gwiley
Addicted to ArboristSite
I use a file on my chains without a guide and it has always worked well. If you have a steady hand and an eye for detail you can use the witness marks on the cutters to handle the angle. I just hit the rakers when the chips look dusty, I have found that 4 strokes with flat file fixes them up nicely. Most of my filing is done as my refuel routine - every tank of gas the chain gets a touch up with the files.
One of the most important things is consistency between teeth - do it exactly the same way for each cutter to avoid the saw cutting curves.
Guides will give you an even better result, but I find that this is so fast that I don't think the guide would give me enough benefit to use them unless I am home at my bench.
One of the most important things is consistency between teeth - do it exactly the same way for each cutter to avoid the saw cutting curves.
Guides will give you an even better result, but I find that this is so fast that I don't think the guide would give me enough benefit to use them unless I am home at my bench.