I have been hand filing with a guide and the bar clamped in a vise for over 40 years. I bought a chain grinder a couple years ago but don't use it much because it is too easy to burn the tooth and then a file will never work on that tooth again.
As for counting strokes; I've never done it. I file until the tooth is sharp.
As for marking your starting tooth; I've never done that either. You have to be able to tell a sharp tooth from a dull one by looking at them. If you can't tell them apart how do you know if it's sharp?
As SlowP mentioned, the top of the file should be higher than the tooth when you are filing. I try for 10% of the file above the tooth.
Come on; use a caliper to measure your tooth length? You must be kidding me. If you've got them sharp a few thousandths difference isn't going to matter.
I don't want to sound like a know-it-all but the 50 cords I have cut,split and stacked for my personal use and what little I sell is testamont that it works for me.
Shari: like they say "It's not rocket science". I'd like to come to Milw. and give you lessons but if you've watched the videos you know what has to be done.
Good luck.
As for counting strokes; I've never done it. I file until the tooth is sharp.
As for marking your starting tooth; I've never done that either. You have to be able to tell a sharp tooth from a dull one by looking at them. If you can't tell them apart how do you know if it's sharp?
As SlowP mentioned, the top of the file should be higher than the tooth when you are filing. I try for 10% of the file above the tooth.
Come on; use a caliper to measure your tooth length? You must be kidding me. If you've got them sharp a few thousandths difference isn't going to matter.
I don't want to sound like a know-it-all but the 50 cords I have cut,split and stacked for my personal use and what little I sell is testamont that it works for me.
Shari: like they say "It's not rocket science". I'd like to come to Milw. and give you lessons but if you've watched the videos you know what has to be done.
Good luck.