Check this out unclemoustache:
Buckin' Billy Ray Smith does a video with some teeth short, almost to the line, and others almost full tooth. He set depth gauge on rakers and files.
The result is shown cutting a 1/4" thick cookie in a 24" dia. log. Tooth length doesn't matter... depth of rakers does.
I have sworn by the Stihl 2-1 gauge. Used the Grandberg gauge before that. Got okay results.
I saw the Buckin's video and he says something about three stroke guys, and that's me. It, the chain, begins to not pull itself. I stop and give it three or four strokes with the 2-1. Back at it, cutting and making firewood.
Well, Buckin's comment kind of rubbed me wrong. So I got a file out and removed the gullet like he shows. And I lifted up on the file to cut the top plate.
Razor sharp, but only lasted ten cuts. Back to the vise. I got a larger file to reduce the cutting angle top to bottom on the top plate. I watched some other videos.
And there is something to this.
I started by taking chains in to get sharpened the first month or so, before getting a grand berg jig. I wore one out, and could not find a descent replacement. The knobs were all too small, and it was different every time it was mounted. the Stihl 2-1 was a huge improvement, and it is quick. But...
I've been hand sharpening this week. Lots of it, due to wet dirt that doesn't brush off well even with a wire brush.
The hand sharpening is by far a five step improvement over a jig. It's a wow! moment.
It takes longer, but not much. And my edge is lasting much longer than when I started, about a pallet worth which is a 1/4 to 1/3 cord.
Tooth length doesn't matter. What takes longer hand sharpening is doing the rakers, or depth gauges, where the 2-1 does it when filing the top and side plate. And a little more time per tooth doing the gullet.
After forty years of jigs, I'm done with them, and learning to file has been fun.
I probably could have cut more wood using the jig this week, but next week, and the weeks after may prove different. It's certainly a grin to get it right in a 10" round.
I'm in small hardwood and running full house, on a 357p and 562xp. Bench vise mounted on rear rack of quad. Have yet to try a skip tooth.