Silvey Square Grinder question

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James Sawyer

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Ok not the best at hand filing square chain, bought a loop and tried it years ago. I like the chain it is faster but just too much time hand filing and never got it to cut as good. I normally run FC chisel chain and I typically buy Stihl chain and I grind them. However, the shop I normally do business with has been out of .063 FC chisel chain of any kind and talked me into buying some sq. chain again. I reached out to a guy who has a Silvey for sale and I'm making arrangement to purchase it, it appears to be a Razur II which has been out of production for years. Does anyone know if I can still get wheels and dresser for this grinder. I know the Razur II was not the preferred model over the swing arm because of adjustability getting both sides to run as well is the rumour I remember... but I really don't know much about these grinders. I haven't seen this grinder yet and I’m hoping the slide is still good. Looking for advice what to look for and if it worth buying due to parts availability.
 
Call Mason's and spoke to Mike this morning, some parts are still available for the Silvey's. Wheels and single point dresser and the slide boots... but being this was an Silvey's enter level grinder sold for around $500-600. It depends on how good shape it's in... if its worth it,. The motor bearings, if the slide lifts during operation, in short how solid the slide operation is. These grinders are in gritty environment so there is wear. If I need a motor well it's probably not going to be worth dealing with the other issues. I'd just have see how good shape it in, Mason does work on these and often just cleaning them up is good enough. Ending the conversation, I asked Mike about cost of new grinder, and he had some positives about the Simington S451-C which is improved over the older one but there $1399. Mason answered all my questions not leaning one way or the other...my takeaway is how bad I want to move into square ground chain knowing it's a 2-part operation with the gullet clean up and then sharping. We all know once the chain is halfway used up the performance suffers because thee shorter cutters.
 
We all know once the chain is halfway used up the performance suffers because thee shorter cutters.
Don’t believe that to be true. If anything it’s faster because it cuts a narrower kerf.

That grinder in good clean condition is probably worth $1500.

@srcarr52 makes most of the high wear items and they’re better than what it originally came with
 
Hand filing square chain, takes a fair bit more practice, than round chain , once you understand what is correct in angles and such , it becomes repetitive motions, but like I said you just don’t jump into it and become proficient,
Ok not the best at hand filing square chain, bought a loop and tried it years ago. I like the chain it is faster but just too much time hand filing and never got it to cut as good. I normally run FC chisel chain and I typically buy Stihl chain and I grind them. However, the shop I normally do business with has been out of .063 FC chisel chain of any kind and talked me into buying some sq. chain again. I reached out to a guy who has a Silvey for sale and I'm making arrangement to purchase it, it appears to be a Razur II which has been out of production for years. Does anyone know if I can still get wheels and dresser for this grinder. I know the Razur II was not the preferred model over the swing arm because of adjustability getting both sides to run as well is the rumour I remember... but I really don't know much about these grinders. I haven't seen this grinder yet and I’m hoping the slide is still good. Looking for advice what to look for and if it worth buying due to parts availability.
 
After talking to Mark at Mason's I did do some more research and found Lucky Dog super 8 slide upgrade because I wanted to know what I'd have into it if it had issues. In addition, I found Silvey's parts list and assembly drawings for that Razor 2... there are options to keep it functional.

Unfortunately, my wife had a medical appointment I needed to go to yesterday and I could get up there until today and the sell sold the grinder last night. Someone got a good deal because the slide and transfer mechanism were good. I talked the seller yesterday after he sold the grinder.

I have several sq chains now so guess I'll try my hand at filing. $1400 for Simington S451-C is bit much for my needs... not sure it worth the expensive. I have to says in last few days I learned a lot about sq grind. I have Oregon 620-120 grinder so at this time I'm not sure it worth the extra expensive to go sq. ?

With .063-gauge chain at the shop I frequent and the supply shortages my option where limited, so I bought the sq chain on a whim. A week later after my purchase this used grinder came up got me thinking. I did buy a loop of Sq chain to try years ago on my MS460... I like the chain which didn't help. I was in the shop buying a saw and some parts talking with top saw guy there and I need some chain ... Well, I guess I visit this again after I see how it run because I bought two loops each for my MS361, XP372, and MS661... differently will get the chance to see if it worth it now.

 
After talking to Mark at Mason's I did do some more research and found Lucky Dog super 8 slide upgrade because I wanted to know what I'd have into it if it had issues. In addition, I found Silvey's parts list and assembly drawings for that Razor 2... there are options to keep it functional.

Unfortunately, my wife had a medical appointment I needed to go to yesterday and I could get up there until today and the sell sold the grinder last night. Someone got a good deal because the slide and transfer mechanism were good. I talked the seller yesterday after he sold the grinder.

I have several sq chains now so guess I'll try my hand at filing. $1400 for Simington S451-C is bit much for my needs... not sure it worth the expensive. I have to says in last few days I learned a lot about sq grind. I have Oregon 620-120 grinder so at this time I'm not sure it worth the extra expensive to go sq. ?

With .063-gauge chain at the shop I frequent and the supply shortages my option where limited, so I bought the sq chain on a whim. A week later after my purchase this used grinder came up got me thinking. I did buy a loop of Sq chain to try years ago on my MS460... I like the chain which didn't help. I was in the shop buying a saw and some parts talking with top saw guy there and I need some chain ... Well, I guess I visit this again after I see how it run because I bought two loops each for my MS361, XP372, and MS661... differently will get the chance to see if it worth it now.

If ur not like a production faller , or need square ground every day , then the cost out ways it , unless you don’t mind spending the money, once you get it , square filing can be very rewarding, using different angles and variations to the particular wood , weather hard , soft wood 👍, practice and patience go hand in hand,
 

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