How to hand file a chainsaw, pro logger style

This chainsaw hand filing video was fun to make as it was real world. Not planned. It will definitely make your saws cut better

[iceflameproductionz]

folks reading the comments, listen: I have run saws for 4 years now, I am a logger and firewood guy, and do occasional tree work. It took me the past 3 years to really learn to file. If you want to learn you must try and try and try. Dull your saw 5 times in a day. It takes time to get the flow with a file, and to be able to file using both hands. I just watched buckins videos and he tells you everything you need to know. Get under the tooth, get the gullet, and then just keep the rhythm in the gullet, the big round fill will work its way up into the corner. Stay under and file up and in and the file should naturally start coming up out of the corner. When you see the file popping out of the corner from under, and you do a good clean stroke, it should make one hell of an edge and all the sudden it will flow like butter. For me within a month of serious filing I had completely figured it out and now can bang out a chain in about 8-10 minutes.

[danielm]

The obsession over everything down to the smallest detail yields results that speak for themselves. Sharp saws, sure cuts, pure vision. Yourself, Reg, August and Lupillo have carved out a cool corner of YT that gives people like myself outside the trade a unique look at a specialized profession that would otherwise go unseen. Thanks and keep living out your dream Checkmark Billy Ray.

[mattkrug]

I always wanted to learn how to hand file, and I watched Billy's chain sharpening school video... after watching I went out and filed my 3/8 chain with a 7/32 file and the chain turned out razor sharp, I've never had a chain cut that fast...thanks for lesson Buckin!

[johnsuch]

I could watch your hand filing videos daily. It has made such a huge difference in my cutting and I LOVE the big chips I get now...GET THE GULLET
Thanks BR and God Bless Brother

[KyleRad-wpxt]

good afternoon everybody! just wanted to say thanks, Ive had the powersaw bug since before i found this community but your videos and message helped me to take the plunge, just accepted a job as an apprentice climber on a powerline trimming/ clearing crew and I couldnt be more happy!! feels good to be excited to go to work again, hope all is well with everyone here from my corner of the world to yours!

[stephenhair]

Finding that piece of steel so far up in that tree is just crazy!! Wow!! Thanks again for sharing another great chain sharpening video. My saw cuts so much better now!! God Bless you and your family Billy Ray!

[waynesheffield]

I've been using a chainsaw for over 20 years now. In that time, I have constantly fought with sharpening chains. Everything that I tried would create a sharp point, but they wouldn't last. For years, I just gave up and took the chains in to be sharpened. I actually got the best results using the Stihl 3-in-1.

After watching this video, I grabbed by chainsaw, clamped it into a vise, grabbed the file and started to slowly work on the chain. Before, I would be pulling up the file to focus on the point of the tooth. Today, I focused on the gullet. What I found was that for many teeth, when placing the file into the gullet, the file wasn't even touching the tooth, just like you showed early on in the video. I have the whole chain sharpened now, and am very pleased to see just how sharp each tooth is. I'm eager to see how it performs tomorrow.

Thanks for this video. It's truly a game changer for me. Wish I had seen this 20 years ago!

[joschmoyo]

Speaking as a woodworker who sharpens his own planer knives I can conccur with Billy on the importance of getting your hook angle spot on. The ideal range is actually very narrow when it comes to bevel angles, shear angles and relief. On planer knives your sharpening the other side but the principle remains the same.
The range of workable angles is between 35 degrees and no steeper than 40. I usually split the difference and go with 37 degree's. But Billy really knows his shit and it's nice to see a pro giving people the straight dope on sharpening. It's an incredibly valuable and important skill to master.

[mikesmith]

I learned a lot since watching Billy’s videos.
He really knows his stuff.
ReaI no nonsense attitude…love it!

[bouchey]

Buckin, I think it’s safe to say all your videos improve my life in some way or another. I thank you for that.

[AndrewSmith-ctkk]

Hi all I've been cutting fire wood in cold country Australia for years with a file and gauge I came across bucken Billy channel last winter and started watching and practicing what he was teaching and sharing wait a difference it has made to the way I can have been cutting thankyou for sharing your experience and knowledge bucken

[Gideon_Judges]

When BBR says you got too much gullet, you really got TOO MUCH gullet friends.

[erichilyard]

I appreciate buckin! Everytime I go out and fell or buck I've learned to sharpen my chain....start watching buckin years ago and here he is filing away with a smile 😁low and behold friends, get the gullet and sharpen yer chain. Love to see the importance of it. Sooo thankful for BBR videos!!!

[loganwhite]

I feel confident saying theres not better filing video out there thanks buckin and thats a super cool find in that log

[odelbackham]

Buckin has the best personality I've ever seen. Just him being happy makes me happy. By the way buckin I am new to the channel and am new to splitting wood but I have split a little less than a cord of wood in the last week and now I know why people split because IT IS FUN.

[JamieMac]

I havent been on the channel in about a month and a half buckin and i tell you it feels good to be back . I know nothing about chainsaws or trees i am from waterbury Connecticut not the mist desirable city in new england but your videos take me somewhere and i thank you for that . - jamie

[ryanwells]

I have learned so much about sharpening chains since I started following your videos. Thank you!

[pokieydamnit]

Thank you! Been away from saws for 20 yrs and am back on the homestead. The amount of info you just bestowed onto me is priceless. Time to get the gullet and harvest some hardwoods. And oh yeah, I've made plenty of mistakes (chain pulling one way, dull fast, pissing me off). You just made me a better saw smith in 20 minutes. BTW, I want that patch on your shirt. Get the Gullet! Cheers Mate

[chasedionisio]

I’m convinced that Buckin has some of the sharpest chains in the industry

[nancybrown]

Buckin' when that Beatnik fellow popped in I almost thought Youtube had switched channels on me!! Very funny interlude from you super filing tutorial! Love It! You are a sharp kinda guy!~