Square, flat file ground chain

[IanW]

dose any one on here square sharpen their chains?

 

pro's and con's ?

 

is it just used for race cutting or suitable for every day use?

 

is it just 3/8's that get ground this way...

 

seems interesting

 

ian

 

 

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[Stubby]

All I remember ris you file it in the opposite direction to round ground chain . From the working point inwards .

[spudulike]

I looked in to it and it seemed like too much effort for the gain and difficult to get the correct angles without grinding the teeth on a bench grinder or using specialist files.

 

Of course all this changes if you are in to timbersport and every 1/10th second is all important!

[Peter]

Never bothered myself, you do need the right file and lots of patience. I think most people machine grind it to get the angles right, touch it up with a file a few times and then put it back on the grinder to get it perfect again.

 

The American forums are a good place to look for information and help.

[IanW]

do you just keep the same angle as the wear marker?

 

 

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[Pete Mctree]

This would be some good background reading IMO ;

 

How To File Square Chisel Chain

[Stubby]

I do know if you cock up and get it wrong you can file it with a round file to bring it back to round ground chisel .

[Chris P]

Square filing is worth it if your cutting clean wood and you know your not going to need touching it up a lot. As said above its pretty specialist most grind with a machine and carry spare chains, rather then field sharpen.

Seem like most of the west coast fallers in the us use it but they might not be dealing with loads of wood that has been skidded through sand/gravel/rocks.

 

As spud said we use it on some hotsaws in the Timbersports, But thats ultra clean wood. and you only do three quick cuts.

 

Seems like its easier to just round file over here. Its cheap, Everyone carrys the files and its easier to do in the field.

 

That said i may be looking at getting some square filled chain for my own personal work saw. I'll keep you posted

 

Chris

[IanW]

interesting to hear people's thoughts and views, I might have to have a go and see what's it's like for myself

 

 

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[Rob D]

I have square ground chain in 3/8 .063 so if you want to try a loop can find it here Custom chain loops

 

 

I have not got round to setting up a file guide to sharpen this - but a couple of things to bear in mind are a) it is very hard indeed to sharpen correctly and b) the square ground files are very expensive (no idea why they don't seem that different) c) you can only square file 3/8" and .404 chain (on .325 chain the steep angle means you end up filing into a tie strap as in pic below).

 

 

Why is it so hard to sharpen? You sort of file outside in and have to hold it in the right position... a round file sits in the tooth by itself but a square file needs to be guided...

 

 

Although a file guide is realistically the way to do it.

 

Is the hassal worth it? (not saying it isn't just putting it out there!)

 

 

• chisel chain cuts very quickly anyway and is much easier to file,
  
• if you hit something trying to get the tooth back would take a long time,
  
• even with a grinder you need a specialist grinder to grind square ground.
  
• expensive files
  
• have to file out the chain gullet after sharpening as a separate job
  

 

 

But if you are keen then this article is very good TreeFalling