No touch-ups on the rakers?!

[NH_Wood]

Hey everyone,

I've been getting my chains sharpened at a local shop (where I bought my Dolmar). With newer chains, I found they did a nice job on the sharpening. But, as the chains aged, perhaps after 4 or 5 sharpenings, I would get the chains back and it would seems as though they were as dull as the day I brought them in. In fact, I asked the shop guy if he might have forgot to do the sharpening. Nope, he sharpened the teeth. BUT, it turns out that they DO NOT touch up the rakers! So, my thought is that the rakers are now so high relative to the teeth that the chain isn't grabbing into the log, making it seem as though the chain is dull. So....I've never sharpened my own chains (I've tried, but they don't seem to turn out very well), but I need to start touching up the rakers. How do I do this? Is there a maximum number of strokes per raker? Any special technique or file type? I was going to use my flat bastard file for the job - any problem there? Thanks! Cheers!

 

[smokinj]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

 

[JustWood]

A good way to gauge is to lay your flat file across the top of the teeth. The raker should be about 1/32"or so below opposing teeth.

 

[oldspark]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

Nothing like a good old flat bastard to cure the problem.

 

[NH_Wood]

Thanks guys - any idea how many strokes to try? Would 3 or 4 passes be a good start? I've heard that if you take off too much, the saw will pull into the log really strong. What type of gauge were you referring to for the raker depth? Cheers!

 

[smokinj]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

Nothing like a good old flat bastard to cure the problem.

lol, I just done one Tuesday checking out all my new files....Cut that raker down in a stroke.

 

[smokinj]

Thanks guys - any idea how many strokes to try? Would 3 or 4 passes be a good start? I've heard that if you take off too much, the saw will pull into the log really strong. What type of gauge were you referring to for the raker depth? Cheers!

With that file check every stoke and just dial it in.

 

[wendell]

I would call Bailey's and get the right Carlton File-O-Plate for your chain. I'm sure you are running .325. It is the best tool for keeping your rakers the right height. For learning how to file yourself, you can use the FOP, but I like the Husqvarna roller guide the best.

 

[HittinSteel]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

Nothing like a good old flat bastard to cure the problem.

lol, I just done one Tuesday checking out all my new files....Cut that raker down in a stroke.

What brand are these files? I use a standard bastard and sometimes it takes way to many strokes to remove material.

 

[HittinSteel]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

+1 Never take your chains there again, unless he is charging half price, because he's only doing half the work involved in sharpening a chain. What a bafoon.

 

[brages]

A true "raker file" is smooth and rounded on the edges so you won't inadvertently file the edge off of your teeth.

 

[NH_Wood]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

+1 Never take your chains there again, unless he is charging half price, because he's only doing half the work involved in sharpening a chain. What a bafoon.

Yes - I agree. It's a really good shop otherwise - always a good job with repairs, prompt, etc. But, I did find this a strange thing. I'm heading into the shop in an hour or so to have the saw looked at (it's racing sometimes, and nearly dying other times - something's up). I'm going to talk about the raker issue and see if he'll start doing the rakers. Otherwise, I'll have to figure out another place to bring the chains (or finally figure out how to do a decent job myself!). Cheers!

 

[TreePointer]

Watch this video: Chapter 3: Sharpening Your Saw Chain

Eventually it will show you how to file your rakers. You don't necessarily need to use Stihl's depth gauge tool, and you may prefer something like a File-O-Plate for your chains. Heck, after watching the video, you may even want to sharpen your own chains.

 

[smokinj]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

+1 Never take your chains there again, unless he is charging half price, because he's only doing half the work involved in sharpening a chain. What a bafoon.

Yes - I agree. It's a really good shop otherwise - always a good job with repairs, prompt, etc. But, I did find this a strange thing. I'm heading into the shop in an hour or so to have the saw looked at (it's racing sometimes, and nearly dying other times - something up). I'm going to talk about the raker issue and see if he'll start doing the rakers. Otherwise, I'll have to figure out another place to bring the chains (or finally figure out how to do a decent job myself!). Cheers!

