Saw Chain Performance
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.
3.The top plate peels the severed wood chip away.
4.The chip is discharged out the rear of the cutter.
IMPORTANT!
Most of the actual cutting is done by the
sides and corners of the individual cutters!
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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Sharpening Technique
IMPORTANT!
File all cutters to the same angle and depth! Unequal filing may cause the saw to vibrate or cut erratically!
NOTE:
For consistent filing angles, use a filing guide.
1.Using the appropriate round file, sharpen all cutters to a 25° angle as shown.
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 .025” (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.
Using a filing gauge
25°
Using a depth gauge joiner
Using a flat file to round the front corner on a depth gauge
Correct Filing Technique
Correct angle
on top plate
Slightly protruding hook or point
(curve on
Top of depth gauge at correct
height below top plate
| Front of depth |
gauge rounded | |
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A
Keep all cutter lengths equal!
| 0.025” (0.64 mm) | 0.025" | |
A=B | B | ||
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Filing Problems
Top plate | Cause | Top plate angle | Cause | Hook in side | Cause | ||||||||||||
angle less than | File held at less than recom- | more than | File held at more than recom- | plate cutting | File held too low or the file | ||||||||||||
recommended | mended angle. | recommended | mended angle. | edge | was too small. | ||||||||||||
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| Result |
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| Result |
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| Slow cutting. Requires extra |
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| Cutting angle is very sharp but |
| Rough cutting. Chain grabs. | |
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| effort to cut. | 50° |
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| will dull fast. Cutting action |
| Cutters dull quickly or won’t |
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| 20° |
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| rough and erratic. |
| hold a cutting edge. | ||||
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| File cutters to recommended |
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| Remedy |
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| angle. |
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| File cutters to recommended |
| Check file size. File cutters to |
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| angle. |
| recommended angle. |
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Backslope on | Cause | High depth | Cause | Low depth | Cause | ||||||||||||
side plate cut- | File held too high or the file | gauge | Depth gauge never filed. | gauge | Wrong gauge setting or no | ||||||||||||
ting edge | was too large. |
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| Result |
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| Result |
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| Slow cutting. Must force chain |
| Result |
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| Cutters won’t feed into wood. |
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| to cut. Will cause excessive |
| Rough cutting. Chain grabs. |
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| Slow cutting. Must force chain |
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| wear on the cutter heel. |
| Saw won’t pull chain through |
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| to cut. Causes excessive bot- |
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| wood. Excessive wear on the |
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| tom wear. |
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| cutter heel. | ||
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| Lower gauges to recommend- | |||
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| ed setting. |
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| File cutters at recommended |
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| If depth gauges are too |
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| angle. Check file size. |
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| low, the chain is no longer |
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| serviceable. |
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