16
Correct Filing Technique
Filing Problems
Top plate angle
less than
recommended
Backslope on
side plate
cutting edge
Top plate angle
more than
recommended
Hook in side
plate cutting
edge
Cause
File held at less than
recommended angle.
Result
Slow cutting. Requires
extra effort to cut.
Remedy
File cutters to
recommended angle.
Cause
File held too low or the file
was too small.
Result
Rough cutting. Chain grabs.
Cutters dull quickly or won’t
hold a cutting edge.
Remedy
Check file size. File cutters to
recommended angle.
Cause
File held too high or the file
was too large.
Result
Cutters won’t feed into wood.
Slow cutting. Must force
chain to cut. Causes
excessive bottom wear.
Remedy
File cutters at recommended
angle. Check file size.
Cause
File held at more than
recommended angle.
Result
Cutting angle is very sharp
but will dull fast. Cutting
action rough and erratic.
Remedy
File cutters to
recommended angle.
Your saw’s performance on the job
depends heavily on the condition of its saw
chain.
How the Saw Chain Works
As the saw chain is pulled through the
wood:
1. The depth gauge setting determines the
depth of cut for each cutter.
2. The cutter’s leading edge enters the
wood, causing the entire cutter to “rock
back” and lift away from the bar.
Saw Chain Performance
NOTE:
For consistent filing angles, use a filing
guide.
Use a Filing Gauge
Using a Depth Gauge Joiner
Using a Flat File to Round the Front
Corner on a Depth Gauge
Low depth
gauge
High depth
gauge
Cause
Wrong gauge setting or no
gauge used.
Result
Rough cutting. Chain grabs.
Saw won’t pull chain through
wood. Excessive wear on the
cutter heel.
Remedy
If depth gauges are too
low, the chain is no longer
serviceable.
Cause
Depth gauge never filed.
Result
Slow cutting. Must force
chain to cut. Will cause
excessive wear on the cutter
heel.
Remedy
Lower gauges to
ecommended setting.
IMPORTANT!
Most of the actual cutting is done by
the sides and corners of the individual
cutters!
0.64 mm
20
0
50
0
3. The top plate peels the severed wood
chip away.
4. The chip is discharged out the rear of
the cutter.
Sharpening Technique
1. Using the appropriate round file,
sharpen all cutters to a 30° angle as
shown.
IMPORTANT!
File all cutters to the same angle and
depth! Unequal filing may cause the saw
to vibrate or cut erratically!
2. After all cutters are sharpened, use
a depth gauge joiner to measure the
height of each depth gauge.
3. As required, use a flat file to lower
depth gauges to the appropriate
0.64 mm height.
4. After all depth gauges have been
adjusted, use a flat file to round each
depth gauge leading edge to original
curvature and angle.
