Chains sharpening poll?

[alderman]

When sharpening a chain by hand, I file the first tooth until I can feel the file run smoother, usually 3 or 4 strokes. Then I file the rest of the teeth with that same number of strokes.

Who counts their strokes when hand filing?

 

[FATGUY]

Being a machinist with OCD, I sharpen the smallest tooth first till its sharp. I then measure with a pair of calipers and then try and get the rest close to that. Depth gages and angle are set with a FOP

 

[Scooterbum]

I quit counting long ago.
Chain would never cut straight.
Now I just go till I feel the file glide smooth through the tooth.
When it goes through silkie smooth then it's done.

 

[Scooterbum]

Being a machinist with OCD, I sharpen the smallest tooth first till its sharp. I then measure with a pair of calipers and then try and get the rest close to that. Depth gages and angle are set with a FOP

How long does all that take?

 

[FATGUY]

How long does all that take?

forever, but in a sick way I find it relaxing.

 

[jburlingham]

I count strokes when I file, think its and ocd thing....
even on vacation i will count how many doors I pass between the fire exit and my room.

 

[Mike PA]

I always count strokes. Doesn't mean I always stop at the same number, though.:biggrinbounce2:

My OCD requires me to count and I usually try to do the same number, but if I have a bad cutter or did a poor angle, I'll add a few strokes, and count the number of strokes that I added.

 

[BobL]

If I want a really sharp chain I find "counting" and "cutter or file feel" are no substitute for making sure there is no edge glint left on a cutter. In the field, for a quick touch up I count strokes, but in the shop I wear a magnifying head set and file till there is no cutter edge glint. I only worry about cutter length if an individual cutter looks way too long and then I bring it into line with the others. I prefer no glint over a cutter being too short.

 

[mdavlee]

Yeah I hate shortening a bunch of cutters for one or two that hit metal or something. I just sharpen most of the time til no glint with naked eye and then set the rakers if I had to take quite a bit off the chain. If the chain is just dull I hit it 2-3 strokes and go on. I haven't really seen how cutter lengths being different with the same raker settings make it cut crooked.

 

[jburlingham]

let a buddy use my Stihl on our last camping trip. I needed as many as 12 on some tooth to get it back to par.

I didn't supervise his cutting, so I asked him the other day what happened, he said he filed it when he was done, the i realized what happened he used a 5/32 file on my .325 chain.

 

[gemniii]

Do you realize there is an entire subforum for chain sharpening?

http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=-1&f=74

 

[roncoinc]

Sharpening a chain by hand ?? like by holding a file and doing it ??
I left the dark ages long ago and now only count the seconds , about two seconds a tooth is it,no strokes.
funny thing is i did buy a brandy new file this week,just in case the electricity goes out or the battery dies..
hope i never have to use one again

 

[034avsuper]

I always count strokes. Usually 3 or 4.

 

[wendell]

I voted almost always count because I do count (unless I lose track) but let the feel of the file be the final judge.

 

[T_F_E]

Yeah I usually do 3 strokes every fill up or so.

 

[discounthunter]

i try to count usually between 3-5 strokes, but there are allways the "bad" teeth that need a little more .

 

[GASoline71]

I might count them... out of sheer boredom on bars 32" and longer.

Gary

 

[o8f150]

i don't use a file. i have a grinder

 

[rob066]

I never count the strokes I do. I sharpen the teeth to they look sharp. I try to keep them all the same length. My saws dont cut circles.

 

[Philbert]

I always count strokes. Doesn't mean I always stop at the same number, though.

My OCD requires me to count and I usually try to do the same number, but if I have a bad cutter or did a poor angle, I'll add a few strokes, and count the number of strokes that I added.

+1

Philbert