Rakers or cutters?

[tommer9]

Following on from the thread about sharpening new chains, i wondered who sharpens the cutters before checking/filing the rakers, and vice versa?

[Johny Walker]

used to use the old filing guides but done it free hand for 20 yrs+ now , allways do the rakers 1.st as not to catch the freshley sharpend cutter with the flat file:001_smile:

[Mesterh]

Cutters first only because I ALWAYS forget to check rakers

[Stephen Blair]

always cutter tom, them the rakers. i need to know how much i have taken off, never use a depth guage though, doesnt seem to take enough off. then when you use it again you know how well you did, fine dust=not enough. over the handlebars=too much,cutting butter=just right

[tommer9]

BTW i always do cutters first. I hate doing the rakers.

[Johny Walker]

always cutter tom, them the rakers. i need to know how much i have taken off, never use a depth guage though, doesnt seem to take enough off. then when you use it again you know how well you did, fine dust=not enough. over the handlebars=too much,cutting butter=just right

 

swb place your flat file in line with the run off the chain across 3/4 cutters & you can see the gap ,reduce as required

[18 stoner]

Should always sharpen first!

 

The idea of the rakers is to give a set depth of cut, and whenever you file back cutters, because of the lowering slope of the cutter, you adjust the depth of cut. The cutters should be sharpened, then the rakers re-set.

 

Therefore setting depth guage prior to sharpening is putting cart before horse!

[Marc]

Cutters first always for me for best results, depth gauges are important the reduce vibration stress on the saw and i reckon increase chain life, so its important to do the cutters first to get the depth gauges right. I do all my sharpening by eye no gauges, apart from using the depth gauge to check i'm right, not use it as a filing guide!

[Johny Walker]

Should always sharpen first!

 

The idea of the rakers is to give a set depth of cut, and whenever you file back cutters, because of the lowering slope of the cutter, you adjust the depth of cut. The cutters should be sharpened, then the rakers re-set.

 

Therefore setting depth guage prior to sharpening is putting cart before horse!

 

not @ all you should be able to judge what needs taking off after a lot off yrs you will find it come on its own

[18 stoner]

Oh, you guys should always use a depth guage!

 

Gives an even cut to every cutter, therefore longer life, optimum cutting performance, and, SAFER!