File-O-Plate

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Elmore said:
Thanks Ben but Oregon says that they don't make one. Just the asembled jig type and a clamp on guide. I'm about to go buy a Stihl chain to augment my Super 70. What set up do you recommend to hand file both the Stihl RAPID™ Super (RS) and the Oregon SUPER 70?


Elmore, I believe they might be available only from the Husqvarna dealer. They are made especially to suit the Oregon chain shape, but may not indeed be made by Oregon.
 
Roller guide is the way to go

I use the Husky 3/8 roller guide on 73LG chain. It is fast and accurate. Used to use a clamp on file guide--what a pain in the arse. The roller guide is cheap, easy for me to use on both sides of the chain, and more accurate than I could hand file without it. I love the roller guide. Oregon makes them too, I believe.
 
bwalker said:
For Oregon chain you really cant beat their roller file guides.
FWIW I recently bought a file-o-plate and and a loop of woodsman pro chain. The woodsman pro chain out of the box cut slower than Oregon LG and the fil-o-plate was slower to use than the roller guide.
albngore said:
I use the Husky 3/8 roller guide on 73LG chain. It is fast and accurate. ..... I love the roller guide. Oregon makes them too, I believe.
I like the roller guides too, and use those who are a combination roller guide and raker guide.
Based on Ben's statement I see no reason to try the file-o-plate.

The posts by Glens in this tread describes how to convert the roller guides for use on Stihl RM and RS chain.
I am pretty sure they can be adapted to Carton chain also.
 
Great...I just tracked down and bought a blue Husky 3/8 combi gauge (roller guide/depth gauge) then bought a Stihl 33RS chain in 3/8 (the last they had). Now, according to info here and there, I will have to modify my Combi gauge for it to work on the Stihl chain. I think that I will just free hand file the Stihl chain till I find a suitable and inexpensive guide for it and use the little blue combi gauge on the Super 70. Oregon has told me they don't make or sell a roller guide. None of the local Stihl dealers don't know anything about the RS chain not being available in 3/8 and most of the mechanics at the Husky and Stihl dealers, that I spoke with yesterday, say that they will be glad to sell me a new saw after I burn mine up with that Mobil Racing2T at 32/1. My saw's manual says to use Makita/Dolmar oil at 50/1 or another brand at 40/1. The Husky guy said I should use the Husky syn at 90/1 and the Stihl guy said I should use the Stihl oil at 50/1. They remind me of politicians. Over the phone the young lady at the closest Dolmar dealership to me said that Oregon makes all the chains in existence. I should have asked about bicycle parts. I'm still looking for the friendly/helpful/informed small engine shop to hang my hat on.
 
knowledge

It is scary to realize that the more knowledge you have, the more you find how many idiots there are out there. Particularly the ones working at retail places, especially OPE shops. The people with the least amount of knowledge are often the ones who act like they know the most.

I don't waste my time trying to correct them and/or provide them with the right info anymore. I just walk away and never go back unless I need a part from them in which case I have the part number ahead of time.
 
Elmore said:
... Oregon has told me they don't make or sell a roller guide. ...
The ones I have seen has been made by E-lux (Em), but they are made for Oregon chain, as that is what E-lux have relabled and sell as Husky, Jred etc brand chain.
Elmore said:
.... None of the local Stihl dealers don't know anything about the RS chain not being available in 3/8 ....
Of course some of that chain will remain in the pipeline for some time, but it is no longer in the catalog in the US or over here.
 
I used the Husky roller guide on my Oregon 72LP yesterday and I am pleased. I took the File-O-Plate and put it on the chain and lined up the file with the cutter...it just won't let the file ride low enough in the cutter to function properly. # 37509 is what they call for a 72LP. I just can't see how it would work with that chain. I have heard from some that have said it would not work on that chain and I now believe. Maybe with a 5/32 file??? I will eventually try a Carlton chain and the plate will surely match that. With the newly aquired Stihl chain I will try both the roller guide and the plate and if they won't work I'll punt.
<img src="http://www.chainsawspecialists.co.uk/jshopchain/shopimages/gauge%20small.jpg">
 
Elmore it sounds like you can do a good job filing by hand anyways. As far as tree service guys using a guide, kind of like riding a bike with training wheels.....c'mon.
 
I do not use the guides for touch-up filing in the wood, only on the bench in combination with a wise, after the days use is ended.
 
I just got one of those roller guides in a kit from Lowes. Works on my Stihl chain with no modifications.

And before everyone jumps on me...only reason I got it from Lowes is they are the only ones that have it!

I also priced one of the Stihl bench mount hand file guides, $149.00. Not sure if its worth it, Im gonna try one of the Oregon bar mounts and then decide.
 
CaseyForrest said:
I just got one of those roller guides in a kit from Lowes. Works on my Stihl chain with no modifications.....
Yes, it will work as long as it fits loosely over the chain.

Just make sure that the file is held at the correct hight........

I have modified the blue bodied roller guide for 36RSC and RM chain, and I had to widen the slots that fit over the chain slightly. This was done in such a way that the "suggested" top-plate angle also were changed from 25 to about 30 degrees.
 
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Looks like its at a good height. I took the roller guide to a chain I had just used one of the hand file guides one and it put a much nicer edge on it. Granted Im probably not the best filer, but I can make a chain throw chips again. The roller guide will make field filing ALOT easier. I also run 3/8 RS, it fits tight enough on the chain there is no side to side slop in the guide while it does sit all the way down. Now I need to cut off that raker gauge thats riveted onto it, I see that as a knuckle buster.
 
CaseyForrest said:
.... Now I need to cut off that raker gauge thats riveted onto it, I see that as a knuckle buster.
That is a very useful raker guide, as it let you adjust the raker to every single toot instead of to the average of two or more.....

.......but they can be had separately also, if you don't want to have it on the roller guide.
 
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