Need help for correct grinder angles for stihl chains

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Hi I am looking for the correct angles for sharpening stihl chains with oregon grinder. When I look at the stihl website and find the chart for their usg grinder I see that they are using a 40 degree head angle. I usually use a 60 degree head angle for most chains. I also see they are using a - + of 15 degrees for the table I would assume that I just use the tilt feature for that no problem I was wondering what others are using for the head angle? thanks
 
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Depends on the chain. The info is usually on the paper insert that comes with packaged STIHL chains. The angles should be the same for any brand of grinder.

If the chain is fairly new, you can put it in the grinder and set it up to match the cutter angles. 60 degrees head tilt and 30 degrees vice angle works on a lot of chains.

Philbert
 
The chart is kinda confusing when looking at the part number for the grinding wheels the part number is the same for .325 pitch and 3/8 pitch which is normal but when you look at the next column there is a 2,4 for one and a 2,6 for the other what is the significance of those numbers? Also there is no difference between a full chisel and a semi chisel chain.
 
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All of the different cutter angles and specifications can get confusing.

In the Oregon guide they list 1. Depth-Gauge Setting, 2. Top-Plate Cutting Angle, 3. Side-Plate Cutting Angle, 4. Top-Plate Filing Angle, 5. File Guide Angle, along with file diameter and grinding wheel diameter for each chain! And that does not count the different grinder scales that Lakeside53 pointed out.

I made a cheat sheet of grinder head & vice angle, file & wheel size, and depth gauge setting for each chain I normally use. They are pretty close for me.

I once called Oregon technical support because they listed different angles for the same chain in 2 different Oregon guides – was told that the it was more important that the cutters are all filed/ground the same than it was that they were at a specific angle.

Philbert
 
Stihl chain angles

I am trying to figure out the correct angles for 3/8 Stihl Picco chain. The USG chart higher in this thread looks like pivot points are different than a "normal" grinder. Does anyone know what the correct angles are?
 
I grind everything at 60/30/0, sometime
60/30/10, not often though

Yep, same here.

Fiddled with the tilt settings at one time, but found it was more trouble than it was worth.

I use 60/30/0 for 3/8 regular and low pro, and the same for .325.

Haven't ground any .404 chain yet.
 
From the replies shown above, I would assume that the angles would be as follows for the new Stihl Picco Super 3 saw chain (PS3)

Wheel Head Tilt --- 50 degrees (90-50 = 40 degrees for Stihl USG)
Vice Angle --- 30 degrees
Vice Tilt --- + or - 15 degrees
 
From the replies shown above, I would assume that the angles would be as follows for the new Stihl Picco Super 3 saw chain (PS3)

Wheel Head Tilt --- 50 degrees (90-50 = 40 degrees for Stihl USG)
Vice Angle --- 30 degrees
Vice Tilt --- + or - 15 degrees

PS3 looks like a semi-skip tooth version of the PMC3 chain.(EDIT: Sorry, corrected this in post #16 - Philbert)

I do not understand the STIHL USG grinder chart myself. However, 50 degrees seems awfully low. 60 is very common for many chains. 55 is not uncommon. 50?

My Oregon grinder has detents for the vice tilt. It allows -10, 0 , +10. I think that the 15 degrees in the USG chart refers to something else.

If you open a new package of a pre-made loop of PS3 it should have the correct angles, or you can mount it in your grinder and try to copy them.

Philbert
 
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PS3 looks like a semi-skip tooth version of the PMC3 chain.

I do not understand the STIHL USG grinder chart myself. However, 50 degrees seems awfully low. 60 is very common for many chains. 55 is not uncommon. 50?

My Oregon grinder has detents for the vice tilt. It allows -10, 0 , +10. I think that the 15 degrees in the USG chart refers to something else.

If you open a new package of a pre-made loop of PS3 it should have the correct angles, or you can mount it in your grinder and try to copy them.

Philbert

Did you mean semi-chisel? Is there any other chart besides the Stihl USG chart that addresses Stihl chain? I was able to verify the 30 degree angle, but it is difficult to verify the others?
 
Did you mean semi-chisel? Is there any other chart besides the Stihl USG chart that addresses Stihl chain? I was able to verify the 30 degree angle, but it is difficult to verify the others?


'Full comp' chain has a 2 drive links between each cutter. Skip tooth chain has 3 drive links between each cutter. Semi-skip alternates between 2 drive links between each cutter, then 3 drive links, then 2 . . . .

I based my comment on a quick look at the STIHL website (see screen shot, below), but now that I blow it up, it may be that the extra space was just due to the end of the loop? If you have the chain you can correct me.

attachment.php


The USG chart confuses everyone who does not have a USG grinder. The insert packed with each STIHL chain loop has helpful information, but uses the 'side plate cutting angle' which is not the same as the 'side plate grinding angle' (grinder head tilt angle)! It is the resulting angle you get when you grind a chain at X degrees vise rotation with Y degrees of head tilt!

Oregon publishes a guide for all of their chains, and you can use it as a reference for similar sized chains (on-line version): OREGON Maintenance Manual

Philbert
 
Thanks Philbert for the Oregon Chart. One thing I didn't realize is that Oregon uses 55 degrees and 50 degrees on their chains. I had been using 60 degrees.

The USG chart is not that confusing if you follow "Lakeside53's" advice from above. (I sure miss Lakeside53 on this forum). If you substract the head tilt values in the USG chart from 90 degrees you get 50 and 60 degrees for most of the Stihl chains. For vise tilt the USG chart gives 0 degrees and 15 degrees which is also reasonable.
On my old Efco grinder I was only able to tilt to fixed positions of + or - 10 degrees with the vise. My new Maxx grinder, and the Stihl USG provide the tilt factor by sliding the vise and therefore the chain away from the tangent point on the grinding wheel and therefore allowing the curvature of the grinding wheel to replicate the tilt. The sliding range of the Maxx grinder is + and - 15 degrees whereas the Stihl USG grinder is + and - 40 degrees, both giving you the 15 degree range that you need.

In my opinion having tried alot of grinders, the Maxx grinder with an ABN wheel is an unbeatable combination.
 
In all the years and all of the Stihl dealerships I have worked for, I have never seen a Stihl grinder that I liked, my Efco/Oregon was my favorite.

The tilting vise is for full chisel, not the picco.

If memory serves me correctly, the 15% feature is a forward/backward slide to compensate for wheel wear on the USG.
 
In all the years and all of the Stihl dealerships I have worked for, I have never seen a Stihl grinder that I liked, my Efco/Oregon was my favorite.

The tilting vise is for full chisel, not the picco.

If memory serves me correctly, the 15% feature is a forward/backward slide to compensate for wheel wear on the USG.

Not according to the Stihl chart shown in Post #4.
 
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