Sharpener and Sharpening Help Please

[Khriss]

Internet brings out the worst in us  ?  frankly not sure its a good idea, some guy wanted my bank card details yesterday,  dunno  ? K

[neiln]

So the fake might not have along life...we will find out in time whether the file comes out before the thing breaks or not.

 

the other test is of course, does it work?  well ..yes!  better than the stihl one!  I'll start be caveating, I only have this trouble with the 3/8P 2 in 1, the standard 3/8 and 5.2mm version works great on my bigger chains but wit hthe pm3 stuff i have 2 problems.  firstly the flt file never does anyhting more than kiss the raker, even on a chain that is right down and losing cutters.  I have put this down to a possibly over hardened arbtec/northernarbsupplies/pirhanna chain but wasn't convinced as even at the end of use on the chain both sets of guide rails would properly ride along the teeth either side of that one being sharpened.  The other problem, although the chain still seemed to cut ok, the round files seem as if set too high and I never got any hook to the cutter.  the cutter would go straight up to the working corner, or even backwards by the time the file was really worn.  The chinese fake has the flat file/raker problem BUT does seem to get a better shape on the cutters.

 

not perfect...this tooth still seems a bit straight up.

 

 

[neiln]

better though.  this is a newish chain but has been sharpened before as you can see.  the cutter this side, you can see from the dirt, I've yet to tickle with the fake file and you can see the backward shape the stihl file creates.  it only gets worse as the teeth get shorter.  compare the shape to the 2 cutters either side/the other side, which you can see i have tickled..actually it was a god 10 strokes i think.  these have a better hook.  now remeber, i don't get this trouble with the bigger chain/2in1, and the chain still seems to cut anyway, but to me the fake seems to have left the chain 'sharper'

 

 

[Khriss]

Doesnt look spot on - semi chisel should have a slight hook - not much tho' plus depth stop needs touching  ? K

Edited June 13, 2020 by Khriss
= not that sharp ?

[Husqvarna King]

16 minutes ago, neiln said:

So the fake might not have along life...we will find out in time whether the file comes out before the thing breaks or not.

 

the other test is of course, does it work?  well ..yes!  better than the stihl one!  I'll start be caveating, I only have this trouble with the 3/8P 2 in 1, the standard 3/8 and 5.2mm version works great on my bigger chains but wit hthe pm3 stuff i have 2 problems.  firstly the flt file never does anyhting more than kiss the raker, even on a chain that is right down and losing cutters.  I have put this down to a possibly over hardened arbtec/northernarbsupplies/pirhanna chain but wasn't convinced as even at the end of use on the chain both sets of guide rails would properly ride along the teeth either side of that one being sharpened.  The other problem, although the chain still seemed to cut ok, the round files seem as if set too high and I never got any hook to the cutter.  the cutter would go straight up to the working corner, or even backwards by the time the file was really worn.  The chinese fake has the flat file/raker problem BUT does seem to get a better shape on the cutters.

 

not perfect...this tooth still seems a bit straight up.

 

 

I thought these (Stihl ones) looked a good idea....these pics have really put me off. Thanks for your review ?

[neiln]

oh and chain is semi chisel obvs. I've no idea what the stihl 2in 1 wold do to a full chisel PM3, if such as thing exists.  i suspect semi chisel is more forgiving on the filing as the 'working corner' is....well...not a corner as such.

 

so in conclusion....mleh, the fake is cheap, it does a fair job I think, but if it breaks when it comes to getting that stuck file out then it works out expensive compared to the real thing.

 

Oh and please be gentle now as you critique my filing!  hahahaha!  the bigger stuff on the 365 looks better, honest!  one more photo, just because.

 

 

[Toad]

I'd like to learn to sharpen semi chisel better, was using some oregon dpx on some dirty old wood recently and I'm really not sure I've done a reasonable job of sharpening it again. I'm fairly happy with sharpening full chisel though.

[neiln]

6 minutes ago, Husqvarna King said:

I thought these (Stihl ones) looked a good idea....these pics have really put me off. Thanks for your review ?

for the bigger sizes it works fine, honestly, it does do the rakers, and it gets a nice hook on the cutters.  I only get the weirdness on the 3/8P chain on the little saw.  it still cuts so I don't fret too much, but it does puzzle me.  I've tried free handing with the round files to 'get the gullet' and get the hook, but noticed i was then also getting the tie strap/other side of the link.  its as if 4.00mm is too large a file and doesn't quite fit low enough.  I even went to the effort of checking the files were 4.0mm with a vernier!

 

my view, the 2 in1s (real) work great on proper sized chains, and well enough on picco micro stuff.  bear in mind with a ms180 I'm not entering cant races, it still cuts, still gives chips not dust, and if anything the odd shape will give a more durable 'working corner' so....although puzzled I think the result acceptable and for easy of use think the 2in1 still worth while.

[Mark_Skyland]

Best to post a few pics of your chains.

 

Sharpening a chain correctly is a skill. Too much hook can kill a chain, drawing the file back against the chain can take the edge off. 99% of the time keep the file level and dont push down.

 

[Mark_Skyland]

Also the stihl easyfile works best with stihl chain, use it on an oregon or husky chain and it can screw it up.