Which file guide?

[Woodworks]

Husky roller guide

 

Even though all of my saws are Stihl I think the husky roller guides are a great piece of kit

 

 

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Thanks for the suggestion. I have used them and they help you achieve a good job but rather slow with locating the guide for each tooth. Using one has made more aware of the 10 degree horizontal angle but I like the speed of the plate type guide.

[landrover 101]

Guess its down to how you use them I can get quite a nice rhythm going using the roller guide and sharpen a chain faster than using the plate type

 

Just down to personal preference I guess

 

 

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[Stubby]

Trouble with roller guides is the rollers wear out very quickly dropping the file to below the correct height putting too much hook on the cutter ...

[Eddy_t]

I prefer the Oregon guides BUT if you're sharpening stihl 3/8 chain, the stihl file is 5.2mm, Oregon is 5.5mm, also Oregon don't do the 3mm ones for the ms150

 

 

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[carpenter1]

what files would you use for a 372xp?

[Woodworks]

Sorry Eddy too late.

 

Just ordered Stihl guides from Rob D but going to try some of his Save Edge files

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

A better question would be why file guide?

 

Just learn to sharpen without a guide then you wont need any let alone many

 

ditto. Totally freehand sharpening yields the best results.

 

otherwise roller but as above the rollers do wear.

[Eddy_t]

what files would you use for a 372xp?

 

3/8 Oregon chain so it's the 5.5mm (7/32), unless it's a stihl chain, which is 13/64 (5.2mm), but the 7/32 can also be used on .404 chain

 

 

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[Woodworks]

ditto. Totally freehand sharpening yields the best results.

 

otherwise roller but as above the rollers do wear.

 

How can it be better?

 

To me there are three relevant factors.

 

1. Filing angle 25/30 degrees etc

 

2. Horizontal angle either 10 degrees or level for most chains

 

3. Height and diameter of file to give the side plate angle.

 

If all these are right surly it will be equally sharp whether freehand or with a guide.

[SawTroll]

A better question would be why file guide?

 

Just learn to sharpen without a guide then you wont need any let alone many

 

I totally agree (but I use progressive raker guides, to avoid guesswork)!