Tree Sling'r
Addicted to ArboristSite
Many shops have no clue about sharpening.
That's the problem, you have to grind to restore them, it's almost impossible to restore them with a file, and if you're out in the field you're SOL. Most here know how easy over heating a tooth on a grinder is. I'm simply not a fan of grinders, they need coolant IMHO.
I switched all my chain over 50cc to 3/8 and I'm using the chunky Stihl file thingy that does both the raker and cutter at once, works real well so far and it is very quick and easy. Much quicker than using a filing guide for the cutter and then another with a flat file for the raker. Had horrible results with a grinder years ago and never tried again, though that may be more to do with ignorance than a bad machine, I've never managed to blue steel with a file, yet...
I find Kool Grind to be next to worthless. You would think that a finer stone would be easier to use than a coarser one, but I've found the opposite to be true. The coarser stones on my Stihl grinder are far cooler to run than the pink Oregon wheels on my Oregon grinder. I honestly don't know why people have trouble grinding chain. You figure out pretty quick how big of a bite you can take and a rocked chain may take 4 or 5 laps around to get it done up right. Hell, my 13 y.o. doesn't blue a tooth with a grinder.
Is hand filing better? Sure it is if you know what you are doing. However, I'm not doing 20 homeowner chains a day at my shop by file. They are totally happy with a decently machine sharpened chain with the rakers trimmed properly.
To the OP
Since no one asked, I will.
Did they grind both sets of cutters including rakers on the chain(s)? Without seeing the chains, if you can post a pic, it almost sounds like they set up to do one set of cutters ground both chains, and then forgot to rotate the table and do the second set.
Other thought, when they rotated the table they may have missed the mirror image top plate angle, ie. one ground at 30 and the other at 20 or something like that.
I would take them back to the shop, explain what's happening, and politely ask them to take a look. Chains ain't cheap anymore and it makes sense to maximize the life.
Take Care
...Do any of you guys sharpen by file exclusively? It's all we have done for years...Some guy at work told me I should have them ground every third hand sharpen so I thought I'd give it a try...
The teeth are likely over heated as well, which means they're likely done.
I believe their is a product called Kool-Grind, and If I had to guess it's a soap like product, which is fine and should work well.
IMO, grinders are only for rocked chains.
That's the problem, you have to grind to restore them, it's almost impossible to restore them with a file, and if you're out in the field you're SOL. Most here know how easy over heating a tooth on a grinder is. I'm simply not a fan of grinders, they need coolant IMHO.
The design of the ABN Cyclone Grinding Wheels available from Bailey's for $269 is to keep the chain from overheating. They work.
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