Thread: How do I get that "self feeding" back into my chain?

Quote: Originally Posted by VINIFIREWOOD Just rying to cover all the bases here, is your chain adjusted properly, are you sharpening by hand/file if so are you getting the leading edge sharp? when GENTLY dragging your finger across the tooth it should grab the skin and the point should want to dig in, remember I said gently. If you have a new chain, never been on a saw, check it out, thats what you are looking for or better. I see alot of...

Quote: Originally Posted by grandpatractor I do that also, but I jam a scrench in along side the bar to wedge it in the stump and hold it still and elevated a bit. Good Idea!

Quote: Originally Posted by kielbasa thanks for the positive attitude! I'll keep filing and practicing! I do use new files quite often (Pferd I think they are) - they're quite cheap for a pack of 6. I went and looked at new Stihl chains while in the hardware store this evening - the factory profile has definitely more of a "hook" - I need to work on that. There ya go! Just don't do the opposite. You can also...

Quote: Originally Posted by Mac_Muz In the woods where there is no vice i cut a slot in a stump/log and use that as a vise. This us harder as you need to lift the saw to move the chain. I do that also, but I jam a scrench in along side the bar to wedge it in the stump and hold it still and elevated a bit.

Get a new bar ,and chain , when it stops cutting which won,t be long ... File one tooth really perfact and count your strokes with the file......................... Do every tooth like that first out ,,,,,,,,

Quote: Originally Posted by tomtrees58 after 4 or 5 times we used a file we put it in the trash also don't drag the file back tom trees I was thinking that too. How old is your file? Are you really hitting the lead edge of the top plate? I'm by no means an expert but I have noticed much better results with a new file. If you have a magnifying glass - compare your filed chain to new out of box. Post us some pics. -br

If you have taken 20 strokes off they should allready be past 50 thou. I'd get a new file.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mac_Muz This is gonna be stupid, but what is "on side " filing mean? Some of us are better at filing right hand cutters, some are better at left hand cutters. I used the term 'on-side' to refer to the side that we are better at (whether right or left), and 'off-side' as the other side. Kind of like trying to brush your teeth with the other hand. Philbert

Get a Stihl stump vise, weld two pencil size legs on either side and sharpen, so you can drive it into sod on the job site. Clamp nose end of bar into said vise to minimize nose end deflection. Take out your Stilh file guide which keeps the correct height/position of the file, and shows you correct angle to follow, and make even pressure/angle strokes of same number on every cutter of the chain. File should drag and feel gritty, if not...

I machine grind when real dull but then hand file after the machine grind to get the teeth how I like em. I have mine cutting pretty close to what it cut like new. put a new chain on and time a cut then put your hand filed chain on and time a cut in the same log and see just how far apart they are.