F.L. Jennings
Bronze Member
With a round file - the right one for your chain - and basic skills you can do a good job of sharpening the teeth. As a former tool & die maker/machinist I've always done my chains by hand.
Remember to watch the height of those rakers too. They have to be lowered from time to time.
Too many chain grinders are bad about lessening chain life due to excess material removal. Make those cutting tools last as long as they should by custom hand filing, the best way IMHO. Each tooth can be damaged independently by rocks, etc. and so must be dealt with on an individual basis.
Remember "any shine you see on the cutting edge of a chain tooth, knife, etc. is light reflecting from a radiused surface - an edge that is really not a sharp edge yet." Just file until the shine is gone from both the horizontal and vertical edges of each tooth.
Remember to watch the height of those rakers too. They have to be lowered from time to time.
Too many chain grinders are bad about lessening chain life due to excess material removal. Make those cutting tools last as long as they should by custom hand filing, the best way IMHO. Each tooth can be damaged independently by rocks, etc. and so must be dealt with on an individual basis.
Remember "any shine you see on the cutting edge of a chain tooth, knife, etc. is light reflecting from a radiused surface - an edge that is really not a sharp edge yet." Just file until the shine is gone from both the horizontal and vertical edges of each tooth.