Rakers should never be a question.....Put a gauge on it and BAM! I like using the raker file and putting a nice backward slope on it...Now when I do this with customer chain (mostly home owner saw's) even they can tell something is a little better coming out of my shop.

 

[NH_Wood]

Watch this video: Chapter 3: Sharpening Your Saw Chain

Eventually it will show you how to file your rakers. You don't necessarily need to use Stihl's depth gauge tool, and you may prefer something like a File-O-Plate for your chains. Heck, after watching the video, you may even want to sharpen your own chains.

Thanks TreePointer - I'll give it a view now! Cheers!

 

[NH_Wood]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

+1 Never take your chains there again, unless he is charging half price, because he's only doing half the work involved in sharpening a chain. What a bafoon.

Yes - I agree. It's a really good shop otherwise - always a good job with repairs, prompt, etc. But, I did find this a strange thing. I'm heading into the shop in an hour or so to have the saw looked at (it's racing sometimes, and nearly dying other times - something up). I'm going to talk about the raker issue and see if he'll start doing the rakers. Otherwise, I'll have to figure out another place to bring the chains (or finally figure out how to do a decent job myself!). Cheers!

Rakers should never be a question.....Put a gauge on it and BAM! I like using the raker file and putting a nice backward slope on it...Now when I do this with customer chain (mostly home owner saw's) even they can tell something is a little better coming out of my shop.

Okay, Smokin, I'll mail you my chains tomorrow! :cheese: Cheers!

 

[smokinj]

Never take them there Again!.................................I have use flat bastard file be carfule not to take to much off it happens quickly. Use a gague as well.

+1 Never take your chains there again, unless he is charging half price, because he's only doing half the work involved in sharpening a chain. What a bafoon.

Yes - I agree. It's a really good shop otherwise - always a good job with repairs, prompt, etc. But, I did find this a strange thing. I'm heading into the shop in an hour or so to have the saw looked at (it's racing sometimes, and nearly dying other times - something up). I'm going to talk about the raker issue and see if he'll start doing the rakers. Otherwise, I'll have to figure out another place to bring the chains (or finally figure out how to do a decent job myself!). Cheers!

Rakers should never be a question.....Put a gauge on it and BAM! I like using the raker file and putting a nice backward slope on it...Now when I do this with customer chain (mostly home owner saw's) even they can tell something is a little better coming out of my shop.

Okay, Smokin, I'll mail you my chains tomorrow! :cheese: Cheers!

Pm me I will do them for FREE! Love showing people what a good chain is all about.

 

[Jags]

Pm me I will do them for FREE! Love showing people what a good chain is all about.

Hey Jay - I got a few chains...

(I wonder how much the shipping would be on 20 pounds of loops. heheh.)

 

[smokinj]

Pm me I will do them for FREE! Love showing people what a good chain is all about.

Hey Jay - I got a few chains...

(I wonder how much the shipping would be on 20 pounds of loops. heheh.)

You got 20 lb's I will do them!

 

[Jags]

Pm me I will do them for FREE! Love showing people what a good chain is all about.

Hey Jay - I got a few chains...

(I wonder how much the shipping would be on 20 pounds of loops. heheh.)

You got 20 lb's I will do them!

I have no doubt that you would, buddy. If I didn't have one of those little spinny gizmos that sharpen chains I might take ya up on it. :cheese:

 

[smokinj]

Pm me I will do them for FREE! Love showing people what a good chain is all about.

Hey Jay - I got a few chains...

(I wonder how much the shipping would be on 20 pounds of loops. heheh.)

You got 20 lb's I will do them!

I have no doubt that you would, buddy. If I didn't have one of those little spinny gizmos that sharpen chains I might take ya up on it. :cheese:

Anytime....