Cut wandering.

[Bluegill2]

Oregon files suck! Oregon chain is pretty good though. I use Preferred and Save Edge files.

I can hand file a chain to cut better than 'out of the box'... and faster than taking it off and using a grinder. Works for me!

If a cut is wondering, 9 times out of 10 it's a dull chain.

Life is too short to use a slow saw with a dull chain!

 

[RobertN]

I use this Oregon clamp on file jig. Works great. I do like Stihl chain, and Stihl files...

I keep 2-3 chains for each saw too. Trick is, don't let the chain get dull. Any change in cut qaulity, swap chains. Then sharpen later with the saw on the bench, with the jig. I'll do a quick hand file between a couple tanks of gas otherwise, but even then after a few times throw the jig on just to make sure everything is consistent.

I found I could handfile one side of a chain well with just a file and the little jig that goe on the file, but when I switched sides, I did not stay consistent.