Ok, what do I need to make my saw cut better?

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Congratulations?

Sorry I had the flu and misplaced mh manners. I think my point was you might want to invest more then the cost of a sharpening in a chain that should last you a few years with your light usage.
 
Ok, put the BPX on with the 16" bar, and...
No difference. I had sharpened the old chain again, and it cut pretty quickly. Both took about 18 seconds to cut through 15" elm round. If anything, the 20" bar was a bit quicker. Really though, pretty close. Nice fat chips from both chains. I bogged once or twice with the large bar, but nothing significant. I'm going to pick up some wood tomorrow. I may or may not try out the lpx tomorrow, but will compare bpx v. lpx when I c/s/s next week.
 
Ok, put the BPX on with the 16" bar, and...
No difference. I had sharpened the old chain again, and it cut pretty quickly. Both took about 18 seconds to cut through 15" elm round. If anything, the 20" bar was a bit quicker. Really though, pretty close. Nice fat chips from both chains. I bogged once or twice with the large bar, but nothing significant. I'm going to pick up some wood tomorrow. I may or may not try out the lpx tomorrow, but will compare bpx v. lpx when I c/s/s next week.


[Hearth.com] Ok, what do I need to make my saw cut better?
 
I've got 4 decades in, and have only hand filed - no guides, no other tools, and most of the time no handle on the file either.

I've been hand filing too. Not quite 4 decades, but close. I tried a file guide about 35 years ago but the bare file worked better for me. I've cut with people who use grinders and for the first 1/2 hour their chain seems about as sharp as mine. But mine stays sharp a lot longer. Not sure why but it's hard to beat a pair of leather gloves and a round file.