Square ground chain

[18 stoner]

Al, when filing square, do you free hand or use a guide?

 

Also in your pic you are showing that you file "inwards". How do you feel about filing the chrome into the cutter, do you remove it as some do, or not bother?

[swe#kipp]

You ever tried Als suggestion of grinding a little off the back of the cutter to improve boring?

 

So are those ATOP guides actually on sale in Sweden or is it just the US and Canada?

 

 

Only on real race chain but never on a workchain though im sure a work chain would benefit from it mostly cause i don't own a grinder

 

Oh btw you get a good "feel" in your hands when using the guide i did freehand a 15" .325 Stihl RS with good results !

 

The guide is not sold in stores in Sweden yet and i doubt it will be !!

[Al Smith]

Al, when filing square, do you free hand or use a guide?

 

Also in your pic you are showing that you file "inwards". How do you feel about filing the chrome into the cutter, do you remove it as some do, or not bother?

 

Free hand .It's easier to see the "working corner " by going into the tooth rather than the traditional method used on a round chain . The corner is the secret of weather the chain cuts good or best .The angles from the top plate and side plate meet perfectly in that corner if it's done correctly .

 

I've filed by going outward but didn't get as good of results

 

I use a multi bevel type of file and have pretty good luck with that method .

 

As I said though square filing at least for me is a lengthy process and as such I don't do it too often .

Now the chrome ,I think it's mostly true race chain builders that grind it off,I don't .Keep in mind though that some race chain builders dissasemble the chain and thin the cutters in a surface grinder then reassemble the entire chain .Way too much work for me .

No

[ScotClayShooter]

Al i read about the guys "stoning" the cutters after filing what does this involve? and what stones do they use?

 

Im guessing this will get a smoother sharper edge than a file.

 

Do you hone to very slightly dull the edge to make it more durable?

I used to use chisels to take foam off paint in a freezer factory and bluntening the edge very slightly worked wonders.

[18 stoner]

Cheers for that Al, i might have a play with a chain somtime, not really for a great practical use, but would be nice to give it a go on the muffler modded 360:thumbup1:

[Al Smith]

Al i read about the guys "stoning" the cutters after filing what does this involve? and what stones do they use?

 

Im guessing this will get a smoother sharper edge than a file.

 

I'm under the assumption when they say "stoning " it's in reference to removing excess material off the rivets to reduce drag .This is strictly for bone-fide race chains and not for square ground work chains .

 

Some expert filers do use a small oil stone to do small intricate work on the cutters .You have to remember that times of cuts on weather they win or lose is often within several tenths of a second .They do every thing possible to get the best times and that includes the chain of which they spend hours on .

 

I made some parts for two of the fastest 3120 hotsaws in the US for a couple of friends .Both expert chain men .One of them sent me a filed race chain .That chain takes a full second off my cut times on a souped up 038 Mag as my best chain I've done myself . That said I still have a ways to go to get to another level myself .

[ScotClayShooter]

Ok will check Troutfishers thread again am sure he mentioned stoning the cutters not the rivets.

[swe#kipp]

You stone the side of the tooth from the leading edge and down on the side

[swe#kipp]

Look at the "front" tooth and you will se what i mean

 

[ScotClayShooter]

I see! Your thinning the kerf of the tooth.

 

A few more sharpens and you will need to thin the rivets and have a bar with no paint!