I hand file all my chains and grind the guides down . . . When is it time for a new chain? Like a real one, a stihl not some box store soft saftey one. My little green poulan runs box store chains and has seen a lot of file and tree work and currently chips better than the stihl yellow one.
From the one photo, it looks like that chain has well over half its useful life left. People routinely toss perfectly good chains when dull. But aside from being dirty, I don't see anything with this one that can't easily be fixed with basic sharpening, assuming all of the cutters are like this one.
- The top plate cutting edge is blunt / full. This needs to be sharp. You should not see any light reflected off this edge.
- Can't see the side plate cutting edge, but this also needs to be sharp, especially the upper part.
- The corner, where these 2 edges meet should be pointy (full chisel chain) or at least sharp (semi chisel chain). This will be a 'natural' result of filing the edges above. That one is blunt, like driving a rounded nail into wood.
- Looks like you are going deep into the gullet (I see nicks in the tie straps).
The gullet does not cut. It carries chips. It should be clean, but don't obsess over it.
- After adjusting your depth gauges, it is good practice to round them over, to roughly match the factory profile, and avoid any hang ups at a sharp edge.
But lean against the spikes and it chips and cuts.
If you are doing this you are overloading your saw. A sharp chain will cut almost effortlessly (in most wood).
That chain could easily be saved with just a few minutes of filing, saving
you $15 to $25 per loop replacement cost. I am assuming that you are free-hand filing, and might benefit from using a basic file guide, to correctly position the file, especially for the top edge. Always use a sharp file (typically $1.50 each if you buy by the dozen).
Some box stores sell Oregon chain, which is good chain. The 'green' and 'yellow' designations have to do with being reduced kickback or not. I assume that the green / 'safety' chain on your Poulan cuts better because it is sharp, regardless of the brand. Compare the cutters on your chains with a new one when filing, especially the areas mentioned above. Then figure out how to get there: free-hand file, file guide, grinder, etc.
Philbert
