngles.pdf
For my chains I use for bucking, A = 30, B=0, C=60.

Zap

Only thing adjustable is "a" if you are looking at the chart.

I set all 3/8 chain to 60/30/0.....Little rooster tail action in a red oak! (Thats a safty cain to)

Nate's grinder aside, what's the accepted grind for the 33RSC-3? I've seen published top plate angles of both 25 and 30, and vise angles of both 0 and 10 degrees.

My thinking, since I like these 33RSC-3's so much, was just grind everything to that spec. Not that an Oregon chain ground to the 33RSC-3 spec will perform the same, but just that I'll eventually work my way thru them and replace all with 33RSC-3's.

I threw out the charts long ago. Micro chains I do 60/20/0-milling chains 60/10/0 everthing else 60/30/0...I can even show you a video of noddles off a shag bark hickory milling!

Cool. If that works for you, smokinj, I'm inclined to do the same. Big question... what are the pros/cons of the 10 degree vise angle vs. straight up? It seems even the manufacturers keep going back and forth on that.

Thanks!

It gives you a knife like edge.

zap

I had saved this, it's from Oregon regarding the same question, I only use it for my milling chains.

The engineers suggest you do include the 10 degree tilt angle on your chain, this angle puts a “knife” edge on the cutter which helps with out of box sharpness and also to get rid of the debris that gathers in the cutter

zap

I cant tell any diffrance and kinda makes me think why in the heck to they go back and forth on this. If I can throw noodles in a shagbark hickory that set for a year I am good with it.

Watch the last couple seconds that wood was like a rock.

60/30/0 here as well. 25 on the top plate angle on 3/8 picco or lo pro chain. A C

Stihl 33RSC or RSF all get 30 degree top plate angle. Nothing else is adjustable on my grinder except for depth of cut so that I don't cut the straps.