the saw-side

chain saws are still with me ; like a crash course in 1982 , and now part of experience and life. For 4 years i cut/split up to 10 FULL cord a season . Old-timers taught me much . One simple thing was filing chain . Snug on bar , bar clamped in vise or log kerf , file with handle slightly low or perpendicular to bar and on open side of tooth , and smooth slow to medium strokes thru , lifting slightly on return stroke. HOWEVER , the tip i received was the "TWIST". yeah , the twist. As you push file thru tooth , twist as the topside of file is turning INTO the tooth top plate . this causes file to ride UP rather than the usual cut-down too far into tooth and side of link . watch carefully the the "C" shape of your cut is center of tooth OR as with chisel/flattop chain , slightly hi .
top angle is important . keep as near to new angle . generally , about 30* measured tooth front from perpendicular to bar . sounds funny so , figure 60* from inline with bar and use tooth front as the pivot or center of angle point . MANY new chains have a small mark to follow on back of tooth .
LENGTH of tooth is NOT as important as properly sharpened teeth . it is true if length is severely different, one side to the other , chain will cut a curve . poorly sharpened teeth will do that and more .

Rakers or depth gauges on teeth ; leave them alone unless you are experienced OR have proper gauge tools . simply counting strokes across can work ONLY if experienced OR gauged .wrong adjustment will ruin chain , bar AND engine , clutch , sprocket . adjusted properly , you will enjoy cutting .
start working with teeth first . after a few chains and hours of experience , practice on an old chain with raker adjustments . ONLY 1-2 strokes across as same direction as tooth filing and AFTER teeth filed properly .
Many years ago i heard the statistics ; over 75% of ALL saw repairs are due to dull or improperly sharpened chain . note the word "ALL" . 25 years of experience agrees .
enuff for 2day . next , maybe hand splitting without breaking back . i have about 10yrs pain for there . maybe save YOUR back some hurt too .
pops , after sniffing wood chips ...........