Chain Sharpening angles. What they are, how to check them

Just what the world needs, another chain sharpening video. Explaining the 3 angles we are trying to sharpen and how to check them with a Stihl depth gauge tool.

[@ChainsawUsers]

Your getting addicted to chainsaw videos lol

[@SawChainTheories]

I got bored while off work with bronchitis and somehow decided this might be fun. Its been entertaining I think I'm done for a week or 2 until I can get some video of running the saw to show how some of this stuff works. It's going to be easier to explain when I can show the end result On the other hand, I have a big tub full of all the different sharpening things I have bought, been given or found over the years. I'm tempted to tip it all out on the bench and make a video on what works and what's shit to help others avoid buying them

[@elpolaco7654]

This could be another chain sharpening video but it's better than ninety-something of the others. Here where I am 'cheap' means twice as cheap as 10 AUD. 😎 This may be surprising, but I'm almost certain I've read a paper stating that the top plate dulls faster than the side plate, however. I'll try to find it, although of course it could also be nonsense. As for the side plate angle when sharpening with a file without tilting, it will indeed be close to the top plate cutting angle for full chisel. On the other hand, for all others sharpened with a round file, which we simplistically refer to as semi chisels, it will be greater, due to the more "complicated" transition between the plates. Stihl has 3 types of this gauge: for 1/4 Picco, for 1/4, 3/8 LP, .325, 3/8, for .404.

[@SawChainTheories]

I didn't even think about the different side plate angles until I was doing the other video with the semi chisel chains and had that sudden realisation that I stuffed up. You are correct, the different shape lowers the corners position so the same file height makes a different side plate angle on a semi

[@SawChainTheories]

Actually this makes me wonder about something else. How is Husqvarna giving us 30/60/60 angles for thier semi chisels chains? I bought one of their roller guides that is meant to suit both C83/85 and S83/85. I'll have to check if it's holding the file on an angle with the file handle raised slightly to achieve this or does it change the semi's side plate angle

[@elpolaco7654]

@@SawChainTheories I think manufacturers give the angles that should be achieved with the sharpening method they recommend for users. That is, they are not necessarily the angles with which the cutters came out of the factory. I don't know why Husqvarna gives such angles for a semi chisel. You can probably check what they actually are after sharpening according to their recommendations (no down angle). But I wouldn't be surprised if these values were taken from thin air. That's why I was surprised by the changes in the angles given for Carlton chains in different manuals for the same chains and the same sharpening methods. Anyway, as we noted in the current Carlton catalog there are nonsense values given for side plate angles, e.g. for .325 full chisel.

[@SawChainTheories]

@@elpolaco7654 I'll check later on with the roller guide for my own curiosity. I don't like their suggested angles but I'll at least give it a try. There is a good chance that I don't know what I'm doing and they have figured out something better

[@SawChainTheories]

I bought the guide the other day and it says it suits C83/85 and S83/85. Short version, no it doesn't. It does a horrific job on S85. Top plate and side plate angles get changed to 75 degrees from the original 60. It's ok on the C85. I also have some S35G and the guide for that and it's not good either. I suspect it will work as the chain is filed back but definitely not when nee