Circle mill sharpener

[millstead]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had an opinion on sharpeners. I'm looking at the Dexter file and the Andrus hand filer. Which one do you like better and why? I won't be sharpening carbide or chrome. Thanks 

[millstead]

I guess there isn't anyone running circle mills on here anymore 

[Jeff]

It's been a tough week here.

So I'd reccomend if you have power, a Jockey grinder and good files.

[Bert]

I dont have any experience with any sharpeners other than Jockey. Its always done what its supposed to do and in a hurry. 

[DanielW]

Both the Dexter and Andrus work just dandy and will do a great job. But even though I own both (plus a jockey), I never end up using them anymore. You'll have to determine whether it's worth it to you. If you're running full production all day, a Jockey or the Andrus unit to touch up between shifts is essential. But most of us on these forums aren't running that kind of production on a circle headsaw anymore. For me: Now that I'm only running (at most) a few days/hours a week, by the time I got out one of those units and have it set up, I could already be three-quarters done a decent job with just a hand file. And the cost of a decent single-stroke flat file is about $15 at the hardware store up the road, while the cost for a jockey stone is significantly more and longer lead-time. The Jockey comes in handy when you're running all day and every minute spent filing is lost dollars, but I no longer run that aggressively. The Dexter in particular is something I'll never touch again. It keeps your face and clearance angles perfect, but it isn't any faster than using a basic hand file. And once you get good with just a hand file you'll be plenty good at keeping the angles correct.

But then again, if you're new to the circle mill gig, the Dexter is a good way of learning what the feel and angle should be like, so it will help train you for using a basic flat file in the future.

The circle headrigs we sell at work to places running full production are a different story: Their maintenance guys are pretty neat to watch at lunch times or between day and night shift -whipping out the jockey and a hand file to sharpen as fast as possible between shifts.

[Gearbox]

I have used a Andrus for at least 20 years the files last forever if you don't turn it backwards . Once they are set up on a new tooth it will maintain the new tooth angle until the tooth is wore out . 

[beenthere]

Go watch some videos of guys sawing with circle saws. Some show sharpening.
One I like is this one Andruws Lumber

[Ron Wenrich]

I used both the Dexter and Andrus.  I had problems with the files on the Andrus.  If they got wet, they came off the wheel.  I never went back to the Andrus hand filer.

I did have an Anrus electric.  That one worked fine on the vertical edger.  I couldn't get the Jockey in the tight space to do a good job.  Hand filing the vertical edger was out.

I ran a production mill.  I hand filed, as I could do a better job in a short amount of time.  But, I would dress the saw up over the lunch break with a Jockey to keep my tooth angle honest.  I ran chrome, and needed the Jockey to knock off the face chrome and could use a hand file after that.  I would buy a box of 8" mill bastard files from the mill supply for a lot less than the hardware store.