Using a 7/32" (5.5 mm) round file for 13/64" (5.16 mm) chain?

Maplegeddon213

Maplegeddon213

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Stevens Point
Stihl 3/8" pitch chain recommends the 5.16 mm round files but I've always used the 5.5 mm for all the Oregon 3/8" chain I'm used to. I have a lot of 5.5mm files from a recent ebay purchase and was wondering how the 5.16 chain cuts after a 5.5 filing.
 
Muggs said:
I use 7/32" for my 3/8 chain until the teeth are halfway gone, then I switch over to 13/64". By the time the tooth is halfway gone, you've lost so much height that the 7/32" struggles to fit in there...
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oooooooh, that totally makes sense! thats why their chains start to suck towards the end! fucking noted buddy, thank you!
 
TreeCo said:
The changing of file size at the tooth wears back was suggested by Stihl.
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I wouldn't have thought that a manufacturer would suggest that kind of thing. I would think that they would wanna put a line on the teeth to tell you when to switch if that was the case. that lets them sell twice as many files too. is it in their manuals? I have never bought a stihl new.
 
Somewhere here before there was a geometry explanation of the forward recession of the cutting edge, the downward recession, the angle formed to the raker and the file-arc intersection angle all contributing to the angle of the cutting edge. Anyone recall? file holder is in the mix there too as it sets the height of the file circle profile - so raker height is also in the mix.. there were really good diagrams
 
Matias said:
I wouldn't have thought that a manufacturer would suggest that kind of thing. I would think that they would wanna put a line on the teeth to tell you when to switch if that was the case. that lets them sell twice as many files too. is it in their manuals? I have never bought a stihl new.
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This video shows the physics of reducing file size as a chain saw tooth reaches 50% and beyond of being used up.


I've got some Stihl literature around here somewhere that explains this with Stihl chain and I'll post it up if I find it.
 
I go by the '10% of the round file above the top- cutter while simultaneously cleaning the gullet' guideline, reducing file size by proportion to the cutter height.

I increase my raker offset, too.
 
I believe this photo is ten years old or more. Notice that a gullet is being left to be removed when it gets larger. I believe some drop the file low enough to take out the gullet and sharpen the tooth in one swipe. This could lead to having an altered radius on the face of the top plate and more 'beak'. Also a larger diameter file could clean the gullet and sharpen the top plate at the same time but again, a slightly altered radius on the top plate. Who cares? lol.

Stihl file height suggestion on tooth.jpeg
 
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These details are jogging my memory. I remember estimating the % file above the tooth by measuring my Stihl file holders with a vernier. This info is out there somewhere in that previous thread on sharpening. Of course there's only been one other thread on chain sharpening :) should be easy to find:)
 
Steve Connally said:
Ah but isn't there a new chain with a squared off cutting face.....official nomenclature unknown......
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Square filed chisel chain is sharpened with a file with six sides. Hexa is a fairly new Stihl saw chain that uses a unique file. Attached is a photo I've stolen off of the internet and I don't remember who's photo it is.

Square ground change great image.jpg
 
Y'all get that I was just making some funnies? :) square filed chain and tooth cutting action supposedly bobbing in and out of the wood surface like a dolphin (which I still have my doubts - evidence - noodling)

hexagonal file - neat!
 
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