What are the pros/cons of square grind chain?

[SilverKing]

Ive ran about every type you can think of,but never square grind.Apparently you sharpen with a flat file?Just wondering if the cutting speed is greatly noticed.Also is the cutting edge pretty durable in clean wood?Thanks

 

[Jimmy in NC]

Square is more efficient but less durable. Before selecting chain, you have to ask what are you cutting?

In clean green wood square is king. As wood becomes dirty or very hard and dry, it quickly looses it's advantage.

 

[Duramax05]

Square is great if your falling clean timber everyday. Smooth not as grabby and cuts faster but not easy to sharpen. For any other cutting I would avoid square grind.

 

[w8ye]

I have a square grinder and a good square ground chain goes through wood like it was butter. After you get used to square ground chain, it is not any harder to touch up in the woods by hand than round filed chain.

 

[SilverKing]

thanks guys.Most of my cutting is clean wood,but with alot of mineral in it.I was always a fan of Rapid Super until I got into this particular stand of trees.With the Rapid Micro I can run through about 6 tanks of gas between sharpenings,while with the Rapid Super maybe 4 tanks .This particular patch of woods has had horses and cattle grazing in it for years.They have ate the bark off all the white oak timber and pretty much killed the trees.Excellent beams and firewood tho.Something about the cattle being around the trees puts "mineral " into the stumps,and they are like cutting steel for about 2 feet up the trunk.So Ive just been cutting off high for now.But will need to go back and cut off at ground level someday

 

[Naked Arborist]

I have a square grinder and a good square ground chain goes through wood like it was butter. After you get used to square ground chain, it is not any harder to touch up in the woods by hand than round filed chain.

That's what I'm hoping for. Davelee made me up a chain but, I have yet to test it.

Don't cut trees with sand in the bark. Case in point: Black Oak growing next to a wind blown field. You can see the sparks at night when cutting it.

 

[bootboy]

Ive ran about every type you can think of,but never square grind.Apparently you sharpen with a flat file?Just wondering if the cutting speed is greatly noticed.Also is the cutting edge pretty durable in clean wood?Thanks

The files aren't regular flat files. They are double beveled so they have 6 sides.

I hand file square. It takes a steady hand and you have to develop an eye for the angles. It's a little more time consuming but worth the effort for me. I don't cut dirty wood though.

It is noticeably smoother and faster. You can lower the rakers as well because the chain cuts more efficiently.

 

[nmurph]

Most (all?) trees have mineral deposits. Some are worse than others. But sand in the bark is much worse on a chain.

 

[mdavlee]

I like square and if it's not skidded wood or milling that's all I use. I do have a grinder but will file about half the time. I've not noticed any difference in dulling between it and round chisel.

 

[056kid]

Iv run many a chain all day and part of the next before its time to swap out. They are just so much more efficient. Even when dull, if you have the right angles its still gonna cut..

 

[c5rulz]

Most (all?) trees have mineral deposits. Some are worse than others. But sand in the bark is much worse on a chain.

Yup, I agree.

Around here, there is nothing like cutting a shag bark hickory that next to a corn field most of it's life. Dirt is bad, sand is a @#*@

 

[watsonr]

I run square mostly. Easy to grind once your set-up, no harder than round and a whole lot faster in the wood. The two fastest saws at the Virginia GTG were running square chain! And I agree with the above... even dull they still cut.

 

[fuzz1500]

Don't cut trees with sand in the bark. Case in point: Black Oak growing next to a wind blown field. You can see the sparks at night when cutting it.

You cut at night ??

 

[Chris-PA]

I got a loop and some hand files just to try it out as I like sharpening things. It's interesting, and of course with 1 loop I don't have much experience yet. I'm no where near as fast sharpening it by hand. I've found that it cuts a little faster than round ground full chisel, but the files are a lot more expensive and I need good light. For me the slop in the bar is a bit too much so I made a clamp - I could do it on the bar but no where near as good. For my cutting semi is a much better fit. It's been fun to learn about but I won't bother with any more.

 

[SilverKing]

Most (all?) trees have mineral deposits. Some are worse than others. But sand in the bark is much worse on a chain.

normally wont find mineral in the timber here.WV is famous for its clear veneer red oaks.But let 30 cattle around a stand and its soon ruined.Depends on the ground alot too,ph level and all.

 

[Trx250r180]

Iv'e forgot what round cuts like

 

[cutforfun]

Iv'e forgot what round cuts like

It cuts just like a dull square ground chain

 

[056kid]

The amount of ripping and tearing that occurs with round chain is big compared to square.

 

[Trx250r180]

I notice bore cuts are pretty smooth with sharp square ,not the off the roll stuff so much

 

[Greenland South]

Being somewhat of a rookie, this may be a dumb question. Can a regular type chain grinder be used to profile a chain to square grind? I hope that makes sense.