How to quickly file your saws rakers

[@andrewwilliams1827]

This is the best video on this topic, exactly how I’ve been doing it for 25 years, great stuff.

[@cherokeebilly69_jeepnwv11]

Thanks for sharing your info. Just a firewood cutter here in Elkview WV, and sometimes tree faller. Lol. Keep up the great videos and stay safe.

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to make a clarification about this video. I recommend two swipes with a good file. That will normally be about right. In the video I talk about three swipes on a new chain. That has always worked well for me, but as a general recommendation, just take two and see how it cuts. You can always take another swipe later if you want it to cut more aggressive. You can't put the metal back if you over file the rakers and it is not fun trying to take out face cuts and back cuts with an overly aggressive chain.

[@RuneThygesen]

Great content! Thanks

[@georgecowboydearing6526]

What saw is that? I have the home depot "Tember wolf CS-590 has the 20" bar, wondering if I could run a 28" on that? As I'm a 6'5" tall guy, all the bending down kills my back, im disabled with a bad spine but, family still needs to stay warm up here in Modoc County, Northern California 😁, I do what I have to with the tools I have available.. I have a Husqvarna 181SE with a 30" bar, just a pain for me to start it but, will be getting it up to date and working better this winter lol.. thank you for sharing this, ill be putting this into practice as I go..

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

I believe that is the Husqvarna 572 in that video. I am not familiar with the saw you are talking about. I suppose the way to find out is to put a 28 inch bar on and see if it will cut to your satisfaction. The 572 will pull a 32 inch bar or even a 36 inch bar pretty well. That may be something to consider for a tall guy like yourself.

[@randallrun]

I’ve got the same saw (great saw) and the owners manual says what the max is, which I cannot remember at the moment. I wanted to put a longer bar on as well, (got a 20”) but didn’t in the end. It might be 20” is the max. Wish I had the manual in front of me!

[@Santaheckler]

The 590 comes with a 24” bar option, which I have. It works just fine so I’m guessing you could do the 28”. I’ve seen a guy on YT that had a 36” on it (I think it was the 590, but could have been the 640)…it ain’t gonna be cheap to put a 28” on it though…

[@tlpoutdoorsman]

Curious, for a timber feller, why the full comp chain

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Because it bores and cuts more smoothly then full skip. The only real down side is more grinding...but I feel it is well worth it.

[@tlpoutdoorsman]

@@norcaltimberfaller1943 aaaaaaalot slower

[@jasondavis2810]

So there’s a different style of taker can you adress how to file the different styles

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Hi Jason. I only use full comp 3/8 .063 gauge. So I can't really say to much about the other styles. I can suggest a raker gauge for more accuracy. This video was just about quickly filing rakers on the job site.

[@ryanlindsay5010]

Yep do it all the time here in siskiyou. Be ready to go through gloves to. Get some white ox and the finger won't wear as fast.

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Thanks for the comment. Good tip on the white ox gloves.

[@andrewwilliams1827]

I take them off, never had a bleeding in 25 years doing it like this.

[@richardfuerst5286]

Question, what do the rakers rake?

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

The rakers just set the depth that the tooth cuts into the wood. The lower the rakers are the more wood the tooth cuts.

[@richardfuerst5286]

@@norcaltimberfaller1943 so they are actually depth gages and don't rake anything.

[@marianatequiero28]

Nice stump

[@ricardonuno8179]

I usually do it with a machine but nice Technique :)

[@nobodythatyouknow241]

Use a raker gauge if you want to do it right. Guessing is just that.

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

True...a raker gauge is the best way...that being said...the method in the video can be helpful in when out in the field and a guy just needs to quickly get a chain cutting more aggressively. The chain can always be touched up later with a raker guage if needed.

[@victoriousvictor7978]

Just use a raker Guage?

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Sure, a racker gage is the best way. This was just showing people an alternative way, if there is not a raker gage available. I actually use the method I demonstrated all the time. It seems to be fairly accurate and keeps the chains cutting pretty good.

[@victoriousvictor7978]

@@norcaltimberfaller1943 I hear yea. I clip a raker Guage to my falling belt with a fishing clip/swivel. Always there with me.

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

That is a great idea. Good tip! Thanks

[@BHZ55]

@@norcaltimberfaller1943 lol always that 1

[@michaelkearney5562]

Good video with good tips, but why would ‘you take three swipes off a new chain’ to quote yourself. Did you mean to say something else?

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Good question. I have found that three swipes off a new chain , generally works well. It gets it cutting about where I like it pretty consistently. That being said , I do not want to recommend three swipes to everyone, because it's getting dangerously close to being filed down to far. That leads to a chain being to " grabby" . That works great for limping, but it is absolutely miserable for taking out a face cut, because it's either chattering in the cut or grabbing and stalling the saw out. So just for a general overall recommendation, I say two nice consistent swipes with a good file will normally do a pretty good job of getting a chain to cut good. If you still want it to be more aggressive after you have tested it, then take another swipe. Hope that's helpful.

[@michaelkearney5562]

@@norcaltimberfaller1943 Thanks Dan. I'll keep it in mind for future reference.

[@Robnord1]

How about lightly touching a running saw to a sharpening stone? 😁 That would take the rakers down *real* quick. I would try it on an old chain, but see some real disaster potential there. lol

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

I am not so sure about that method. I can see some disaster potential as well! lol

[@quinn860]

Think stihl has a sharpener like that out, clamps onto end of bar

[@mattfleming86]

It'll absolutely get the rakers. It will also demolish the cutter teeth, which are necessary to make a power saw do.. saw things.

[@ttommytom]

I never saw the point of having a depth gauge if you're just doing 2 to 3 swipes. Perfection? No one sharpens their chain to perfection in the first place. NICE TO SEE what seems to be common sense.

[@norcaltimberfaller1943]

Thanks... yes it has always worked well for me🤔

[@mattmew4299]

Tilt like ur doing the tooth

[@DyslexicLunatic]

Be great if people just focused on a concise explanation of what they are doing rather than attempting to tell a story. This is a 60-second video at best.